Boosting /played time /w recruit-a-friend

Im currently boosing in SM, i have 4 accounts linked and another account that i use to boost with. I only have a 65 Melee shaman to do the dmg, but it going pretty well ( Level 30 in 6h 31Min), hope they don't nerf it :(

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Originally Posted by 'Razuya',index.php?page=Thread&postID=102326#post1 02326

The fact is, if it was such a huge problem, Blizzard would've already quick-fixed it. They're obviously just thinking it over, and the amount of $$ they will lose if they do decide to fix it.

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It took them until Friday to decide that this was an unintended bug, rather than a "creative use of game mechanics".

Most programmers don't work on weekends. All patches need adequate testing in order to ensure that they won't negatively impact other portions of the game and that the fix actually does what it's intended to do.

For all we know, they could have attempted to patch during maintenance, realized their was a bug, and reverted to a previous build. Let's not assume to know what Blizzard has been doing in regards to this change. So, take things at face value -- we have a Blizzard poster claiming that this is a BUG, with unintended side-effects that give players the ability to level at a rate that is not acceptable. We have a Blizzard rep telling us that developers are actively working to fix this.


And now that you have that information... you're saying you find it perfectly OK to continue exploiting this bug? You don't feel there is any danger at all to your accounts or characters?

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Originally Posted by Razuya',index.php?page=Thread&postID=102326#post10 2326]People will only be banned if they state it's illegal[/quote]

[quote='Vyndree',index.php?page=Thread&postID=10219 5#post102195]http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread…765628748&sid=1

[quote='GM Vrakthris

Q: How does the bonus experience work?

Let's say we have Account A with a level 70 character, Account B with a level 1 character and Account C with another level 1 character, all three characters are grouped. Account B and Account C are linked, will they receive triple experience?

A: Bonus experience should only be granted if the experience is not trivial to anyone in the group. Our Quality Assurance Team is looking into reports that some of these restrictions are not consistent and hope to resolve the issue soon.

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[/quote]

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...geNo=1&sid=1#4

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Originally Posted by GM Malkorix

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Q u o t e:

Thanks for the flip-flop Blizz. This is terrible, absolutely unacceptable for you to come out and say this feature is "Yes this is how it is intended to work!" and then 3 days later change your minds and say "Nope sorry! lulz!". After quite a lot of people (including myself) bought extra accounts specifically for this feature that you advertised and then confirmed as working.
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That simply wasn't intended, Skids. We stated that was indeed how it functioned at the time that this qualification was made; but the situation was still under examination at the time. The FAQ was updated some time ago because that functionality was found, upon further testing by our QA department, to be an unintended effect.

It's best to keep in mind that the RAF system is intended to allow two players of similar level to both level rapidly and experience the content together. It certainly wasn't on our agenda to 'flip-flop' - we were only reporting on what was occurring at the time. I'm sorry you're upset, but even then, the RAF system wasn't really supposed to be a way for a level 70 character to rapidly power level two lower level characters through content.

It's still very effective and useful though, even with only two characters of equivalent level exploring content together, and I hope that you continue to take advantage of the bonuses it provides.


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Q u o t e:

How'd you feel it if they took away Shaman from Draenei a couple days after TBC release? Advertised on the box, and worked for a few days, confirmed by Blizz to be working as intended... then suddenly nope, you can't make them anymore. But anyone that already had one got to keep it ? QQ moar, Suggestion Forums --->>, don't let the door hit you where the good lord split you, etc ?
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Unfortunately, your analogy is invalid.

At no point was it suggested that the RAF feature was intentionally to function with a higher level character. We only confirmed that the system was functioning that way for a period of time, which was ultimately a loophole around the intended and advertised functionality.

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I understand that, but I really believe that if it was a huge problem, Blizzard would've already fixed it. As far as I'm concerned people should make the most of it, before (and even if) they change it. Blizzard are aware of the thousands using this unintended glitch, and I believe they will only reduce it to maybe 2x exp if a 70 or w/e boosts. It's good money to them.



We'll see what happens though.

Malkorix did confirm that quest-boosting with a L70 and some recruit-a-friend-linked noobs is working as intended, and is not something they intend to change in the near future...

