I posted awhile ago about the thought if introducing a client supported program to allow players to use the same advantages as our automated opposition.
However, to turn the thought in the other direction.
I'm currently sitting in Monastery of Silence next to numerous groups of four character bot teams. I'm thinking...
What if players, who are often the ones trying to draw attention to this particular subject... were self governing?
If players could start flagging Bots with instead of a report player button, but an in-game mechanic. This mechanic would allow a person to obtain a particular reputation as a bot. If this person obtains a certain amount of that reputation, they become a free target. Similar to chaotic or PKs, that they die and lose items or etc. on death. It'd be interesting to see if this could be a fully developed feature.
My issue with that, players are adding a risk factor to themselves by going chaotic. Bots shouldn't even be in the game, so creating any sort of backlash for a legit player is detrimental to what I'm trying to put forth.
A simple method, allowing players to draw attention to bots and handle them themselves. Maybe even create a reward system for it. Bots flagged drop gear instead of it just vanishing as it is now.
a scenario im thinking about:
you are A and find B in bot, as you say char B will become like a PK (or something like that), so for char A is a free kill, or in case of death drop gear or whatever you prefer. right?
now think in this way:
you are still char A, you find char B that is a wartag, or someone you don't like, he become pk, he lose gear or whatever.
this method you are telling (imo) will be abused for wartags, enemy clans or any other thing that is not for bots.
a scenario im thinking about:
you are A and find B in bot, as you say char B will become like a PK (or something like that), so for char A is a free kill, or in case of death drop gear or whatever you prefer. right?
now think in this way:
you are still char A, you find char B that is a wartag, or someone you don't like, he become pk, he lose gear or whatever.
this method you are telling (imo) will be abused for wartags, enemy clans or any other thing that is not for bots.
I haven't sealed the idea in a fully well thought of web of infallible function yet. I figured I'd leave it out here for others to add to it rather than shoot it down.
That can be avoided by setting limits or restrictions to it.
Opposing clans in a war cannot use this function against each other. <- Bam, shot your hypothetical down in a very simple manner.
I was already discussing with a friend a method in which a player could dispute the claim placed on themselves.
Initially, a person would have to have a history / considerable amount of reputation before they'd become vulnerable. Prior to that, you could reduce said reputation by moving from one area to another. Joining groups with different people, questing or participating in normal function outside of 12+ hour grind sessions.
A person looking to abuse 3rd party programs would have to pay much more attention to their bots. They'd be forced to shuffle around and eventually, if more and more people continue to flag them they'd become vulnerable and unable to function.
That's the biggest problem in culling the bot plague. Not hitting innocent targets and doing it in away that wouldn't impact players in a negative way. This is just a thought, rather than just a complaint.