Examples of Code Abuse

[Skeas]

I'd like to see some examples of code abuse posted in this thread, that we as forum goers might be educated as to what constitutes being penalized for some of the more questionable things we might do.

Another purpose this thread might serve is to remove the "I didn't know" excuse from cheater-arsenals. I admit to being a code abuser in the past, and I was aware that what I was doing was probably not a good idea, but at the time I had the mindset, "hey, nothing says that this specifically is code abuse" so I did it anyway and was warned over it. I'd rather not have any other players thinking along those same lines.


BUT

to be safe, I'd like to have an immortal give the thumbs up/down on this thread before posting any examples, to be sure we're judged mature enough not to just use the examples to cheat.

[Gwain]

Despite what is often discussed here on the forums, it is important to point out that the helpfile system which exists in the game is the cannon resource guide to rules and game information for both ooc and ic purposes. Any guidelines listed in the helpfiles should be followed and observed along with any admin announcements or postings pertaining to rules placed in the forums. (I will note that any rules or announcements pertaining to rules posted in the forums will often be added to the helpfile system shortly after) I'd recommend glancing at them whenever you are not sure of something before you go through with it.

Now for examples though, there are probably too many for me to cite in a way that is not confusing or that could be misinterpretation. So I will just echo that if you think its abuse or in violation of the rules given to you when you began a new character or started playing on the mud, then it is probably abuse, so the best course would be to postpone doing it, check on the ask channel or ask in the forums (without sharing too much ic information and making sure to place the query in the appropriate forum) Helpfiles for the game are constantly updated and can be searched in the game and on the website, you can even use google to search the fk helpfiles database.

I'm sure others can come up with specific examples of code Abuse, but for me, I can't think of any that are not already covered by the helpfile system or discussed in sticky notes or policy on the forums themselves.

[Harroghty]

I agree with Gwain on this one. There are help files and forum notes about specific instances of abuse in the past, but if you really feel that you are on thin ice then refrain or please just ask. I have seen questions on the ASK channel many times about "Is this code abuse?" In this case, the staff can debate it and reply with a reasonable consensus (if there's a quorum) on the issue.

[Raona]

Generally, the guidelines are:

1. If it does not make sense ICly, don't do it just because the code allows you to
2. If you discover a bug, do not take advantage of it. Intentional exploitation of ANY bug in FK is CHEATING and will get you into BIG TROUBLE!

Specific examples from HELP Cheating:

What is considered cheating?
- exploiting (intentionally using) a bug to gain equipment or gold
- gaining any advantage in any way that makes no sense ICly
- intentionally duplicating equipment or gold
- knowingly accepting illegal equipment (see above) from others
- attempting to duplicate equipment or gold -- * even if not successful *
- using or making profit from equipment that was accidentally duplicated
- using gold that was accidentally duplicated
- using a script or triggers to enhance your characters performance
- using OOC information in a roleplay to your own end

Some specific examples from the past, which follow from the above:

• Money pouches are no longer automatically tapped for purchases because some jerk figured out a way to mint coin with that code, and abused it to no end, as well as blabbing about it everywehere. So now that handy bit of code is disabled.
• Giving information about quests OOCly is a common breach of these rules! (If nothing else, it certainly falls under "gaining any advantage in any way that makes no sense ICly": your PC just has an innate sense for where the secret doors all are? Knows where the traps are, despite being a fighter? Blah.)
• Gaining kismet or gold or experience or skill or anything by having a computer control your character for you
• Roleplaying your character knowing something you learned OOCly, and that they have not learned ICly
• Improving at a language by repeating mindless things ad nauseum to the wall, an NPC, what have you

Here are a few specific examples drawn from the forums:
http://www.forgottenkingdoms.org//board ... 788#p53793
http://www.forgottenkingdoms.org//board ... 99&start=0

...and finally, some of the stickies that Gwain mentioned:
http://www.forgottenkingdoms.org//board ... 35&start=0

I'll leave it at that for now, though I could add to any of the above categories if asked.

[Skeas]

Allllriiiiiiiight then. Sorry for the suggestion.

[Jaenoic]

Never be sorry for a suggestion. =) I just think it's easier to give guidelines than specific examples, like it's easier to say "I work on weekdays" rather than "I work Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday."

For what's it's worth, though, I think this thread could be a good place for people to post and say "hey I found that my gnome illusionist can enter the ranger's camp. It's IC for him because he loves bears, is it code abuse though?" and get a confirmation on whether or not it is abuse. If that makes any sense.

[Sithiel]

I quess this could be posted below this Topic.
As there is a way to work around the thing that you are supposed to be only able to memorize one domain spell&/level, I think it would be suitable to add somewhere in the domain spell helpfiles that this is not allowed. Because as a newbie I am I just figured out with my priest that this is illegal. Such newb as I just thought that there was something wrong with the memorization system and kept unknowingly memorising load of domain spells.

