Curse

Willy Rockwell · Dec 09, 2005, 04:46 PM // 16:46

Here is a firsthand report on Chinese griffon farming in Augury International 1. I was able to team with a Chinese monk named Tc Chaos Bb. Tc is a professional gamer, his job is to farm for griffons, and he works alongside many other Chinese players doing the same thing.

As soon as we left Augury, Tc cast Blessed Aura, Balthazar’s Spirit, Mending, and Protective Spirit. During combat he also used Shield of Judgement, Symbol of Wrath and Healing Breeze. That’s seven of his skills, I don’t know what the 8th one is.

Tc ran south right past all the scorpions. He did stop to kill minotaurs when he found them in a group. When he got to where the griffons are, he ran around agroing every griffon and every minotaur he could find. They ALL surrounded him at the same time. As far as I could tell, his health never dropped below 100% the entire time. Soon, every minotaur and griffon lay dead and he picked up the drops and returned to Augury. The trip took less than 10 minutes.

My thanks to Tc for allowing me to join him on his hunt. I hope I didn’t get in his way with my feeble attempts to help. It was a real privilege to be allowed into the secret world of Chinese farming.

Thanks Tc....your friend Willy

Yichi · Dec 09, 2005, 04:48 PM // 16:48

please dont encourage these people.....

Willy Rockwell · Dec 09, 2005, 05:08 PM // 17:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by MistressYichi

please dont encourage these people.....

There's an article in today's New York Times about "these people". I don't think my little thread will make things any worse. I was gratified to learn that this farmer was a real person, not a bot, and he has a very impressive build.

kimo the healer · Dec 09, 2005, 05:18 PM // 17:18

I have a story of american griffon farming in augury rock.

Go back to original post:
replace "Tc Chaos Bb" with "pwn ownz"

Willy Rockwell · Dec 09, 2005, 05:52 PM // 17:52

Here is a link to the NY Times article, called Ogre to Slay? Outsource It to Chinese

http://www.nytimes.com/2005/12/09/te...94&partner=AOL

sleazeh · Dec 09, 2005, 06:08 PM // 18:08

I don't know specifically about your new friend's situation, but you should be aware that

-often these farmers work for pennies a day in sweatshop conditions, very much in keeping with more traditional third world sweatshops in the garment industry.

-the practice of selling in game gold for real world money violates the EULA, and in certain jursidictions, may also be against the law

-on a much more mundane level, this practice skews the in-game economy, and indirectly, forces the game developers' hand into making updates which have historically at least, been unpopular.

I might try and curb my enthusiam for the phenomenom, if I were you. There's nothing about the build or skillset that isn't common knowledge and practice. The companies that employ these individuals, or use bots, do so solely to translate in-game currency and items into real world cash for their own profit.

Damon Windwalker · Dec 09, 2005, 06:15 PM // 18:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleazeh

I don't know specifically about your new friend's situation, but you should be aware that

-often these farmers work for pennies a day in sweatshop conditions, very much in keeping with more traditional third world sweatshops in the garment industry.

Actually, according to several articles I've read, these people are making some pretty darn good money compared to the average incomes in their areas - in several cases, making as much in a few weeks as the average annual income in their area.

And you gotta admit that it this kind of "sweatshop" would sure beat an industrial one!

Not that I support the farming at all - I agree that it ruins the game economy and is of questionable legality and ethics - but you should have your facts straight

Willy Rockwell · Dec 09, 2005, 07:33 PM // 19:33

Sleazeh wrote:

Quote:

I don't know specifically about your new friend's situation, but you should be aware that...

I'm well aware of the ethical and legal questions involved in discussing the phenomenon of Asian game farming, that is why I started the thread "Mystery in Augury Int 1" and why I made an effort to learn more about it from the inside.

I would hardly call this player my "new friend" as he will probably get in trouble for sharing his world with me. For that reason I feel compelled to honor his generosity and skill...otherwise his life is not one we would envy.

Further, I doubt his build is "common knowledge". I watched this player single-handedly defeat over 30 griffons and minotaurs simultaneously without seeing his health slip at all. While I believe the practice of selling virtual currency violates the spirit of the game and ruins the economy for honest players, I respect the skill of this one player who allowed me to witness his farming.

sleazeh · Dec 09, 2005, 07:39 PM // 19:39

I contend that the build is in fact, common knowledge and widely used.

I also contend that justifying sweatshop labour with the argument that "it's better than nothing" is no justification at all.

