Are Griefers really a problem?

[Tenti]

I loved this game (story mode), but I've never got on with online play (I'm the wrong side of 50 now and hate being "owned" by lightning fingered 14yo with time to burn).  But as I love playing around in this "world", and as I could get in on Day2, I thought I'd give it a go.  On the whole I love it, but I am seeing many comments about "Griefers" (new word for me).  But are they really a problem?

I read other posts on here, with some great tips/tactics on how to deal with them.  So I played last night with the intention of trying these new techniques..and not one person randomly shot me!!  To be fair, I have played Beta for at least 30hrs and I have been shot for no reason about 10 times.  Most often just a late 19th century drive-by.  A couple of times someone has tried I was able to defend my self and send them packing (which felt great!!).

The one time I did get "owned" was when I mistakenly "sniped" someone (I'm claiming mistaken identity), who then hunted me down and killed me 5 times in a few minutes.  I got the offer for a parley/feud but tried to kill him again (another death), at which point I said "You are totally kicking my butt!", we chatted about how he'd got his levels, and I ended up posseing up with him and he showed me how he'd levelled up, and gave me lots of tips etc. 

For me, there seems to be several ways to play the game.  Alone, focusing on hunting fishing etc, I've been able to do this (mostly) untroubled.  Its just getting to the limited Butcher's shops that is the problem.  Secondly, I think you need to posse up.  It is so much easier when someone has your back (especially if they're quite good!), also its better for doing many of the missions.  But therein lies my problem.  Being a "giffer" (oldie!) I don't have a network of online friends.  I have friends (a few) but they don't play online at all.  I am hoping that once I've done my 20 posts, I can try to find some posse members on here as I think its the way forward.

I also feel that this so-called "griefing" problem could get worse.  However, for me, I think it's much more fun to get two posse's and re-enact "Gunfight at the OK coral".  I'd also like more gunfighting (duels) rather than outright murder.

I think GTA V, went too far down the "just shoot everyone on site" philosophy.  With RDO I think R* have the makings of something great.  But if it is going to develop into a genuine and immersive world, there needs to be some way to "police" the "griefers" (I prefer murderous psychopaths).

Here's a thought, how about have R* sponsored Pinkertons.  Other higher level "honorable" players who set up as law-keepers and track down repeated offenders.  Its what happened in The Wild West.  I'd wear a Tin Star, it'd be funny.

Anyway, going back to my opening question; no, I don't think that griefing is a huge problem at the moment, they can be avoided.  R* could help, by reducing the need to visit the very limited number of places to sell stuff; perhaps introduce a few "mobile" trappers around the world.  They could also stop sending my camp to New Austin, there are no shops and its pretty lawless as you'd expect and I certainly don't want to go all the way down there just to do some cooking. (I know I can move the camp but $2 is $2).  However, as Beta ends and more people join I think there is the possibility that griefing could be become an issue.

However, I think the way forward is co-op.  I've done a few posses and it is definitely easier.  Its definitely harder to grief/troll someone when there are 3 others to retaliate while you respawn and get your horse back.

 

Edited December 15, 2018 by Tenti
didn't like initial wording

[DLKnives]

I've only really been griefed twice, both times the player followed me and followed me. The first time the guy killed me 7 times then messaged me "sorry". I didn't know about parley at the time or the report button. The second guy killed me for no reason then followed me so I killed him a couple of times and made it to my camp. He followed me there and made a total ass of himself just waiting for me to leave. He even messaged me "when you leave you get it" so I reported him. It had some effect - the next day his message to me was gone when I went to block him.

But you are right about posses  but I only have one friend that plays and he doesn't play much. But a guy here (HooverRAD) is starting a persistent posse and that may be what I need. I doubt anyone will mess with 7 players in a posse but there are some 12 yr old idiots out there. I don't know - I fish a lot and don't want to hold up a posse from doing other things, so I ply solo 99% of the time. I've played since the first day I could and have been killed plenty but only really bothered those 2 times.

