Gold Exploit

[Tenzor]

Several days ago I saw a guy named (mod edit) who tried to buy a Ultimate Starter Pack for 13 500. I never saw him but I am also almost new here, maybe he an old player.

Mod edit: I have removed the name of the player quoted here. This is carrying the concept of a witch hunt to extremes. With no evidence of any wrong doing, or knowledge of the player concerned, their name is being linked to a supposed exploit, for which there is also no evidence whatsoever. Please do not start accusing specific players of wrong doing simply because they do something unusual.

If there is any actual evidence as opposed to supposition, suspicion and accusation, please report it in a CS ticket, not on the forums.

 

[Tenzor]

I am checked all my alts and someone bought all my lots of mats from AH, that were there for a week...But I am more scared than pleased...

 

[Tenzor]

supposed exploit, for which there is also no evidence whatsoever.

When people reported about something fishy at US-1 also was no evidence and nothing was done at that moment was lost and what we have now on US-1? almost dead server? I really hope that's just a string of coincidences...and witch hunt is not our fault. Cheaters left with their items that wasn't took and they feel themself impunity. They transferred gold to another currency - Keys or Motes and now turn thuse items back to gold.

 

[Tenzor]

One unusual thing - coincidence
Many unusual things - consistent pattern

 

[Tenzor]

On the US-1 was a guy who scam with crown items trade. I inspected him and refused the deal. I doubted for a couple of minutes but I reported his name in trade-chat that he is suspicious trader. But moment was lost and he scammed few peoples. So my doubts cost some people's thousand of gold and bad mood.

 

[Fal Vorad]

Seems to be a discrepancy between these posts:

When we became aware of the gold exploit on US1, we checked all the other servers. US1 was the only server with rampant exploits. There were a few very small transactions on US3 and EU1, but nothing that would have impacted inflation.

This post seems to indicate that some non-zero amount of exploiting actually did occur on US3.

We haven't seen any gold exploits on US3 (either currently or in the past). We check this regularly. Also, gold cannot be traded from one server to another, so it's not possible that the exploit on US1 could affect US3 gold supply.

That said, if you do see evidence of an exploit, let us know. If one does occur, we do certainly want to fix it quickly.

This post seems to indicate that no exploiting actually occurred on US3.

Given that some past exploiting on US3 and no past exploiting on US3 cannot both be true, perhaps Damon should recheck his work.
Given that some players on US3 are seeing signs of behavior which would quite plausibly follow from the gold exploit AND given that Damon would want to fix any possible further exploits "quickly," I suggest examining the possibility of continuing exploits on US3. I say "continuing" rather than "beginning" because of Damon's previous statement that "There were a few very small transactions on US3 and EU1."

 

[Imp]

I feel it’s time to close the thread. Per Damon’s note, they’ve addressed the exploit, they’ve handed out punishments, and the Otters have moved on. It’s time we did as well. If anyone has evidence of new exploits, may I suggest that those be sent to Customer Service instead of discussed here on the forum?

 

[Zaphyra]

I used to login every morning and check the AH, to see if there were any good deals on premium items, Darrig Chests and Zogs. Over the past few months, I've watched these items become increasingly scarce and prices have more than doubled, on everything I used to enjoy buying. For example, Blue Zogs used to sell for 8-10g each... then they rose to 15g... 20g... 25g... 30g... and today someone bought ALL the Zogs in the AH (except for those without a buyout price)... and now the only Blue Zogs listed, are priced at 80-100g each. You might say "just don't buy those overpriced items... eventually prices will go down"... and you're probably right... but it really chaps my hide, that cheaters have made it difficult for me to engage in the daily Trade activities, that I used to enjoy... and our Devs don't seem to care that exploiters may have stockpiled STACKS of Darrig Keys/Chests, COG Coins, Gathering Supplies, Motes, Crafting Components, Kiwa Mounts, etc... and may now be using these items to get rich and wreck our game economy. I'm sorry, but this BS makes it hard to shut up and move on...

 

[sirbabbo]

I used to login every morning and check the AH, to see if there were any good deals on premium items, Darrig Chests and Zogs. Over the past few months, I've watched these items become increasingly scarce and prices have more than doubled, on everything I used to enjoy buying. For example, Blue Zogs used to sell for 8-10g each... then they rose to 15g... 20g... 25g... 30g... and today someone bought ALL the Zogs in the AH (except for those without a buyout price)... and now the only Blue Zogs listed, are priced at 80-100g each. You might say "just don't buy those overpriced items... eventually prices will go down"... and you're probably right... but it really chaps my hide, that cheaters have made it difficult for me to engage in the daily Trade activities, that I used to enjoy... and our Devs don't seem to care that exploiters may have stockpiled STACKS of Darrig Keys/Chests, COG Coins, Gathering Supplies, Motes, Crafting Components, Kiwa Mounts, etc... and may now be using these items to get rich and wreck our game economy. I'm sorry, but this BS makes it hard to shut up and move on...

