To Bot Or Not To Bot!

BladeRunnerBladeRunner Join Date: 2003-12-23 Member: 24662Members
in NS General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">That is the question....</div> I would like to get the communities opinion about putting ghosts bots into a server in an attempt to generate traffic.

It seems to be very successfully on some public servers. I tried them for a day or so on my server with minimal results. But received complains from the few regulars that I have.
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Comments

  • tankefugltankefugl One Script To Rule Them All... Trondheim, Norway Join Date: 2002-11-14 Member: 8641Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    Whenever I join a filled up server, ready to play, just to realise all players on the server have a ping of 5 really puts me down. I feel tricked and lied to. I usually leave at once, and find another server.

    So I say: Don't use bots for that reason.
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  • TestamentTestament Join Date: 2002-11-02 Member: 4037Members
    Tank covered what I was gonna say.
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  • PhalckPhalck Join Date: 2002-06-03 Member: 722Members
    I totally agree. I feel cheated when I find a server with good ping and one slot open only to realise that there are ghosts on the server. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->

    I was hoping for a server with plenty of action and found a semi-full one with a gameplay that most likely is a little slower than I wanted at that moment.

    Please do not use these "tricks", they leave a bad taste...
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  • NScombatNScombat Join Date: 2003-11-17 Member: 23043Members, Constellation
    As above ^
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  • BizZy_9mm_MessiahBizZy_9mm_Messiah Old School Member Join Date: 2003-07-25 Member: 18411Members, Constellation
    Lol. I just get **** off. I don't get all sad like the rest of the clowns who previously posted. Sometimes it works though. That's why I love HLSW, if they all have the exact same time you know instantly they are bots. So quit mourning over the ghosts tricking you and get HLSW.
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  • tankefugltankefugl One Script To Rule Them All... Trondheim, Norway Join Date: 2002-11-14 Member: 8641Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
    edited January 2004
    Bizzy, then do you join servers with ghost bots because there are bots there? .hlla and ASE may also give you the information you refer to, by the way. And namecalling is never a good way to argue.

    The point is that people who do not know how do spot bots will not like to be "cheated" like this. These ghost bots don't even play the game, they just stand around in the readyroom.
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  • BizZy_9mm_MessiahBizZy_9mm_Messiah Old School Member Join Date: 2003-07-25 Member: 18411Members, Constellation
    edited January 2004
    <!--QuoteBegin--tankefugl+Jan 16 2004, 09:43 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (tankefugl @ Jan 16 2004, 09:43 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Bizzy, then do you join servers with ghost bots because there are bots there? .hlla and ASE may give you the information you refer to, by the way. And namecalling is never a good way to argue.

    The point is that people who do not know how do spot bots will not like to be "cheated" like this. These ghost bots don't even play the game, they just stand around in the readyroom. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Yea I know, my server has them all the time. But my server is always full which I don't understand. And sorry for the name calling, can't see how someone could feel cheated over that.

    [edit] No I dont anymore because HLSW lets me know when they are there. I used to join the server and it would have bots and I would just leave. Now it's all HLSW
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  • AlcapwnAlcapwn &quot;War is the science of destruction&quot; - John Abbot Join Date: 2003-06-21 Member: 17590Members
    evne if they just stand in the rr, the player would have no one to play with, and leave anyway...i know i wont stand around for 5 mins doing nothing untill another human player comes...
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  • chis1chis1 Join Date: 2004-01-13 Member: 25281Members
    <!--QuoteBegin--tankefugl+Jan 16 2004, 12:33 PM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (tankefugl @ Jan 16 2004, 12:33 PM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Whenever I join a filled up server, ready to play, just to realise all players on the server have a ping of 5 really puts me down. I feel tricked and lied to. I usually leave at once, and find another server.

    So I say: Don't use bots for that reason. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    same, i see 5 latency and go

    "bugga this"

    and leave <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • NScombatNScombat Join Date: 2003-11-17 Member: 23043Members, Constellation
    I wouldn't worry if the bots weren't crap. Why should I play as an alien in an alien team - and have my resources spread between a bunch of inactives.

