Frontier - Enough Shoulder Shrugging - Get Tough on Exploits and Exploiters.

[Theodrid]

To be clear from the offset, I am not going to list the rather large amount of exploits available in Elite Dangerous, we all know what/where they are, we all know there are countless exploit 'tutorials' on YouTube and the like and we all know they exist.

The following is taken from the SWTOR forums, now, don't get me wrong EA/Bioware has done a lot wrong with SWTOR, it is not half the game it should/could have been and is almost definitely on a downward trend in terms of its direction of travel and player numbers. One thing EA/Bioware have done reasonably well though over the years is dealing with exploits - when they have appeared - and those using them, the following is quoted from the SWTOR forums back in November last year, it is by no means unique in EA/Bioware's approach :-

Hey folks,

As we move towards the expansion launch, I wanted to post a reminder about our exploit policy and to talk about how it will work with Galactic Command. First, a general reminder on what to do if you think you have discovered an exploit:

• Discontinue the questionable action immediately.
• Send a private message to myself or Tait Watson on the forums with any and all details you have on the issue. Do not make a public post with this information.
• Submit an in-game bug report.
• If you happen to hear about a possible exploit, do not test it yourself. This can leave you open to action being taken against your account.

With those reminders in place, let's talk about Galactic Command and specifically Command Experience Points (CXP). When you reach level 70, most activities in the game will reward you with CXP, which will earn you Command Ranks and subsequently Command Crates. Since Command Crates are your source of end-game gear we are going to be extra diligent and harsh on exploits relating to CXP. As a reminder, an exploit is using the game in an unintended manner to gain an advantage, typically through the use of a bug or subversion of game mechanics.

If anyone is discovered to have abused an exploit related to CXP we intend to take severe action, including:

• Resetting that character(s) Command Rank to 1
• Stripping all gear/items earned from Galactic Command
• Standard ToS action up to and including permanent ban

Again, if you discover an exploit, please refrain from using it and report it to us privately as soon as possible. Thanks everyone!

-eric

Source :- http://www.swtor.com/community/showthread.php?t=902135

There have been many, many posts in the past from developers and from those who have exploited and faced subsequent action on the SWTOR forums. Sure, occasionally the ban/rollback hammer has been a little heavy handed from EA/Bioware, but, and it's a big but, everyone knows where they stand should they use, continue to use or abuse exploits in the game. Frontier, many, many horses have already bolted with regards to exploits, I get that, but it is never too late to make a stand, to say 'enough is enough'. Frontier, start rolling back serial exploiters, Frontier, start clamping down on those promoting said exploits, do not be afraid to use the ban hammer either when it is appropriate. Frontier, clean up your game, clean up the image of the game and regain the high ground that you have conceded all too easily.

 

[signal11th]

One mans terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.....

 

[Theodrid]

One mans terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.....

I think that applies in relation to legitimate in game 'terrorist' activities and roleplay, I consider it less relevant in terms of exploits and exploiters.

 

[Martian Successor]

You're talking to developers who coded in a built-in exploit into their latest feature - magic afk pips in multi-pew. Literally a pay 2 exploit feature that gives an advantage to those with 2 or more accounts over those with just one.

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

 

[Theodrid]

You're talking to developers who coded in a built-in exploit into their latest feature - magic afk pips in multi-pew. Literally a pay 2 exploit feature that gives an advantage to those with 2 or more accounts over those with just one.

I wouldn't hold my breath if I were you.

I agree on that Martian, however, as I said in my post - 'better late than never' is better than 'never'.

 

[Goose4291]

Fully agree. They should follow through with the shadowbanning threats, but its now gone on so long that its got to a point where people will just crack on with cheating and exploiting with no fear of repurcussions.

 

[VR jefranklin18]

I would like more to be done about exploits. Hopefully the mission stacking fix is the start of a crackdown but yeah, I would like to see Frontier publish a similar kind of policy.

 

[Pyrobee]

Really don't care how somebody else wants to play the game that they have paid for.

 

[Theodrid]

Fully agree. They should follow through with the shadowbanning threats, but its now gone on so long that its got to a point where people will just crack on with cheating and exploiting with no fear of repurcussions.

They absolutely should Goose, and I am talking across the board here, from credits to the BGS, from materials to those hurting PVP, the almost outright 'promotion' of exploits on their own bloody forum is ridiculous to be honest.

I would like more to be done about exploits. Hopefully the mission stacking fix is the start of a crackdown but yeah, I would like to see Frontier publish a similar kind of policy.

Hopefully it is a start, and yes a clearer almost unquestionable policy would help so much.

 

[Shar]

I think it's a bit late, as in the damage has been done, reputation wise elite rank means nothing and never will, exploration was still a good indicator but fdev managed to ruin that aswell with 2.2, credits are nothing infact there is not much integrity left in the game as it stands. even survival itself has no legitamacy thanks to combat logging. Its hard to see how frontier could have ruined the integrity of advancment any more than they have, if you did not know better you could almost think it was intentional. Its like they think their competing against my little pony online with there softly softly approch. As for the future i see no change and no indication that their suddenly going to find a backbone and all this from an acussed fanboy.

