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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBlizzard issues official statement on Raid Finder exploit consequences
by Fox Van Allen 
Dec 6th 2011 at 3:00PM
Raid Finder Loot Exploit Suspensions
Shortly after patch 4.3 was released, we became aware that some players were abusing an exploit to obtain loot from the same Raid Finder bosses multiple times in a single raid lockout period (one week). The Raid Finder loot mechanic is of course intended to only allow a person to roll on boss loot drops once per raid lockout period. The raid lockout mechanic has been a mainstay of the World of Warcraft rules since Onyxia and Molten Core, ensuring that no one can obtain loot from a boss more than once per lockout. Due to the nature of the exploit and the clear intent of those who abused it, they've been issued notices and given temporary suspensions from the game. We're also working to remove all Raid Finder items from those who used the exploit.
It's good to see Blizzard taking action on this. Certainly there will be some who will believe this to be too mild a punishment. But given the number of people who abused the exploit (Paragon was far from the only guild doing this) and a need to hand out punishment evenly and consistently, a temporary suspension appears to be the right solution.
Brace yourselves for what could be some of most exciting updates to the game recently with patch 4.3. Review the official patch notes, and then dig into what's ahead: new item storage options, cross-realm raiding, cosmetic armor skinning and your chance to battle the mighty Deathwing -- from astride his back!
Filed under: Cheats, Blizzard, News items, Raiding
Reader Comments (Page 6 of 6)
MikeT Dec 6th 2011 4:54PM
It would be so cool if they simply deleted the offending accounts.
Who needs people like this anyway? What is gained by their example? Would you follow a cheater into battle?
A true competitor, one with honor, would have immediately reported the bug, and done that which is honorable: play within the rules.
Instead those who exhibit that which the worst among us are punished with a tiny suspension.
I would like some data on how many players have had their accounts closed for less than this.
Elvgren Dec 6th 2011 5:07PM
How about we just stop caring about "world firsts" in a video game? It's a non-event folks. A group of folks (admittedly skilled ... but is it a skill that merits real adoration?) with really good computers, excellent network connections, and who spend waaaaaay too much time on things that don't count in life.
I spend way more time in game than I should, no doubt, but I do not attach importance to what I "accomplish" in game.
StClair Dec 6th 2011 6:43PM
Nice thought, but not gonna happen. People are just wired that way.
byronius_prime Dec 6th 2011 5:13PM
Lol at all these people blaiming Blizzard. Even if Blizz made a mistake, the rules are there, they don't just go away when there's faults in the system. Mess with the rules and you get the banhammer, that's all.
Even if the system is faulty, there is absolutely no excuse for cheating, especially for people like DREAM Paragon, who KNOW they'll get caught, and are supposedly competing for world firsts.
Justice was served.
fufu Dec 6th 2011 5:19PM
I'm not a fan of the threat change. Before you could usually tell a good tank from a bad tank based on threat to some extent. Do tehy know the rotation? Are they using the right seal ( Which half the time they are not), are they spec'd correct?
Now, nothing distinguishes a good tank with 50 to 60k threat before the nerf to a tank doing 30k since it doesn't matter.
Aside from gear levels, threat hasn't been a problem in all of cata, but I have run into some not stellar tanks with good gear doing horrible threat and generally bad play.
Ret Paladins, Frost DKs, and mages for me are always the worst offenders in pulling agro at the beginning of a fight, but popping divine plea, judging/shielding on the way in usually was enough to manage once vengeance kicks in.
fufu Dec 6th 2011 5:21PM
Whoops..my autofill apparently saved the comment as well as the username...
Sorry about the offtopic post :(
leigh Dec 6th 2011 6:20PM
Weird that they talk about the lockouts as if everyone should know them and yet there is nothing in game (that I know of) to say this.
gkhemka Dec 7th 2011 3:08AM
I think this is an example of Blizzard taking itself way to seriously. Anyone who cares enough to take the pains of taking all steps to actually use the exploit is obviously a very dedicated and serious player. To ban such people is like Blizzard kicking itself in the backside. While exploit-abused loot should definitely be taken away, the bans are way too harsh in my opinion. Remember this is dedicated and loyal players they are banning. Eight days away from the game is enough to drive a significant percentage of the players away to other games or just piss them off enough to stop playing. And when it is happening on a mass scale, the rage issues will be shared and will blow this out of proportion. The punishment should have been a damage nerf across the board for 85 level toons of the offending account for a few days, which would have been punishment enough without resricting access to the game itself. I hope this does cause some erosion in the player base to let Blizzard know that such actions are deplorable.
Dieen Dec 7th 2011 7:17PM
sure,ok, lets ban..but TBH first one who should be apologizing should be blizzard for inability to properly make things the way they intend... or let it be as some kind of high end minigame to crack and hack all those bugs they oversee so easily... At least that would add kind of spice into more and more simplified game content...
shaunping Dec 7th 2011 12:38PM
This suspension is the worst idea in the history of wow. Not only have they RUINED the race for WF but they have gone and pissed off the most hardcore players they had. Now we are stuck with Vodka and Blood Legion struggling to get ahead in the race. I know alot of these guys who got suspended personally and there is ALOT of talk hinting at a mass exodus to SWTOR. Pissed off alot of people Blizzard...kind of strange that the guilds with GMs in them or Guilds who have Gm friends didnt see a suspension. And to punish a guild that did it once with the same punishment as a guild that did it 40+ times seems a bit excessive as well. Seeing as there are COUNTLESS instances of this happening in the past with no repercussions.(IE: tauren tank hitbox size) Also coveinient that an 8day suspension didnt exist until now...right as the race for WF heats up. Too harsh a punishment for a petty offense. It definitely could have been handled better.
shaunping Dec 7th 2011 12:39PM
Also about the comments people are making about top guilds being greedy in thier race to world firsts...LFR Ilvl is way below what these guys are already using...just another reason this suspension makes no sense. These raiders didnt need this loot for thier mains, get real.
Salculd Dec 7th 2011 4:16PM
Although it's the top guilds people are focusing on, this is by no means an exploit that was limited to them. On my server, where the highest-ranked guild in my faction is #184, the method to perform this exploit was common knowledge and openly discussed in trade a few times. I know of at least three people who did it, all from fairly average guilds.
Any punishment meted out by Blizzard for this absolutely must be applied equally. To do otherwise would demonstrate blatant favoritism on their part in an area where that least needs to be and touch off a much, much larger (and very justifiable) shitstorm.
Salculd Dec 7th 2011 4:18PM
Well, three people who benefited from it would be a better way to phrase that, but the point still stands.
(for god's sake, please tell me someone is working behind the scenes to get a more robust comment system implemented here)
Matthew Dec 9th 2011 4:20PM
I think 3 - 8 days and no loot is fair. I think a perma ban would be very very very unfair, due to the emotional nature of this game, any permaban is extreme, and should be reserved for things worse than cheating. I know for me, it would be like having my pet confiscated :\