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Have the Bots won?


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#1 Anpanman

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Posted 21 June 2011 - 10:42 PM

Hi all, I'm new-old. I haven't played RO since Beta ended. Those were good times. Anyone remember the db party those last few days? :o

Niceties aside, I wanted to comment on the status of bots. I'd like to add a disclaimer here in advance - I have been playing on the Valkyrie server, and limit my comments to this server only. I also do not address whether botting is good or bad for a server. I argue under the presumption they suck, in large part because I don't like them. And to argue that point would make this even more lengthy.

The Backstory
Normally, I would only have a few aggravating thoughts on bots and how all rogues should be banned, curse these farmers, damn the zeny spammers in Prontera (and every major city and Eden), etc., maybe I'd give a few anecdotal stories. But today I noticed something more troublesome. When I logged in, the server was at roughly 4,000. Then, WoE or some sort of Guild PvP began. I logged off for a bit to take a shower. When I logged back in, I noticed the number of players was... down to roughly 2,500.

Now, I don't want to jump to conclusions, but one of the possibilities we have to consider is that nearly 1,500 log-ins were multi-clients or bots of active players. Sure, some are merchants hawking wares in Prontera - but are there 1,500 merchants? Yes, maybe some were legitimately (?) dual logging, to the extent that is permissible (I have my own opinions on having a dual log-in for a priest following someone around - make a friend or party with a stranger or something, geez). But 1,500?

I'm just going to suggest 300 or so players participated in the PvP, which suggests 300 people were responsible for the 1,500 logoffs. That's 5 secondary accounts logged in. Even if two were merchants, and one is a dual login, that's still two for which there is no accounting. (Yes, that's just on average, for an assumed 300 players). These are not the logins of zeny farmers or item farmers of purportedly Chinese origin, but players who have characters with which they play. Have we been pointing our fingers at Chinese virtual-farmers, when the real culprits are comprised of the "real" playerbase?

Am I wrong to conclude that the bots have won?
Maybe some people started botting because they thought it'd be convenient and useful. Others started because they couldn't handle trying to collect certain materials. A number of people felt like they had to, just to keep up with the rat-race. Even those vehemently opposed to botting may have just given up: if you can't beat'em, join'em. And despite efforts to the contrary, it seems that "botting" has seen less and less deterrence, and in recent past, bots and botting culture, as I would like to term it, has been left to develop relatively freely. I offer that botting culture has now become quite integrated into RO culture, like it or not. We need only look at the economy, the login statistics, and the maps where bots unabashedly run rampant. (It's a separate question whether this integration is mutually beneficial or parasitic, though I assume here, parasitic and evil, like intestinal worms.)

In an ideal world...
It would be nice if people would suddenly shake themselves and say, wow, I shouldn't bot. When I bot, the game may be more fun for me, but that's only a result of an uneasy shift in my moral compass, and at the expense of others' enjoyment. And what if the next guy starts botting because of me, in this race to the bottom? Well that's kind of crappy. Cuz you're now both operating outside of your moral norms and neither of you has an advantage amongst yourselves. And the economy has gone to crap. You bastards.

I don't wanna! But momma said it's good for me.
But I don't think anyone who is currently botting will do that. Denial that it's wrong, or pointing their finger at seeing others bot, or whatever. So, I suggest that the GMs must simply come down hard. We need enforcement of the rules. And we need it hard, just like your dad tells me on Tuesday nights. Deep, careful investigation, with some high profile cans of whoop-ass opened on the guilty. Good old-fashioned medieval deterrence through public executions. We may not get all the bots, but we will reduce them, both directly through bans, and collaterally through the deterrent effect of fear of the repercussions. Right now, there is no fear. We need that fear. Give it to me, GM.

Nobody expects the Spanish Inquisition!
If I may offer - I think a good way to go about this, is to make it very clear that enforcement has been lax in recent days. But starting xyz date, enforcement will be swift and harsh. Sure, a few examples will have to be made before we see real change. But such is to be expected. We should give those who are on the fence - those who have simply tasted the sweet nectar of botting and been filled with guilt - there's no reason to punish if they are willing to stop. But after xyz... dun dun!

GM's, give those botters who feel like they have no choice but to bot the reason to stop. Start enforcing the rules. Drive people to do what they want to do, to play things by the rules. Also, start doing something about those damn zeny spamming bots. Christ almighty.

Haha god I'm going crazy. Back to studying. Byebye!

Edited by Anpanman, 21 June 2011 - 10:46 PM.

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#2 Scuba

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Posted 21 June 2011 - 10:53 PM

So many new players ~*^_^*~
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