Does the mining system need an overhaul?

[MisterCookie]

After a returning from a long hiatus, I went mining earlier today in Gusgen Mines. Unfortunately, on my server at least, the place was completely overrun with CGFs and mining bots. In over an hour, I found only one open mining point(that was later stolen by two other miners).

Does anyone else think the mining system severely needs to be rethought? Should they add randomized mining points throughout the zone? Should they make them claimable? Anyone have any ideas on how to prevent the rampant botting occurring?

[Caspian]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

I don't think claimable mining points would be a bad idea at all. Like once you select to mine it, then it only becomes targetable to yourself or something. (I don't know if its possible with how targeting currently works.)

Until then, you may try sending them a /tell. Surprisingly its worked whenever someone jumps in on a spot I'm already on. You may have to do it occasionally if you mine for long periods of time or go frequently and see the same people. Not sure if they just forget or its someone else using the same account.

[LyonheartLakshmi]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

The best thing you can do is move over to Oldton(which just so happens to be connected directly to Gusgen). About a year ago, I used to mine Oldton quite frequently, even while Gusgen and (at times) Palborough was overrun by RMT. It seemed that RMTs weren't keen on paying for CoP. If your job info is correct, you well have no problems with aggro in Oldton.

[MisterCookie]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

I've moved most of my mining operation over to Oldton, but every once and a while there are still people botting over there. That suggestion doesn't however fix the primary problem with mining-its easy as hell to abuse it.

[GereOfRemora]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

I definitely would be in favor of a mining ovehaul. Anything to curb the insanity that is gusgen.

[Wanta]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

They should make mining a minigame kind of like fishing has.

[Aevise]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

hello world

[MisterCookie]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

Oh well, even if a fix isn't forthcoming, I hope GMs at least start enforcing the ToS when it comes to mining bots. It's not like they're hard to spot, Suppermodel has been in front of the same mining point in gusgen for about a week.

[ifandbut]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

A quote from the Rules of Conduct [Last updated: July 22, 2005]
"Prohibited Conduct in Final Fantasy XI"
-Using third party equipment and/or programs for controlling in-game characters without being phisically present in front of the game terminal (i.e. useing "bots")

This means that as long as you are near the terminal and able to respond to /tells from GMs and stuff then you are with-in your right to use a bot.

But, yes I wish the mineing points would randomly spawn all over the map so you could not longer have a bot that just warps from one point to the other.

[Irisjir Callard]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

Couldn't the GM's get the bots on third-party software violations of the windower type?

I mean if a couple of my friends who do nothing to screw over other people's gaming lives can get 72 hour suspensions for using windower with TParty running, can't the jackasses who put our economy through seventy-two mexican public toilets backwards get in on a little of that divine justice?

I mean imagine what 72 hours without a single botter in Gusgen would be like.

[ifandbut]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

I dont support bots, I just enjoy playing Devil's Advocate. I guess that untill SE changes that rule it will be at the discression of the GM that is called.

[Irisjir Callard]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

Lol I wasn't trying to attack you personally, I'm just feeling extraordinarily frustrated right now. It seems like SE is only really making token efforts to curb the gilseller plague.

[little ninja]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

A quote from the Rules of Conduct [Last updated: July 22, 2005]
"Prohibited Conduct in Final Fantasy XI"
-Using third party equipment and/or programs for controlling in-game characters without being phisically present in front of the game terminal (i.e. useing "bots")

This means that as long as you are near the terminal and able to respond to /tells from GMs and stuff then you are with-in your right to use a bot.

But, yes I wish the mineing points would randomly spawn all over the map so you could not longer have a bot that just warps from one point to the other.

Yeah sorry to burst your bubble but S.E only put in that rule temporary to deal with the over floodding of players calling on fish bots. once S.E implimented the new fishing system.

Secondly if they allowed you to bot an such why are playeres getting banned for fleetool an mrargus, an pos hacks? i mean arent they all "at their computer" 2k accounts gone.

http://www.playonline.com/ff11us/polnews/news8139.shtml

[Ziero]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

That rule basically says that if you're at your com, you can't get nailed for botting. Hacking and cheating, such as flee tools and Mr A are a different matter as they bend the rules in your favor greatly. But botting is technically just a program that completes a repetitive action without a player's input. The only way you can 'prove' someone is botting without a check on their system is to have a GM contact them. If they ignore the GM while continuing their activity it's a good indication that no one's there. But if you send someone a /tell and they respond, how can you prove they're afk botting?

I remember one time I was camping Doppler Dio in Hoto ruins. I was a 50 thf/Rng who knew the exact PH, their spawn time, and with WS could see the entire area from the center of the room. So I plucked myself down on the staircase in the middle of everything and every 6 minutes or so, as the PH/NMs have an 8 minute repop timer, would start spamming WS. I never moved my character until either a Balloon or NM appeared on my radar and when I saw it I hit flee and go claim without effort. Now at the same time there was a lvl 31 War/nin running back and forth between rooms camping them as well. After a few times of running by me and only seeing me move when I was coming back from killing a PH, he started accusing me of botting. I was kinda hoping he would call a GM as he claimed but that never happened, I guess someone in his LS musta told him about Widescan.

SE will ban bots, if they find them. But if the person is sitting at the com talking to the GM, it's kinda hard to prove they're a bot.

[little ninja]

Re: Does the mining system need an overhaul?

That rule basically says that if you're at your com, you can't get nailed for botting. Hacking and cheating, such as flee tools and Mr A are a different matter as they bend the rules in your favor greatly. But botting is technically just a program that completes a repetitive action without a player's input. The only way you can 'prove' someone is botting without a check on their system is to have a GM contact them. If they ignore the GM while continuing their activity it's a good indication that no one's there. But if you send someone a /tell and they respond, how can you prove they're afk botting?

SE will ban bots, if they find them. But if the person is sitting at the com talking to the GM, it's kinda hard to prove they're a bot.

Once again its that gray area we have talked about before. How is one form of a 3rd party tool permitted. an a second form of a 3rd party tool not. Or am i the only one failing to see the logic in it all. Botting does bend the rules in favor of one player over another. Just as postool, fleetool, an so on. Not to mention there are actually mining hacks. such as points being pulled to another point.

I still dont see how running windower is considered a crime, When someone can run a mining harvesting,fishing bot for the lifespan of the game.