Can scripts be detected ?

I do not know about other Shards, but on the one that I play, throughout the day, at intervals, there is some advertisement to a web site that comes up in General Chat...

While it could certainly be that there actually is a live individual sending out, manually, in general Chat, that particular Web site advertisement, it could also be happening through a script.....

Now, "if" that is happening through a script, then, I wonder. whether a Game Master could be able to detect it, go to the character advertising it, and if it is through a script take whatever actions would be appropriate ?

It happens every day, multiple times, over and over and over.....

Does it also happen on other Shards ?

Old game with no workable way to prevent player from using unapproved 3rd party programs. 
The only way to stop him (yes we all know who you are talking about) is to boycott his site.
It's not as if a quick search wouldn't give you 3 or 4 others selling the same thing at the same price.

I think of it like YouTube. You might have to deal with an add or two during your time. 

I've been in Haven when this person logs in. He has a 'young' char, so instalogs, he appears on the spot where new characters do in the centre of Haven, spams his advert (I'm guessing pre prepared and ctrl + V into chat.or script that does the same thing), logs out. He's gone before you can open the menu to page on him. Anyone who's tried to put him on their 'ignore' filter will confirm it's not the same account all the time, there are an endless number of him.

I believe we've seen the newsletter lists of actioned accounts? Those bans for 'soliciting'? My guess is those are him. He just comes back, and in this age of easily available 'proxy' servers, how the heck do you stop him?

UO Assist could be used to do simple speech based macros on a timer, but the RMT advertiser is more than likely a script which includes shard logins all day long.

That advertiser must be scripting or he does not sleep.  I've seen the adverts at all times of the day including when I am still playing at 3 am in the morning.

@Bilbo make a website to sell UO items. Advertise in Gen chat. Watch how fast you get banned. Ooh rah, sailor. 

Advisors once caught him and hauled him off to the GM's  … where he just deleted the account and started a new one.  IF you look carefully once in  great while you can see a number after his name its how many times he has had to remake that account 
I have complained for years on him and asked Mesanna for a permit to hunt his tush down even in tram but  I have yet to get that shiny bow she has to do so..hehehhe

Some disruptive comments have been removed.

They just have no intention to make it really stop... for whatever reason... 

Gandalf said:

Server Side script can be detected

Client sided (without Punkbuster or such...)  can't be detected

Not true, running processes are broadcasted during the entire duration of their use, even if you change the name of them, they're true identity is still identifiable. 

MissE said:

Surely you can put a blanket ban code in for certain words into chat:

www.thisismysite.com

how about we ban thisismysite

basically a HARD filter,  from appearing in chat text on every shard. And if they change the url then just add that to the HARD filter.

No point in spamming a site url if all the punters see is:  www.*%*)%(^)*(*^*&.com

It's not like they are hiding their address, two seconds of being in chat and we all know it, and it wouldn't be much fun for them to keep changing their url especially if as soon as they changed it it got added to the filter.  If they can stop me saying ass, then hmmmm what is the issue?

It's much easier for the spammer to change the wording to bypass the filter. Instead of "thisismysite" you will see "t h i s i s m y s i t e" or "this is my site", etc. As long as it's possible to create an unlimited number of free accounts, this war is a waste of very limited resources. 

Exactly the point the Dev made.  But I can wish to get Mesanna's pretty bow and go kill him in my dreams...hehe

The Classic client is the issue.  It has the most problems.  IF you want to fix the scriptors and hackers, you need to shutdown classic. 

Canceled_Sub said:

The Classic client is the issue.  It has the most problems.  IF you want to fix the scriptors and hackers, you need to shutdown classic. 

I was coming here to say exactly this. 

Canceled_Sub said:

The Classic client is the issue.  It has the most problems.  IF you want to fix the scriptors and hackers, you need to shutdown classic. 

So shutdown classic client would mean no more script?

Gandalf said:

Canceled_Sub said:

The Classic client is the issue.  It has the most problems.  IF you want to fix the scriptors and hackers, you need to shutdown classic. 

So shutdown classic client would mean no more script?

%100 right because there wouldn't be enough players left to support UO so EA would have no choice but to take a money loss or close UO and the same thing would happen if they closed the EC.

But people can script with EC.

Gandalf said:

But people can script with EC.

Not with the same tool that they do with classic. Nor with the same effectiveness. A new program would have to be developed, at considerable time investment  if it's even possible. 

Damn dinosaurs not letting go of their cheating ways and insisting that a leaky client remain active. 

Xare said:

Gandalf said:

But people can script with EC.

A new program would have to be developed, at considerable time investment  if it's even possible.

Yes scripts can be detected it is up to UO to write the programs to do it and with their current staffing I do not see it.  Mesanna at one time at a M&G told everybody what they were running and people told her she was %100 right but nobody was banned for it.  Is there scripts for the EC, well the EC is already script friendly and I have no doubt that is somebody wanted to that they could write one for it in a short time.

Bilbo  find me the transcript of this m&g please? 

