Shadowguard and Doom Being Endlessly Scripted

The devs are aware of this but it may be time to actually do something about it. Looks like there is a diminishing return system going in for the TOT reward style events might want to implement a time based diminishing return for Shadowguard and Doom to curb the endless scripts being ran there just an idea anyways. Sure nothing will happen and vendors like these keep popping up everywhere. Scripters can't even give away these items anymore:

 

How much are those Jumus?  I don't see any Hawkwinds.

Some nights 8 or more players go do Shadowguard in pairs on LS.  If Shadowguard is ruined because you think someone is scripting it, the UO population will drop.

Fix scripting and don't affect legit players!

Doesn't look that out of the ordinary to me. That's about what my stash of Exodus items looks like. No scripts involved.

I'm guessing it's a buy low, sell high operation

I do not see this as evidence of someone scripting.

Lots of ways to load a vendor like that. Some are legal. Lots of shards to play on and do this all day long if you wanted. 

I wish I could post actual proof but I'd likely get banned or the post deleted. I'll just forward proof to the devs. You can go to these shards and watch them all go in and out 24/7 on the days they decide to script this but I'm sure most of you will just say they're legit players lol. 

ps: it's not a buy-low, sell-high operation lol

Its so weird, I just returned since around March and only do SG slightly more in the past 2 weeks. About once every 2 days because of the luck statue, and in between I did high seas which I missed last year after the rollout. Already got a Cameo Repond slayer, one Minax Sandals, one Jumu. And a few of useless arties which I exchanged for cleaning points. I don't think its that bad at least for my shard as overall I doubt did more than 12 runs.

username said:

The devs are aware of this but it may be time to actually do something about it. Looks like there is a diminishing return system going in for the TOT reward style events might want to implement a time based diminishing return for Shadowguard and Doom to curb the endless scripts being ran there just an idea anyways. Sure nothing will happen and vendors like these keep popping up everywhere. Scripters can't even give away these items anymore:

 

I do not know about scripting BUT, a few days ago on Atlantic General Chat a player was shouting about a cheat that players have been using for years now to "triple" their Shadowguards drops and, thus, get a lot more goodies....

Not going to say more about it and do not even know whether it is fake news or for real but I think that the Developers ( @Kyronix , @Bleak ?) should investigate on this matter some more....

Norry said:

Did he spin till he puked, then chuck 6 str pots, then eat tribal berrys?

Because that never works for me

It was something different and, at least according to what he said, some "better informed" players have been using it to triple their Roof drops for years....

popps said:

Norry said:

Did he spin till he puked, then chuck 6 str pots, then eat tribal berrys?

Because that never works for me

It was something different and, at least according to what he said, some "better informed" players have been using it to triple their Roof drops for years....

Not saying this is a real thing because that would be discussing game exploits and that is very against the rules, im just going to lay my finger on a random emotion button.

There might be people scripting certain rooms but I'm not sure how someone would fully script the entire shadowguard loop to run 24/7; there are too many variables. That said, there is no way that we should have a timer or whatever on shadowguard drops.

I will run shadowguard several times back to back (same with Doom) because like many other things in game you have a certain suit/template/setup that just makes it more worthwhile to do a few rounds while you are setup. If there was some sort of timer put on there, it's only punishing players for being good at those things and honestly for me it wouldn't be worth setting my character up to do just 1 round for a chance at a drop. There is no need to make shadowguard/doom like mining/lumberjacking.

keven2002 said:

There might be people scripting certain rooms but I'm not sure how someone would fully script the entire shadowguard loop to run 24/7; there are too many variables. That said, there is no way that we should have a timer or whatever on shadowguard drops.

I will run shadowguard several times back to back (same with Doom) because like many other things in game you have a certain suit/template/setup that just makes it more worthwhile to do a few rounds while you are setup. If there was some sort of timer put on there, it's only punishing players for being good at those things and honestly for me it wouldn't be worth setting my character up to do just 1 round for a chance at a drop. There is no need to make shadowguard/doom like mining/lumberjacking.

How did it end up with script Mining and script Lumberjacking ?

Weren't regular players to get screwed up when Resources where randomized to attempt deal with scripters ?

Scripters continued their 24/7 scripting, only now getting random resources, and regular players who did not script and had limited playing time got screwed since they could no longer be able to get high end resources in the limited time they could play with resources being randomized....

My opinion is, that the problem might come from the fact that, perhaps, rather then addressing the root of scripting, that is using Third Party software that permits the scripting, sometimes, perhaps, in-game solutions are attempted which unfurtunately end up only marginally affecting scripters and hurt more, to my understanding from players posts in the Forums, those regular players who do not script and have limited playing time....

Take for example the IDOC changes....

While in regards to the loot distribution they may have affected somehow scripters getting most of the loot, in regards to actually placing a House in-game, I keep seeing posts of players lamenting that Scripters are still having it easy at placing homes....

And even in regards to loot, I think that scripters are getting less not mainly because of the changed way to obtain loot (the barrels), but mostly, because now IDOCs are visible to everyone, everyone can get to them and, thus, scripters have more competition towards getting the loot.

