Curse

ThePadawan · Jun 02, 2006, 03:01 AM // 03:01

I think Anet's finally taken notice of the economy. I doubt the "no ecto/shard drops" bug was REALLY a bug. They did that to raise the price on ectos and shards, and have it subside a week later at a price a few k's higher. Now they're cutting down on bots. Round of applause for Anet. Doing what REALLY matters to many of us. Now, the rest of us farmers just want some in game auction system and we're set. I could care less about 20 new quests and whatnot. <_<

generik · Jun 02, 2006, 03:39 AM // 03:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by SAQ

My account was possibly mistaken as a bot account and was banned PERMANENTLY. Not sure how that guy managed to think it's banning for a few hours only.

Do you farm a lot?

SAQ · Jun 02, 2006, 04:38 AM // 04:38

Nope, at most I farm 3~4 times through a particular instanced map, then I go off and play PvP, mission, or watch observer mode. I don't like farming, I farm to make some money and possibly some good items.

I don't think farming an instance 5 times in a row is called a lot compared to some of the players. I casual farm, and I never farm a lot.

EDIT: What I mean by mistaken as a bot is that I visited Droknars Int 1 to buy some skills for my Canthan Monk who happens to be a Mo/W. And as you people know, Droknars Int 1 are full of Bots who are Mo/W, so I was mistaken as one of them....... so sad....

Why was I doing in International District you ask?? Because my account is Taiwanese, and I need to meet up with my brother who was playing a US account. So we both met up at Lions Arch International District, then we both teleported to Droknars Int 1.

generik · Jun 02, 2006, 06:56 AM // 06:56

Or maybe it runs deeper, perhaps some of the farming sweat shops operates in Taiwan using the same ISP as you.

Can't be certain, but likely.

SAQ · Jun 02, 2006, 07:38 AM // 07:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by generik

Or maybe it runs deeper, perhaps some of the farming sweat shops operates in Taiwan using the same ISP as you.

Can't be certain, but likely.

Well if that's the case, they need to look at my account history. I am innocent... *sigh*...

But I doubt there are any sweatshops for GW in Taiwan, the game isn't that well-known.

Arangja · Jun 02, 2006, 07:56 AM // 07:56

OK guys/girls

Here is what i see, there was a snipit of the rules with a highlighted word, but the other words that wasn't highlighted stated that accounts were not transfereble. Arlan if I remember correctly you mentioned that one of your guildies left and gave the account to you to use (for whatever reason). That might be a reason for your banning I don't know

Another thing is that we are all shouting "KILL THE BOTS" but what about all the players that support them, I can't understand that someone will pay money to have a GAME then go and spend more money for NOT REAL INGAME MONEY in order to buy something.

Why the heck buy the game in the first place if you can't play it, or are they the type that has always had everything handed to them and did not have to put in a bit of work to get what they want.

That back in those days are why I stoped playing Age of Empires LAN games, because every tom dick and harry came up with cheats to cheat the game, what's the use then of playing the game.

I have tree characters in the game that i play a lot with. One is R/E the other is W/Mo and my new one now is N/Me. I play because it is fun not because i can say in-game I AM THE RICHEST AROUND, if I want something i will go and work for it. I wanted Drago's Flatbow for my Ranger, I did not go and buy it, I went to sf and worked for it untill I got it, same with all my other characters.

Anyway this is just how I feel about the BOTS and everyone that supports them, that means the guys actually going to ebay and paying money for something virtual that will never ever be real

It's sad really

lyra_song · Jun 02, 2006, 08:58 PM // 20:58

Really and truly, the bots wont ever go away. Theres a market, theres money in it, so they will stay.

In an ideal world, we wouldnt have websites that sold gold, or weapons etc. and we would have no botters. Everyone who gained their stuff did it the nice and boring way.

