Question regarding addons and the ToU

[Jeniwyn]

Given this banning: viewtopic.php?f=65&t=32448&start=20#p239726
and this post: viewtopic.php?f=63&t=32465#p242986
I'm very unsure what the rules regarding the API are.

I'd like to know if the API is subject to the botting section of the ToU and if so what specific API calls, if any, under what specific circumstances aren't safe to call as far as the botting rules are concerned.

Regards,
Jeniwyn

[Diametra]

You're not going to get a rundown of every instance in which you would be considered botting. In this thread which the exact same question was asked: viewtopic.php?f=45&t=33443#p234202

Staff linked, as an answer, the same thread you are already pointing to in your post. The overall theme is anything that automates a task for any type of benefit is considered a bot. Not pretty, but there you have it.

In studying your post history, you've already been involved in this mess. I don't know you are going to get any clearer an answer than the vague ones you have already seen, but good luck.

[Jeniwyn]

Did you miss the part where the same exact action is both botting and not botting, depending on if you ask Daemon (with Pottu also linking to it) on Feb 8 or Pottu on Feb 11?

Of course you did.

As for my involvement it goes as far as stating my opinion, warning others and demanding to know the rules. And I'm talking about the actual rules, not player guesses as to what the rules are.

[Diametra]

I did not miss the part you highlighted. I am not guessing either, but restating that which has already been stated by staff. As I said, I don't think you're going to get a different or more acceptable answer to yourself, but by all means go ahead and ask again. Demand all you want : )

[Jeniwyn]

I really don't get you. You see that in the first post Daemon says that running an addon to autosnipe is against the ToU = botban, and then you see Pottu saying that an addon specifically designed to autosnipe is not against the ToU.

And you see no conflict there?

And as far as you guessing, lets just say that I don't agree that you aren't. Perhaps assuming is the better word.

[Diametra]

What's to get? It's purposefully vague...and this is what's going to happen with a vague rule. You can read the post I listed up there that was locked and read all the clever things and points of view OP had to say about what should be allowed and why, and the repsonse was the same. If you're expecting something different, I'm guessing you're going to be disappointed...and that there is a "player guessing" that you can chose to consider or not.

[Jeniwyn]

You amaze me. I'll await a response.

[Tinkertown]

What's to get? It's purposefully vague.

Muddy rules regarding addons seems like a smart idea [/sarcasm]

They have also never ever said that they aim for muddy rules. Quite the opposite in fact.

And threads get locked on the support forums because of posters other than the OP all the time. They should just lock those threads (on this forum, not General etc) to outside posters to avoid derailing and allow the support issue to be discussed except for ban threads where the banned player starts to use bad language.

This is especially annoying on subjects where the GMs refer to this very forum for questions.

With that said I'll leave this thread. For the above stated reason.

[Benevael]

Greetings.

Here is what is against the TOU: Unattended game play. That means, that if you are not at your computer but playing the game, it is against the TOU and considered botting.

It doesn't have anything to do with the addons API. Some addons will allow you to do this. In those cases, make sure you are actually at your computer while using them, because we will check for that. If you are actually at your computer while using the addon, it's fine.

Regards, GM Team.

[Jeniwyn]

Greetings.

Here is what is against the TOU: Unattended game play. That means, that if you are not at your computer but playing the game, it is against the TOU and considered botting.

It doesn't have anything to do with the addons API. Some addons will allow you to do this. In those cases, make sure you are actually at your computer while using them, because we will check for that. If you are actually at your computer while using the addon, it's fine.

Regards, GM Team.

So addons are always fine from a botting perspective as long as you are at your computer. That's very good to know. As that isn't the case with other bots that supposedly share the same rules it really had to be said. If I have a program running that sends a keyboardclick matching my frostbolt bind every 0.05s that isn't ok regardless of if I'm sitting right there, right? Thanks for that clarification of the rules.

I wonder, is there some respit time? I'll give a concrete example.

If I start an auctioneer scan and have a few items on my "buy the least expensive until you have a total of 20 in inventory + mailbox" list like Major Mana Potion, Brilliant Mana Oil etc. Is it fine for me to go to the bathroom at any point while auctioneer is doing its horribly slow 45min-1h scan?

A 5 min respit would be perfect since then a conditional "if not AFK" hooked into every semidangerous function such as cancelaura, confirmtrade etc would make you "safe" from getting banned for addonautomation.

I'm asking for this because I wouldn't classify bidding on an auction as gameplay, but I would classify removing Blessing of Salvation as gameplay so unless you feel like providing a better defenition it's still remarkably unclear. It would really be preferable if you just told us what we cannot do. The API is 10yo, there aren't any secrets left.