Scripters need to be caught and banned, rather than have the whole game built around their cheating backsides
I am all for scripters being caught and banned but the thing is, that the years go by and I do not see the problem solved much. How long ago was that famous spreadsheet announced to exist ? Months and months ago.
By now, I would have imagined that a little at a time, a few every week, more every months by now all and any scripter would have been dealt with.
The problem is, that scripters usually use disposable accounts. Even if a scripting account is caught and banned another one pops up with different IP, different account info if not with gametime codes and blah blah.
The way to stop scripting is not running after scripters because this would be an endless hide and run game. The way to get rid of scripting is to make it not possible or, whenever the client detects a script running it shuts down after a minute.
Script runs ? UO shuts down. Fire up UO again and script ? Shuts down again.
Ultima Online must be made
unplayable to those who script. That is the only way I can see the problem can be solved for good, not having to always look, find, ban scripters only to start again with their brand new scripting account.....
Since I do not see this happen, I have to conclude that, at least for the time being, scripting is not being eradicated from the game and, therefore, I cannot help thinking that any and all change to the game (the one proposed here included...) should deal with thinking how much it could be abused (scripting is a form of abusing the game mechanics, IMHO). If such abuse can screw up parts of the game (namely the rare fish baits design and the whole concept of rare fish magic pies...), then the change should NOT take place.
I happen to be convinced that no matter how great an addition could look, sound and feel to the game, the very first thing that a Developer should think, in depth, before even "thinking" to go ahead and design that addition, is how and to what extent it can be exploited by players in the game. And if it can reasonably be expected that it might be exploited and bring harm to the game or to aspects of the game then, unless it can be designed in a way that players are incapacitated to exploit it in any possible way, it should not be done.
Example time...if someone always comes in posting aggressively and their threads all end up locked, with posters infracted because they took the bait. Firstly, the flamers are responsible for what they wrote, but the person who started the fight only had to word his post another way to avoid that fight starting. After it happening for a prolonged period to that one poster, as a moderator you could start to think "hmm, is this deliberate?" or expect that they ought to have adjusted their posting style to something less confrontation.
I do not know about others but personally I discuss issues and do my best to always discuss about them in a civil manner and respectfull of other posters and this, even when I am provocked by other aggressive posts. I tend always to keep my cold temper and never let myself be dragged into heated confrontations. I see them as pointless as my goal is to discuss the game and its aspects and not fight with others.
I tend to stick to the game and not derail.
If an animal always reacts aggressively to your handling, you either continue the same tactics and get bitten daily or you think "hmm, what if I try this instead?" and work out a solution.
If I am convinced that an opinion I might have about the game is good, why should I change up my mind just to be treated more nicely by others ? I mean, if I get convinced by arguments then I may well change my mind but why on earth just change up my mind because I get insulted or yelled at ? I see no point.
I want to be convinced by logic and good argumentation not else..
Your posting style is your responsibility and a bad style causes a lot of mod work cleaning up the mess. If other posters are able to post consistently without being attacked, that's the style to emulate. If you are feeling like a flame/infraction magnet, then I'm sorry, you can make things better for yourself by following the advice mods are giving you. If you don't nothing with change and you'll be subjected to the wrath of the Uhallers.
I don't think it's fair on the mods here to expect them to do all the work policing posters who don't like your posting style. It's fairer if you meet them mid way instead and try to learn why things go bad and how you can make points better. I'm a good example of bad posting at times, but I don't blame others for taking a bite at me. I chastise myself first for making a poor argument or not softening my more direct posts that come over quite harsh.
I am not sure whether I understand well what you are saying here.
I have my views and opinions about the game, whether wrong or right that they may be. I post from time to time them on the Forums to discuss them and see whether I can find counter arguments that can convince me more and see if I get to change my mind over different
ideas, not merely because I am being treated harshly.
I would never ever want to watch my opinions and differing views about the game so as to have a better treatment on the boards. I'd rather be treated harshly but keep my freedom of opinion and differing views rather than feel with 2 feet in one shoe worried that if I post a differing view from mainstrean I will be yelled at.
Can't just the discussion be left as civil at all times even when reading views about the game we may disagree with ?
Is it really necessary to heat it up ?
I do not feel I am the one causing more work to the moderators, not when I keep my discussions as civil and watch my cold temper. It is others who heat them up, one way or the other, who cause that extra work. Rather than look at me, then, I think the moderators should look at them.
It just sounds inexplicable to me why on earth I should feel limited in my freedom to post my views and opinions in a civil manner only because there may be other dissenting with my views about the game who may want to then heat up the discussion one way or the other.