Tijger · Jun 02, 2006, 11:41 PM // 23:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arangja

Anyway this is just how I feel about the BOTS and everyone that supports them, that means the guys actually going to ebay and paying money for something virtual that will never ever be real

It's sad really

QFT

And the latest one on this front I heard today...someone buying gold on Ebay to buy dwarven ale with it to get the drunkard title...to me that beyond pathetic.

Linksys · Jun 03, 2006, 01:44 AM // 01:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gaile Gray

We banned the bot users strictly to protect the game. I am not even sure that people who were banned for bot use would buy a second copy and restart. If they rely on bots to get anywhere, and they know we're actively pursuing bot users...

The "resale to bot users" was never part of our discussions about doing this. Our interest--pure and simple--is keeping the economy good, and keeping bad people out of Profiteer Corner--at your expense!

Sometimes companies do things with all the right reasons, and the outcome is completely good. Sometimes there is not a conspiracy to theorize about.

Sounds good to me. I can understand the speculation maybe. And even if someone who is banned doesn't buy another copy, I guess it's a little less strain on the Arenanet servers. Of course speculating that as a reason is more farfetched. The less bots, the better. I enjoy the sort of live action Sims aspect of the game. Chatting with real people in outposts, using emotes, trading just for the joy of trading, etc.

Tickle · Jun 03, 2006, 06:02 AM // 06:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyra_song

Everyone who gained their stuff did it the nice and boring way.

Now if only they (Anet) took time to check my account then they will find I'm a really boring person...

dsd · Jun 03, 2006, 06:48 PM // 18:48

hey question about bots i was farming uw and i found a 55hp monk and he could only type some things i asked him are u a bot and he said yes is that some stupid little kid or should i send in the screen shot i got of it didnt know if serious or not so if i could get some privte mesage from some 1 that wpould help thx

dsd · Jun 03, 2006, 06:56 PM // 18:56

1 more thing if bots where banned on farming that would make running bots more active running is another way i c bots i went to beacons last moth 4 dists where full i went today and 1 wasent full so i think that there is posably running bots as well that where abnned

Duly Thankful · Jun 03, 2006, 07:00 PM // 19:00

I do not understand either of the last two posts. Spelling and grammar ftw!

Tickle · Jun 03, 2006, 07:41 PM // 19:41

Duly, dsd wants to know if he should send in a screenshot of a 55 monk saying hes a bot, also something about running bots, hes noticed a few less runners around the districts hes been in (sorry my broken english interpretations is a little rusty).

Update on my banned account.. NCSoft still hasn't contacted me (nearly 96 hrs after I made the 1st ticket). Their automated response said they will contact me in 24 hours... Which 24 hours is NCSoft going to contact me within? Here I am, an innocent person wondering why I was banned and they cannot even give me a reply, I am sorry but as time goes on I keep thinking that the bans are driven by profit margins. Factions isn't doing as well as they initially thought so why not ban bots/ppl so they have to go out and get another copy, and if this isn't so then I apologise but if the support team isn't going to answer what else should I be thinking? Yes I agree with banning of bots, no I dont agree on banning of innocents... NCSoft doesn't have a conscious, if so they would contact those ppl with tickets within the due time they give themselves. In my opinion this is gross neglegence by NCSoft.

Arlan · Jun 03, 2006, 09:34 PM // 21:34

Hey Tickle

Same boat here - no response for over a week now (and previous responses were the standard/auto replies.
I figure we're in this for the long run.........looks like there have been alot of innocents caught up in the recent bot ban and they are dealing with all the tickets - hopefully someone will get back to us. :-)

I cant agree that Anet have done this purely for profit - earlier posts reckon bot controllers just hack another account anyway. Plus thge amount of acounts closed (approx 1000) is nothing compared to the 800,000 units sold!!!

I also can't beleve that Anet would rather ban and leave banned genuine accounts without giving that account holder a specific reason.
Maybe we bought/sold to a player who regularly buys/sells to a bot or something. How far down the bot trading line have they gone and checked?