Xare said:

Bilbo  find me the transcript of this m&g please? 

It was right after Mesanna took over from the spreed sheet guy, can't remember his name.  UO knows what you are doing they just don't really care as long as EA is happy, just my opinion, no facts.

Yes EC can run scripts But they are internal to the client. 
External scrips probably can be run on it but can't see why you would want to except to cheat. Remember when CC was written the in thing was to allow external scripts and apps to work with every program. If I remember my time line correctly EC was released about the time they were starting to realize just what a bad idea it was.

Another reason to laugh at PvPers.

Gandalf said:

But people can script with EC.

One word why banning IP addresses will not work "VPN"

(yes I know VPN is not a word)  🙂

A simple letter from broadsword to the website, followed by a civil suit would solve the matter easily.  I bet Avatar would fold without much effort.  Seriously, the solution is simple. 

Still, the people automating collecting resources, utilizing cheats, etc.  These people are all utilizing the classic client.  Hell, you can automate quite a bit in the EC, but it's not nearly as bad as being able to run the game for days on end gathering all the resources you could ever need.  Hell, you can automate anything in the game with ease via botting.  Solution?  Ban the classic.  Simple enough.  That would also free up developer time to work out these same schemes in the EC>

Every modern computer can run the EC.  So no worries there.

Canceled_Sub said:

The Classic client is the issue.  It has the most problems.  IF you want to fix the scriptors and hackers, you need to shutdown classic. 

Since the classic client is half the player base your suggesting shutting down the game? I'd never play the EC. That's a deal

Canceled_Sub said:

The Classic client is the issue.  It has the most problems.  IF you want to fix the scriptors and hackers, you need to shutdown classic. 

The CC just runs so much better than the EC with almost no lag people think it's an exploit.

I've played both.  The EC is superior in every way.  Kingdom Reborn was a fantastic idea.  Had they continued down that path the game would be healthier now.  Short term pain for long term gain.  If you are going to quit due to the client, then what else would you play?

The truth is, you'd load up the EC.  Words are cheap.

Why don't the Dev just add some code to auto squelch any char with the name Avatar since that is the name this pest uses either that or any char named Avatar get sent directly to jail. After all is said and done it's not a great fix, but the banning of the site name could come back to bite us later due to how coding works.  We had to write a program in one of my college classes to look for certain words or word combinations. If you aren't careful and 100% precise it can run amok.  Mine did causing my professor to crack up laughing.  

Captain_Lucky said:

The CC just runs so much better than the EC with almost no lag people think it's an exploit.

Please share what you're smoking.

Captain_Lucky said:

Canceled_Sub said:

The Classic client is the issue.  It has the most problems.  IF you want to fix the scriptors and hackers, you need to shutdown classic. 

Since the classic client is half the player base your suggesting shutting down the game? I'd never play the EC. That's a deal

Canceled_Sub said:

The Classic client is the issue.  It has the most problems.  IF you want to fix the scriptors and hackers, you need to shutdown classic. 

The CC just runs so much better than the EC with almost no lag people think it's an exploit.

I patently disagree - and so would 95% of the PKers who’ve come after me while I’m soloing a spawn in Fel: they can’t catch me. I play in EC almost exclusively.

The only time I’ve found Classic works better is when customizing and decorating housing. But if the devs focused solely on EC and got rid of Classic, they could fix the random bugs of EC.

Until they give us CC Graphics you can wish all you want, because it will never happen.  Close either client down and UO will not have enough support for EA to keep it open.  And for the person that said we would give in and play EC, well we could say the same about the EC user too.

Xare said:

Gandalf said:

But people can script with EC.

Not with the same tool that they do with classic. Nor with the same effectiveness. A new program would have to be developed, at considerable time investment  if it's even possible. 

Damn dinosaurs not letting go of their cheating ways and insisting that a leaky client remain active. 

I am not a cheater or a Dinosaur ( I am older than 40 but you could not tell) and I love Classic Client. I am not saying Enhanced Client is not good, in fact it is better at some things, but the Classic is better at other things. I play both but am on Classic Client more. Until I can afford a new computer that is loaded with the latest bells an whistles I will continue to play Classic Client more. The graphics is one of the things I do not like inn the Enhance Client. It feels bloated. I feel like I am moving slow when I play it.

This thread is drifting perilously close to 'client wars'. Can it be got back on track? or should I consider the topic irreparably hijacked?

Mariah said:

This thread is drifting perilously close to 'client wars'. Can it be got back on track? or should I consider the topic irreparably hijacked?

Unfortunately, scripting and client choice are linked, due to the inherent ease of 3rd party scripting in the CC.  I also noticed that you, as a moderator, one with the ability to actually answer the question with facts rather than conjecture, chose not to.

you are making assumptions that are inaccurate. I am not a developer.

Mariah said:

you are making assumptions that are inaccurate. I am not a developer.

I'm not trying to be rude, but can't you ask them?  You have a more direct line of communication than we do.