Botter Banstick (i.e. Don't Multi-Bot!)

[Vyndree]

Just as an FYI to the community, this is why you need to have a firm understanding of what is, and what is not automation. It looks like there's a possibility that a botter banwave has happened, and that some multiboxers may have been hit by it (legitimately or not, we don't really know).

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...40902058&sid=1
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...41122330&sid=1
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...41212303&sid=1
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...1&pageNo=7#135
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...&pageNo=12#227 (Octopus)
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...&pageNo=13#259
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/th...&pageNo=13#261

yep. There are legal ways to multi-box, and there are illegal ways to multi-box. Those who aren't sure they know the difference should probably avoid the whole effort.

Prohibited Software (Botting, Speed/Teleport Hacks, Data Mining, Software Hacking)

World of Warcraft is a persistent online role-playing world where the actions of each player can have a far-reaching effect on numerous other players, whether directly or indirectly. The game is designed to be run by itself, with no supporting software. Any effort to alter or "hack" World of Warcraft will not be tolerated. Any software which allows a player to circumvent the intended use of the game is not permitted. CONSEQUENCES: Any evidence uncovered by Support investigations that the account has been involved in the exploitation of World of Warcraft by running software at the same time as World of Warcraft that enables any of the following behavior may result in immediate account closure, whether or not any of the software's features are actually used on, with, or against the World of Warcraft software:


* Botting (automated gameplay, whether or not a human is present at the computer).
* Speed/teleport hacking (character movement speeds greater than those achievable through normal in-game means, including teleportation that is not the direct and unmodified result of an in-game spell, ability or effect).
* Data mining (gathering of information that is not normally available through the in-game user and/or scripting interfaces).
* Software hacking (manipulating the World of Warcraft client and/or server software or the communication between them in any way).

If you think you've been mistakenly banned (which does happen, sadly), make sure to start e-mailing account administration to get your case reviewed.

Community Service Message:
Do not bot. Do not use automation. Do not use delays in your macros.


There IS a difference between multi-boxing and multi-BOTTING. We do not support multi-botting (that is, running multiple automated bots at the same time) -- which can be as simple as adding a delay in your G15 macro. If the in-game macro system can't do it, you shouldn't do it.


There's some good references in our wiki on GM conversations that helps define automation, delays and timers, and 3rd party software/hardware for those interested.

[Korruptor]

Thanks for the heads up.

[Maz]

Our actions are not targeting multi-boxers. We have stated numerous times that the process itself is perfectly acceptable under present policy, and to that statement we still hold true. Should any automation software be used to assist with this specific style of play, however, we will react, as such programs are expressly against the Terms of Use.

[Khazrael]

While discussion on botting is neither allowed nor condoned in the IRC, every now and again we get a mook that runs in asking about glider or something. After informing them we don't talk about those subjects, I always try to remind people that while multiboxing isn't against the rules, it does draw attention whether you want it or not. Thus if you're doing anything shady (botting, account sharing, etc) you're much more likely to get found out due to the reports caused against you by a perfectly legal action.

No matter what you do there will always be people who think they are above the law in some way though, think they'll never get hit with the ban stick for some reason. More power to blizzard for enforcing their policies though, and I hope any unjust bans get worked out. Always good information Vyndree, thanks.

[razorbax]

The one thing i noted was one guy was banned for using a 3rd party program to launch the wow client, and not Blizzards Launcher. I hope we can get this clarified as we all use Maximizer in one form or another.

[Nifter]

Doubt running wow.exe rather than the launcher would be cause for alarm. Most people have the shortcut on their desktop for simplicity.

Although if they can detect who launched the program, I guess that could be different. In which case I doubt they would care if the program launched the wow.exe or the launcher. The automation will be recorded regardless.

[razorbax]

Doubt running wow.exe rather than the launcher would be cause for alarm. Most people have the shortcut on their desktop for simplicity.

Getting Keyclone or Octopus to run wow.exe is what I meant. There was a specific mention of it in one of the treads.

[kllrwlf]

Warden actually has a list that it looks for in-memory.

Would suspect that Warden doesn't care if a different program launched WoW.exe. Warden only cares about the actual program that launched WoW.exe.

For example, if you use Cosmos UI, they have their own launcher. Cosmos' program is not on Warden's list so there's nothing that gets alarmed.

If you use XOX program that Warden is trying to detect because it's on its list, then the alarms get sounded and data gets pushed back to Blizz server about it.

There are a lot of programs that launches WoW.

I wouldn't worry about Keyclone. Blizz knows about it completely, some of their GMs that multi-box probably uses it also. :thumbup:

The ban-wave was against a program that was built for botting.

[Buzzatronic]

Another blue quote from page 26 stating the fact that multi-boxing is not in itself the reason for the bans.

This is not a matter of add-ons or multi-boxing. Not empirically. The only way such may involved is if one specifically (or, I suppose, unknowingly) allowed an automation program to attach itself with either application or process.

[Evol]

Recently I came across a post in an Elitist Jerks thread about using AHK in a way that most definitely is not appropriate (think auto-repeater). As "proof" that the use didn't violate Blizzard policies, they actually linked to a thread on this board of one of Keyclone's in-game conversations with a GM saying the critical thing was that you were at the keyboard. Now, I don't have an account to post to that site and I'm pretty sure these recent bans are unrelated to this issue, but it's got to be pretty clear to everyone here that use of delays in macros/scripts is a bad bad idea no matter whether your at the keyboard or down at the pub.