One gold spam thread to rule them all

**Patience** · #1 Sep 20 2007, 05:21 PM

Hi guys,

We're sick and tired of gold spammers too. They're like ants, or roaches. We keep squashing them, but they keep coming.

As much as we would like to tell you exactly when and how we're going to drop the hammer, we're keeping it close to the vest for now. But once again I want to assure you that we have people working on several solutions on multiple fronts, and we're tracking down and killing not just the spammers you report, but all associated accounts.

Thanks for bearing with us. This is causing us a lot of pain too (and since just about everybody at Turbine plays too, it's a pretty constant topic of discussion here even among those who aren't directly working on the solutions).

In the meantime, I'm going to be closing other gold spam threads since they're taking over the General Discussion forum. Feel free to use this thread to talk about it.

-Meghan

Aula · #2 Sep 20 2007, 05:27 PM

lol thanks very much for this i was getting sick of forum gold spammers threads

Maeh · #3 Sep 20 2007, 05:28 PM

GOLD SPAM!!

Laire · #4 Sep 20 2007, 05:34 PM

Love the title

Thanks Patience for posting just one thread. It'll clear up the General Chat a lot.

I certainly don't expect you guys to be posting all of your tricks up here. I do hope, however, that there will be some "report spam" option and some word from the devs on this in the coming weeks

Yaaraer · #5 Sep 20 2007, 05:38 PM

My Suggestion:

While I know this will not be a popular idea with some. The fix is easy. Increase rare drops and make it easier for ALL players to have what they want. I also understand some see that as undermining the economy, but let's be honest, removing the demand would end the gold sellers. There would be no need for clever coding, or special tactics, just adjust the loot tables and get back to making the game better.

In all my years of gaming, no one has ever been able to show how everyone enjoying the same things in game is bad. But most games absolutely refuse to make this change. They'd rather see the game end before doing so.

That said, it would really help if we could cut and paste the emails and tells into the ticket window.

Millie · #6 Sep 20 2007, 05:47 PM

...one gold spam thread to bind them...

Losiphat · #7 Sep 20 2007, 05:54 PM

what I don't understand is why this is so difficult. Its not like other gaming companies have not had these sorts of problems and yet I don't remember anything beyond 1 or 2 experiences where I got in game junk from a spammer.

Yaaraer · #8 Sep 20 2007, 05:56 PM

Even Gandalf would be perplexed with the problem..

Aodhan_Withey · #9 Sep 20 2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Patience

Hi guys,

We're sick and tired of gold spammers too. They're like ants, or roaches. We keep squashing them, but they keep coming.

As much as we would like to tell you exactly when and how we're going to drop the hammer, we're keeping it close to the vest for now. But once again I want to assure you that we have people working on several solutions on multiple fronts, and we're tracking down and killing not just the spammers you report, but all associated accounts.

Thanks for bearing with us. This is causing us a lot of pain too (and since just about everybody at Turbine plays too, it's a pretty constant topic of discussion here even among those who aren't directly working on the solutions).

In the meantime, I'm going to be closing other gold spam threads since they're taking over the General Discussion forum. Feel free to use this thread to talk about it.

-Meghan

Can ya kill it in the suggestion forums too?

marelt · #10 Sep 20 2007, 06:03 PM

Maybe you could add a filter to mail so that if you got (MESA A STUPID GOLDSPAMMER) not necessarily that but if the wording in the letter used USD Gold, Buy, cheaper, etc it wouldnt allow you to send the letter... of course once they find a way around it your going to have to set up another filter

Dwarflord · #11 Sep 20 2007, 06:03 PM

I have a feeling this will become the new never-ending thread.

Just a feeling....

Gravious · #12 Sep 20 2007, 06:06 PM

Hey, why not set up a barter vendor with some nice items. Every time you report a gold seller that is subsequently banned, your character gets a barter item for use with that vendor. The annoyance and effort in reporting is rewarded in a more tangible manner, and the spammers will soon realise they aren't going to be getting much spam out when they are now considered prized bounty targets

Just an idle thought...

Oh, and I see they've changed their mail spam to titles like "Thanks for ur help", forcing people with no interest in their 'services' to open the mail. *#$&ers.

Hellgato · #13 Sep 20 2007, 06:07 PM

It makes me so happy to see official attention on this topic that I vow to start reporting gold spam again. Not that I doubted there was official attention, well . . . anyway, thanks for the official note!

Simurgh · #14 Sep 20 2007, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Millie

...one gold spam thread to bind them...

/r ...and in the darkness ban them...
To Aaaaaapple: ...and in the darkness ban them...

Aw ****!

Tairii · #15 Sep 20 2007, 06:20 PM

Oooh, could do what SWG does (yeah, I never thought I'd say that either)... flag them as PvP enabled... but since we don't have world PvP here, port them to a certain spot in the Moors? I'd be happy to help relieve them of their gold spamming ways there!