Hosting Bot - Feedback and Suggestions

[doktorbuzzo]

Indeed.

I think a design is possible that can accommodate real-time data-hiding but that will allow for decryption by a knowledgeable administrator. Since events prior to the game's start don't require encryption, I think the combination of global data and local data in an unencrypted "frontmatter" portion of the machine log should be sufficient to enable an admin-level person or developer (who has the hashing function at hand) to decrypt logs from games that have not gone final.

LOL Am I reinventing the public-private encryption method?

[Spoonwood]

    I like that you can find out what events happened in the auto-hosted rooms.  I don't want to see this feature withdrawn.

[Mainstream]

A couple of things,

Just a reminder that the hosting bot work solely on the Log file in the data folder, and does not integrate in the mule software in any other way, other than sending key strokes and mouse clicks to the mule window.

At this point I don't think the developers are intending to make any additional updates to M.U.L.E.  as they are developing M.U.L.E 2.    So we probably have to live with the current state of the Log file and game.

I've been through the game logs, so I have a good understanding of what is there, and regardless of what anyone thinks, the only pre information that was in the log was how many auctions events are generated per round.    The rest of the information is historical in nature.

I don't sit and monitor the log files when I play a game, and the only time i've used the log in the past during game play was to see the last assay result which was seldom.  I didn't even know about the number auctions was in the log until I started writing the bot, but made it available to everyone out of fairness.

That is not to say that others are not monitoring it, I'm sure if they are few would admit to it.   

All assays in the log have no reference on where the assay was, just the result.    So you still have to rely on your brain, notepad, tite tracker or whatever other method you use to figure out where the crystite is.

As far as keeping track of events, again there are already utilities out there that do it, and most seasoned players use them even if they won't admit it.

As far as new players and reliance on the bot to give them events is a poor argument, as you would have to assume that everyone plays bot hosted games only.   New players will have still have to learn these skills when they are playing non bot hosted games.

The hosting bot's main goals

1. Have reliable host that can host games for people who cannot
2. Remove host advantages
3. Eliminate host bias and disconnects


All the information the bot discloses is disclosed to everyone, so from that perspective it is fair.   

Players still use their own systems (Tite tracking, spreadsheet) and still have their advantages by using them.  So removing them from the hosting bot, doesn't make those advantages go away.   

From my playing experience, other than the knowing auctions ahead of time, no one has produced a valid argument for not having the other data available.  And in reality having the other features in the bot does not change game play or strategy at all.   Does it matter if it is your spreadsheet, your external tracker or the bot telling you that pirates have been 2 times already?

When I release the software for hosting, as I hope to do soon.   I hope to make it the hosts preference on how they want the bot to function.   

If they want to disable everything or nothing as far as information the bot displays they will have the choice.



Cheers,

And thanks for the feed back, it's all good.


Also, if anyone is interested in hosting games using the bot software, please let me know so I can compile a list.

You will need a free computer, or one that can run a virtual host.
needs to be available 24/7 (or close)
has good stable internet connection
be a decent host yourself and good reputation for hosting.

[Mt-Wampus]

I got the free plot in a game today in 2nd place AGAIN. I was Purple. Almost made me mad to get the plot! Why is 2nd place getting plots and packages and such? 2nd place should NEVER get a good event.

PTrik and I have noticed in some 3 or 4 consecutive games now that the orange players has gotten the free plot of land.  Of course, this could just come as a strange coincidence, but I thought I'd point this out in case it continues.

[Chuckie Chuck]

Ok, good points, but seems this might be the wrong thread to post it about, since this would be a server issue and not related to the bot and this thread is about the bot.

[mikman]

if you could I think a bot:scores would be a nice command to have... :-)

[LexFili]

I don't think I'll be using another BOT server again. Me and my friend got kicked mid-game so our game was ruined. I do not recommend using them until they are fixed.

[Chuckie Chuck]

Yeah, been a lot of mystery lag issues on the host bot games lately.  I have a feeling it's actually not the bots, but the master game server that is the issue again.  A while back it was discovered that there were not enough packet frames allocated in the landgrant/development phase.  It was adjusted and problem went away mostly, but still crops up now and then when you have more than just the four players in the game (e.g. visitors, hosting bots, etc) suddenly seems like an old problem comes back with extra people in the room.

[joechompa]

Wondering why there are only a maximum of 2 bot hosts available.   Had it happen a few times where 4 of us waiting in the lobby for a bot host to come free...

[Chuckie Chuck]

there are actually up to three hosting bots at times.

The bots are written and run by a fellow Muley here, "Mainstream"

He has them running on a server at his work place, utilizing a very awesome internet connection.  They are not trouble free though, they crash constantly.  Sometimes they don't restart after a game ends, sometimes they have hiccups during the game that cause other players to timeout.

The reason for the limitation is to adequately run more than two or three you would need to have a few more servers available to dedicate to the task.  Currently, the one hosting server running all three is all that has been available.

We don't have to have hosting bots at all.  It's not a feature supplied by Turborilla, and is simply a voluntary courtesy by a fellow player who saw a need because not many of us can actually host.  Now that those bots exist most the clan wants to use them even if they can host, they're just nice.  They keep stats, they remove a lot of frustration over the host player having an advantage over the other three, and they have brought the number of host kicks during a game down considerably.

Hope this answers your question.

Chuckie Chuck aka.  SolidLight

[iso9001]

I just wanted to say thanks for all the hard work on this game&bots. 

[Gunnar]

Hi main, thx for your excellent mule4u-bot! I particularly enjoy the "obscure records". I´ve got one little suggestion which others have already talked about: PLEASE remove "bot: auctions" altogether. I think this command is indeed totally superfluous. Even worse, it gives a huge advantage to players who are familiar with your bot. I needed some time to check out that some players now type this command to find out if they have to bid the extra $60 in an auction in order to prevent another player from buying another plot. In my humble opinion, this command is really a nuisance, because it also makes the game unnecessarily complicated and distracts from the real action. I don´t enjoy having to type commands in order to have a better chance to win. Pure gameplay - that´s what we want, don´t we? Greetings from mopssamson

I agree completely.