Yea, I had a bit of a run-in (about 20 times per person) on the Shard routes whilst I laid dead. My fault for dying there, but their fault for running me over countless times and not even blinking or turning around to help.

As such is life.

-Andantagio

You're certainly welcome, Baya, although I must admit that I was a little bit skeptical when I drug you down to Adan'f myself. My first thought was that you were a zombie trader who'd picked up so many coppers that you fell over in the guild, and someone drug you out to be at the mercy of passing caravans. However, I am fully aware of the unfortunate circumstances (other than afk scripting) that can keep you from responding to conversation, so I gave you the benefit of the doubt, and a drag. If I had definite proof that you were a zombie trader, I'd probably have run you over a few more times just for good measure. :-P As it is, I'm glad to hear that you weren't, and glad that I could be of service to you.

On the note of this topic, I must admit that I also am very concerned about the number of "zombie" traders in Shard as well. I'm not talking about scripting traders - I use the Ilithi script just like everyone else down there seems to, but I keep my eye on the screen while I'm running it. The fact is, I could add several names to Baya's list (although I won't, because I don't think it would be of any real profit) because I've tried to strike up conversations with other traders working the Ilithi routes.

Seeing this disappoints me, because I feel it gives our Guild a bad image. No wonder thieves are so rampant along the route to shard - they know they can steal from zombie traders with no fear of reprisal. I've had several thieves practically fall out of hiding with their mouths hanging open when I told them that I saw those last three grabs, please go away. They don't expect traders to be aware of the world around them.

You people know who you are. Please reconsider. There IS a game instance of DR that allows you afk script without repercussion, it's called The Fallen. I won't insult you by saying you shouldn't be allowed to play DR just because you enjoy playing for wealth and rank - I'm just saying, do it in the appropriate place. Some of us are trying to roleplay. Personally, I'm running the routes so hard in Ilithi because I want to hit 20th circle and be able to use the tables. My determined and constant trading there is completely in character. Is yours?

I know the majority of you out there don't do this, so please ignore this short essay. ;-) I'll see you on the trails.

The ones of you who are scripting afk in Ilithi - please, take it to The Fallen and stop making our Guild look bad.

(stepping down off his soapbox)
-Caidrin Du'Kirchdraut
Gnomish Commodities Trader Extraordinaire.

>Yea, I had a bit of a run-in (about 20 times per person) on the Shard routes whilst I laid dead. My fault for dying there, but their fault for running me over countless times and not even blinking or turning around to help.

I see dead body alone, I stop and inquire if help is desired. I see dead body not responding, I ignore it, which can mean running it over multiple times. Simple, really.

<Or maybe those folks just don't care about a corpse and are more worried about making money and are paying attention?>

I doubt it. Just to see, I hid outside Steelclaw Clan last night (where all of us who use the most common script stop each time to forage) and stalked a few traders as they came through. I then did my best to strike up a conversation, asking them about their families, hobbies, and the last time they stopped to take a bathroom break. Believe me guys - if I'd have been an AFK check, these guys would have failed miserably.

>quite a few of em were getting the "what shall i feed them"... thing... a number of times, which if you are paying attention you know when yer feeding yer caravans/animals.

They may or may not be afk-scripting, I dunno, but getting the 'what do i feed them' message doesn't really mean much, most people just foraging outside the bridal path in their script and then trying to give caravan. I know if they happened to get their scripts off my website I put that in mine anyways.

Apu

<Please, don't use the "what shall i feed them" as a gauge to someone being AFK or not. That would lead to very false assumptions.>

I agree with this. That's why I stalked them and tried to strike up a conversation. I'll say once again, I use a script to trade in Ilithi, and it stops to forage at the same spot. I just don't do it unattended. There's nothing wrong wth using scripts, as long as you're there to stop the script and respond to the environment when it's needed.

-Caidrin Du'Kirchdraut

Gnomish Commodities Trader Extraordinaire

Report's don't always do it.

I've seen some insanely intelligent scripts; that can respond to almost any sort of AFK check I could ever think up.

-Andantagio

There is no such critter as a 'standard" script check. GameMasters are infinitely creative in their methods of seeing if you are awake, and infinitely patient also if need be. There is no way any script could possibly be as flexible as a real live GM.

Players are not required to respond to other players. No matter what you a player do, the other person is free to ignore you. I often do ignore people who I find are being annoying or I don't feel like talking to even if it means risking a script check. In fact sometimes I report "Hey I'm awake I'm just ignoring <name of person>".

It's too bad you got left by so many, but someone did help you. I've yet to recieve a 'Pat on the Yak' from the fourty some people I've hauled out of various areas including through invasion and hunting areas. I leave almost as many people dead on the road as I rescue though because in a high traffic area someone is bound to help them, and if I come back and no one has I'll help em. So let's not dissolve into bickering and arguing about who dragged who.

As far as "zombie traders" it used to tick me off until I realized that most of trading is incredible amounts of boredom. A lot of times when someone is trying to strike up a conversation with me on the trade route I respond poorly cause it's been a long boring day and I really just don't feel like talking, nothing personal. I've also been threatened several times by people too for striking up a dialogue, no really at least 10 times I've been told to shut up or die.


So three cheers for getting saved, and remember to return your caravan when done with it.

Oh, and another thing to think about is...

If you know what you'll encounter while running a script.

Then you can fire off of anything that doesn't fall under that.

There is a program in existence that incorporates all that one might encounter while trading in Shard; and anything else will cause an alert.

-Andantagio

<shrug>

-Andantagio

The only reason I believe the system is coded is because of how it works.

The last few AFK checks I've had give me 7 minutes to respond; and repeat the message every minute until no time is left (i assume).

I highly doubt that a GM sits with a stop watch and sends a new message every minute.

-Andantagio

That makes sense.

I know there are AFK checks that don't seem to fall under a system.

But, clarifying my point, there is such a system, and it is used, (in my experience) most of the time.

-Andantagio

>>Yeah but Caidrin is still saying Gnomish instead of Gnomic.


Gnoman.

>>Yeah but Caidrin is still saying Gnomish instead of Gnomic.

I didn't!

I never!

::walks away in a huff::

-Caidrin Du'Kirchdraut

Gnomi-(insert suffix here) Commodities Trader Extraordinaire

I think I've decided I want to be Gnomoid.

::ducks Andantagio's bop!::

::bops Andantagio over the head::

::hides::

-Caidrin Du'Kirchdraut

Gnomithic Commodities Trader Extraordinaire

::eats some berries::

-Andantagio

::slaps Caidrin upside the head for the fun of it::

Lapidary Eyedrop Darpole :)