Guild Wars 2

Basically what happened was I played an extended stretch of time finishing my map completion for Queensdale (was probably in the zone for 2-3 hours). I was just going along completing Hearts & events when I just stopped getting loot from mobs. For a 30 minute period of time no single mob dropped an item, junk or otherwise. Then I just started to get loot again. Nothing really changed about what I was doing, I was in the same general killing mobs at about the same rate.

I was in the Southeast quadrant of Queensdale during this period if that matters.

Only thing I can think of is maybe there is some anti-botting code running amiss? It is actually a decent idea if that’s what it is but it shouldn’t be on a per zone basis but instead an area one, imo.

It’s been a discussions for a while now, it’s pretty obvious there’s an anti-farming code in the works.

Unfortunately this hurts the legitimate players grinding for mats worse than it hurts botters, since botters aren’t around to see the effect unlike real players who suffer the “no loot” periods.

Can confirm this. I grind in multiple zones farming for mats for crafting/trading post etc. There is some sort of timer on drop as OP stated, doesn’t really make since it actually hurts people like me that are legitimately farming mats for my professions.

Would love to see a official post on this so I at least know when to leave the zone due to the poor system.

yeah, bad system………………

I would like to see an official post on this as well if it really is happening. Considering my guildie saw a level 25 bot in the human tutorial area the other day where I doubt loot is the ultimate goal since it wasn’t being scaled down by the system and could one shot things, I doubt this is going to deter botting itself all that much.

It will certainly hurt completionlists and crafters if we are punished for staying in the same zone, though. Especially with all the claims of Survivor breaking when you leave a zone.

It is a nice idea.. as thusfar i’ve not heard anyone mention bots that can move (i’ve seen them coded it move on their own in other games from point A to B ) but not a docking system over an entire zone.

From what I understand, the system is not only there to prevent botting, but it is there to encourage the playerbase to move around. In other words, while the “loot cap” is in effect on zone X, you can go to zone Y and farm mats in the meantime (with more than one zone for most if not all level ranges this is not an issue).

This was discussed recently in GW podcast, and the way it (according to them) works is that it kicks in if you spend too much time in a single zone. While the system may not be perfect it has the effect that players in the level 80 zones can’t just sit there day in and day out, or at the very least have to move between the two zones… it means that the zones in theory are less likely to remain stagnant in terms of their DE’s when players have incentive to not stay and keep events stuck in a certain state.

Crise.9401:

From what I understand, the system is not only there to prevent botting, but it is there to encourage the playerbase to move around. In other words, while the “loot cap” is in effect on zone X, you can go to zone Y and farm mats in the meantime (with more than one zone for most if not all level ranges this is not an issue).

This was discussed recently in GW podcast, and the way it (according to them) works is that it kicks in if you spend too much time in a single zone. While the system may not be perfect it has the effect that players in the level 80 zones can’t just sit there day in and day out, or at the very least have to move between the two zones… it means that the zones in theory are less likely to remain stagnant in terms of their DE’s when players have incentive to not stay and keep events stuck in a certain state.

Understandable, But don’t you also think it is our right to know when to go to said Y zone from X? That’s all i’m looking for. Pretty sure this thread will just get closed/flamed but I think its a pretty good question.

Good comment btw. Hopfully we get some more like it.

I also noticed it too, if you kill am enemy for too long it will stop dropping items, you need to kill at least 1 or more of any other kind for it to drop stuff again.

Crise.9401:

… In other words, while the “loot cap” is in effect on zone X, you can go to zone Y and farm mats in the meantime (with more than one zone for most if not all level ranges this is not an issue)….

Yeah, and pay 5s all 30 minutes teleporting between the 2 zones.

Kyoss.9123:

Crise.9401:

… In other words, while the “loot cap” is in effect on zone X, you can go to zone Y and farm mats in the meantime (with more than one zone for most if not all level ranges this is not an issue)….

Yeah, and pay 5s all 30 minutes teleporting between the 2 zones.

Exactally. I was thinking, In the rare event we actually get a response by a Dev, Maybe we will get a timer on this and I could just log out to an alt during the “Anti-Botting” cycle or whatever we are going to call it. The period of time that drops basically stop for 30 minutes.

