My thoughts on how bannings work & suggestions as to how to possibly avoid them.

[thefrobel]

So... on the topic of banning botting accounts. Not only is it my understanding, but I also believe I read somewhere that Blizzard gives out bans to accounts 'suspected of botting / using exploits' . If it was a warden-esque D3 software that saw programs sending commands to the client(s), every account using AIT, DB, IK, AHK, etc.., all those such accounts would get banned immediately (every time they swept). Since some people running the same scripts / progs/ hacks / w/e have none, some, or all accounts banned it leads me to believe that Blizzard looks for non-human capable & repetitious activity. No one can run the same Sarkoth run twice in a row and click the same spots, cast the same spells, and do the same things in the same exact timestamp (per run). So once blizzard has tagged an account they 'SUSPECT' is botting, by mapping the in game activities, they probably build a hierarchy of data to support this, and once an account gets flagged, say 3 times, they issue a ban.

While that still doesn't explain the ppl out there using say an AIT Barb Sarkoth script farming 350KPH 24/7 for the last 3 months, I'm sure Blizzard holds some key factors in higher regards than others. Specifically AH manipulation (especially since RMAH is live), and other exploits (like dual acct ZK runs from the same IP). If you have had 1 acct running a very basic 1 class Gfarm script 24/7 for > 4 Weeks, or a VPN single system dualboxing ZK runs 24/7 or the like, I'd love to know. I'm trying to build a knowledge-base of "highly-likely" infringements that lead to bannings.

Which brings me to my point / thought. By making scripts more verbose and adding random elements into them I feel that Blizzard will be LESS LIKELY to issue an account ban. Yeah they will reduce your GPH, but isn't 5x accts @ 250KPH > 0-1 ACCT @ 400KPH? (the answer is 'yes'). So for something like the _ ([Goldfarming] [HYBRID] BlackSack's Script [AutoIT] [1920x1080]) I've been running that just introduced multiple 60 swapping, if you cycle through 3 diff classes of (or maybe even just 3 diff same class) toons, I'm assuming that Blizzard would have a MUCH HARDER time building a case against you botting. ON TOP of that, if you add in random elements, such as subroutines that randomly move you around a little bit before running into the cellar (or even around a little on no-cellar runs before teleporting), or even stretching it as far as adding in a subroutine that makes you do another (or other multiple) quick & easily macroable quests, I feel the loss in GPH would be a cost well spent to gain a much higher likelihood of not being banned.

Flame away!

If this should be under another forum thread, please feel free to move it, but I felt it warranted it's own.

[Prooz]

Well I agree with your assessments, and I know for a fact there have been some people working on adding randomization into these scripts. (random pathing etc) It seems the masses have generally been going the other direction and wanted faster scripts at the sake of looking more like a bot. With the recent bans though I hope this changes. I know I would use a script that was trying to look more human like at the sake of some GPH. If scripting was a hobby of mine thats definitely the direction I'd take personally.

[Zathan]

I would like to add my own personal thoughts on this subject. I've played various MMOs since 1997' (started with Ultima Online) and in my opinion, in addition to what you've just said, I'm pretty sure they also use a combination of achievements/quests done etc. The most obvious one is the amount of gold picked up. A legit player who plays 10H per day since release has a certain max amount of gold picked up. If you are over a "x" amount, your account gets a red flag. But I think they need more than a single red flag to issue a perma ban. I'd say at least 3 "different" flags + maybe some Warden suspicious activities.

Even with the best undetected bot you would still get caught. Either way, if I was working in the anti-bot division of Blizzard this is what I would do.

[awp2004]

My thoughts on this:
Afaik, waredn CANNOT detect mouseclicks or keybouard input. If so, they would EASILY BAN ALL who have ever bot, easily. Also they cannot deny a player from a very low economy country that he wanna play 12 hrs aday to farm for money. Noone plays 24/7. Still some go like that for months... I dreally dont know