You know...
Normally, i'm not one to point fingers if I see a single person do something dubious on occasion, as I figure that it achieves nothing other than frustrate me, and cause grief in general - and besides, the damage isn't that great.
This case is different - Ember Light camp is absolutely -INFESTED- with Bots at any given time - all running out of town, and returning shortly thereafter, spouting some kind of gibberish that is only seen in poorly written Spam E-mails.
I have screenshots, and I -know- what they're botting. And it -has- to stop. It's simply -beyond- par for the occasional exploiter. Has anyone else seen this at Ember Light as well? If not, I encourage you to check for yourself.
To clarify as to what the 'Gibberish' is, it will be sets of words from the same -pool- of words. An Example:
"I want sell songs to furious mad laughter" -
then they pop out of town, return 30 seconds later with:
"I sell want songs to mad furious laughter"
I've just watched about a -dozen- different people doing this for the past hour - and it's been going on for -days-. I -hope- something is done.
- Best Regards,
TheMarvin
-EXCESSIVE- Botting at Ember Light Camp
TheMarvin
Lasher Dragon
I believe the jibberish you are referring to is Korean. I may be wrong, but it is a language.
TheMarvin
Certainly not - it's not Korean. One may argue that i'm not the most worldy of fellows, but what they do is utilize a script to generate random strings of words together; yet out of a pool of 10-20 words, in the hopes that the server won't pick up on the repetition.
Apparently, ANet must automatically flag perpetual rezoning and repitition in action - they think that by scripting messages to the chat channel, they'll get around it. I hope they're wrong.
Apparently, ANet must automatically flag perpetual rezoning and repitition in action - they think that by scripting messages to the chat channel, they'll get around it. I hope they're wrong.
Lasher Dragon
Well, here's a transcript of what I am seeing in chat:
wo ri
zhi li feng jing hao a
ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma
ni hao
Seems to me if they were going to use random words they would at least use English on the American servers.
wo ri
zhi li feng jing hao a
ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma
ni hao
Seems to me if they were going to use random words they would at least use English on the American servers.
calendae
You should drop a line to [email protected].
Lasher Dragon
Actually though, I believe that there is some hardcore botting going on there. If you watch closely, there are certain people who run through all the time, yet every time they get to the bridge to the exit, they have a hard time getting on to it.
I've also been whispering to people I think may be bots, and so far only 1 has answered. Not that that proves the rest are bots, but you gotta wonder...
I've also been whispering to people I think may be bots, and so far only 1 has answered. Not that that proves the rest are bots, but you gotta wonder...
TheMarvin
There's no doubt that they're bots. As of an hour ago, it was english - but last night I saw the "ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma" type stuff too.
Last night there were about a -dozen- of them... Unbelievable. I'll drop a line to Anet about it - I hope others do too so I don't look like i'm insane. If you have any doubts, just -watch- for more than 10 minutes - you'll see a parade of scripted fun.
Edit:
Now i'm seeing the SAME type of botting happening at Droknar's - heading into Witman's Folly from town. There are people scripting both in English and Korean - same technique. Run out of town, return a minute later, randomly generated text from the same pool of words, then disappear again.
It seems possible to me that they're all using (or paid for) the same script. :P
Last night there were about a -dozen- of them... Unbelievable. I'll drop a line to Anet about it - I hope others do too so I don't look like i'm insane. If you have any doubts, just -watch- for more than 10 minutes - you'll see a parade of scripted fun.
Edit:
Now i'm seeing the SAME type of botting happening at Droknar's - heading into Witman's Folly from town. There are people scripting both in English and Korean - same technique. Run out of town, return a minute later, randomly generated text from the same pool of words, then disappear again.
It seems possible to me that they're all using (or paid for) the same script. :P
RTSFirebat
The lag at the Ember Light Camp has also becomes shocking... to the point where trying to move about is impossible.
If you see anyone botting, copy their names down, take a screen shot and report them. They will be banned.
