143 replies to this topic

[Campitor]

Hey Folks,

 

So we've been working on retraining the GM team since June. Introducing the dedicated 24/7 bot hunting team in September and over all trying to improve the player experience when dealing with the GM team (Xealot as the GM Liaison).

 

We know that the bots continue to be the greatest concern in the community. We're working on several routes of attack to deal with the bot situation.

 

1. Removing the benefit of botting.

 

The quickest return on efforts bots can get is consumables and crafting items for other consumables. Since these are always in demand they tend to sell well to the player economy. Unfortunately this has also always historically been the best route for new users to earn a little zeny to get started.

Were going to turn many of these items into NPC sold. To start with WSS, Stems, Strawberries, Blue Herbs. With plans to expand later into other items should the tests go will. They will be sold for near market value of these items

 

At the same time were going to be working on providing new users with quests to get good starter consumables so that they can fund their adventuring habits.

 

2. Stemming the tide of bot creation accounts.

 

We are analyzing the registration information of the bots that are being banned and working to filter out their ability to create new replacement accounts. Through the use of Captcha or even closing down that particular registration page if that is the only use it is serving.

 

3. Upgrading the GM team..

 

Xealot and I are reviewing the bot banning process that the current team is using and how they are making multiple account associations. Unfortunately due to the prevalence of proxies it is not just quit as simple as banning every account on the IP address. There is a need to train the fine tuned ability to connect accounts through trade, registration information, mail, and other activities.

We are also working with other teams in the company to make sure that the GMs have more tools available to them to make these associations.

 

Some of these can be enacted as early as next week while others will take longer to setup and get running. Overall we are not content with the current health of the server and will continue to expend efforts fighting the infestation.

[Xellie]

Were going to turn many of these items into NPC sold. To start with WSS, Stems, Strawberries, Blue Herbs. With plans to expand later into other items should the tests go will. They will be sold for near market value of these items

 

 

I...you...what... no! 

[Spoon]

Lol

[Campitor]

I...you...what... no! 

Realistically the bots are already acting as an unlimited supply. Since we can better control npc sell prices in renewal we can directly compete with their ability to make zeny and drive them out of business.

Then we can work on providing ways for guilds to supply themselves through in game activity.

[xxpoopoxx]

Seeing as how the MvPing scene is already pretty dead (same 2-3 people @ different times of the day), wouldn't taking the Rideword Hat out of the cash shop motivate at least a FEW people to stop sitting in town and form groups to actually try and compete at MvPs or do you guys really just prefer when people toss their cash at the game with their ~*cute*~ hats to sit in town with nothing to do? 

 

Adding this crap to the cash shop just makes it so much less rewarding for people that actually do go out of their way to kill MvPs..

 

I mean, I doubt it would change much with the current state of the game but come on, give people some motivation to actually do something in the game. Not everything needs to be in the cash shop or purchasable through silvervines/KP. -_-'s lame.

 

 

HELLLOOooOOOOo PLS RESPOND

Edited by VModCinnamon, 02 December 2017 - 02:10 PM.
Mod Edit: Removed Red/Bold font, Red/Bold is for moderation. Edited font styling.

[iSeenUB4]

2 & 3 are welcome changes but for 1. wouldn't it be wiser to consult the community first?

Oh right, what am I saying /swt

OKAY SO HOW CAN YOU GUYS MAKE A MAJOR CHANGE LIKE 1?? But when we ask you about other changes/customization you tell us you need to consult studio?

Edited by iSeenUB4, 29 November 2017 - 11:37 AM.

[Morlord]

I'm not at all happy with point 1., so totally not.

Could that please not happen, having all the items just be in NPC shops, like whaaaat????

[Nayru123]

Holy -_-.
Braindead.

[Spoon]

If I facepalm any harder, I might actually die

[Kiniro]

One suggestion. Don't make blue herbs NPC able. But make regular blue pots npc-able. Keep the appeal for alchemist supply hunters and keep them relevant. Ranked alchy things.

[iSeenUB4]

Did studio agree with 1? lol

[Xellie]

Realistically the bots are already acting as an unlimited supply. Since we can better control npc sell prices in renewal we can directly compete with their ability to make zeny and drive them out of business.

Then we can work on providing ways for guilds to supply themselves through in game activity.

 

Well I'm glad you understood my initial concern with the unlimited supply thing. 

