To All Bot Servers:
deadlydeadlybees
Join Date: 2004-09-02 Member: 31190Members
Join Date: 2004-09-02 Member: 31190Members
it is gettign harder and harder to find a server with human beings. somedays i will get on log into ten different servers: co, ns 2 players 15 players 6 players always bots. i give up and go play soemthing else. this is too small a game for you to be running server after server full of bots. what is the point? no one wants to play with bots.
please sticky this so server admins can read it. instead of bots to get a server goign which doesnt even work just sit by yourself in your server. i love one on one fights and will join any serveri see with one person chilling there if your afk its ok ill wait till you get back for a few minutes. but please admins stop poluting the comunity with server after server full of bots ive almost quit the game after finding no humans for like 10 minutes its gettign redicoulous or can the dev team make a bot filter option?
please sticky this so server admins can read it. instead of bots to get a server goign which doesnt even work just sit by yourself in your server. i love one on one fights and will join any serveri see with one person chilling there if your afk its ok ill wait till you get back for a few minutes. but please admins stop poluting the comunity with server after server full of bots ive almost quit the game after finding no humans for like 10 minutes its gettign redicoulous or can the dev team make a bot filter option?
Comments
I agree with deadlydeadlybees, as I find a lot of servers run bots even if the server is empty. Although this may trick some people, it doesn't work after time...people know not to join that paticular server as they know there are only bots there!
Bots are fine, nothing wrong with bots, but the hostility comes towards servers and their FAKE representation of players playing. How do we know that one bot is not a human Depot? we have to join...waste our time, and then get frustrated and leave!
Better plan is to have 0 bots idling and maybe when someone goes on they can add bots, and your server will at least be known as one that has 1 human player playing in order to have any number of bots. Whether 1 or 20, there will FOR SURE be 1 human player.
That's my suggestion to those that run bots.
Just a question about bots...can you have each bot with a name like: "[THIS_IS_A_BOT]<random bot name>"
This would be helpful, but removes the effectiveness of tricking people into joining your empty server (although using bots is an ineffective way anyways...)
The solution to getting a good server going...play on your server, take away the bots, and wait for others to join, convince them to stay, and try to populate the server with HUMANS. This can take a long time and could be upwards of a month or so before you get some regulars. Best thing to do is find others on IRC/MSN/ICQ/whatever and get them to join your server together, this will increase your chances of populating your server.
People will come over time, this is not a one night and you're set to go process...it may take weeks or even longer.
Things to consider as well when thinking of populating your server with humans is "what player type do I want?". This will decide what maps you choose...CO? NS? SIEGE style? ANYTHING? CUSTOMS only? These are all questions that need to be asked and you need to know what server type you are.
For instance, my server: We chose to do classic NS. We do play CO the ODD time, but this is only when admins are on to vote it, and usually late at night if we are just goofing around and want to do it. We also chose to NOT have any bots. We wanted human players, and we sacrificed time WAITING on the server till others joined. It didn't take us too long to get an AWESOME player base when we had at least 2 guys to join the server and idle before it got busy. Now, I look at my server, and it may be 11:00am and it's empty. But I want to play, so I join, and before long, there is at least 6 people on (10 min max). This is because of the player base and they know people will join, so they join with noone on, and they KNOW someone else will join.
I never worry when I see my server @ 0 players, I know that it will busy if I join, or when that brave person does the first join.
Of course, admins, rules, general attitude of the server and its players will determine its popularity, but all the above needs to be considered.
Well, that's my little rant about bot servers, and my common sense approach to getting a good server going...I like to think the little community we run is quite successful. Checkout my signature and see for yourself.
Boris <!--emo&::nerdy::--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/nerd-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='nerd-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
you cant check their pings in the steam browser. only on gametiger or other web server browser. so its really hard to tell if they are bots or not if the server op changed the bots names.
should have a bot naming standard of some tag before their name so that even n00bs know when they are joining a bot server. make a tag like [CPU] or [Bot] and put it in front of the bots name and stop the deception.
In your Steam Servers Browser right click on the "Servers" bar and select "Bots" ... wallah! Every single NS server running bots on it has a "B" by it's name.
I rest my case. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
In your Steam Servers Browser right click on the "Servers" bar and select "Bots" ... wallah! Every single NS server running bots on it has a "B" by it's name.
I rest my case. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You know what Depot? I did NOT know this. And if I don't know this...that means OTHERS most likely don't know this as well. I would have never thought you could right click column names to change options...stupid steam!
Anyways, unless you go tell every NS player out there how to do it, you still have the problem of dealing with those that don't know. So in this case...why not include some sort of standard name like [Bots] somewhere in the server name and take the bots away?
As it is now, those that don't know how to check for bots, they'll still join your server, and get mad when they realize it's just a bot! I imagine this is what you are wanting to accomplish, "tricking" people in to playing on your server with your lone bot sitting there by himself. If you infact just want to "show" people you have bots running by keeping that bot there so it shows up in the bot list, why not give it a bot type name, or include a [bot] type tag in the server name?
So this brings back the point about annoying servers running bots...don't run bots to attract players, run bots strictly for using bots...(when a REAL PLAYER joins the game and loads them in!)