[Swiftshoted]

I don't think its a major problem.  More just a case of people having one  or two bad experiences then going online to have a cry about it. Coz thats the world we live in now days bunch off snowflakes that cry and sook at the 1st sign of something not going there way. Now don't get me wrong. I myself have had a few run ins with what i guess yous would call griefers. But its not like its hard to fix, i personally like to go the old "dont get mad get even" and just kill them several times which if you are dealing with griefers should be easy I'm no pro player but I've had posses of 4 attack me for no reason and I've come out on top if i was trying to attack them life would have been harder but since they were coming for me easy to defend against other players. Now i haven't read the tips and trick thread so i dont know but the main reason for this is because if a player or group off players is trying to attack and kill you for no reason defence is the key. I just set up and let them come . I had a bloke watch me catch a fish it was taking me ages to wind in and right when it was about to be caught he head shotted me and somehow killed my horse it was abit annoying but why have a cry about it. I simply just went back found him and killed him and after killing him a few times he took off and never returned. And if you don't want to or can't kill them simply log into another server or parley

[Tenti]

I like that intially I was able to pass another player and "Wave", maybe hook-up for a bit.  However, now, after being blasted a few times, I am dubious of any player coming within range.  I think its a shame if you have to shoot everyone just in case they might shoot you.  I guess time will tell..it'd be nice to think the community will work against that happening.

[Holyskin]

I would honestly say no. Butt hey do exist, remember after they kill you 3 times you can press X on xbox (not sure of ps4 controls) and you can parley which makes you safe from that player for 10 minutes - before it wares off, they will get bored of waiting and move on, remember the map is big and we move slow on horses so unless somebody REALLY has it in for you, its not likely they are going to chase you around the map. I'm a big advocate of this game not HAVING a passie PVE mode for the snowflakes - this game is made better by the ever present tension in the game.

[YodaMan 3D]

On 12/15/2018 at 4:55 AM, Tenti said:

I loved this game (story mode), but I've never got on with online play (I'm the wrong side of 50 now and hate being "owned" by lightning fingered 14yo with time to burn).  But as I love playing around in this "world", and as I could get in on Day2, I thought I'd give it a go.  On the whole I love it, but I am seeing many comments about "Griefers" (new word for me).  But are they really a problem?

I read other posts on here, with some great tips/tactics on how to deal with them.  So I played last night with the intention of trying these new techniques..and not one person randomly shot me!!  To be fair, I have played Beta for at least 30hrs and I have been shot for no reason about 10 times.  Most often just a late 19th century drive-by.  A couple of times someone has tried I was able to defend my self and send them packing (which felt great!!).

The one time I did get "owned" was when I mistakenly "sniped" someone (I'm claiming mistaken identity), who then hunted me down and killed me 5 times in a few minutes.  I got the offer for a parley/feud but tried to kill him again (another death), at which point I said "You are totally kicking my butt!", we chatted about how he'd got his levels, and I ended up posseing up with him and he showed me how he'd levelled up, and gave me lots of tips etc. 

For me, there seems to be several ways to play the game.  Alone, focusing on hunting fishing etc, I've been able to do this (mostly) untroubled.  Its just getting to the limited Butcher's shops that is the problem.  Secondly, I think you need to posse up.  It is so much easier when someone has your back (especially if they're quite good!), also its better for doing many of the missions.  But therein lies my problem.  Being a "giffer" (oldie!) I don't have a network of online friends.  I have friends (a few) but they don't play online at all.  I am hoping that once I've done my 20 posts, I can try to find some posse members on here as I think its the way forward.

I also feel that this so-called "griefing" problem could get worse.  However, for me, I think it's much more fun to get two posse's and re-enact "Gunfight at the OK coral".  I'd also like more gunfighting (duels) rather than outright murder.

I think GTA V, went too far down the "just shoot everyone on site" philosophy.  With RDO I think R* have the makings of something great.  But if it is going to develop into a genuine and immersive world, there needs to be some way to "police" the "griefers" (I prefer murderous psychopaths).

Here's a thought, how about have R* sponsored Pinkertons.  Other higher level "honorable" players who set up as law-keepers and track down repeated offenders.  Its what happened in The Wild West.  I'd wear a Tin Star, it'd be funny.

Anyway, going back to my opening question; no, I don't think that griefing is a huge problem at the moment, they can be avoided.  R* could help, by reducing the need to visit the very limited number of places to sell stuff; perhaps introduce a few "mobile" trappers around the world.  They could also stop sending my camp to New Austin, there are no shops and its pretty lawless as you'd expect and I certainly don't want to go all the way down there just to do some cooking. (I know I can move the camp but $2 is $2).  However, as Beta ends and more people join I think there is the possibility that griefing could be become an issue.