View attachment 13772

If you can’t beat them join them!!! Muahhhh

In all seriousness that’s what happening in us 3 auction house since people will buy overpriced items if they have the in game gold. So might as well join the economy train. Only saying this so my 3g mats will get sold

 

[Zaphyra]

Furthermore, we've got quite a few new players with low-level characters, selling gathered items below their market value in Trade Chat. Including Legendary gathering drops, that they shouldn't have access to... because they're not high enough combat level, to have gathered them at wild nodes.

IMHO, exploiters are using their FREE gathering supplies to get FREE gold, by selling items below their market value in Trade Chat... then using their FREE gold to purchase items in the AH... which has slowly driven prices DOWN in Trade Chat and UP in the AH.

All of which is slowly ruining US3's Trade Community and game economy... by making it difficult for honest players, to buy/sell their items for reasonable prices.

I'm wondering if it's possible, that the exploiters on US3 were smarter than those on US1... and quickly spent their exploited gold on Kiwa Mounts, Darrig Keys, COG Coins, Gathering Supplies, Crafting Components and Motes... before the Devs noticed the extra gold on our server.

 

[Ekimie]

Stop winding yourself up so much and have some faith in the Devs. I wasn't there but I am confident Damon and Sean are smart enough to find a way to see who the exploiters were. And not just by current gold balance. If Damon says they dealt with it enough in their opinion I believe them and let it go. Ofcourse they might not have removed every single ill gotten gold coin, but they did enough, he said

 

[Zaphyra]

I'm sorry, but our Devs have made many mistakes with our game economy... resulting in maxed/dying servers with weak markets and little or no Trade Community... and now their failure to check the exploiter's accounts for stockpiles of Darrig Keys, COG Coins, Gathering Supplies and Motes... is ruining the economy on US3.

Those with maxed characters may not care... but new players and those who enjoy the Trade Community, DO care.

 

[Majenta]

None of the other 4 servers are dying - just because they do not have the same type of economy as US3 does NOT mean those servers are not still going strong.

 

[Perlio]

US2 never had an economy in the first place. Everyone just gives stuff away. Gold has very little actual value on US2. Maybe the other servers should try that.

 

[Kitty the Hunter]

US2 never had an economy in the first place. Everyone just gives stuff away. Gold has very little actual value on US2. Maybe the other servers should try that.

I love all the free goodies on US2 like mats, drams, ranch and garden harvests, gear, and of course all the premium items like sockets, vaults, mounts, its the best place in the game. Everyone should live there, its wonderful! (kidding of course)

 

[IrishElf]

I think this subject has been explained by Damon Otter, he did say they are aware and watching things. So at this point the initial reason for this post in the first place has been addressed. If any of you find evidence of an exploit please send it along as a in-game bug report so it too can be looked into to. ( bug reports do not get replies remember) but trust that bug reports are looked into regardless.

So for now, and until Mad Otter has something else to post to our players, this thread is being closed. Please don't start new threads as this subject is being monitored by Mad Otter, and they can see things we cannot.

Thank you all for your input and concern. You are appreciated!

 

[Damon Otter]

Seems to be a discrepancy between these posts:

This post seems to indicate that some non-zero amount of exploiting actually did occur on US3.

This post seems to indicate that no exploiting actually occurred on US3.

Given that some past exploiting on US3 and no past exploiting on US3 cannot both be true, perhaps Damon should recheck his work.
Given that some players on US3 are seeing signs of behavior which would quite plausibly follow from the gold exploit AND given that Damon would want to fix any possible further exploits "quickly," I suggest examining the possibility of continuing exploits on US3. I say "continuing" rather than "beginning" because of Damon's previous statement that "There were a few very small transactions on US3 and EU1."

Hi,
There was a very minor "exploit" on US3. It was the same players that were exploiting extensively on US1 who were testing to see if the same trick they used on US1 worked on US3. However, it's hard to call it a true "exploit" in that they weren't actually playing on US1, and their actions did not impact the economy of US3 (they did not flood the economy with gold).

We fixed the underlying problem that allowed the exploit, so that it's fixed on all servers.

Best, Damon