This is only going to stop if everyone helps to put them to an end.
If you see anyone botting, copy their names down, take a screen shot and report them. They will be banned.
This is only going to stop if everyone helps to put them to an end.
Numa Pompilius
All botters must burn.
Report!
Report!
GW Monkey
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon
Well, here's a transcript of what I am seeing in chat:
wo ri zhi li feng jing hao a ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma ni hao Seems to me if they were going to use random words they would at least use English on the American servers. |
Anarkii
Dont report me. I am not a bot lol 
I farm perdition rock a lot. So going in and out is common enough for me
As far as I know, theres no chest/wreckage immediately outside the Camp, so what could be the reason of botting?
Damn, pls dont nerf my favorite farming spot now :O
I farm perdition rock a lot. So going in and out is common enough for me
As far as I know, theres no chest/wreckage immediately outside the Camp, so what could be the reason of botting?
Damn, pls dont nerf my favorite farming spot now :O
kaheiyeh
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon
Well, here's a transcript of what I am seeing in chat:
wo ri zhi li feng jing hao a ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma ni hao Seems to me if they were going to use random words they would at least use English on the American servers. |
我日
至理風景好啊
你要皇經裝備媽
你好
(In the same order you posted them in)
Doesn't seem like a random language to me, mind you I don't bot ...
calendae
I don't see any harm in reporting it. If there bots, then A-Net can deal with it. If not then who cares. 
Aniewiel
Yep, Calendae. They'll look at it and, if it seems like bot activity, they'll close the loophole. If it's not and it's just people talking in Chinese or Korean or whatever, they'll just leave it alone. 
The lag is TERRIBLE at Ember Light. I hope they -do- do something about that.
The lag is TERRIBLE at Ember Light. I hope they -do- do something about that.
psycore
Same thing goes on at Riverside Province, a constant stream of monks entering and exiting the area. The infamous [good] farm/bot guild and a few others, I'm pretty sure there is a farming consortium set up to take advantage of selling gold the constant stream of people who dont / cant reply or act in strange manners is a certain give away.
Numa Pompilius
Makes you wonder howcome chinese/korean botters go to a US server, doesn't it?
Magus
Like GW Monkey said, it is indeed Pinyin. kaheiyeh's translations aren't accurate because Chinese Pinyin uses pitch, not expressed in standard English letters.
I doubt it's all gibberish, it sounds more like farmers (not necessarily botters) conversing amongst themselves.
I'll translate those phrases that were mentioned:
wo ri (this is too short for me to make sense out of. Again, the pitches aren't expressed, so I can't really tell what it's saying.)
zhi li feng jing hao a (it should be "zhe li feng jing hao a") - ah, the scenery here is good
ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma - do you want gold armor?
ni hao - hello
At seeker's passage, about a month ago, I met some people talking in Pinyin, and I spoke back to them. We had a short conversation, so it leads me to believe not all of the farmers are bots (either that, or they're actually talking through the bot programs.)
I doubt it's all gibberish, it sounds more like farmers (not necessarily botters) conversing amongst themselves.
I'll translate those phrases that were mentioned:
wo ri (this is too short for me to make sense out of. Again, the pitches aren't expressed, so I can't really tell what it's saying.)
zhi li feng jing hao a (it should be "zhe li feng jing hao a") - ah, the scenery here is good
ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma - do you want gold armor?
ni hao - hello
At seeker's passage, about a month ago, I met some people talking in Pinyin, and I spoke back to them. We had a short conversation, so it leads me to believe not all of the farmers are bots (either that, or they're actually talking through the bot programs.)
Lasher Dragon
That's why I put a transcript up - it didn't seem to me like random gibberish. I figured someone on here would know what language it is, thanks.
Aniewiel
Either way, as my mother used to say: "There's something fishy in Denmark." Now WHAT exactly that means, is up to you.
Seriously though, the fact that the same phrases are repeating over and over and people are running in and out of town excessively, leads one to suspect bot activity. I hope GW takes a look.
