A little heads up about GMs

wilso132 · Post by **wilso132** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 3:49 pm

Just wanted to tell you guys, I had MQ running earlier today when I lost an item to a quest bug (had MQ running 12 hours prior to that). I contacted a GM and he zoned in and reimbursed item (with MQ still running)...

Now, he didn't notice MQ at all. But MQ also didn't notice him... at all. No GM tag, not even listed on a /w or /w npc. So the check for gm's in zone is pretty much worthless, so make sure you're macro'ing responsibly.

Elric · Post by **Elric** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 5:07 pm

Any GM can, at his or her discretion, remove their tag in order to become anonymous, or like any other PC.

Know this now, and know this well.

wilso132 · Post by **wilso132** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 5:14 pm

That's not what I'm saying, he didn't just remove his tag... he removed himself for my /w list and /w npc list as well. Didn't know they could do this.

Either way, just trying to make sure people are aware that $gm isn't going to work even half the time.

GD · Post by GD » Sun Dec 28, 2003 6:16 pm

Most of the Veterans around here already knew of this fact, and it had been posted before.

True GM's have the ability to make it seem as if they aren't even in the zone, to the point that your client is never even told they are there. They are visible for a split second after they zone in, just before the server removes them from the server->client data stream again. They are there, but the server just never sends you the data on their whereabouts.

Amadeus · Post by **Amadeus** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 6:27 pm

I find it hard to believe you were macroing and petitioned a GM with MQ still running ..lol. It's probably not best to advise people to macro responsibly after this kind of decision making

wilso132 · Post by **wilso132** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 7:01 pm

Amadeus wrote:I find it hard to believe you were macroing and petitioned a GM with MQ still running ..lol. It's probably not best to advise people to macro responsibly after this kind of decision making

I wasn't on an account I cared about and figured why not. Besides, I was running one macro that was about 5 lines in length... and I knew it wasn't going to go off because I had just killed the spawn it was going to alert me for.

I didn't /w or /w npc on the same account either, I did it on another one in the same zone (I was 3 boxing to kill the mob in question). Also, I never have my MQ window maximized and I sure as hell don't leave the title as MQ.

I do macro responsibly, I was just trying to provide some information that I didn't know was apparently already well known... in the future when I realize something I won't bother sharing it.

Programmer · Post by **Programmer** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:45 pm

I wasn't on an account I cared about and figured why not.

I did it on another one in the same zone (I was 3 boxing to kill the mob in question).

Ever stop to think that GMs (not guides) can access your IP address and cross reference it against other characters using that IP? Or, perhaps cross reference the credit card used to pay for accounts? (Of course, if you pay via game card, that second concern isn't valid in your case but may be for others).

True GM's have the ability to make it seem as if they aren't even in the zone, to the point that your client is never even told they are there. They are visible for a split second after they zone in, just before the server removes them from the server->client data stream again.

This all depends on the avatar level of the GM. Guides are visible after zoning, until they hide again. Senior guides do not have to re-hide after zoning. GMs (higher level than guides) have multiple stealth modes available beyond guide stealth.

wilso132 · Post by **wilso132** » Sun Dec 28, 2003 9:04 pm

Ever stop to think that GMs (not guides) can access your IP address and cross reference it against other characters using that IP? Or, perhaps cross reference the credit card used to pay for accounts? (Of course, if you pay via game card, that second concern isn't valid in your case but may be for others).

I realize that. Contrary to what half of you here seem to think... just because someone has a low post count doesn't mean they're a moron. The account I used MQ on is an account from a friend who quit so it's not even on the same credit card (in fact, none of the accounts were on the same card seeing as how only one of them is mine).

Secondly, I highly doubt GMs would go to the trouble to check what all characters I'm running by checking my IP check... when the reason I had to petition is because of a well known quest bug.... and when the character running MQ is level 10 parked all the way across the zone no where near either of the two I used to actually kill the mob.

Anyways, thanks for the posters who actually posted some useful information. I think I've actually found a clever way to detect "non-detectable" GMs. While it might lag a bit, it won't matter since I'll be using it just to incorporate into my SpawnChecker.mac.

Shali · Post by **Shali** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 3:24 am

still kinda shady on the whole undetectable gm thing, i realize they will not show up in superwho or any of that, but do the /target pc and /target pc next (same as $searchspawn i guess, i just use these though) use superwho to know which pc to target? what im wondering is would /target pc still pick up the gm or are they flagged as an npc/not targettable

sorry for bein a noob

Bad Karma · Post by **Bad Karma** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 5:42 am

attempting to /target a GM while they are /invisible or in /hide mode will no longer work....that was "fixed" about a 2 years ago.

GD · Post by GD » Mon Dec 29, 2003 7:21 am

Shali wrote:swhat im wondering is would /target pc still pick up the gm or are they flagged as an npc/not targettable

Answer:

They are visible for a split second after they zone in, just before the server removes them from the server->client data stream again. They are there, but the server just never sends you the data on their whereabouts.

Think of it this way: Except for a split second right after they zone in, as far as your client is concerned, they are logged out. Your client is no longer sent the data that they are there, so there is no way to target them if they essentially don't exist in the data stream you are sent.

I've never used the SpawnID hack, but i'd expect it to be similar to that in how it works. If you don't know what it is, don't bother asking, as it has been "fixed".

Programmer · Post by **Programmer** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 8:21 am

Wilso132,

I never stopped to look at your post count, and even after your reference to it, I still haven't. For all I know as I type this, its greater than mine. Post count in no way indicates anything more about a person than how much they've posted on this particular board.

Would a GM do an IP search to find other characters? Why would you assume they would not. I am prone to agree with you on this, however it is a very real possibility if they are so inclined. For all you or I know, its as easy for them as "/who X.X.X.X", or "/whoelse Yourname". If they have reason to take action against a player and the search is in fact that easy, I would expect them to have those commands (invented in my own head, but not unrealistic) hotkeyd.

I don't see anyone in this thread calling you a moron. I do, however, see you getting overly defensive towards being told it is unwise to draw any attention to yourself when you are macroing, even if the attention you draw has nothing to do with MQ.

vzmule · Post by **vzmule** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:23 am

This has been posted here a bunch of times.

Their command is /hideme which triggers a different type of anon which is checked by the server based on your status.

For example when a guide uses /hideme, senior guides can still see them. If a GM uses /hideme, senior guides can't see them.

Elric · Post by **Elric** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 9:27 am

To be totally honest with you, most GM clients have a completely seperate interface than the ingame one you see. So there is, in fact, no reason to have them hotkeyed, as they are displayed in the system as are your own action keys.

Basically, being a GM is idiot-proofed.

Guides, on the other hand, have normal interfaces, with cshome zone files, and certain commands at their disposal.

A GM has complete control over the server(s) he operates, and can(will) do anything in their power(including, but not limited to: IP Search, Account Search, MAC Search, OS/Hardware Identification, and/or Flagged Account/Credit Card Number Search.).. It is not anything surprising to see that a GM can ban your account over, and over, and over again for the same offense on a seperate account.

And as far as post count goes here, I whore cheese. So there you have it.

Programmer · Post by **Programmer** » Mon Dec 29, 2003 11:07 am

yes, /hideme is the command guides use, but I am not so certain it is the way GMs go stealthy all of the time. True, a guide or senior cannot see a GM in /who all if they have stealth mode on, however they can sometimes see they are on with /find. Depending on what mode the GM is in, /find will either tell you the zone they are in, or respond as if they are not online. This can happen even though they are chatting away in /pr.

A little heads up about GMs

A little heads up about GMs

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