Just A Few Days Into Playing On This Server And..

[Infinia]

Hello! I am Infinia and I'm a pretty new member to this server.

While I know this is not the introduction section (I do not intend to just make an intro with this thread), I wish to gain the visibility that the GD gains.

Just today, I had what seemed like a "bot"-check by [GM]Ares. First off, I understand that these human-operated bot checks are necessary and done everywhere. I am completely fine with them as well. However, while it was supposed to be non-detrimental to anyone (including the player, me), it somewhat what gave me a negative experience.

Let me first start with how the bot-check was conducted.

The bot-check started with the GM PM-ing a message, which was quickly followed with a barrage of the same message. I thought of that to be odd, especially for a GM to be messaging me so quickly with the same message. I was about to type my reply when I was suddenly warped into a different map from where I was before (Prontera). There, I saw an "Acidus", and I was thinking, "hmm.. this is odd". Naturally, I tried attacking it normally (left-click) and my character didn't do anything. I then realized that it was definitely the GM who morphed into an Acidus.

I followed up quickly by typing in all-chat "???", "yes gm?". The GM then asked why I didn't reply earlier which I replied with "I was checking and trying different builds" which I was, on my Ninja (hence why I was in Prontera after warping from abyss_03 to reset my stats to try out a different build). He then proceeded to kill me and I was warped away and I respawned. And then, just when I thought it was "over", I was warped back there again. He then asked me, what server is this? I had then realized that it was a bot check. I briefly answered "forsaken ro". I was killed again and I respawned, again.

Then, nothing. Nothing ensued. I was just left there wondering what had happened.

Again, let me state that I am completely fine with human-conducted bot-checks, just not this one. The thing that I really find appalling about this is about how it was carried out without courtesy or formalities. I felt as though I had just been interrogated without any justifications whatsoever. A simple "Sorry for bothering, I was conducting a bot-check because of your activities (or because somebody reported?). Thank you for your cooperation." would have sufficed and made things all more pleasant (although the way it was started wasn't exactly friendly or courteous as well).

Now, I feel really discouraged to login again due to the negative experience. Whether I continue playing again or not is not of anyone's concern, however, if anything should be done, these "bot"-checks should definitely be revised and improved to help with player experience - especially new players.

I took the extra effort to write this (I could have really said nothing about it) because I felt like I should give something back to the Forsaken community for the few days of me enjoying my stay.

tl;dr Unprofessional bot-check by GM led to bad experience and it should be improved.

[failedToConnect]

Hi. Sorry to hear about your experience in FRo. I've never heard of anything like this in my 4 months of playing in this server. Anyway, I understand how you feel as this would also be my initial reaction to the situation. Let's just look at the brighter side. At least the GMs are doing their job in ensuring that everyone is playing fair and not using bots. Maybe you can file a ticket if it happens again. Hope you continue playing in our server :)

[Ares]

Hello! I am Infinia and I'm a pretty new member to this server.

While I know this is not the introduction section (I do not intend to just make an intro with this thread), I wish to gain the visibility that the GD gains.

Just today, I had what seemed like a "bot"-check by [GM]Ares. First off, I understand that these human-operated bot checks are necessary and done everywhere. I am completely fine with them as well. However, while it was supposed to be non-detrimental to anyone (including the player, me), it somewhat what gave me a negative experience.

Let me first start with how the bot-check was conducted.

The bot-check started with the GM PM-ing a message, which was quickly followed with a barrage of the same message. I thought of that to be odd, especially for a GM to be messaging me so quickly with the same message. I was about to type my reply when I was suddenly warped into a different map from where I was before (Prontera). There, I saw an "Acidus", and I was thinking, "hmm.. this is odd". Naturally, I tried attacking it normally (left-click) and my character didn't do anything. I then realized that it was definitely the GM who morphed into an Acidus.

I followed up quickly by typing in all-chat "???", "yes gm?". The GM then asked why I didn't reply earlier which I replied with "I was checking and trying different builds" which I was, on my Ninja (hence why I was in Prontera after warping from abyss_03 to reset my stats to try out a different build). He then proceeded to kill me and I was warped away and I respawned. And then, just when I thought it was "over", I was warped back there again. He then asked me, what server is this? I had then realized that it was a bot check. I briefly answered "forsaken ro". I was killed again and I respawned, again.

Then, nothing. Nothing ensued. I was just left there wondering what had happened.

Again, let me state that I am completely fine with human-conducted bot-checks, just not this one. The thing that I really find appalling about this is about how it was carried out without courtesy or formalities. I felt as though I had just been interrogated without any justifications whatsoever. A simple "Sorry for bothering, I was conducting a bot-check because of your activities (or because somebody reported?). Thank you for your cooperation." would have sufficed and made things all more pleasant (although the way it was started wasn't exactly friendly or courteous as well).

Now, I feel really discouraged to login again due to the negative experience. Whether I continue playing again or not is not of anyone's concern, however, if anything should be done, these "bot"-checks should definitely be revised and improved to help with player experience - especially new players.

I took the extra effort to write this (I could have really said nothing about it) because I felt like I should give something back to the Forsaken community for the few days of me enjoying my stay.

tl;dr Unprofessional bot-check by GM led to bad experience and it should be improved.

I'll make this short: sorry for the inconvenience but I didn't have time to stay with you since I banned 3 bots on the same day I checked on you. It took time for me to catch those bots and I needed to get them before they log off. If this happens to you again with me, I hope you have a better understanding on this matter next time. We are doing this for you and the other legit players to have a fair hunting experience. Good day.

[akhi]

I agree with ares on this one. Gm's are busy people who have lot of work to do in game, as a result they cannot always be gentle in their ways. As they are in a hurry us co operating the best we can do. But i really am sorry for the experience you have had and i hope you do not stop playing the game.

[Sensation]

Nice thorough explanation of why you think the experience you recently had is a bad one. But also quite nice and professional from Ares to pick this up swiftly.

I think some mutual understanding is required to understand the course of action here and perhaps that Ares should be able to put himself in the mind of a new player that isn't aware of how personal bot checks are conducted here.

On the other side, the player, new or not, should also be able to put himself into the perspective of the GM who has the experience that if the leash is too long that people disconnect, delete characters and will not be easy to be traced back any more for violating the rules.

I personally hope that Ares' reply has made you accept what happened wasn't intended to scare you away. He could've done it nicer, but also do keep in mind that the strict attitude comes from his previous experience with players who were bots and 'escaped' the interrogation barrage due to not talking back and disconnecting etc.