Seriously though, the fact that the same phrases are repeating over and over and people are running in and out of town excessively, leads one to suspect bot activity. I hope GW takes a look.
arnansnow
If botters used the words "WTS GODLY FIRE 16-28 DAMAGE AXE WITH 15%>50% FOR 50K" then people would never know they were bots.
Magus
About a month and a half ago, I have met a few people speaking in Chinese at ember light camp saying things like "you hui shuo zhong wen de me?" (is there anyone who can speak Chinese?) and things like that. At that time, I had never even known that bots for GW existed, so it did not even occur to me that they might be bots. From what they were saying, such as the "do you want gold armor?" it sounds like they could just be people trading or otherwise playing normally, but then again, it is very easy to code in a "talk" function for bots which can be entered in through the console.
As for why someone from China or Korea would want to play on the American servers is beyond me. A friend of mine, living in the US is on vacation in China, and he installed GW there to continue playing his character, and he says that his ping times are through the roof (like 500-10,000 ms)
As for why someone from China or Korea would want to play on the American servers is beyond me. A friend of mine, living in the US is on vacation in China, and he installed GW there to continue playing his character, and he says that his ping times are through the roof (like 500-10,000 ms)
Aniewiel
It is not beyond the realm of possibility that bots have so-called "normal" phrases programmed into them. It gives them "legitimacy" and I'm sure that they're hoping AN will overlook them. However when hundreds are running around all over the GW world saying the same thing, it might not be so easily overlooked.
Numa Pompilius
This makes me wonder about some of the bizarre comments my avatar has received from random players the last few days. Like "Your very small". I had my pants on, so how did he know?
Magus: Yeah, that's what I figured. Lag wont bother a bot, and perhaps Anet has nerfed the farming spots or cracked down harder on botting in the Korean servers.
Magus: Yeah, that's what I figured. Lag wont bother a bot, and perhaps Anet has nerfed the farming spots or cracked down harder on botting in the Korean servers.
Aniewiel
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Numa Pompilius
This makes me wonder about some of the bizarre comments my avatar has received from random players the last few days. Like "Your very small". I had my pants on, so how did he know?
|
NoChance
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Lasher Dragon
wo ri
zhi li feng jing hao a ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma ni hao |
to the guy who put it into the word processor -- lots of chinese characters have the same or similar pronouncations, but different meanings ... the word processor didn't get them all right since some of what came out doesn't make sense.
anyway, here is what i can figure out:
"zhi li feng jing hao a" means "the view here is nice"
"ni yao huang jing zhuang bei ma" is asking if you want some yellow item (can't figure out what item that is) -- not 100% sure about this translation.
"ni hao" is "how are you?"
i'm pretty sure these are bots -- or maybe those legendary mmo sweatshop workers. i saw the same behavior at seeker's passage (with the chinese writing etc.)
anyway, misquoting Emeril:
BAN! BAN! BAN!
or misquoting Charleton Heston:
BAN them, BAN them all to hell!
Diomedes
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Aniewiel
Either way, as my mother used to say: "There's something fishy in Denmark." Now WHAT exactly that means, is up to you.
Seriously though, the fact that the same phrases are repeating over and over and people are running in and out of town excessively, leads one to suspect bot activity. I hope GW takes a look. |
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark" is from Shakespeare's Hamlet.
-Diomedes
Aniewiel
Hey, a bad Shakespearean quote is better than none.
Cheers to modern translations.
/end supposed seriousness
Cheers to modern translations.
/end supposed seriousness
Diomedes
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Aniewiel
Hey, a bad Shakespearean quote is better than none.
Cheers to modern translations. /end supposed seriousness |
Although I think Baz Luhrmann is coming out with another movie at some point...