Edit: I'm including a link to a thread here from a while ago that illustrates some of the realities of farm houses:

http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=40543

Yichi · Dec 09, 2005, 07:43 PM // 19:43

do any search on the "Invinci Monk" builds. since the aoe nerf they added shield of judgement. no difference otherwise as its the same skills and stats and items.

so yes it is common knowledge

unienaule · Dec 09, 2005, 07:50 PM // 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by MistressYichi

do any search on the "Invinci Monk" builds. since the aoe nerf they added shield of judgement. no difference otherwise as its the same skills and stats and items.

so yes it is common knowledge

If you actually had done that search, you would have found, instead of it being common knowledge, most people either 1)Ask what it is or 2) Post a build that is not this one.

Yichi · Dec 09, 2005, 08:22 PM // 20:22

ok most ask what it is. there are a few modified builds that were EXACTICALLY like this one used even before the aoe patch. a guildmate in my old guild use this build with every skill that you listed. i have screenshots at home of the equipment and the conversation where they stated the skilsl and attributes. if you look hard enough you can find a build very similar if not exacticalyl like this one. they arent some nuclear secret or something.....

Savio · Dec 09, 2005, 08:29 PM // 20:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by unienaule

If you actually had done that search, you would have found, instead of it being common knowledge, most people either 1)Ask what it is ...

Most people keep asking "how do I find perfect/rare-skinned items" or "where do I farm?" or "how do I farm?" or other silly questions they could have searched for in 5 minutes. I'm pretty sure there's a thread or two in the Monk builds section as well as one in the Tyrian Explorers' League already. And I bet you someone will make a thread saying "give me a solo monk build" sometime this week.

And to the OP: What I said above. Solo Monking is pretty old by now.

Ruin · Dec 09, 2005, 08:54 PM // 20:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by kimo the healer

I have a story of american griffon farming in augury rock.

Go back to original post:
replace "Tc Chaos Bb" with "pwn ownz"

Best post in the thread.

ecirbaf · Dec 09, 2005, 09:04 PM // 21:04

O M G

No tattoos ! I'm impressed.

kimo the healer · Dec 09, 2005, 09:45 PM // 21:45

invinci monks use ascalon armor.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ecirbaf

O M G

No tattoos ! I'm impressed.

Eet GnomeSmasher · Dec 09, 2005, 09:52 PM // 21:52

What I want to know is if this guy himself said that he was a "professional farmer" working for a sweat shop that sells gold on Ebay..... or just an assumption that he does just because he's Chinese.

I mean there's a lot of idiots that think Chinese player = farming Ebay seller.

Fyre Brand · Dec 09, 2005, 10:03 PM // 22:03

From our perspective there are many human rights violations in some parts of Asia and China in particular. I notice how much people focus on what is going on over there and sweat shops and bots and farming and blah. I know sometimes E-Bay and in game purchasing is brought up, but it seems to me this is much more looked over since it's in our back yard. There would be NO farming and botting for items if rich western gamers didn't buy these items. This is something we have much more control over than what is happening in a highly controlled country outside of our direct jurisdiction. We can have a direct influence on this by not purchasing gold and items from websites that sell these. Ebay isn't even the main source of this, but sites set up solely for this purpose. When we as an American or European server community really care about this problem we will stop it on our end and then it will stop on their end.

Willy Rockwell · Dec 09, 2005, 11:14 PM // 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eet GnomeSmasher

What I want to know is if this guy himself said that he was a "professional farmer" working for a sweat shop that sells gold on Ebay..... or just an assumption that he does just because he's Chinese.

I mean there's a lot of idiots that think Chinese player = farming Ebay seller.

I met him in Augury Int 1, he says farming is his job, he says he is in China. I think I already said these things.

DeepFyre · Dec 09, 2005, 11:21 PM // 23:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by sleazeh

I don't know specifically about your new friend's situation, but you should be aware that

-often these farmers work for pennies a day in sweatshop conditions, very much in keeping with more traditional third world sweatshops in the garment industry.

-the practice of selling in game gold for real world money violates the EULA, and in certain jursidictions, may also be against the law

-on a much more mundane level, this practice skews the in-game economy, and indirectly, forces the game developers' hand into making updates which have historically at least, been unpopular.

I might try and curb my enthusiam for the phenomenom, if I were you. There's nothing about the build or skillset that isn't common knowledge and practice. The companies that employ these individuals, or use bots, do so solely to translate in-game currency and items into real world cash for their own profit.

I'm not sure if you realize this or not, but MANY PEOPLE WOULD BE GLAD TO HAVE A JOB THAT EVEN PAYS A PENNY A DAY. In a country with a billion+ people, it becomes very hard to come by a job in the city. Americans are so ignorant with this topic thinking that just because the laborers getting abused means they dont want the job. OBVIOUSLY THEY WANT THE JOB OR THEY WOULDNT BE DOING IT.