    Servers with bots are nice to test comming and have a general run around on but I certainly would repeat visit the server.
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  • chis1chis1 Join Date: 2004-01-13 Member: 25281Members
    bots should be for offline and lonlely anti internet sociel people only <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • BizZy_9mm_MessiahBizZy_9mm_Messiah Old School Member Join Date: 2003-07-25 Member: 18411Members, Constellation
    Are the names of the bots randomly picked out of some database? I saw bot of a person I was playing with earlier.
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  • FangsFangs Join Date: 2003-02-13 Member: 13506Members
    I have gotten in the habit of viewing the server info before I connect. If everyone has been on the server for the same amout of time its a good sign that your dealing with a fakefull server. Even more annoying are the servers that admins set-up to display that they have XX amount of people and they dont even have a bot or a real person when you get there. It can be frustrating, esp. for new players to HL I'm sure they get really confused.

    So I would have to say fakefull servers = teh bad.
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  • BizZy_9mm_MessiahBizZy_9mm_Messiah Old School Member Join Date: 2003-07-25 Member: 18411Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--FFT_Fangs+Jan 16 2004, 10:53 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (FFT_Fangs @ Jan 16 2004, 10:53 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> I have gotten in the habit of viewing the server info before I connect. If everyone has been on the server for the same amout of time its a good sign that your dealing with a fakefull server. Even more annoying are the servers that admins set-up to display that they have XX amount of people and they dont even have a bot or a real person when you get there. It can be frustrating, esp. for new players to HL I'm sure they get really confused.

    So I would have to say fakefull servers = teh bad. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Also to add on to that, when viewing the server through HLSW, the info says that these person have "x" amount of kills. Are they trying to mess with your mind or what? And on that note, good night everyone. I'm tired.
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  • BladeRunnerBladeRunner Join Date: 2003-12-23 Member: 24662Members
    As you can understand, its every admin nightmare to get traffic on a new server. I find myself sitting in the server, waiting. It can be very frustrating. I have been asked to advertise, but spaming someone's forums or irc room just pisses people off more. Thanks for the input though.
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  • BizZy_9mm_MessiahBizZy_9mm_Messiah Old School Member Join Date: 2003-07-25 Member: 18411Members, Constellation
    edited January 2004
    As I see you've already done, just put your server's IP in your signature, I'm sure you'll get some traffic from these forums.
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  • BlueNovemberBlueNovember hax Join Date: 2003-02-28 Member: 14137Members, Constellation
    <!--QuoteBegin--BizZy | 9mm Messiah+Jan 16 2004, 10:50 AM--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (BizZy | 9mm Messiah @ Jan 16 2004, 10:50 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Are the names of the bots randomly picked out of some database? I saw bot of a person I was playing with earlier. <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
    They are taken from a list on the server running the bots. Servers tend to change them to things like "Ima Bott" or "ServerXRulz"

    I think bots are an ideal way to pad out a 3-player lan game. It is great to play against someone only in the next room, but 3 player games sux. -Bots are the answer. I find that 2 bots on the aliens will take down rambo marines and rts no problem; however rine bots are still naff. They follow wps if they are line of sight, and even then getting them to build is a nightmare.

    We put bots on our server until ppl start to join. There is not much point waiting with 4 players when you can start a game with another 4 bots. The bots can be kicked as people join; automatically too. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • Jabba_The_HuntJabba_The_Hunt Join Date: 2003-01-05 Member: 11850Members
    I dont mind people using 1 or 2 bots (with some human players), but when I join the server and the whole thing is just bots, thats just pointless.
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  • WeltschmerzWeltschmerz Join Date: 2003-09-03 Member: 20538Members
    RR-camping bots are worthless. but personally I PREFER servers with all-bot opponents. It's possible to win a game all by yourself as a 'Rine Comm, if you're fast and careful enough (and have enough time to kill), without even any Rine bots on your side (just don't build an IP). Hollow victory to be sure, but great comm practice in a less demanding/noobish environment, with just enough danger to keep it interesting. Keep those bots Coming, but make sure they actually play.. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo-->
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  • rockst4rrockst4r Join Date: 2003-08-14 Member: 19682Members
    1. noticing that the server is partly filled with bots
    2. trying not to be vexed about peoples stupidity again
    3. ^ exit
    4. deleting server from server list
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