... I guess they don't know just how fast leveling will be through quest-boosting, so get it while the gettin's good says I.

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Originally Posted by 'Razuya',index.php?page=Thread&postID=102341#post1 02341

Blizzard are aware of the thousands using this unintended glitch

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Correct, and most of us "thousands" did it under the impression that it was an INTENDED game mechanic. In fact, we had a blue poster confirm that the behavior was working "correctly" as per the design.

They have decided, after the fact, that this is no longer the intended game design. They have stated this fact. NOW, we are all aware of this.

If you had no clue that the rules were changed, and continued to boost, I can see why Blizzard would be lenient.
If you were aware of the rules, and aware that Blizzard did not intend for this bug to be used the way that we have been using it, but you continue to do it anyway because you want a leveling advantage... Would you see where Blizzard could be justified in banning that?

I'm not saying anyone WILL get banned, but at the same time NONE OF US -- including you -- can say with any certainty that anyone who boosted after Friday's rule-change will NOT get banned. As of their Friday announcement, boosting using the 3x RAF bonus IS AN EXPLOIT. EXPLOITS can be bannable. They can also be excused. But none of US has the right to ENCOURAGE players to continue utilizing a "gray area" exploit. None of us would have ANY leg to stand on if Blizzard decided to ban us either.

All I can say is that, during the times that I was boosting, I did it with the knowledge that it was an allowed practice. Now that I know it is a bug, I will no longer be boosting. Now that I know that it is a bug, I will no longer encourage anyone to boost using the RAF bonus. To the best of my ability, I have followed Blizzard rules to the LETTER.

I think it's a case of "we do not want people to do it this way, and we will fix it. But it's not game breaking so we're not going to push it to the top of the To-Do list." It's possible that they will not take action against people who do it after they have explained that it was a bug and not intended. It comes down to whether you want to risk it or not. Once they've said "this is a bug, we did not intend for this to be used this way" they are practically warning you that they consider it an exploit.

I think the flip-flop was due to a lack of communication. The programmers weren't aware that this bug had slipped in, and GMs assumed that it was working as intended. Suddenly the programmers find out what happened and the GMs are telling you that no, it's not okay. That, or someone made a decision and was overruled, which is what I think happened with the tamable ghost wolf. It happens, though I do not think it's excusable when it does. It leaves a bad taste in people's mouths.

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Originally Posted by 'Razuya',index.php?page=Thread&postID=102341#post1 02341

I understand that, but I really believe that if it was a huge problem, Blizzard would've already fixed it. As far as I'm concerned people should make the most of it, before (and even if) they change it. Blizzard are aware of the thousands using this unintended glitch, and I believe they will only reduce it to maybe 2x exp if a 70 or w/e boosts. It's good money to them.



We'll see what happens though.

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You know, I think with millions of subscribers worldwide, I doubt that RAF will be "good money"... I believe they care more about the game itself than the cash to be honest.

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Originally Posted by 'Vyndree',index.php?page=Thread&postID=102339#post 102339

At no point was it suggested that the RAF feature was intentionally to function with a higher level character. We only confirmed that the system was functioning that way for a period of time, which was ultimately a loophole around the intended and advertised functionality.

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Actually, to split hairs, this isn't true. There is a blue quote during the RAF rollout that said having a 70 in the group with two linked lowbies would decrease the xp by the normal group xp mechanics but the reduced amount would be trippled.

They may be saying they don't want that now, but they did in fact confirm the functionality in the beginning.

EDIT: This was the original quote on the day of RAF release

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Question: I have Account 1 with a level 70, Account 2 with a level 1, and Account 3 with a level 1. Account 2 recruits Account 3. Account 1 groups with 2 and 3, running them through low level instances. Do 2 and 3 get increased XP? The wording of the faq says the mobs must not be grey to the invitee nor the invited, but does not mention whether an unrelated 3rd person of much higher level will break the xp gain.

Answer: Experience would be mitigated by the presence of a higher level character; however, the mitigated experience would be tripled due to the link. Remember, if one of the linked characters is lower than the other, only the lower level one will receive the XP boost.

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I'm mostly just sad I didn't get to set some kind of record 1-60 /played time without any free levels... I was on track for ~15 hours. Oh well.