EVE General Discussion

Hello, dear EVE community

It's me again with the same old story that shouldn't be here. Since a lot is happening on these forums every day, it's hard to remember something that was posted a year or so ago (well, except for Sherif Jones' CCP shop ... that one never gets old).

Here's a topic from last may: 100 bots detected in Jita area

Anyway, the reason why this thread shouldn't be here is not because it doesn't belong to General Discussion, but because one would think that something was done about the level 4 mission running bots since last year. Not only that the bots still work in large numbers, it looks like we are not even allowed to post their names any more too.

OK, fine... I won't mention their names, but sure will give disclose what I have now. You can read the linked forums post from the last May for information purposes and come back here for an update. (Hint: there's a behaviour pattern of the bots on page 4 of that thread).

Current situation:
- same naming pattern as before (random blabbering as names and corp names)
- bots don't fly Ravens any more. They are using Navy/Faction fitted CNRs, Golems and Tengus
- NPC corporation agents used: Corporate Police Force (as before) and Wiyrkomi Peace Corps (new)
- Most active systems: Waskisen (as before), Akonoinen and the surrounding area (the most infected one... right in front of Red versus Blue noses), Umokka
- bots still don't salvage or loot, they don't react on loot stealing and will not ever make any aggro on you
- running 24/7 with a couple of disconnects (for a few minutes... the "genius" behind the bot software must have thought it will make the bot less obvious to spot)
- number of bots spotted so far: 30-ish, but I haven't visited the old infected areas yet
- they won't let you wardec them since they will always drop the decced corp and make a new one before the war becomes active
- unlike the last time, they are turning on their tank right after undocking

About the previously reported group from the last May:
- out of 200-ish bots that were reported back then (100 of them listed on the thread), as far as I know only 2 of them are still active today - despite the fact that their behavioural pattern haven't changed and that they were reported as bots a couple of times over a timespan of a couple of months. Yes, those two are bots, yes they are doing the exact same thing for the exact same agents 24/7 without any disruption like they were doing in May last year.

My actions:
- I have used the "Report Bot" button on many of the newly discovered bots a couple of weeks ago and occasionally used it during last year when I happen to fly through infected areas. So far, I don't really think that "Report Bot" button does anything except showing that confirmation dialog.
- Taking the last point into account, I will create a petition and list all the names in it on top of reporting the bots using the button and, if necessary, contact CCP's security division directly by e-mail.

What you can do:
- find the bots yourself, since the forum is censored and we're not allowed to post their names any more. Just go to the infected areas, find a level 4 agent station, sit in front of it and look for unusual groups of Navy Ravens, Golems and Tengus with the same naming pattern undocking every few seconds
- report as many as you can
- use a ship scanner to make sure they are faction/navy fitted (you will notice a fitting pattern too)
- 10 Tornados with meta 3 artillery should be enough for a successful gank (if my math serves me well)
- add the bots to your watch list and track what CCP is doing about it

Why am I reporting this:
- I simply do not like the 500 mil price of the PLEX and bots pumping the ISK in the economy 24/7. I know it's not the only reason why the PLEX is at 500 mil, but it certainly makes an impact on the price.
- Bots are using ships and fits that many of the players that love this game can't afford. That kinda looks bad from game marketing point of view
- While we are at marketing, a question for CCP's marketing division: When a new customer comes to play this game and starts in the most populated area (Caldari higsec), or even engage in one of the oldest new player friendly activities in the game (Red Versus Blue), what do you think they feel about seeing multiple systems infected with bots?


We haven't moved an inch from the last May. There was no devblog about bots as promised 10 months ago and the backend bot detecting tools are still ineffective or does not exist at all. Sure, the bots from back then are mostly banned (after a couple of months), but that didn't stop their boss to make exactly the same setup all over again and continue with his business.

Your move, CCP.

Thank you for your attention.

My opinion is still that CCP's security task force is doing everything they are allowed to do to banish bots within the guidelines set forth by the finance department, reasonable modification of the game client/gameplay, and keeping within the boundaries of the law .

A partial fix would be to introduce a game mechanic that would allow bots to not receive CONCORD support and let the players do the enforcement. However, that is only a partial fix and does not take in to account the need to address low-sec and 0.0 bots that are often protected by their owner's corps and alliances which is only handled by AFK cloakers at the moment.

Calls to just gank are pointless against bots in the long run and are only good for the profits of Thrasher and Tornado manufacturers.

Keep up the good work, OP !
And don't listen to forum alts... you ARE Batman ! :D

CCP is not going to ban any botting accounts unless and until:

1) A significant number of players start hammering on CCP to do it via ingame reporting combined with a threadnaught.
(significant = thousands)

2) CCP no longer needs the additional subscription revenue from botters to stay afloat.


protip: There are other popular forums not run by CCP where you can name and shame botters.

Then pay for your subscription. Takes less time to make $15 than to make 500misk.



Those same fits are what attract gankers (exemplified by your own post). It's not about shiny bot-fit envy. There's a reason why those who would love to have them don't; they stand a good chance of losing them. If the "unattainability" of shiny mods hurts marketting like you say then nerf hisec ganking. (No, I am not condoning a hisec ganking nerf.)

I'm solidly against botting, let me get that out there. I'm just tired of the whining over plex prices and mod-envy.

If you want to gank these it may not need a fleet of Tornadoes. Maybe all you need do is fly into their mission, wait for the bot (assuming they are bots) to be hard pressed by the rats, then neut the bot. They are all active tanked. You only lose one ship, and the sec status hit for ship aggression is far less than for ship destruction.

Or go in with a sniper fit and hit all the mission triggers. That could kill the bot with no sec hit or CONCORD complications.

lol man Im gonna waste isk on 10 tornadoes for what reason exactly? I have no financial stake in ccp and killing a few bots doesnt really hurt anyone but you, im not going to waste hours a day sitting outside a station wasting billions of isk for you or to make some chinese kid in china angry.

I have done this with a scanner alt...hit the mission triggers in an extremely fast frig then fly to the missioner for a bit then get away.

Problem is...it takes time, not all missions are doable for this and almost all the time the missioner is a human.

A couple times the missioner was either a bot or an afk human and they still managed to tank the room even though I hit all the triggers. . 1 time the missioner warped out even though they never scolded me on local...so it could be the bot programmers can program that in as well.

The idea has merit though. It also lets you know whether someone is active at the controls or not.

tl;dr

In a nutshell, another whine about mission bots.

Look, until CCP does something about it, there's only one thing you can do: profit from the bots. Grab a decent ship, fit Expanded Probe launcher, fit combat probes (Sisters gear works nicely). Sit off gate and watch for faction battleships (Navy Raven is my favorite). When you start to see a pattern, probe for the particular bot/player, wait for a couple minutes, warp to them. Bookmark a can, follow toon thru gate(s). Bookmark wreck in each room. When mission is done and toon leaves system, bring in your speed-fit Dessie toon to salvage/loot. Rinse, repeat.

PS: have fun before CCP "allegedly" tweaks the aggro mechanics as suggested in another thread.