However, I think the way forward is co-op.  I've done a few posses and it is definitely easier.  Its definitely harder to grief/troll someone when there are 3 others to retaliate while you respawn and get your horse back.

I think it griefing in this game really depends on what server, what time of day, whether it's a full moon, type stuff.  I have a friend who claims that he hasn't encoutered random PvP in the game, no griefing at all.  I on the other hand have been fishing and been shot in the back and been lassoed a few times, meanwhile the players run off if I fight back.

[BropolloCreed79]

10 minutes ago, YodaMan 3D said:

meanwhile the players run off if I fight back.

I believe the technical terms for those players is, "candy-ass".

[dredd1961]

On 12/16/2018 at 10:47 PM, Tenti said:

I like that intially I was able to pass another player and "Wave", maybe hook-up for a bit.  However, now, after being blasted a few times, I am dubious of any player coming within range.  I think its a shame if you have to shoot everyone just in case they might shoot you.  I guess time will tell..it'd be nice to think the community will work against that happening.

It depends on the lobby you are in, some are great and you can go about your business.  Other lobbies can be toxic particularly around Blackwater and Valentine. 

[The Coca-Cola Kid]

I think the above posts are good answers, and my input would be that yes, I have experienced a large number of griefers. However, I am defining griefing as randomly killing another player for no apparent reason. IMO this is a result a lot of players taking preemptive action. That I get, but maybe there is a way to show each other there is no aggressive intent. Having said that, I have experienced a few players that have literally chased me across the map for multiple kills. This kind of behavior I do not understand and wish that there was a way to limit that, but since I haven’t seen it happen often, I wouldn’t say it’s a problem... yet.

Edited December 24, 2018 by The Coca-Cola Kid

[The Coca-Cola Kid]

Additionally, I really like the above poster’s idea of a *R* Pinkerton or Marshal service.

[IudiciumDie]

Griefing is only a problem if Rockstar wants this game to be social and a place to make new friends.

How have griefers changed my game play?

1. I avoid all other players I do not already know.

2. Any player, I do not know, changes direction toward me, I kill them before they can kill me.

3. I change servers until I find a server that is nearly empty or has few players in the area I want to go to.

 

WHY?

1. Griefers will seek out solo players, even when hunting and fishing to kill.

2. Griefers will ambush other players.

3. Griefers will ride past you, then turn around and shoot you in the back.

 

Comments.

None of these activities promote an environment of social interaction.

This is my first and likely last Rockstar game. Would like a refund on my "ultimate" purchase. big mistake.

My opinion of the Rockstar team is that they are a bunch of sociopaths and have crated a space for like minded psychopaths.

Edited December 28, 2018 by IudiciumDie

[Ruf_Rider]

The way I handle griefers is  if they kill me once  so be it   but keep coming back time and time again,  I turn the tables   and grief the hell out of them.  

they start it I finish it. 

[Major Dammidge]

I seem to be plagued by griefers, and shared some of it under different threads. Two instances are remarkable. Couple days ago, I was hunting and  the griefer stopped along the road to shoot me. He was with a buddy. So I sent a duel request and the griefer accepted. The time contest began and every time I would try to engage the griefer his buddy would shoot me. I left that server. The other really annoying instance was when I was at the top of a steep canyon picking off bad guys at a hideout. All of a sudden another player is at the bottom of that canyon looting the bodies before I could get down there. I shoot him and start winding my way down the canyon and he shoots me. By the time I respawn, the griefer had looted all the bodies and captured the leader and probably a treasure map. As terrible as the economy is in the online version. 2 hours is a lot of play time to waste hunting and fishing when some stinking trigger-happy idiot negates one's efforts. 