But they still can, if they want to, script hitting the barrels with multiple characters.....

What I do not understand is why, with todays' technology and software knowledge that there is, it is so difficult to find out which players might be scripting and which players might be not.

I mean, a script is a script and, thus, by definition, it has a pattern that repeats itself, over and over.

Sure, some variations might be put in to make it look "less automated" but, still, it is a pattern that when the scripts ends, starts all over again...

Is it that difficult to put in some sort of detecting software that assesses the repetitions of a characters gameplay and so can ring a bell in the Game Masters' room when there is suspicion that a script might be used by a player so as to prompt for further investigation directly by a Game Master and consequent action taken against the account in case actual scripting is found to be ongoing ?

Also, I am wondering, perhaps it could be coded that the Ultima Online Client would self-shut down if it saw other programs running on the computer unless they are autorized ones by the game Publisher to run together with their game software....

People use chat programs ? Need to get Broadsword authorize them.... some utility programs that UO players use with the Classic Client, I think might already be authorized from back in the days... others, would need to get a new authorization not to prompt the UO Client to self shut down because it detects them running....

Anyways, if players have the need to have some other program be authorized they would ask Broadsword and, if authorized because they are not seen as an issue to Ultima Online's gameplaying, the UO Client would be permitted to run together with them.

Anything else not authorized ? The Ultima Online client would "self-shut" giving a warning to reach a safe location in 2 minutes (like it happens for server down).

Is it that hard to do ? I have no idea, but what I am trying to say is, that, unless the root of the scripting problem is addressed and only limited solutions are found to try to contain the scripting issue, my opinion is, that these solutions will most often end up hurting more the legittimate players who do not script and have limited time to play the game, rather then those scripting...

That is at least how I see it.

Marge said:

If they would fix the glitch (bug .. exploit..) that allows 2 final bosses to spawn at once and give double drops, that would stop alot of it. We do the roof every Monday night (and no we do not use the glitch) at least and I haven't gotten a drop in over 2 months. (Often, no one in party gets a drop either.) I been doing the roof for 3 or 4 years and still have not completed my Cameo Set. The drop rate Def Does Not need to be lowered.

(And yes a few of us have reported 'the glitch'.)

They did fix this over a year ago, when was the last time you were able to do this?

When were you invited back ?

 😂 

Mervyn said:

Marge said:

If they would fix the glitch (bug .. exploit..) that allows 2 final bosses to spawn at once and give double drops, that would stop alot of it. We do the roof every Monday night (and no we do not use the glitch) at least and I haven't gotten a drop in over 2 months. (Often, no one in party gets a drop either.) I been doing the roof for 3 or 4 years and still have not completed my Cameo Set. The drop rate Def Does Not need to be lowered.

(And yes a few of us have reported 'the glitch'.)

They did fix this over a year ago, when was the last time you were able to do this?

I never did it. When I first did the roof about 4 years ago, the group I went with did it that way. I don't even know how they did it and I'm good not knowing. I like my 20 year accounts and don't want to get banned over crap like that. I never heard it was fixed. Maybe someone did listen to the 'bug' emails.

They fixed the exploit for 2 bosses to spawn however there’s a different exploit to get multiple drops, no need for 2 bosses to spawn. 

"receiving reports today this multiple shadowguard drop exploit has been closed, was working up to yesterday, not working today"

So as a computer scientist I can tell you its not easy at all to write a script that would do shadow guard for you. That would literally be programming your own AI (unless there's some cheesy, safe way to do it that I don't know about). Scripts work well for repetitive tasks that don't require complex input. Fighting mobs in the highest end PvE activity in the game is an extremely complex environment. 

Just because someone has a lot of items doesn't mean its scripted, and that picture doesn't even seem to be what I'd consider "a lot" of items. 

If you can't post proof, why don't you just post which shard and at what times and what actions you have witnessed that make you feel like its a script and not just players running it efficiently.

Our guild run Shadowguard approx 5 times a day, we are pretty quick at it, we can even hit with 2 parties, we farm it non-stop, basically because that is where the Cameo's are.

We easily have that many of all the other items, yes, they are often just clean-up points to me by now.

I think the point is, Shadowguard is just the most heavily farmed content ingame.

I've not seen any evidence of scripting myself.

Pawain said:

How much are those Jumus?  I don't see any Hawkwinds.

Some nights 8 or more players go do Shadowguard in pairs on LS.  If Shadowguard is ruined because you think someone is scripting it, the UO population will drop.

Fix scripting and don't affect legit players!

I think it's kinda nice to see people play the game.  Without those "players" I'm in there fighting that stuff solo.  Just saying.  I'm 100 percent for those players if it helps me fight stuff.

"update: only partial change to multiple drop exploit on shadowguard, can still receive 2 x drop but cannot receive 3 x drop, so replication details witheld"

update: still being multiboxed harder than ever. no one gives a shit

for those asking for evidence, yea what am I going to do, ask them to invite me in to their party and watch them in their OWN INSTANCE? lol

I guess you could upload a video of it somewhere and email then a link but yeah who knows if anything would happen from reporting it. The lack of confidence that anything would be done is unfortunate. 

username said:

update: still being multiboxed harder than ever. no one gives a shit

for those asking for evidence, yea what am I going to do, ask them to invite me in to their party and watch them in their OWN INSTANCE? lol

Report them using Harassment 

So exactly how do you see other groups in Shadowguard?

