Guild Wars 2

Lazaar.9123:

Botting is using third party software to do an automated process. Afking is nowhere near the same as botting.

Must agree. This is not botting. Leeching seems more accurate but we have no way of reporting that as of yet.

However I stand on my opinion that this is an exploit. Exploiting a cheap game mechanic to receive in game rewards with no effort made by the player. When they make a patch sometime in the future that removes the ability for pets to obtain kill credit — we will look back on this and know why they did it.

Just remember that. Until then — Those that partake in this, enjoy it while you can.

Lazaar.9123:

Botting is using third party software to do an automated process. Afking is nowhere near the same as botting.

Agreed. However, using a bot to avoid being kicked for inactivity…

I just reported someone for botting after they stood in the gate of Blue Oasis for over an hour (I collected screenshots with timestamps), including during the breach. I wonder if anything will come of it.

I never afk….too busy with stuff but i have to say….if i decide to stay in the same place for 24 hours….1 week….1 year and do not move is nobody’s bussiness,if i don’t use any exploits , botting …whatever…I really hate how the people focus on what others do and less on what they do,mind your own bussiness…

Nury.3062:

I never afk….too busy with stuff but i have to say….if i decide to stay in the same place for 24 hours….1 week….1 year and do not move is nobody’s bussiness,if i don’t use any exploits , botting …whatever…I really hate how the people focus on what others do and less on what they do,mind your own bussiness…

1) The argument can be made that leeching with one’s animal companion is, in fact, an exploitation of a game mechanic that was never designed to be used that way. (Leave it to the gaming masses to find a way, right?)

2) If a character is scaling an event in any way and is not helping with said event, yet still receives equal reward compared to those that are actively pushing that event. Yes, then it becomes other people’s business. If you’re afk in some dark corner on the map, I personally don’t care, but others may even go so far as to say that you’re taking up a slot that one of their friends could use to actually PLAY on that map. Again, their business. You may not like it or agree with it — that is fine — but it is what it is.

thorodenson.2907:

niea.7504:

thorodenson.2907:

ok you guys talking about the “bots” and third party programs need to do a bit more research. they arent using a bot. with the rangers, the pets auto agro when the player gets hit. this counts as an interaction and keeps that player in game. they are making smart use of in game mechanics and are not exploiting anything. literally they are choosing to not do anything. at all. get your facts straight

I’m not surprised by this guy’s comment, as the majority of the toons I see doing this belong to the guild he is in, PARA.

My guild has nothing to do about it. my point is people need to realize that no rules are being broken and no one is violation EULA or anything like that. ANET put the mechanics into the game, those players are just using them. constantly reporting them as botters doesnt work because they arent botting.

Similar thread about going afk. Source
Regina Buenaobra
Content Marketing Team Lead
“Anything that automates game play to the point where you are able to not actually play the game as-intended (example: you can walk away from it) is considered a breach of the User Agreement.”

I also recall reading, but can’t pull up a link because of the forum reorganization (get an error message), a thread where Rangers were disciplined (banned/suspended) for going afk and letting pets attack neighboring mobs.

This is a ticket where someone was afk farming and got a 3 day suspension. Ticket

Windsagio.1340:

OP could always try shaming, but they usually don’t care.

Tom Gore.4035:

Kite stuff on them and watch them die.

Too bad they removed the repair costs so it’s not worth ressing them until they’re naked.

I’d be a bit cautious using either method as they could be considered harassment and then you only risk your own account.

Largely the problem is in the design of the content combined with the general laziness of those individuals.

Astral Projections.7320:

I also recall reading, but can’t find, a thread where Rangers were disciplined (banned/suspended) for going afk and letting pets attack neighboring mobs.

This seems harsh and unfair. Sad that ArenaNet would do that. How do they separate a ranger that is exploiting their game mechanic versus a player that legitimately just stepped away from their computer for whatever reason?

It would be better, IMO, if they fixed the problem at its core. Either remove the ability for animal companions to get experience based on anything they do OR remove the ability for animal companions activity in keeping players from being kicked to the character selection screen. If they can’t perma-afk and/or gain credit for doing nothing themselves = Solution.

Azhure.1857:

Astral Projections.7320:

I also recall reading, but can’t find, a thread where Rangers were disciplined (banned/suspended) for going afk and letting pets attack neighboring mobs.