Just Teleporting to another Zone and teleporting back doesn’t really work reliably.
You need to spend some time in the other zone.

I can understand why Arenanet did this, but it’s still pretty annoying…

Blitzwing.1549:

Just Teleporting to another Zone and teleporting back doesn’t really work reliably.
You need to spend some time in the other zone.

I can understand why Arenanet did this, but it’s still pretty annoying…

This. If you get flagged by this system you have to spend a bit of time in the “other” zone.

These types of anti-farming systems are fairly common in MMOs, especially Korean-based ones. Most of them aren’t very effective.

Bellatrix.5402:

These types of anti-farming systems are fairly common in MMOs, especially Korean-based ones. Most of them aren’t very effective.

Well Guild Wars 2 isn’t a Korean-based MMORPG, nor does it belong to the Genre of so called “Asian Grinders”

And yes – nothing’s gonna keep a Bot from just teleporting (or walking) somewhere else.

Really stupid way to discourage botting… if the countermeasure you put in place effects people playing the game they way you are encouraging (i.e clearing cursed shore event chain) then you should really look at it.

Hurting normal players because of a malicious minority is just bad business practice and if they are doing it just to keep the gem market where they want it that’s disgusting profiteering, both would not surprise me to be honest.

Its also fun to see how this “feature” has been kept very quiet by ANet. I’m sure they understand if this gets out they will lose alot of customers. I’m already considering my future with this game, as I’m so heavily restricted in how I’m allowed to play it by ANet and actually get results.

I think it’s ridiculous for them to punish people for taking their time exploring a zone and enjoying the scenery, being social, or hanging around difficult skill caps to help others out.. because if you play causally instead of speeding through zone after zone you’ll be punished for it. That’s the basic gist of this farming code isn’t it? To reinforce that casual, social, or recreational play isn’t tolerated in GW2 and that if you want to try and acquire mats for crafting you’re twice dam*ed?

I know GW1 had some pretty crazy farming codes that they denied for a long time in the face or player proof to the contrary.. before they finally admitted to it. I’m glad to see GW2 not trying to lie about the existence of such farming codes but I still find them ludicrous.

Perhaps they could install a big countdown clock in the center of the screen to let us know when to flee a zone before we got locked out of loot and such?

So basically in GW2 you will be penalized for casual, social, or exploitative play (unless you’re going to do short stints in each zone to avoid a lockout) ?

What makes this even worse is the few 80 areas there are have tonnes of risen. It really is a joke I change area to try and get drops back and bam another sea of risen events and no drops.

The mob variety in end game areas is rather lacking, makes for a pretty sterile experience.

I doubt that Devs will comment it publicly. But obviously some anti-farm code exists in the game and it’s really annoying. Moreover it’s unable to prevent botting.

I personaly don’t like this anti-farm system because it’s able to kill a lot of fun I get from the game. And I really hate when someone “says” me like “hey, you are killing those mobs 20 minutes already. I think it’s too much. I recommend you to do something else or I’ll reduce your drop to zero…”

Seriously guys, that’s wrong way to prevent botting. This is best way to make players hate you Everyone should be able to play his own favourite way. Sure I mean fair way. You shouldn’t force players to change the way they play every ~20 minutes…

The mechanism isn’t stopping botters. I’ve see them in low level twenty zones and gold sellers all over the map chats.

Anyway, to level up crafting you either need have a a ton of money already for purchasing materials or collect the materials yourself. I choose to collect them, but with how it is currently you just get locked out of drops by the system all in the aim to try stop the cheaters who are in the extreme minority. Crippling areas of the game for the majority just because of a few “bad eggs” isn’t right.

Dungeons are not an alternative either, not only do they not have the required crafting material drops. But if you do a dungeon explorable route with a legit group it will probably take up to an hour and get you a massive repair bill for the effort. And dare I say if you do a dungeon explorable route with a “speed run” group you’re probably going to run into one or more people cheating to get the dungeon done faster— and I really don’t want to be associated with that kind of trouble.