Just a serious question.

username said:

update: still being multiboxed harder than ever. no one gives a shit

for those asking for evidence, yea what am I going to do, ask them to invite me in to their party and watch them in their OWN INSTANCE? lol

No matter what evidence is required.

How do you like to get banned one day, just because someone alleged that you committed a crime without providing any evidence? 

But what you said is possible. Perhaps they should have a code that auto sends a log to the GM the moment a group of similar players fire tje same spell or perform similar act within say 1 second repeatedly.

Seth said:

No matter what evidence is required.

How do you like to get banned one day, just because someone alleged that you committed a crime without providing any evidence? 

Reading is hard. 

I had already stated that I had evidence that would get removed from these forums and I had forwarded it to the devs. The evidence was provided and they did nothing, hence my post. My post stands.

I have no idea where you even got the idea to ban people as I have never mentioned anything about banning anyone that is doing this (although, if caught, definitely deserve bans don't get me wrong). My original post clearly explains a solution that I proposed and I'm not going to repeat myself. Here's another solution: maybe make these 'instances' observable somehow? Like, click a stone outside and it shows all the players names/chat IDs that are running it?

There have been a number of bans on the newsletter. So if not to ban then why do you need to see the evidence again. Sorry I missed that part.

username said:

Seth said:

No matter what evidence is required.

How do you like to get banned one day, just because someone alleged that you committed a crime without providing any evidence? 

Reading is hard. 

I had already stated that I had evidence that would get removed from these forums and I had forwarded it to the devs. The evidence was provided and they did nothing, hence my post. My post stands.

I have no idea where you even got the idea to ban people as I have never mentioned anything about banning anyone that is doing this (although, if caught, definitely deserve bans don't get me wrong). My original post clearly explains a solution that I proposed and I'm not going to repeat myself. Here's another solution: maybe make these 'instances' observable somehow? Like, click a stone outside and it shows all the players names/chat IDs that are running it?

Then why do we need to read about it here?  I really do not care.  

You did the proper thing and reported it.  Do you want a cookie now?

“Before publish 110 you could realistically get 3-5 times more drops on roof, after pub 110 you can only get double roof drops using the trick, so it’s not being exploited more than ever”

Well there is a group on LS that does it nightly, they do not know of this trick to get more drops so it must not be done by using normal target and kill the boss that pops up.

“I will explain in full detail only after the exploit has been fully fixed (if it gets fixed), and this thread will become a lot clearer”

Well Username did what he is supposed to do. I wonder if his password is password.

Pawain said:

Well Username did what he is supposed to do. I wonder if his password is password.

😂

username said:

Seth said:

No matter what evidence is required.

How do you like to get banned one day, just because someone alleged that you committed a crime without providing any evidence? 

Reading is hard. 

I had already stated that I had evidence that would get removed from these forums and I had forwarded it to the devs. The evidence was provided and they did nothing, hence my post. My post stands.

I have no idea where you even got the idea to ban people as I have never mentioned anything about banning anyone that is doing this (although, if caught, definitely deserve bans don't get me wrong). My original post clearly explains a solution that I proposed and I'm not going to repeat myself. Here's another solution: maybe make these 'instances' observable somehow? Like, click a stone outside and it shows all the players names/chat IDs that are running it?

And you know for a FACT that nothing was done.  Did you pull up all the Chars unique ID number and the exact same players with the exact same ID numbers are still there.  You do understand that it is UOs policy not to report back to the person paging on someone of the outcome.

Seth said:

username said:

update: still being multiboxed harder than ever. no one gives a shit

for those asking for evidence, yea what am I going to do, ask them to invite me in to their party and watch them in their OWN INSTANCE? lol

No matter what evidence is required.

How do you like to get banned one day, just because someone alleged that you committed a crime without providing any evidence? 

But what you said is possible. Perhaps they should have a code that auto sends a log to the GM the moment a group of similar players fire tje same spell or perform similar act within say 1 second repeatedly.

But what you said is possible. Perhaps they should have a code that auto sends a log to the GM the moment a group of similar players fire tje same spell or perform similar act within say 1 second repeatedly.

Considering how, one would imagine, chances are that those multi-boxing would be doing it with 1 IP address for all boxes to connect to UO, perhaps, just perhaps, Broadsword could look at what clients' IP addresses are logged in and, whenever same IP addresses are found logging into UO at the same one time, send a Message to a Game Master to go there and further investigate.

popps said:

Seth said:

But what you said is possible. Perhaps they should have a code that auto sends a log to the GM the moment a group of similar players fire tje same spell or perform similar act within say 1 second repeatedly.

Considering how, one would imagine, chances are that those multi-boxing would be doing it with 1 IP address for all boxes to connect to UO, perhaps, just perhaps, Broadsword could look at what clients' IP addresses are logged in and, whenever same IP addresses are found logging into UO at the same one time, send a Message to a Game Master to go there and further investigate.