Boting allowed?

[VDZ]

Botting is tacitly allowed. Simple automation (e.g. a macro to add 12 coal to a smelter so you don't have to right-click 12 times, 'pick nearest forageable', and other custom client features) is widely used by the community, heavier botting is frowned upon by the community but not actively punished by the devs, and is common among major factions.

It is discouraged but not actively policed. There have been some case where enforcement occurs, but this is rare and exceptional case.

I think the big distinction that makes this case exceptional is that the botting did not just emulate normal play behavior in an easier and more efficient way but rather was used for a tactic that is simply not possible in practice without bots. It was as much alt abuse as it was botting, and while light alt abuse is common among the entire community, the devs have frequently (though often indirectly) taken action against heavy alt abuse.

[Ysh]

Speed of development is increased by not wasting time dueling with mechanical men.

Speed of development time is also increased by not wasting time dueling with what the playerbase actually wants, should they continue to do that as well?

The player base is not a monolith.

[MagicManICT]

Botting is tacitly allowed. Simple automation (e.g. a macro to add 12 coal to a smelter so you don't have to right-click 12 times, 'pick nearest forageable', and other custom client features) is widely used by the community, heavier botting is frowned upon by the community but not actively punished by the devs, and is common among major factions.

Best answer. If this were certain other support forums, the thread would close now.

It is discouraged but not actively policed. There have been some case where enforcement occurs, but this is rare and exceptional case.

I think the big distinction that makes this case exceptional is that the botting did not just emulate normal play behavior in an easier and more efficient way but rather was used for a tactic that is simply not possible in practice without bots. It was as much alt abuse as it was botting, and while light alt abuse is common among the entire community, the devs have frequently (though often indirectly) taken action against heavy alt abuse.

As far as I can tell, the tactic is still viable. I think, from playing the game, that some changes were made, but they weren't extensive enough to prevent someone from doing this again... just make it slower, and possibly more noticeable in server logs. Wouldn't surprise me if that wasn't a script being used in the current world to keep certain realms active...

[SnuggleSnail]

bots are a myth

[MagicManICT]

bots are a myth

Suspicions confirmed

[Zampfeo]

bots are a myth

Honestly, kind of true. There isn't Runescape levels of sophistication when it comes to botting in HnH. At least, as far as I'm aware. HnH doesn't have the RWT incentive a game like Runescape does where you find bots that can organically react to other players and gold farm 24/7; the only thing separating them from real players being their inhuman play time.

[Phaen]

Q: Is botting allowed?

A: Its not "allowed" but its also not "not allowed"

Hope that helps

[Sevenless]

Botting is tacitly allowed. Simple automation (e.g. a macro to add 12 coal to a smelter so you don't have to right-click 12 times, 'pick nearest forageable', and other custom client features) is widely used by the community, heavier botting is frowned upon by the community but not actively punished by the devs, and is common among major factions.

Best answer. If this were certain other support forums, the thread would close now.

I agree that this is a well put summary of the current situation.

[shubla]

Botting is tacitly allowed. Simple automation (e.g. a macro to add 12 coal to a smelter so you don't have to right-click 12 times, 'pick nearest forageable', and other custom client features) is widely used by the community, heavier botting is frowned upon by the community but not actively punished by the devs, and is common among major factions.

Best answer. If this were certain other support forums, the thread would close now.

I agree that this is a well put summary of the current situation.

But where would you draw the line? Putting 12 coal in smelter with click of button is hardly botting, I agree. But how about farming? If you farm small field it can be, convenient, but there are people with 100x100 flax fields which they farm 24/7 to max ql gains etc. something which is indeed possible to do manually but no one would do it without bots.

[VDZ]

100x100 flax fields which they farm 24/7 to max ql gains etc. something which is indeed possible to do manually but no one would do it without bots.

Some time ago a system was added where field tiles 'store growth time' after a crop has finished growing and make the replanted crop grow faster so as to make the time until next harvest equivalent regardless of whether you harvest and replant it immediately or harvest and replant it later (assuming it's still done within a reasonable timeframe). I don't have the exact numbers but I recall it being very lenient, making replant timing irrelevant; only consistent dedication matters, which is easier for bots but there are hardcore players who can keep that up for ages as well.