 

[Deadspin]

Literally, the only clear cut possible "exploit" in this game is the extra pips and even that, as far as I've seen, hasn't been fully tested. (IE: We all know turrets do less overall DPS than gimbaled/fixed weapons, so what if the extra pip actually just equalizes dps?)

Stop slinging this term "exploit" around. I feel like the forum has actually forgotten what it means and has applied some cultish group-think definition to it.

 

[Theodrid]

I think it's a bit late, as in the damage has been done, reputation wise elite rank means nothing and never will, exploration was still a good indicator but fdev managed to ruin that aswell with 2.2, credits are nothing infact there is not much integrity left in the game as it stands. even survival itself has no legitamacy thanks to combat logging. Its hard to see how frontier could have ruined the integrity of advancment any more than they have, if you did not know better you could almost think it was intentional. Its like they think their competing against my little pony online with there softly softly approch. As for the future i see no change and no indication that their suddenly going to find a backbone and all this from an acussed fanboy.

I agree to a point Shar, in many exploit cases it is indeed too late, but is it too late to start on a new path now? In my opinion Frontier could repair at least some of the damage done with a new, more meaningful and solid approach. Like you I do not hold out too much hope but a little still lingers that the right balance and attitude from Frontier on this issue can be achieved.

Literally, the only clear cut possible "exploit" in this game is the extra pips and even that, as far as I've seen, hasn't been fully tested. (IE: We all know turrets do less overall DPS than gimbaled/fixed weapons, so what if the extra pip actually just equalizes dps?)

Stop slinging this term "exploit" around. I feel like the forum has actually forgotten what it means and has applied some cultish group-think definition to it.

No, I'm sorry, I am not buying that, I am fully aware what an epxloit and what exploitation is, can you really say with a straight face that the ONLY exploit, (unintended use of game features/mechanics) in Elite Dangerous is the pips?

 

[amysteriousstranger]

Literally, the only clear cut possible "exploit" in this game is the extra pips and even that, as far as I've seen, hasn't been fully tested. (IE: We all know turrets do less overall DPS than gimbaled/fixed weapons, so what if the extra pip actually just equalizes dps?)

Stop slinging this term "exploit" around. I feel like the forum has actually forgotten what it means and has applied some cultish group-think definition to it.

Yeah that's the only "exploit" ....


I mean apart from all the ones that FD have said themselves are exploits like combat logging

You don't get to define what an exploit is, the creators of the game do and they say it's an exploit in the game they made, therefore it is and nothing you "think" can change that

 

[Shar]

Careful exploit is a dirty word to exploiters.

 

[Minoo Minou]

I personnaly don't care about some es who need exploits to progress. It's not like there's gold farming or something.

 

[CMDR _BigJay_]

Really don't care how somebody else wants to play the game that they have paid for.

This...

If there was some kind of PVP prize or competition(built in as part of the game) then I get it. But someone who is exploiting isn't hurting anyone but themselves(by shortening their overall game experience).

 

[Theodrid]

Really don't care how somebody else wants to play the game that they have paid for.

I respect that opinion, however to me the integrity of the gameworld and the perception of the developer does matter, the example I gave in the OP is not a PVP/competitive issue either(in the most). You have to ask yourself if this is a 'non issue' then why do so many developers take a hard line on exploitation - and not only in competitive games - and why do Frontier seem to be non-plussed on the issue?

 

[Shar]

Surprises me that some of you really dont get how importand the integrity of advancment is in a social game, because of exploiting elite rank means nothing for the exploiter or eveyboby else. its like those threads when someone boasts about becoming elite and 20 people pat then on their virtual back, personally i would be embarrassed to mention any achievment made in elite dangerous because it has no integrity when it comes to enforcing a set of rules that everbody has to play by. every developer has to deal with exploiting or their product is damaged by it....basic common sense, its about time fdev put thier big boy pants on.....crime and punisment across the board appears to be a problem for frontier.

 

[Iafeth]

Fdev have never bothered with PvP problems. Multi Crew just is the last example. But at least they fixed missions stacking. And honestly - you dont need another account for pips. You always can just invait a random player. It works well in beta.

 

[CMDR _BigJay_]

Surprises me that some of you really dont get how importand the integrity of advancment is in a social game, because of exploiting elite rank means nothing for the exploiter or eveyboby else. its like those threads when someone boasts about becoming elite and 20 people pat then on their virtual back, personally i would be embarrassed to mention any achievment made in elite dangerous because it has no integrity when it comes to enforcing a set of rules that everbody has to play by. every developer has to deal with exploiting or their product is damaged by it....basic common sense, its about time fdev put thier big boy pants on.....crime and punisment across the board appears to be a problem for frontier.

Now I'm a little confused... I think I know the game pretty well, are there exploits that gain you Elite rank?

I know I took advantage of some mis-calculations by FD for some of my rank. Sothis trucking got me Trade Elite quicker than any other way, and Sightseeing missions helped me go from Pioneer to Elite fairly quickly. But I can't imagine either of these would be considered exploits.