Dear RARE, please make your policy on exploits 100% clear

  • Chlodovicus
    Master
    Insider

    Dear RARE,

    For some time, I've met quite a lot of pirates who believe, that as long as the use of an exploit isn't a bannable offense, then it’s not cheating. Apparently they claim that this is true, according to statements by RARE as well. Only the use of third-party software is cheating. I haven't personally found any statements from RARE at all, that authorizes the use of exploits in any shape or form however.

    Objectively, the use of an unintended exploit to gain a direct advantage in any sport, academia and business is cheating by definition. Thus, it is objectively true that the continuous use of an unintended exploit in Sea of Thieves is cheating, even though it’s not a bannable offense.

    When recruiting pirates in the official SoT discord, there appears to be a widespread understanding amongst many competitive HG players, that anything goes unless it’s a bannable offense. This has often led to arguments within the crew, which is a waste of time. I can’t even post a recruitment post specifically addressing “no exploiters”, since the very word “exploiters” seems to be banned.

    Can you please, RARE, clarify for everyone in a podcast, on X, on YouTube or whatever works, your stance on exploits? Can you please end the endless arguments once and for all? Is the continuous use of an unintended exploit, in Sea of Thieves, cheating, yes, or no?

    I strongly believe that it would benefit the community greatly as a whole, if there was an official stance on the use of exploits. It’s understandable that it’s extremely problematic to ban exploiters, and that the use of exploits isn’t a bannable offense. A game as complex as SoT is bound to need continuous maintenance and to have a potential for unintended exploits. That’s ok. But we need some clearcut guidelines from RARE about how to view these exploits that affect PvP directly. I’m tired of the endless arguments, when I just want to crew up with legitimate wholesome pirates and have some legit fun.

    Best regards.

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  • BurnBacon
    Vanguard
    Insider

    Exploiting vs Sportsmanship

    If you use any form of exploit, that poor sportsman. That is all

  • RealStyli
    Vanguard
    Insider

    Rare's stance has been inconsistent, and it is very frustrating to come up against cheaters (because that's what they ultimately are, even if it's exploiting not software hacks) who feel completely beyond punishment for their actions.

    Rare have said in the past that using any exploits puts your account at risk, but they've also given the green light at times to using some exploits while they work on fixes.

    My own reading on this, and it is just my perspective, is that it seems like Rare don't know how to enforce penalties against these players - either they can't actually indentify who is using those exploits or there are far too many for them to deal with. Or they are afraid that, by banning them, they will only become software cheaters - because cheaters can't help themselves, one way or another they need an advantage to win.

  • HiradC
    Lord
    Insider

    @chlodovicus it started when drew on one of his video updates addressed some outstanding exploits. He said that they intend to patch the funny launch but that it wasn't a bannable offence.
    He also when hunting spears were launched and a duplication glitch said don't bother selling them as they had reduced the gold gained implying it was so widespread that they had decided not to take action. It's difficult because if you define an exploit as an unintended game mechanic that can give an advantage then it's a pretty grey area and almost down to individual morale boundaries to decide.
    I have seen several sot partners use what could be deemed exploits.
    I don't think double buying supplies at the shipwright is game breaking. I didn't use the map launch ones to board other ships as that was too far in my opinion.
    Sprint juggling loot, using tall tales for other consequences. There are all sorts of things that fall between these lines.

    If in doubt you can report with evidence and see what action they take.

    I suspect the response will always be that they judge disciplinary action on a case by case basis

  • Fry9889
    Captain
    Insider

    @chlodovicus said in Dear RARE, please make your policy on exploits 100% clear:

    When recruiting pirates in the official SoT discord, there appears to be a widespread understanding amongst many competitive HG players, that anything goes unless it’s a bannable offense. This has often led to arguments within the crew, which is a waste of time. I can’t even post a recruitment post specifically addressing “no exploiters”, since the very word “exploiters” seems to be banned.

    Yet, god forbid if someone uses a curse ball or bone caller in hourglass

  • XZODEAK
    Champion
    Insider

    @realstyli said in Dear RARE, please make your policy on exploits 100% clear:

    Rare's stance has been inconsistent, and it is very frustrating to come up against cheaters (because that's what they ultimately are, even if it's exploiting not software hacks) who feel completely beyond punishment for their actions.

    While exploiting is considered cheating in certain definitions It is important to differentiate the two in sot specifically. Using a blanket term feels disingenuous, "cheating" should exclusively be used for bannable offences.

    Personally exploits are frowned upon but in the end it is an instance of"don't hate the player hate the game" It comes down Rare to fix or at least manage exploits.

  • SkelCurseIRL
    Marauder
    Insider

    @fry9889 Or even fire sometimes. What's next? No Chains or cannons? Settle this over a Dice Roll bruh

  • EligibleEel6171
    Marauder

    @chlodovicus I think the reason they haven't given (maybe can't give) a straight yes or no answer to what you're asking is that they want to be seen to take a firm and absolute stance on cheating. They stated in their new enforcement policy that cheaters will immediately receive 12 points and a permanent ban.

    If exploits can be done without installing third party software, then it's entirely possible for someone to use an exploit (even continuously) without realising that it's not an intended part of the game, maybe even by accident. Not everyone keeps up with the announcements, follows social media etc. Some people log onto the game, play, and log off again without engaging with the community or listening to what the developers have to say. @HiradC gave some good examples of the grey areas that can occur and of situations where it wouldn't be reasonable to permanently ban someone for using an exploit.

    If they say officially "Yes exploits are cheating", they're now under pressure to permanently ban every exploiter (including those described above) because that is what they've said they'll do. If they say "No, exploits are not cheating." this will be interpreted as a green light to go ahead and do it as much as we want.

    The game is and always will be a work in progress. Bugs will always exist. There will always be a range of people engaging with and exploiting those bugs intentionally, unintentionally, knowingly, unknowingly, with and without consequence to other players. Therefor the grey areas around how these exploits are viewed and responded to are always going to exist.

  • Super87Ghost
    Commander

    Deliberately using exploits is cheating, that is very clear.

    The reason Rare doesn't ban people just because they used an exploit can be varied, but one of the reasons is that they feel they need to be sure someone did it on purpose and not on accident, since sometimes you could do an exploit without meaning too and banning someone then feels to harsh.
    And other times they just feel like other punishments are more appropriate (like deducting gold and reputation).

    So there can still be good reasons Rare doesn't hand out (perma) bans (or not per definition if someone uses an exploit), while it's still cheating.

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