This seems harsh and unfair. Sad that ArenaNet would do that. How do they separate a ranger that is exploiting their game mechanic versus a player that legitimately just stepped away from their computer for whatever reason?

It would be better, IMO, if they fixed the problem at its core. Either remove the ability for animal companions to get experience based on anything they do OR remove the ability for animal companions activity in keeping players from being kicked to the character selection screen. If they can’t perma-afk and/or gain credit for doing nothing themselves = Solution.

I doubt there will be a good solution, but I think that if they wish to continue with that trend a similar ban for those trying to trains onto a player with pet/minion(s), just to keep the behavior in check.

Sad thing is they ignore the TP bots entirely, but it’s their game they can do what they want with it so long as the company stays out of the red.

Since i’m using 2 screens all the time, while playing the game. So, if decide to afk at the fort, while doing stuff on the other screen. And just switch to the game every few min, for few sec to move. Will you report me for botting as well?

And now you complain for being afk …. what is next “minions are too slow” ?

This is game , not a job or anything else , the afk poeple dont harm anyone , and if that the case go to another map or deal with it , or better grow the kitten up

Conaywea.5062:

And now you complain for being afk …. what is next “minions are too slow” ?

This is game , not a job or anything else , the afk poeple dont harm anyone , and if that the case go to another map or deal with it , or better grow the kitten up

For the sake of argument they do count against the total number of people allow on that copy of the map and depending on placement effect the scaling of events.

As for whether or not that hurts anyone is subjective.

Azhure.1857:

Astral Projections.7320:

I also recall reading, but can’t find, a thread where Rangers were disciplined (banned/suspended) for going afk and letting pets attack neighboring mobs.

This seems harsh and unfair. Sad that ArenaNet would do that. How do they separate a ranger that is exploiting their game mechanic versus a player that legitimately just stepped away from their computer for whatever reason?

It would be better, IMO, if they fixed the problem at its core. Either remove the ability for animal companions to get experience based on anything they do OR remove the ability for animal companions activity in keeping players from being kicked to the character selection screen. If they can’t perma-afk and/or gain credit for doing nothing themselves = Solution.

How do they separate? My guess is
1) time: hours afk.
2) how often: repeatedly over a number of days.
3) circumventing the game’s auto kick feature by setting a skill on auto cast.
4) getting some sort of ingame reward while doing the above.

Every Ranger, I would think, has gone afk for a few minutes up to the time the game kicks them and had their pet defend them while gone. That’s not the ones I’ve seen posting threads about getting a suspension. It’s when they deliberately go afk, keep the game from kicking them, get rewarded in some way and do it repeatedly. That’s the ones who can be disciplined if caught.

Azhure.1857:

Must agree. This is not botting. Leeching seems more accurate but we have no way of reporting that as of yet.

Because there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, it’s so common in WvW that my server wouldn’t have any players left if they were kicked/banned every time they leeched my camp flipping.

Again, Anet devs and forum staff have responded to many threads this week, but not this one. Why do you think that is?

Herr der Friedhoefe.2490:

Azhure.1857:

Must agree. This is not botting. Leeching seems more accurate but we have no way of reporting that as of yet.

Because there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, it’s so common in WvW that my server wouldn’t have any players left if they were kicked/banned every time they leeched my camp flipping.

Again, Anet devs and forum staff have responded to many threads this week, but not this one. Why do you think that is?

They want to avoid taking a stance on it. Also to not have another incident of sometime players goals run opposed and that is alright comment that completely went against the stance of completion of an event is not griefing.

ArenaNet needs to make some minor fixes to address this.

First, players shouldnt be able to circumvent the AFK kick mechanic through pets or other ingame mechanics. A player should have to actively do something in game (input via their keyboard) to turn the timer off. Ideally, continual action should have to persist for X number of seconds to count.

Second (and much simpler), NPCs in Silverwastes shouldnt be programmed to rez players any more.

I realize there is more they could do longer term – or more sophisticated solutions – but these are the ones they need to focus on first.

This kind of leeching is among the worst kind of behavior in this game – PERIOD. It destroys the fun of a zone for large groups of players and forces the developers to have to create workarounds or design fights with the question “can the players exploit this?” rather than “can the players have fun doing this?” Anything we can do to discourage it is welcome.