[Aveline]

I quess this could be posted below this Topic.
As there is a way to work around the thing that you are supposed to be only able to memorize one domain spell&/level, I think it would be suitable to add somewhere in the domain spell helpfiles that this is not allowed. Because as a newbie I am I just figured out with my priest that this is illegal. Such newb as I just thought that there was something wrong with the memorization system and kept unknowingly memorising load of domain spells.

I'd like some clarification from somewhere here please. Some of the domain spells for my characters I have on the regular spell list too. Is it illegal to memorize more than one of those as well? These are just examples, I'm not going to log on my characters to see what spells they really get..but.. Say my priest gets identify for a first level domain. I don't have that anywhere else in my spell list so I memorize it one time in my level one slots. I don't know of any tricky way to get more than one of them memorized in that level. So if that is what he is talking about, he knows some way to memorize more of those identify's then I'm good. But..say I weaken as a level 2 domain spell, but then it is also on my level 3 normal spell list.. So I could potentially memorize weaken several times in my level 3 slots even though it is a domain spell..if that is bad..I'm in big big trouble..

[Jaenoic]

In PnP you can memorize a domain spell as a non domain spell, provided it is also a non domain spell. In terms of FK, I don't see any reason why, provided you have learned the spell as a non domain, you cannot memorize it as a domain and a non domain. If you are trying to memorize multiple instances of a spell that you know as only a domain spell, I would say that is unacceptable.

[Zorinar]

Sorry, so I am starting up a cleric type and just for clarification for my sanity...
When I get faithed and get domain spells, only one of those domain spells is allowed to be memorized per domain level? Does that change as you go up in character level? So, if I saw a Tyrian priest cast... (just using this as an example because its a spell only in a domain) touch-of-justice or a Lathanderite casting phoenix-claw more than once per meditation cycle.. they would be violating the rule?

[Woror]

So, if I saw a Tyrian priest cast... (just using this as an example because its a spell only in a domain) touch-of-justice or a Lathanderite casting phoenix-claw more than once per meditation cycle.. they would be violating the rule?

Verily.

[Glim]

Can you not memorize a lower level domain only spell in a higher level domain slot?

[Woror]

By the rules in D&D you must choose one of the two available domain spells for that slot level.

[Keltorn]

By the rules in D&D you must choose one of the two available domain spells for that slot level.

Forgotten Kingdoms doesn't always mirror those rules, but they certainly help in situations like this. Here's what I found. First from the entry on clerics in the Classes section of the Player's Handbook v3.5:

Each domain gives the cleric access to a domain spell at each spell level he can cast, from 1st on up, as well as a granted power. The cleric gets the granted powers of both the domains selected.
With access to two domain spells at a given spell level, a cleric prepares one or the other each day in his domain spell slot. If a domain spell is not on the cleric spell list, a cleric can prepare it only in his domain spell slot.

Similarly, from the overview on magic:

Divine spellcasters do not require spellbooks. However, such a character’s spell selection is limited to the spells on the list for his or her class. Clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers have separate spell lists. A cleric also has access to two domains determined during his character creation. Each domain gives him access to a domain spell at each spell level from 1st to 9th, as well as a special granted power. With access to two domain spells at each spell level—one from each of his two domains—a cleric must prepare, as an extra domain spell, one or the other each day for each level of spell he can cast. If a domain spell is not on the cleric spell list, it can be prepared only in a domain spell slot.

Contrary to what I always thought was right, it really does look like you're only supposed to fill the domain slot with a domain spell of the corresponding level. It doesn't sound like you can use higher level domain slots for lower level domain spells. If that's correct, then this would make using metamagic on domain spells impossible.

There's that bit about preparing domain spells in other slots, but D&D works a bit different in that clerics automatically know all of their spells of every level just as soon as they're able to cast them. Compare that to FK where clerics have to locate trainers for each and every spell with the exception of domain spells. My guess is that, if you're not allowed to prepare domain spells in other slots, then you need to find a trainer for those spells that are on both your normal spell list and your domain spell list.

[Japcil]

Can you not memorize a lower level domain only spell in a higher level domain slot?

Yes you can. To clarify, it's not considered abuse to cast/memorise a level 7 domain spell in Domain spell slots 7, 8 and 9. Now what is abuse is say a level 7 domain spell being able to be memorised in 2 regular spell slots and a domain.

[Woror]

So it is possible have memorized that way more than once in spell domains those domain spells that can't be trained because don't figure in the priest spell list?

[Japcil]

Lets say you have shield as a level 1 domain spell and its not a normal spell on your list. You can memorize shield as a domain in all 9 domain slots if you really wanted to. In fact some feats require you to memorize the spell a few slots higher to take advantage like silent spell and still spell. There's nothing wrong with memorizing a spell in a higher slot.

[Gwain]

The code even informs you that if the current domain slot is full it will simply memorize your domain spell one slot higher. The only time I could see this as abuse is if the code is letting you memorize one, two or more domain spells on the same spell level with no complaint. If you did that and did not report it, you would be abusing a bug for your own beneifit. Otherwise, I certainly don't see the issue if you choose to fill all your domain slots with a level one domain spell, its just the spell you want to use instead of the spells you are offered for each domain level.