Looks like its from killer Clowns From OuterSpace ;0

Didn't like that movie though.






LokI is powering up weapons systems!

Once again, people arguing against this sort of thing can only offer the same old tired excuse "it's always been cheating." The argument that something should be one way "because that's how its always been" is just plain dumb.

here here!!!




LokI is powering up weapons systems!

It seems to me the inherent difference in a dupes and bots is the creator.

Dupes are basically created and run by a single person. Sure, you can get your "friend" to do it, but you're splitting hairs now. You are still creating it.

A bot is a script that makes another(not you) person available for some tasks while they are away. This character is run and played by another person, but they just aren't present at the time.

Well as a scripter, I can say that yes a bot can do some incredible things. Don't get me wrong. But it is not as powerful as duping. I've looked into having an application that runs on the TCP layer that connects to a IM or email, so that I could send email from work to trigger a bot when I can't play from work, but a corpie needs me to do something. Even than, it has limits. It is slower than another corpie. Heck, I'd rather player with the same person playing 5 guys, than 6 people. It is hard to have your bots do all your work.

But I do agree, times have changed, bots are okay. Hell, personally, I could careless if someone wanted to dupe. While my server isn't a public server, should I make it public, I don't know if I would prohibit duping. I use VNC on a constant basis for work, and ya know, it sucks for anything quick. I have to constantly refresh screens, etc. And that is on a LAN, doing it across the internet is even slower. So say someone is duping, who cares? Maybe there are some great multitaskers out there, but I could't play a game 1 vs 4 with my having 3 dupes. I've a hard enough time dealing with myself reacting to events

Jhereg

Just out of curiosity. Wouldn't duping really only help a person in limited turn games? If the Sysop/Gameop has restricted one log on per IP address they couldn't use both at the same time. Besides I would have to agree with Draconis. I think it would be hard enough to run one charecter, let alone two or more. I never looked into anyone duping on my server as I thought if they had the time to deal with two seperate charecters more power to them. With the exception of one time I always set the one log on per IP restriction. That one time I forgot to click the box.

Scripts are bad, ztm is bad, dupes are bad. play the old fashion way.
is one style of play the only right way? I hope not or there may be all unlimited games, or only turn games. talk to the sysops, if your style game is not out there. CK is trying something different, omg I cant guard my base 24/7 so its a bad situation. uh no if I dont like that type of game i dont play it. Have someone make a closed game by invitation only, No scripters alowed. Its really not that hard to do.
The problem I see is everyone wants to play with the big dogs ie so called elites, but they want the players that have worked and I mean worked to get there skills tools, and strategies to set them aside so the puppies can run too. first its not going to happen, and should not.
second I see nothing wrong with a classic style game. but dont bang a 20k universe and ask me to ppt by hand. I am just amazed at how evil ztm has become. I see other things in the game far more difficult to overcome.
some one photoning me, e-probing to find my sect. placing figs out for me to hit to watch my movements and finding me and my base. See the experienced player will win, even if you take his ztm or st_bot. Is it really needed to bash people who script, or block sd with figs. There are places to play, were lay back games can be played. just remember. go to Alienbase, Blacksun, Bones, and a few more I cant remember off the top of my head, you better bring your A game. Play a game there. then go to one of the easier games amd relax like in the good ole days. I do it all the time. <shrugs> probly no one cares what i say and the debate will go on but may you all have peace in RL and War in the game. ENGAGE!

I can't seem to find the post now but someone said it's nearly impossible to enforce a not "bot/duping" rule. I can see that point, but you know, there are some really talented programmers/script writers out there, some of them running their own systems. It occurs to me that a script could be written to detect such a thing!

As a game op, I'd probably pay good cash money for such a script! Especially if it worked.

Over and out. No need beating a dead horse.

you want a script to stop script users hmmm. naw i wont even go there.

You could write a program to monitor all incoming TCP/IP comms, and run it through a filter, checking for obvious Bot commands. Sure, but I don't think I would waste the time to write it (it would probably slow the server down slightly), as well as I know I don't want someone capturing the SS comms between myself and corpies.

Sure, there are ways to do it, I think it is just alot easier to run closed servers, and don't invite bot users if you don't want them.

Jhereg

quote:Originally posted by Draconis

You could write a program to monitor all incoming TCP/IP comms, and run it through a filter, checking for obvious Bot commands. Sure, but I don't think I would waste the time to write it (it would probably slow the server down slightly), as well as I know I don't want someone capturing the SS comms between myself and corpies.

Sure, there are ways to do it, I think it is just alot easier to run closed servers, and don't invite bot users if you don't want them.

Jhereg


All good suggestions! I really think though that a good scripter could create a balanced program, but most scripters are busy writing scripts that make them take over the universe, shrug, why would they create one that renders their other scripts moot?

As for me, if I ever get around to writing scripts.....

heheh