Blaeys.3102:

ArenaNet needs to make some minor fixes to address this.

First, players shouldnt be able to circumvent the AFK kick mechanic through pets or other ingame mechanics. A player should have to actively do something in game (input via their keyboard) to turn the timer off. Ideally, continual action should have to persist for X number of seconds to count.

Second (and much simpler), NPCs in Silverwastes shouldnt be programmed to rez players any more.

I realize there is more they could do longer term – or more sophisticated solutions – but these are the ones they need to focus on first.

This kind of leeching is among the worst kind of behavior in this game – PERIOD. It destroys the fun of a zone for large groups of players and forces the developers to have to create workarounds or design fights with the question “can the players exploit this?” rather than “can the players have fun doing this?” Anything we can do to discourage it is welcome.

Only slightly unrelated the is there any reason why chattingm crafting, and inventory management are not considered ‘active’ play. The only reason I could see is to maybe keep the TP bots in check.

On the “can the players exploit this?” thing the general stance of first exploit profit mindset that as be establish is a large problem, but one that they do not have a good solution for.

Unfortunately for some of the worst ‘offenders’ the acquisition is the ‘fun’ for them so how is this designed around.

Astral Projections.7320:

Azhure.1857:

Astral Projections.7320:

I also recall reading, but can’t find, a thread where Rangers were disciplined (banned/suspended) for going afk and letting pets attack neighboring mobs.

This seems harsh and unfair. Sad that ArenaNet would do that. How do they separate a ranger that is exploiting their game mechanic versus a player that legitimately just stepped away from their computer for whatever reason?

It would be better, IMO, if they fixed the problem at its core. Either remove the ability for animal companions to get experience based on anything they do OR remove the ability for animal companions activity in keeping players from being kicked to the character selection screen. If they can’t perma-afk and/or gain credit for doing nothing themselves = Solution.

How do they separate? My guess is
1) time: hours afk.
2) how often: repeatedly over a number of days.
3) circumventing the game’s auto kick feature by setting a skill on auto cast.
4) getting some sort of ingame reward while doing the above.

Every Ranger, I would think, has gone afk for a few minutes up to the time the game kicks them and had their pet defend them while gone. That’s not the ones I’ve seen posting threads about getting a suspension. It’s when they deliberately go afk, keep the game from kicking them, get rewarded in some way and do it repeatedly. That’s the ones who can be disciplined if caught.

As far as I can tell 1, 2, and 4 can be done by innocent players that had to afk for life reasons. If they’re pet is unintentionally keeping them game active, how is it their fault? The third that you gave would be a good reason if that were actually what we were discussing…. but I don’t believe it is. Please correct me if I’m wrong but we’re just talking about Ranger players standing within certain event limits and their pets are getting kill credit and NPCs are keeping the player alive.

So again…. I don’t see how Anet could be CERTAIN these players are doing this intentionally. Its a flaw in their system, one that should be fixed, not something all players should be punished for…

Blaeys.3102:

Second (and much simpler), NPCs in Silverwastes shouldnt be programmed to rez players any more.

I actually adore NPCs reviving me when I’m down. Its only fair considering how many of them I revive. I’d much prefer one of the two possible solutions I’ve already posted above.

Astral Projections.7320:

Similar thread about going afk. Source

Those people weren’t banned for being AFK, they were banned for exploiting in-game mechanics to bot. People would use pets, turrets and auto cast to tag events and level or farm karma while they were away. The people intentionally doing it were parked at events that were static and farmed by many, such as the camps/tunnel in Orr, and they doing it for days.

Simply going AFK in the open world is not against the rules. If ArenaNet wanted to, they would change the kick timer to 5-10 minutes like most other MMOs instead of the 30-60 minutes it is now. AFKing isn’t really the problem however considering zergs are just zoning in near the end of the event.

Azhure.1857:

Nury.3062:

I never afk….too busy with stuff but i have to say….if i decide to stay in the same place for 24 hours….1 week….1 year and do not move is nobody’s bussiness,if i don’t use any exploits , botting …whatever…I really hate how the people focus on what others do and less on what they do,mind your own bussiness…

1) The argument can be made that leeching with one’s animal companion is, in fact, an exploitation of a game mechanic that was never designed to be used that way. (Leave it to the gaming masses to find a way, right?)