Even if they dont reinstate my account ( i wont be buying again!!!) i want to know exactly why and let player mates know why - my guildies are worried that if i can be banned then anyone is in the firing line!!!

Will let you know of developements or reponses from Anet - they have to come up with something - the wall of silence is slowly being taken as a 'dont care - tough' attitude. Not the best PR for a company.

Loviatar · Jun 03, 2006, 10:25 PM // 22:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Arlan

Hey Tickle

Same boat here - no response for over a week now (and previous responses were the standard/auto replies.
.

the auto responses are auto closed after 24 hours as solved if you dont respond immediately that this did not help.

sitting for a week is 6 days wasted before starting another ticket.

even a auto respond we will contact you needs to be responded to as it is the auto not a person

you have to keep the ball rolling not wait on them

Absolut Monk · Jun 03, 2006, 11:14 PM // 23:14

It would seem I'm the latest to the recently banned club, and judging from this thread, it's because I purchased items in Forge Int 1. I bought at least 1000k a week in unidentified gold items, which were then resold to the highest bidder. I can read/type simplified chinese and have had no problem communicating and making deals with chinese players. What is truly bugging me is what's wrong with what I've done? I've certainly never installed a third party tool, nor have I exploited the game any more than players buying and selling in Ascalon or LA. Let the flames begin

Gaile Gray · Jun 04, 2006, 12:49 AM // 00:49

Guys,

A bit of information on the bans, blocks, and dealings with bot users and gold sellers. We deal with them--take action against them--on a regular basis. As I've said before, the news post in question in this thread was just a form of update for the community about our enforcement of policies and our taking action to their benefit. It wasn't an update on all recent activities, but a report on one recent activity, you see? We take action all the time and don't post about it at all. (For instance, more than a thousand UA abusers were taken down, removed, given the ol' heave-ho today but we're not posting it.)

Now to anyone who was innocently caught in such a sweep: If you have been banned and you were assuredly not using a third-party program, bot software, etc., then click Support on the main page of the GW site and fill out a "Ask a Question" page, also known as a ticket. If you filed a ticket and got a response, you certainly may follow up after a decent interval, say, 24 or 48 hours, to inquire about it. (Tickets are not marked as "closed" for 72 hours, btw, not 24 and are not marked as closed while the topic is still being worked towards a resolution.) If you have not had a response at all, well, I guess I'd suggest that maybe the system burped and your ticket was lost, because I know the team to be very dedicated and very prompt in their responses. Given that, you may wish to submit a new ticket. But please do not submit a new ticket if you have any means of responding to an existing one, as it makes sorting out and working on the real issues more and more difficult.

So, submit a support request, follow up on a response about which you don't understand, provide the information that might be requested, and check to assure that you don't have a response of some kind--and therefore a ticket number to keep active--before submitting a new ticket.

We do want to assure that all innocent non-bot-users are restored, in the rare occasion when someone is blocked by accident. That number is very small, by the way, and we will continue to make sure it's smaller still in the future.

Absolut Monk · Jun 04, 2006, 01:02 AM // 01:02

My ticket was started only 4 hours ago, and as I work for an IT help desk, I'm certainly not ranting about a touble ticket taking too long

I also sympathize with ANet and the issues with managing such a huge enterprise as Guild Wars must be. I've always believed that mistakes work themselves out, and that the past year of playing won't go down in flames.

Your comments are well received, Miss Gray. I may yet sleep well tonight.

Fyre Brand · Jun 04, 2006, 02:48 AM // 02:48

Thanks for an official response Gaile. That's always nice.

Arlan and Tickle ~ I've had several NC support questions (tickets) over the last (i think it's been almost 4 years now) and almost always after the 1st automated response I get a real person asking me questions or requesting further information. With a little persistance you will get the evidential reason you were banned or you will have your account restored. I don't like dealing with support and I don't always like the answers I get, but I have confidence they will give you one of those answers.