And this takes us back to Kav's point. If we go down that road, it becomes a battle between scripters and ops to see if scripts can appear human enough to fool the ops. It might make for some fun challenges, but I don't think it'll solve the problem.

For a couple of people that asked, I've been playing since at least version 2, possibly version 1, but it was so long ago I didn't really notice. It was on a local single node bbs with a 15 minute per day time limit, but you could get more time if you donated.
I will also say I've played quite a few different version since I started, and I've never seen a version, bug in a version, or even a temporary version that allowed a player to bypass the planet figs on an L2 or greater planet with a photon.
If it had happened, it would have been a MAJOR bug and not worth playing.

How many script writers are there who can adapt the scripts to new settings? If the script writers agree to respect the wishes of the sysop who chooses to use the new settings I'm proposing, and NOT adapt, then all is happy, happy once again!

Except that isn't the way it works. One script writer comes up with a change, then propagates that change to their corp members. If the scripts are unlocked, they'll then spread to 2nd and 3rd tier users. Eventually the script will get rewritten after a ton of changes, and other scripters will copy any functionality that's worth having.

Then there are open source scripts, those get changed all the time. You don't have "scripters" changing them, you have everyone changing them. The original authors and their intentions get lost in the shuffle like a game of telephone. Ram's TSDT is a good example of that, a week after the update... there's at least 5 people that have an update already. By the time of the next turny, everyone will have it. There are already variants of that script that include bug fixes and new features.

And you aren't going to get every scripter to chose not to adapt their scripts. If for no reason than the massive edge you'd get from adapting. For that reason alone, I'll always adapt my scripts to whatever comes along. JP is right when he says that the only way to eliminate scripting is to eliminate the benefits of scripting.

People have always pushed the limits on what the game allows. This is why I was looking at what does the game allow now that it didn’t then, and I kept coming back to these three things: Fig lock, ISP and abort display. I was getting all excited thinking I may have found the “toggle” but now the wind is out of my sails, and I’m feeling rather sad. It’s funny how this game can bring out so many emotions in people.

So – eliminate the benefits of scripting? This means we wait for TWGS 4.xx?

There's no guarantee it can even be done, but I'm definitely not doing it in TWv3.x. The changes will be too great. Let's leave this version largely as-is, with the good and the bad. As I've always said, my main goal is to preserve the game as it was, whether or not it's still played as-intended.

The only things that have changed is the players know the game better and there's always going to be a better script that will get around almost any changes made.

Some players know this game like the backs of their hands - a great many don't.

Yep, and the ones that know the game like the back of there hand are passing that knowledge to other players through scripts. Uncompiled scripts are like sharing class notes. If you study them enough, you'll usually pass.

JP, I have an idea.

Can you make a version all for cruncher to play by her little old self? One that will let her live her dream of 'no scripts'? that way the rest of the world can progress with out the constant kicking of the dead horse?

Modification of scripts to meet a need is the way a lot of "scripters" have learned to script. The noob scripter also learns a lot about the game this way.

               / Promethius / Enigma / Wolfen /

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

Sigh.

You (and clearly many others) do not get Cruncher's point. I know that she uses scripts and helpers. So do I. What we do not do, is use afk scripts. I cannot speak for her, but for my part, I have zero problem with opponents using afk scripts or bots. I have no interest in playing like that myself, matter of taste, and to be honest I am mildly contemptuous of those who play that way.

Kavanagh

Kav is right, I do use scripts for trading, hauling and colo scripts. Always have and always will. I think the scores reflect that:

Trade Wars 2002 Trader Rankings : 06/18/23 12:37:55 PM

# Rank Alignment Corp Trader Name Ship Type
--- --------------------- -- ------------------------------ ------------------
1 15,635 -419,729 2 Cruncher Corporate FlagShip
2 13,223 -406,912 2 Kal Durak Havoc GunStar
3 11,029 1,692 ** rem0te Imperial StarShip
4 10,322 -314,474 3 Farley Havoc GunStar
5 9,094 -174,617 1 angel girl Havoc GunStar
6 8,835 -301,631 1 -=orion=- Colonial Transport
7 8,207 -70,833 3 Amra Interdictor Cruiser
8 8,088 -446,132 3 Comet Havoc GunStar
9 7,524 -182,258 1 Tarke Interdictor Cruiser
10 6,744 -46,343 1 Raven StarMaster
11 3,504 -180,380 3 K-os Havoc GunStar
12 1,714 0 4 grian Merchant Cruiser
13 1,574 1,009 ** Jaguar Imperial StarShip
14 923 0 ** Derek Ridley Merchant Cruiser
15 395 1,025 1 Tebow Interdictor Cruiser
16 392 4 ** Garet Jax Scout Marauder
17 102 1 5 Ficonblue *** Escape Pod ***
18 51 5,509 3 tc Imperial StarShip
19 11 -3 ** max # Ship Destroyed #
20 4 1,695 2 Izod Imperial StarShip
21 4 0 ** Scopique Merchant Cruiser
22 2 1 ** microblaster Merchant Cruiser
23 1 1,346 2 kavanagh Imperial StarShip
24 0 0 ** Ron # Ship Destroyed #
25 0 0 ** mjolnir Merchant Cruiser
26 0 0 ** John.Pritchard Merchant Cruiser
27 0 0 ** Tweety Merchant Cruiser
28 0 0 ** Yahoo Merchant Cruiser
29 0 1,579 2 m5sib Imperial StarShip
30 0 0 ** Ender Merchant Cruiser
31 0 -30,118 ** F # Ship Destroyed #

I wouldn't play without scripts... too slow... I believe no scripts would kill the game.... that being said i believe that the afk scipts that cruncher talks about kills the game... put time limits on games then you dont get player running 24hr kill scipts.... just my opinion...

Crunchie, and yet you criticize people for teaching how to SDT and SST w/ scripts? That's funny.