2) If a character is scaling an event in any way and is not helping with said event, yet still receives equal reward compared to those that are actively pushing that event. Yes, then it becomes other people’s business. If you’re afk in some dark corner on the map, I personally don’t care, but others may even go so far as to say that you’re taking up a slot that one of their friends could use to actually PLAY on that map. Again, their business. You may not like it or agree with it — that is fine — but it is what it is.

1) I do not use exploits,i like to help everyone around me,i can think that i am a nice person but for the sake of this argument i say this >>>
How can you say that’s exploitation since was the same from release…you could leave your pet and go afk near any event and get reward from it if the pet attacked,because the ppl are now complaining about it doesn’t mean that is a new thing and how can you say that is exploitation….makes no sense….the pet is killing mobs who are attacking the player,sounds ok to me since that’s what is supposed to do,and people are getting mad for 2 crests…i don’t get it…envy?! becasue they play and do a lot more crests by not being afk…?!

2) If i am afk at a place and i am scaling an event i might be an @ss but that doesn’t mean i don’t have the right to be there and that goes for the friend’s slot…i payed for this game like everyone else…i think i can stay wherever i want whenever i want…
I do not do the stuff i said above but it’s my point of view on this situation…i think the players should stop looking what others do…

Nury.3062:

1) How can you say that’s exploitation since was the same from release…

While the issue at hand is not a bug, it is an exploitation. A game mechanics exploitation, one that is working as designed but not as it was intended. Players have received punishments for exploiting the system in this way in the past. It is no surprise that we see it again here now.

Two factors are to blame for this…
1) Animal companions auto-attacking and gaining event credit for their masters, all the while keeping them permanently “active” without the character doing anything.
2) Players or NPCs reviving the player in question so the cycle can continue without them being kicked.

Perhaps you think the word, exploitation, is too strong in this case? Would abuse or misuse fall better off your tongue?

Just because something has been one way from the beginning does not mean it is fully supported by the game developers or the entire gaming community. There are many things in GW2 that they have to work on and fix. A solution to this nonsense is just one of many.

Nury.3062:

2) If i am afk at a place and i am scaling an event i might be an @ss but that doesn’t mean i don’t have the right to be there and that goes for the friend’s slot…i payed for this game like everyone else…i think i can stay wherever i want whenever i want…
I do not do the stuff i said above but it’s my point of view on this situation…i think the players should stop looking what others do…

Please, somebody correct me if I’m wrong in this, but would the ‘Kick for Inactivity’ system in this game disagree with you in this case? No, they’re not using a third party program to subvert that program. Instead they’re using a poorly designed game mechanic to do the very same thing a third party program would do. In the first scenario the guilty party is the player. In the latter situation both ArenaNet and the player are guilty.

People really shouldn’t be accusing others of exploiting when they clearly aren’t. Pets always put players in combat, this is an intended mechanic, and when players are in combat the game obviously assumes that you aren’t afk. Its all working as intended.

AFK farming is being punished and that is official. There are threads about this already, and the term ANet uses for it is “extended unattended gameplay”. There is even a post from the game security lead Chris Cleary himself, saying that he just cleaned out about 25 of such people farming drytop events. This is just one month in the past and the post can be found here:

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/Bot-Hot-Spots/4534188

In dry top these people usually needed to put their selfheal on autocast to keep them alive and farming the events, in the silverwastes they do not need to to this, which makes it harder to pinpoint the offenders. However, the offence of “extended unattended gameplay” stays the same, and all this oh-so-innocent “it cannot be against the rules to go afk” talk will get you nowhere when you get suspended for it and end up with an account flagged for immediate termination upon the next offence.

I regularly report these afk leechers for botting.

Lifestealer.4910:

People really shouldn’t be accusing others of exploiting when they clearly aren’t. Pets always put players in combat, this is an intended mechanic, and when players are in combat the game obviously assumes that you aren’t afk. Its all working as intended.

Yep, those guards with GS retal on auto cast who don’t move for hours are clearly not exploiting. Those 4-5 rangers (same names, same guilds) who afk for 10+ hours per day at the same place for 3 days currently and possibly more also aren’t exploiting. Kindly take your defense of these kittens and shove it. I don’t play this game for the benefit of others. I play it for the benefit of myself and when the pieces of kitten scale an event I’m doing and getting rewards for my hard work, I want to see them banned.

