KOA Solves Bot Problem Forever!

[Dr Brad]

Ironically, sometimes we benefit from bots.

Case in point: LRC. How many of us go LRC worlds inhabited by bots to fish or mine because of safety in numbers; we're less likely to be attacked by rock creatures when the same dot that we're on is filled with bots.

Show of hands.

[Myztra Roxxs]

I LRC in 88, where bots are very few compared to the number of real players. In 77 the bots just make me lag.

[Darth Kaz2]

Thank you everyone for yor input so far!
Scootch and Brad raise an interesting question...Most of us don't like bots for three broad reasons: They mess up the economy, they interfere with ligitimate skillers, and they devalue the acheivement of a 99. My questions is this: How would it affect RS if players were able to wipe out bots? Are there pro's and con's to this idea?

[SnowAngel]

When I do agi and watch tv, I pay no attention to chat so if I'm challenged, I won't notice. When I used to alch, I could go forever and not see anything in chat. When you smith the chat flies by fast too and real players might not notice a challenge. However, I can see where the challenge might work in combat areas.

[Darth Kaz2]

Snow, you raise great points! Thanks!

If the challenge popped up, and you couldn't do anything else until you answered it, then you couldn't miss it. Remember, you could only be challenged once per hr or so, so it wouldn't be too annoying for the average player.

I am the same way when I play...mentally afk :lol:. We need to create a way for this to work that doesn't get people like you and me killed!

If anyone else can think of any other issues, please bring them up! Thanks all!

[quinoa mama]

How about a random box will pop up any time you are not in combat. You have to type in the word that appears on the screen in one of those weird, nearly unreadable fonts. Maximum once per day or so. In a way I would hate it, but at the same time it would be worth it to me to reduce the bot problem.

[Myztra Roxxs]

My solution:
- Make randoms mortal again.
- When you die (from randoms only?), you lose x% of your current exp from a random skill.

*poof* bots gone.

[SnowAngel]

My solution:
- Make randoms mortal again.
- When you die (from randoms only?), you lose x% of your current exp from a random skill.

*poof* bots gone.

I'm not sure this would work but I would love to see the old randoms back in the game.

[Tamal]

In many cases, bots can complete randoms easier than humans can.

[Rue]

Create weather, which will create storms, and tornadoes, and things that will be generated unsuspectingly. The trick would be to incorporate sound, as well as flashes, and small but spontaneous signs so that the average bot will either have to choose between running, and staying. Also, make certain resources like ivy growing on parts of the wall unable to be hacked at due to the rain; get the idea people? If we can tailor the weather to be spontaneous towards bots, but tolerable people then we're good. Let's face it, Runescape would truly be realistic if it had some overcast, and sunshine pouring down upon its players.

[scootch]

My solution:
- Make randoms mortal again.
- When you die (from randoms only?), you lose x% of your current exp from a random skill.

*poof* bots gone.

this Is a good Idea Agin. As veteran Players , We use to see this In the the Mining guild and Fishing guild. It would stop A Lot of things Good Point here

[Darth Kaz2]

I know the concept of randoms is an attempt to stop botting...but wasn't it a failed attempt? Sure, it would interrup a bot once every few hours, but does it limit botting?

Today I was at the LRC fishing rocktails, trying to get the fishing strange rocks. (And yes, it took me about 30 minutes to remember that you can't get the rocks in the LRC. Right now I am in Shilo, actually getting the fishing rocks. ) There were the usual hoards of bots there.
Problem 1: Too many bots.
Problem 2: Reporting them means I have to stop fishing.
Problem 3: I can only report 1 every few minutes.
Problem 4: They get randoms, and then are returned right back to continue fishing/mining.
Problem 5: I might accidentally report someone just standing around for 10-15 minutes. I hope I didn't!

Question: After reading my proposal, as it has developed through this thread, would it be helpful to RS if we the players could challenge, attack, and kill these annoying bots?

[Arengeir]

I don't think being able to challenge/kill bots is the answer. The only way that would work is if there were a system for detecting bots with certainty, and if they had that, they might as well just use it to ban bots.

I don't know if there's an answer other than to develop an algorithm that can distinguish a bot from a human (probably not an easy task), or forcing us to install software that sends back a list running processes (though that could probably be spoofed, and it's kind of evil).

[Darth Kaz2]

Yeah, Aren, the point of my idea is that it appears to be impossible for Jagex to detect and deal with bots. I am trying to find a way to engage the human intelligence of the player base instead of relying of a software solution that can be beaten with a simply macro update.

[Arengeir]

How would a challenge work though? What kind of challenge is it? How would the game determine if they pass or fail? What if they're just AFK?

If you mean a CAPTCHA, they had those in Classic with the sleeping bags. AFAIK, those didn't stop the bots (correct me if I'm wrong; I didn't play Classic for long).

Also, I'm not sure killing's the answer. What if the user being challenged makes a mistake and fails? Maybe it could be slightly forgiving, so it'll only assume you're a bot if you fall below a certain threshold (assuming the challenges can determine with certainty that a player's botting).