Dont do Truces ...sorry

well, to add my 2 cents, here are my thoughts.

1. Is using a BOT the same as duping? No. A Bot can be used just the same as any other script. It can perform a wide variety of tasks and is a very useful tool.

2. Is controlling another player via the use of their BOT the same as duping. Well, no. Not really. There are or can be similarities, but it is not the same.

3. Does using a BOT change the parameters of the game to include some aspects of duping? Yes. It really does

I guess the main issue is this: Using BOT’s allows for tasks that might not normally be available to be performed, to be performed. I.E. if one corpie is around, and wants to grid, they can set another corpie to run saveme and grid away. Would this be possible without a BOT, if the other corpie was afk? Prolly not. Unless of course that corpie ran saveme and walked away.

The situation/problem is that a BOT allows for any or most tasks to be performed while the players are not around or at keys. You can have someone colo, or planet strip, or run saveme or citkil or buydown or sdt, or almost anything you want. You can keep a “slacking” corpie completely productive by using his/her BOT. You can also BOT them to do tasks that they might normally miss, such as run for collie drops, etc. It is not being used as a “super-script” but as a player controlling tool.

Is this “fair”? Well there are a few points of view, but the bottom line is that it is fair because it isn’t against the rules

I think the bigger question should be “is it cool”?

Well, it is cool for the people who dont have key time, or the players that cant stand losing. They can stay competitive and productive, while corpies are missing or afk.

But to me, it kind of detracts from the overall game. People say that its not supposed to be a “he who has the most key time wins” game. But I kinda don’t agree with that. I think that if you cant spend the time, don’t expect to win.

So the real question is “does using a BOT create an environment that detracts from the original strategy and dedication of/to the game”? I think yes. For sure it degrades dedication……..

All I can say is that, I see both sides to the argument. I use a BOT. I like using my BOT. I am happy that I come home from work and my corpies have gridded 3K new sectors while (unbenounced to me) I ran saveme for them. That makes me smile.

But I don’t like it when some people never show up and are almost as productive as I am and I spend a lot of time at keys.

Like it or not, until a new rule is made, BOT’s are here to stay. The situation is what it is. You no longer have to be at keys to be a productive corp member. Heck you really only have to log in once, and watch yer autorelog keep you active forever. The days of people dropping offline or not showing up and causing you to lose or fall behind, are over.

It’s a changed game, and I cant see it returning to the way it used to be……….

Nice post. I can't argue with any of your points. But here's my two cents:

If you have the key time to play, you will almost always do better than the people that don't. I think though that if bots weren't around, there would be even fewer players around as the player base gets older and naturally assumes more and more responsibilty. (family/work/who knows)

As great as it would be to pull in a new generation of players to this text game, I don't see that happening any time soon. Without a bot, it would simply not be feasible for the majority of players to even consider a semi-competitive game.

At least that's what I think.


Strategy to me is the most fun aspect of this game. Like a game of chess, you try to outsmart your opponent(s). The key for me was what the defensive or offensive strategy of the opposing team was, not who was controlling the team. Bots open up the strategies that another corp can employ, which to me has always been a good thing. Attacking an AFK corp is fun, but not nearly as exciting as when someone is at the keys. At least with one person at keys in a corp of bots, they can mount a passable defense.

MD

heh heh or knowing their kicking their own AS* for losing that afk corpie and the planet he was on.

personally I bot, I use bots, i even do a little scripting for the bots..
but traping a bot is fun too...laff.. someone made the mistake of telling that bot what to do..
and it can be very costly...

i totally agree that keytime is critical to winning. i also have written and used bots and benefited from running a bot for extended periods of time.

what i hate is getting home from work to find out that i have no turns left. i actually like playing and nothing irritates me more than a corpie with too much keytime on their hands who sees your bot as something to play with when their turns are gone. sure its cool to use bots for saveme or to evade enemies; most of the time i'm running a bot for the corp's convenience in an emergency; it is not a license to use all my turns while i'm at work or asleep.

also, i think this contributes to game imbalance because a corp really only needs one person who has lots of keytime. keytime is critical, but i think the game is much more enjoyable when everyone provides their own keytime, for the most part.

I'm on the same page as Rev. A bot doesn't bother me unless it is being misused. By this I mean running another players turns on a frequent basis. If a player can't be online to run at least half his turns, he shouldn't have committed to the game to start with. Saveme, citkill, pdrops, ptorps, theolian reloaders, and scripts like that are acceptable for bots, but building, gridding, cashing, and explore scripts should only be done by the original player at the keys in my opinion.

I agree with your post. Bots will be around and will be used. It is the abuse of bots as Rev noted in his post that is a major problem.

The one part of the post regarding the "bottom line" is one that can be an issue. There really are no rules to the game except what the sysOp of the server states. Usually the no blowing stardock or class 0s or blockades in use and the one against duping. Some post about not using the alien planet farming "bug".

The "game allows" rotation of corpies - say a 4 man corp that has 7 players - run the turns of those on the corp, CEO bounces them, and the next 3 are up to bat. The game allows it.... And most servers don't post rules against it. The only thing the game enforces is the max players on a corp at one time and even that can be beat from what I understand.

               / Promethius / Enigma / Wolfen /

"A man who has no skills can be taught, a man who has no honor has nothing."

Your $0.02, and now a $0.01 for my thoughts...


I think this point is exactly like Echer's drawing of the Snake swallowing its own tail. No offense.



I don't know about you, but the things I've done with peoples Bots while they themselves are watching or AFK, would fall into the realm of Duping. Without a Doubt.



Sorry. I really do not understand this point.



The Main issue is this, actually: A few people Corp up. They all make sure they have the MOMBot because it really is the greatest thing since sliced-bread. One or more persons on the corp are really very good, at all aspects of the game; the rest are at varying levels of 'skill'. Now here is the crux. Everyone but one person who's 'Good' goes AFK, and this 'skilled' player starts playing/invading/hunting/gridding/cashing/whatever, and 'Bots' corpies to do stuff that they themselves either: don't know how to do w/o several minutes of tutorial, or, can do but much slower and possibly with alot less skill.





The answer to All-Of-The-Above depends largely on which side of the equation you happen to be on. botting a corpie (or even a mega corpie), is not just about Saveme,Pdrop,Nego,Buy-This,Buy-That.. it's about the MAC Command

In conclusion. Controlling a corpie via Bot depends greatly on the skill level of the person doing the botting. Contrast this with loggin into a game using a corpies account (either locally on your own PC, or using a Remote connection to their own PC). The results are ultimately the same: You've been Duped!