Some people are really only reading what they want to hear.
If you say its working as intended, then why isn’t it possible for all the other classes?
Why do I have to play a ranger or necro to afk farm in Silverwastes ? This is forcing me to play a particulair class to enjoy an intended feature.

What would you say if there were 50 afk farmers at one camp ? Still the same?

I find it hilarious that some people are in here posting for the sake of debating and fence riding without vesting in the over all point, which is, these AFK farmers are earning rewards without playing the game and taking advantage of a design flaw with the character class and exploiting it. No matter which way it’s cut, that is the point. They’re not playing the game, they’re AFK and getting loot.

Back on topic – What is going to be done about it? Not an answer from a player who thinks that thinks they know the ELUA or what the dev’s think, how about a Dev or Anet rep voice their opinion.

Shivan.9438:

What is going to be done about it? Not an answer from a player who thinks that thinks they know the ELUA or what the dev’s think, how about a Dev or Anet rep voice their opinion.

If they haven’t answered you yet, they aren’t likely too, because the players aren’t doing anything wrong. Besides that? It’s Christmas Day.

You’re asking for a Dev to come in here and comment on Christmas Day?

Good luck with that.

Herr der Friedhoefe.2490:

Shivan.9438:

What is going to be done about it? Not an answer from a player who thinks that thinks they know the ELUA or what the dev’s think, how about a Dev or Anet rep voice their opinion.

If they haven’t answered you yet, they aren’t likely too, because the players aren’t doing anything wrong. Besides that? It’s Christmas Day.

You’re asking for a Dev to come in here and comment on Christmas Day?

Good luck with that.

I never said it had to be Christmas day. Your sarcasm was wasted.

Shivan.9438:

Herr der Friedhoefe.2490:

If they haven’t answered you yet, they aren’t likely too, because the players aren’t doing anything wrong. Besides that? It’s Christmas Day.

You’re asking for a Dev to come in here and comment on Christmas Day?

Good luck with that.

I never said it had to be Christmas day. Your sarcasm was wasted.

It wasn’t sarcasm. The players simply aren’t doing anything wrong.

They will likely not post in this thread, regardless if its a holiday or not.
However they will have to address the problem in one manner or another, eventually. Unchecked exploitation doesn’t normally correct itself, after all. We’re all just wondering:
1) How long it will take them?
AND
2) In what way will they fix it? More bans/suspensions or an actual fix to the game mechanic at the heart of this issue?

Azhure.1857:

They will likely not post in this thread, regardless if its a holiday or not.

Nope.

However they will have to address the problem in one manner or another, eventually.

Have you been paying any attention to the lack of development in WvW?

Trust me, they can ignore this problem too, for a very long time.

Bandit.8279:

Yup. Report as bots and let ANet sort it out. Hopefully they don’t let it get out of control.

Being afk doesn’t make them bots. I can see such a thing getting way out of hand. Going to the restroom and getting reported. This type of nonsense is what started the DR fiasco over a year ago.

SHM.7628:

Bandit.8279:

Yup. Report as bots and let ANet sort it out. Hopefully they don’t let it get out of control.

Being afk doesn’t make them bots. I can see such a thing getting way out of hand. Going to the restroom and getting reported. This type of nonsense is what started the DR fiasco over a year ago.

You should read the rest of the thread as you’ve obviously missed a lot. Especially my 2nd post which would be a good response to yours.

I agree it’s not technically botting and a better term for it is afk-farming. There is also a noticable difference between someone who is afk and someone who is afk-farming. ANet does not take action without carefully investigating the matter which is why botters take some time to get banned. Better to let a few rule breakers slip through the cracks than crack down on an innocent customer.

Time spent still, placement and is the account getting rewarded for not being present at the keyboard are probably how ANet probably judges if someone is afk-farming. I’m sure they observe the account for a good amount of time.

Most of us MMO veterans can tell the difference between a bot, an afk-farmer and someone who is just afk. ANet gets the final word if enough reports are sent. If your doing nothing wrong than you have nothing to worry about.

Also, Astral & Shikigami have very informative posts above that should be read.