In-game Thottbot alternative (this is not a "embedding thott browser in WoW" thread)

[[HM]CodeMaster]

I am quoting my own post in curse-gaming.com:

Firstly, I must say that I have not done any LUA programming or UI mod myself. (looking forward to learning it though, shouldn't be too hard)

Theoritically this should be possible, as thottbot can gather location of targeted NPC into a file for later submission to the web. Now rather than only saving information in text file, if the info is spammed into the public channel, and other people running the addon just catch the info received from that channel, and save in a text file in their own computer, we can create a network of in-game NPC information database.

Furthermore, working in P2P basis, users can search the location of NPCs and make it show up in world map/minimap (should be doable when tie to map note) or if the record is not found locally, a search query can be sent through the same public channel and other user with the addon will return the result.

With enough users, the database can quickly and accurately grow as the information is propagated throughout the realm.

Please respond regarding the probability in implementing the idea, Thanks!

[[HM]CodeMaster]

User A target an NPC -> location saved in savedvariable.lua
-> location sent through a public channel
User B and C received the location via public channel -> location saved in savedvariable.lua

Now when User C needs the location of...Lady Katrana Prestor...say:
User C search "Katrana Prestor" -> look for matches in savedvariable.lua
If found: display match
If not found: send search query through a public channel
User B received the query and look for matches in his savedvariable.lua, the location is then sent back through private message or public channel
When User C received the match from User B, the record is saved in his own savedvariable.lua so that future queries on the same record can be done locally.

Matches displayed on User C's UI. He can opt to put a flag on his minimap to show the location of Lady Katrana Prestor (just like in mapnote/gatherer).

[Littlejohn]

This is exactly the same as an IRC bot. (Oh no! another bot discussion!

The main problem will be how to avoid flooding the channel with answers because you've got so many copies of the bot running simultaneously. If you can solve that problem, it's safe to have the bots listen to general and answer questions directly -- people don't even have to run the bot to ask it questions.

You could avoid flooding by using a side channel to implement a token ring. When a question is asked, the bot with the token answers. If it can't answer, it passes the token. If all bots listen to the answers, they will eventually learn everything (or at least the answers to the most common questions).

The idea could be pushed quite far, but I'm pretty sure people would be uncomfortable with "spy bots" or "auction house bots". These would be bots with known names that you could whisper to get dynamic information. For example, "/w greenspan price of silk?" and if greenspan was sitting in the auction house, his bot could give you the price in real time.

[Osagasu_Jiyuu]

Originally Posted by Littlejohn The idea could be pushed quite far, but I'm pretty sure people would be uncomfortable with "spy bots" or "auction house bots". These would be bots with known names that you could whisper to get dynamic information. For example, "/w greenspan price of silk?" and if greenspan was sitting in the auction house, his bot could give you the price in real time.

Well if someone wants to waste $15 a month to sit a character in the AH permanently for that purpose... I'd have nothing against it. It's their money.
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Here's an idea: each person is given a number at startup (Random seed, size depending on popularity of this concept mod). On query, generate between the same two random numbers, then all bots who have the correct seed reply. If nothing responds, generate another seed and try again, after ten tries or so with the seed, reply saying that nothing was found.

Now at the start this mod wouldn't need (or want) that, so add it in after the mod is popular. once the mod gets really popular, you'd have to narrow it down some more, say by generating a random number and everyone getting below a 10 (or above a 90 or whatever) replies to the query.

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I know it's damn rough, but at least it's an idea, that, if implemented properly, could work.

[Littlejohn]

I'm not sure it would work. You'd have to set the chance of getting a "correct" number pretty high to get any bot to respond at all, but then you've also got a very good chance for multiple bots to respond.

It's the birthday paradox at work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_paradox

I would be really annoyed if 2 or 3 bots replied with an answer every time a question was asked.

Just go with token ring. You're trying to do ethernet...

On the subject of auction bots: You don't need somebody to spend all day in the AH. (I'm sure there are those people though!) All you need is to tie a side-channel broadcast to the auction house events. As soon as you go to the AH, you notify all bots you're there.

You'd need to create an enhanced whisper function that takes "symbolic" player names. The bot could keep track of the symbol -> player mapping. Actually that would be kind of cool in general. It would be nice to have 1/2/3/4 for party members. "/w 1 ..." would whisper party1.

[Osagasu_Jiyuu]

Originally Posted by Littlejohn I'm not sure it would work. You'd have to set the chance of getting a "correct" number pretty high to get any bot to respond at all, but then you've also got a very good chance for multiple bots to respond. It's the birthday paradox at work. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birthday_paradox I would be really annoyed if 2 or 3 bots replied with an answer every time a question was asked. Just go with token ring. You're trying to do ethernet... .

Oddly enough, that's exactly what I had in mind when I was writing up the idea.

And if two or three bots reply, just display one... if you're using an addon that masks the channel and displays the information (CTA, Cosmos, and PlayerMerchant I believe all use this), you don't really have a problem with /seeing/ more than one reply, just the server overhead.