[Tenti]

4 hours ago, Major Dammidge said:

I seem to be plagued by griefers, and shared some of it under different threads. Two instances are remarkable. Couple days ago, I was hunting and  the griefer stopped along the road to shoot me. He was with a buddy. So I sent a duel request and the griefer accepted. The time contest began and every time I would try to engage the griefer his buddy would shoot me. I left that server. The other really annoying instance was when I was at the top of a steep canyon picking off bad guys at a hideout. All of a sudden another player is at the bottom of that canyon looting the bodies before I could get down there. I shoot him and start winding my way down the canyon and he shoots me. By the time I respawn, the griefer had looted all the bodies and captured the leader and probably a treasure map. As terrible as the economy is in the online version. 2 hours is a lot of play time to waste hunting and fishing when some stinking trigger-happy idiot negates one's efforts. 

 

I've had that as well, but normally the "griefers" can't kill the leader (not everyone can see the hideout splodge).  As for Treasure maps, I shouldn't worry.  I've cleared loads of them and never had a map (whether I kill or spare him).  Maybe you can only get a certain number including leveling up maps (I had one every 5 levels until lvl20)

Maybe someone else here can give better info on that.

[YodaMan 3D]

I read some where that the map only has like a 2% drop, if you keep the leader alive till the end and that number gets worse if he dies early.  So the odds are against another player stealing your map.

[Kean_1]

6 hours ago, Major Dammidge said:

I seem to be plagued by griefers, and shared some of it under different threads. Two instances are remarkable. Couple days ago, I was hunting and  the griefer stopped along the road to shoot me. He was with a buddy. So I sent a duel request and the griefer accepted. The time contest began and every time I would try to engage the griefer his buddy would shoot me. I left that server. The other really annoying instance was when I was at the top of a steep canyon picking off bad guys at a hideout. All of a sudden another player is at the bottom of that canyon looting the bodies before I could get down there. I shoot him and start winding my way down the canyon and he shoots me. By the time I respawn, the griefer had looted all the bodies and captured the leader and probably a treasure map. As terrible as the economy is in the online version. 2 hours is a lot of play time to waste hunting and fishing when some stinking trigger-happy idiot negates one's efforts. 

Take solace in the fact that there was unlikely any treasure map to be had as others have said.  I've raided tons of gang hideouts and I don't believe I ever had one drop for me (a friend got one though off a dead body).  Still don't know how that works.

I've only had two issues with griefers in recent memory.  One was when I was retrieving a treasure from a map I got by leveling up.  It was the one in the Grizzlies at the top of a waterfall.  He was on the opposite end and came poking his nose around.  This is way out in the boonies and for a random to come into that area he was definitely following me.  .....and I was in my rights to shoot him IMO.  Unfortunately, I only had my Lancaster with a small scope but I could still observe him with my binoculars.  I took cover and he eventually left after discovering there was no easy way to get across.  If I had my Rolling Block Rifle in hand, I would have taken the shot no doubt.

The other troll was a guy that continued to follow me even after I tried backtracking.  I finally stopped on a hill around a corner and waited for him to come around the bend.  I started taking shots when he bolted off and hid behind a rock.  I couldn't get him but I was able to suppress.   ......then I saw his horse so I downed it and then took off and put some distance between us.  He never gave up though.

He eventually came at me when I was at a lake surrounded by cliffs.  I waited to see what he was on about.  ....he roped me and I died.  After that, I was relentless.  I killed him 3 more times and then (again) his horse.  He tried to pursue me again so I led him toward a posse near by.  The others we annoyed as well and proceeded to annihilate him.  .....I took my leave at that point and he quit the session.

In that particular case, I blocked him and reported his behavior as "disruptive" using the in-game reporting tool.  

[Mizzter Monkee]

I  cant go 2 minutes after  spawning without being headshot killed. I have had people circle my camp with the white flag raised , waiting for me to leave  and then shoot me dead.. Not fun.

Spoiler

 

 

[dIV4r]

Yes and no. I have not had any issues when traveling in groups or posses. Like mentioned, they mainly only target solo players so if you play online then you are almost certainly going to view it as a problem. 

[Major Dammidge]

CHECK THIS OUT:  my camp was in the extreme West desert in the middle of absolute nowhere. I'm two steps from the fire pit I noticed the pink circle very nearby. All of a sudden I got lassoed and dragged out of my camp and killed! 

[riptide87]

Yes, Yes they are. 

It wouldn't be an issue if it was happening now and then but I see it happening on almost every server I join. Just cause it doesn't always happen to me doesn't make me notice it any less.