 

But this will make botting for zeny much more profitable, you're just shifting the problem whilst hurting the new player incomes.

 

I understand you're putting in quests for these things but having played some more recent and modern MMOs lately oh god the whole questing at low levels thing is soooooooooo tedious and boring. 

 

If you're looking at ingame activity for supply, my suggestion would be to take something similar to the GSB and add them to high level quests (don't lock players away in the GD, it makes the server look empty) 

[Stephcake]

This is what people wanted to see; good to know something is being done on your end. Let's hope it helps.

Any news on Gravity's end regarding an anti-bot shield?

And also, no offense, but uh... This game is 15 years old, why are they being retrained now and not years ago...?

[Bazzz]

What about all the zeny made out of thin air from bots npcing loot? Thats where the zeny inflation actually comes from. Your not stopping any zeny coming in from the bots.

 

RTMers will just undercut the NPC if it's the best way to get zeny or move to botting cards/cyfars/elus/oris or anything else in the game. 

 

This removes zeny from the server but it's all relative since RMTers will just charge more per mil if it's harder to get and RMTing is still much better than buying wpe. 

 

 

 

Edited by Bazzz, 29 November 2017 - 12:42 PM.

[needmorezleep]

i dont mind number 1 but it would also be nice if some of those items dropped from higher maps

[Quaxitos]

Can we maybe get a few kill quests in higher level maps that provide SV so that F2P players can also get into the economy?

 

As for point 1, you've basically made it so that things that people need are not available as a source of income for those who need it, and further stunted the ability of a new/F2P player to get into the market and start enjoying the game.

[Dunnow]

TBH i love #1. It's one of the best zeny sinks possible and provides an infinite amount of items which are botted to 90% anyways.

[SoulLoki]

No bot shield in future 

Edited by SoulLoki, 29 November 2017 - 11:40 AM.

[Campitor]

2 & 3 are welcome changes but for 1. wouldn't it be wiser to consult the community first?

Oh right, what am I saying /swt

OKAY SO HOW CAN YOU GUYS MAKE A MAJOR CHANGE LIKE 1?? But when we ask you about other changes/customization you tell us you need to consult studio?

 

 

I'm not at all happy with point 1., so totally not.

Could that please not happen, having all the items just be in NPC shops, like whaaaat????

 

 

One suggestion. Don't make blue herbs NPC able. But make regular blue pots npc-able. Keep the appeal for alchemist supply hunters and keep them relevant. Ranked alchy things.

Thank you for sharing your concerns. This is the planning stage where we are gathering your feedback. As I said were not doing it this week because we KNOW that it affects a larger part of the community.

[Obbahu]

First I thought it was a thread to expose bots, and where we could find them. Like a bot hunting for the community (something like the Air Strike thread), but then ...

I was like, what?!

 

 

 

 

[Shanedude]

Start banning zeny buying players please.

They're feeding the enemy money. Instead of feeding WP.

 

[Stephcake]

First I thought it was a thread to expose bots, and where we could find them. Like a bot hunting for the community (something like the Air Strike thread), but then ...
I was like, what?!

The answer to the thread title is simply "everywhere"

[DrunkenBear]

I don't really mind if you put like a normal blue pot, mastela fruit or anything beside alchemist mats to the npc.

 

And the other thing that already people suggested.

 

Make a woe potion exchanger. WoE Blue Pot <-> WoE White Pot with zeny. It will helps a lot of people.

[iSeenUB4]

Campitor, would you please take the time to explain to us why in the past:

1. A bot shield was mentioned?
2. New anti-botting solutions were being brought?
3. You are waiting on Korea for a response on anti-botting?

Finally could you explain what permits iRO to create NPC sold consumables [SP] just like in a private server and be allowed to do it? And what do you actually need approval from Studios for?
 

[bigbanks]

Realistically the bots are already acting as an unlimited supply. Since we can better control npc sell prices in renewal we can directly compete with their ability to make zeny and drive them out of business.

Then we can work on providing ways for guilds to supply themselves through in game activity.

Blue herbs are okay.
Change strawberries into lemons.
Add WSS, immortal hearts, alcohols, mermaid hearts, zenorc's fangs, and fabric as a supply box from MVPs or harder-to-kill monsters. WoE supply boxes are already available on other servers--no reason why they can't be on here.