Minipost: Mass Ban against Botters today

Lore

Community Manager

We’ve recently taken action against a large number of World of Warcraft accounts that were found to be using third-party programs that automate gameplay, known as “bots.” We’re committed to providing an equal and fair playing field for everyone in World of Warcraft, and will continue to take action against those found in violation of our Terms of Use. Cheating of any form will not be tolerated.

Well, a lot of people got a big of a shock today to find their accounts banned. Blizzard was heavy handed and there are a ton of accounts that have been banned - unfortunately even a couple in my guild.  Sigh.  Unfortunately, it does state it clearly in the terms of use, as Lore pointed out in his forum post.

Botting could have been in the form of garrison chores, or the honour/rep grinds, even LFR bots. Forums are filled with a lot of happy people, doing away with the "cheaters".  However there is a large outcry of people who say they are innocent of these claims and are appealing to Blizzard.  I'm sure if they were legitimately wronged, their bans will be lifted.

I have been giggling to think about Rades would have written, and it may have gone something like this:

Azeroth reeled today with not only a flurry of mass disappearances, but reports that those who vanished may have had some using a form of performance enhancing drug. 

"I knew something was wrong," said Maisy,Sparkplug, a goblin priest who frequented the battlegrounds.  "There were just too many people who seemed to be determined to cap flags, or run at us relentlessly like a zombie, no matter how many times we killed them." 

"I had thought that Karnag had been acting strangely," says Lakra, an orc rogue from Razor Hill, who describes her friend who was idenfited as one of the missing. "He's just been wandering around doing repetitive things, I thought maybe he had some undiagnosed autism or obsessive compulsive disorder." 

Rumours are rife that many were surreptiously using the drug so they could continue goals such as fighting battlegrounds, farming herbs and minerals in the world and inside the garrison, reputation farming or even helping them gain more experience, whilst in a dream-like state, or even continuing without requiring rest. 

"I'm glad they're gone," says Kiwiani.  "I have a lot of friends who will come back to battlegrounds now that those cheating scumbags are gone." 

Faction leaders have been quick to claim responsibility for these mysterious disappearances, saying that a spell conjured by the Kirin Tor enabled them to detect and instantly eradicate all those who had previously used the drug. 

"It was a good decision," says one leader, who wishes to remain unnamed.  "Cheating of any form will not be tolerated and we will continue to take action against those who do not comply with the rules of fair play. 

However there were a few who thought that the harsh punishment was unnecessary. 

"Someone who used the drug for one day but didn't like it is being punished the same as somebody who has been using it for months or even years?" said one protestor. 

However, it appears that the message remains clear.  Cheating is cheating.  No exceptions.

I wonder how many people will be gone from the game? It sounds like there are a lot of botters out there, if you read certain forums. And in the wake of flagging subscriptions, what does that mean for Blizzard?  I would guess that a lot of botters already bought their WoW tokens and those are bought with real money to put on the auction house.  Which would mean that Blizzard would have already secured that cash so they won't lose out much there.