AA-CX-Bot is a bot written to interact with the Multi-User Dungeon called Ancient Anguish. In the game there is a mechanism for players to earn in-game currency in which they deliver packages from a location called the Commodities Exchange (or CX for short) to various locations in the game world. The packages are irrelevant to the game or players and are automatically generated during the operating hours (6am-6pm game time) of the CX. Both the CX broker (named Lou or Pembrook) and the package receiver are automatons of the game.

Disclaimer

This is not intended for actual use in the game. I developed this project to see if I could automate the entire process and how successful it would be. If you get your account banned for ACTUALLY using this, don't blame me.

Delivery Cycle

When run, this bot will autonomously move to the CX, accept packages, and deliver packages for the duration it is running. There are a few caveats to this:

• A character may only earn 3000 coins per game day, in the event that the bot reaches this limit it will commence the logoff routine
• A character can only carry so much (based on the strength attribute), if the bot is not capable of carrying a package it has tried to accept, it will go to the bank, deposit all its money, and return to the CX to commence the delivery cycle.
• The CX is closed for half the game day. If the bot enters the CX during closed hours, it will commence the logoff routine.
• If the broker refuses to give the bot a requested package, the bot will reset to the waiting state until a package is announced that they may successfully accept.

Logoff Routine

When the bot is incapable of delivering any more packages for the game day, the logoff routine will initiate. From the CX, the bot will go to the bank and deposit all of its money. It will then proceed to the Adventurers Guild where it will advance its strength attribute (making it more capable of carrying things) as far as allowed. If the bot reaches its strength cap for that level, it will attempt to raise its level and continue raising strength. At this point, the bot will check the time and disconnect from the game. While disconnected from the game, it will continuously poll the system time until the estimated in-game time is 6am at which point it will log in again.

Time Delays

Because "botting" is against the rules in Ancient Anguish, several features have been put into place in order to thwart attempts at identifying the bot as a bot.

• Each movement is accompanied by a one second delay so that the bot does not move through the game suspiciously fast.
• When waiting for a package, there is a five second delay built into the initial acceptance state of the bot so that the bot doesn't accept every package suspiciously fast. So when the bot first arrives at the CX, it will not accept packages for five seconds.
• If a tell is sent to the bot, it will occasionally respond with a random statement like "No hablo Ingles" or "I'm busy right now", etc.
• (TODO) Jitter - every so often the bot will "go the wrong direction" and have to correct itself.

Remote Command

The user may issue commands from a different account (specified in the config file) using the "tell" system in the game. These commands may be customized via the runner.command file.

• follow - Signals the bot to follow you. Must be at the same location as the bot for this to work.
• deliver - Attempts to deliver the package at the current location. There is no check to ensure that the bot is at the correct location.
• accept - Attempts to accept a package. Does not check to see if the bot is at the CX.
• location - Replies to the controlled character with its last reported location.
• state - Replies to the controlled character with its last reported state.
• (TODO) resume - Continue the previously interrupted delivery run.
• withdraw - Withdraw all money from the bank. Assumes that the bot is currently in the bank.
• deposit - Deposit all money into the bank. Assumes that the bot is currently in the bank.

runner.conf

Account

• user - The user account for the bot
• password - The associated password for the bot
• player - The name of the character that will issue remote commands to the bot

Files

• path - The file holding an array of paths. All paths assume a starting point of the Crossroads in Tantallon. (Default: runner.path)
• matches - The file holding an array of locations keyed on phrases used by the broker when announcing packages. (Default: runner.matches)
• cmd - The file containing an array of commands keyed on the phrases used by the remote character. (Default: runner.command)
• log - The file that the script outputs its log info to. (Default: runner.log)
• catch - When the bot doesn't recognize the phrase used when announcing a package, it will dump that phrase into this file. It is then the responsibility of the user to peruse these phrases to determine what location they should be associated with and manually add them to the matches and path files. (Default: runner.catch)
• (TODO)lock - The lock file used to establish whether the bot is running or not. (Default: runner.lock)

Broker

• name - The name of the broker to be used by the bot, can be Lou or Pembrook. (Default: Lou)
• location - The location term (as specified in the path file) of the exchange being used, can be CX or PEMBROOK. (Default: CX)