-Diomedes
TheMarvin
Bear in mind there were -many- times that i've seen that the bots were -not- speaking in phonetic renditions of Mandarin Chinese - that's what tipped me off to the bot thing initially. They were speaking in English, and they -were- using repeated random phrases. Anyway, i've reported to Anet - I hope others did the same. As someone said, if we're wrong, no harm done - otherwise...
Sir Skullcrasher
ok how do i spot a person who using bots?
Sleazy_D
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by sir skulkcrasher
ok how do i spot a person who using bots?
|
As you come to the door, you hear furious tappings going on within his asylum, and take mental note of your surroundings. "The bastard... probably trading all those gold armors as I speak". As you slide your lock pick deep into the door's mechanism, you here a "click". The typing stops. Your breath held, you hope that the typing begins again, and muse at the irony of wishing for more illicite trading.
As the typing begins again, you quietly turn the cylinder, and put your tiny camera through the now open door's crack. What you see on the monitor astounds you.... a text console reporting on the bot's function, 2-week old doughnuts littering the desk, unwashed socks everywhere, and an open Excel spreadsheet showing the filthy faux-money trail.
"Pwned, bitch"
TheMarvin
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Sleazy_D
Slowly you stalk delicately into the botter's lair, and slide your hand along the wall. Your sweat is starting to bead on your forehead. "Musn't let him hear my footsteps" you remind yourself, as if you had forgotten the basics of your craft.
As you come to the door, you hear furious tappings going on within his asylum, and take mental note of your surroundings. "The bastard... probably trading all those gold armors as I speak". As you slide your lock pick deep into the door's mechanism, you here a "click". The typing stops. Your breath held, you hope that the typing begins again, and muse at the irony of wishing for more illicite trading. As the typing begins again, you quietly turn the cylinder, and put your tiny camera through the now open door's crack. What you see on the monitor astounds you.... a text console reporting on the bot's function, 2-week old doughnuts littering the desk, unwashed socks everywhere, and an open Excel spreadsheet showing the filthy faux-money trail. "Pwned, bitch" |
Awesome - I feel like it's 1992 and i'm playing MUDs again in High School.
Red Locust
OK how the hell are bots farming perdition rock anyways? It's not an easy place to farm as a human, let alone a program.
TheMarvin
They could be doing one of two things - The first, is possibly farming the Phantom that appears when you leave town, and swing immediately to the right. You can beat that one with your eyes closed (literally, since he casts some sort of blind spell on you that -also- blinds himself).
It's also possible for one to rush into the first group of flesh golems and beat them fairly easily as well.
Possible that they've also figured out some timed route to take them to the chest that's in that area while avoiding mobs.
It's also possible for one to rush into the first group of flesh golems and beat them fairly easily as well.
Possible that they've also figured out some timed route to take them to the chest that's in that area while avoiding mobs.
Borealis
I went there earlier and it seems like a waste of time to farm that area, money made vs. time spent isn't worth it.
TheMarvin
Maybe - but that's not the issue. There aren't too many places that -can- be botted with the recent ANet Changes. Besides, we don't know exactly what it -is- they're doing either.
Mimi Miyagi
Well, all that bot activity (if it is going on) would account for the absolute horrible drops I had there. It felt like Korea had the favor or something (which they didn't, we had it at that time). One rare item in over an hour of skill capping/farming.
kaya
hmm! i capped a few skills in perdition rock last week, and i had to go in and out a few times before i got the right bosses to spawn. i think a lot of people do this. it's probably not all botters. but i'll bet there are some.
mrip
All these farmers should go to the bookstore, pick up a book on how to play poker, and go rape the fish at partypoker. I am by no means a great player and translated into GW gold I make about 750k every couple hours. I think it's hilarious what great lengths these guys go to to get stuff that really isn't worth very much.
GranDeWun
Why on earth would a bot say anything, whether Chinese or gibberish? I fail to see the theory here...
AN has already hinted strongly that actions are used to detect bots, not any kind of dialog monitoring.
AN has already hinted strongly that actions are used to detect bots, not any kind of dialog monitoring.