I've never run bots so I don't know what the configuration is like, but I assume there is a way to run a server without a bot on it when it's empty? If so, why not do this...so we don't have frustrated players like deadlydeadlybees!
So what case were you resting?
*Note: I am happy to see it is FF Depot! And no, I'm not trying to shoot anyone down, just going off on the rant about bots tricking people into joining a server!
In your Steam Servers Browser right click on the "Servers" bar and select "Bots" ... wallah! Every single NS server running bots on it has a "B" by it's name.
I rest my case. <!--emo&:angry:--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/mad-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='mad-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--><!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
You know what Depot? I did NOT know this. And if I don't know this...that means OTHERS most likely don't know this as well. I would have never thought you could right click column names to change options...stupid steam!
Anyways, unless you go tell every NS player out there how to do it, you still have the problem of dealing with those that don't know.
I imagine this is what you are wanting to accomplish, "tricking" people in to playing on your server with your lone bot sitting there by himself. If you infact just want to "show" people you have bots running by keeping that bot there so it shows up in the bot list, why not give it a bot type name, or include a [bot] type tag in the server name?
So this brings back the point about annoying servers running bots...don't run bots to attract players, run bots strictly for using bots...(when a REAL PLAYER joins the game and loads them in!)
I've never run bots so I don't know what the configuration is like, but I assume there is a way to run a server without a bot on it when it's empty? If so, why not do this...so we don't have frustrated players like deadlydeadlybees!
<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Ignorance is bliss they say. I am most definitely old school, and don't mind one bit helping those who aren't to lazy to help themselves (guess this thread is the exception).
As the majority of servers that run bots run several of them, via the Steam Servers List right click on ANY server you want and View Info. If you see several players with <i>identical to the second </i>time on server, you know they're bots. <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
You are incorrect and being presumptuous (again) in thinking the reason I (or other server ops) have a lone bot on my/their server is to "trick" people. My "lone bot" has been responsible for allowing many a night owl or single player to start a game by himself (and it normally turns in to a full house). So DON'T call my server or others like it "annoying" just because you don't like playing with bots - every player on Steam has a choice of hundreds of other servers to play on and EACH one is easily identifiable as to it's mods. <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
*Note: I am happy to see it is FF Depot! And no, I'm not trying to shoot anyone down, just going off on the rant about bots tricking people into joining a server!<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Thanks for pimpin' my server dood! <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Again, PLEASE stop thinking that servers run bots to trick people into joining. If THAT was what they wanted there's a plugin called "Fake-Full" which does the trick well.
Whichbots v0.94g are highly competitive and (especially in Combat) will give you a run for your money. <b>THIS</b> is why servers run them, <b>NOT</b> to trick people. *rollseyes*
Perhaps, but more so when they have the souped-up configs.
*/me coughs politely. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->*
--
Personally I think bots should never populate an empty server, as this will inevitably lead to disappointment. Instead populate 2 on 1 / 3 on 2 games to even the teams. From then onwards bots should leave as new human players arrive.
The exception is "marine training" servers, and the like, where people are actively seeking to play bots.
That being said, Depot runs a sweet server for all those custom lovers out there. <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I would say that at least 1 person has been tricked by your bot without knowing it, and if you aren't doing this, why would you not make it easier for them to understand it is in fact a bot on there?
Again, I know nothing about running bots, so if it is hard to get them named with a tag saying bot for each one, then I fully understand...
I check, but ever so often I join and it's a fake full, or a bunch of people pinging 0. I'm down to play with some bots, but fakefull just pisses me off
What i don't like, however, is having bots simply idle and not even play. The gibgames servers do this, always 8 bots in the rr. If you have bots, at least make them play the game.
I personally run a marine training server where whichbots progressively join the alien team as more humans join. Now I admit that bots have no stratagy but they are twice as aggressive as any human, don't complain and fear absolutly nothing. As I see it, there are plenty of skilled alien players out there because the alien team is so easy to use but there are no where near enough experianced commanders, or marines in general for that matter. Someone needs to train these would-be commanders so someday, they can take command in a live game, with confidence, and actually give us soldiers a fighting chance.
But as I tell everyone else that flames bots: Bots are better then you so if you don't like bots then find another server to play on.
This is not a flaming of bots, rather a flaming of servers running bots without clearly identifying that there are bots playing.
Bots are awesome, I've been destroyed many times by them...
The point that we are trying to make is probably this:
Server admins, if you are NOT trying to use bots to fake players so people join your empty server, make it OBVIOUS to us noobs that the players seen in the list are in fact bots playing.
And for those faking players to attract some real ones...don't do this, people hate it!
I think that's it. I think bots are great!
Server admins, if you are NOT trying to use bots to fake players so people join your empty server, make it OBVIOUS to us noobs that the players seen in the list are in fact bots playing.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
This just isn't going to happen, there simply isn't a need for it.
I've attempted to educate you and anyone else that's interested on how to determine if a server is running bots. It's unfair to expect the server ops to identify bots when the information is already available for players to ascertain if bots are indeed present.
What will you request next, the entire NS Manual be made available everytime you join a server because you don't know every single thing there is to know about the game? <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused-fix.gif' /><!--endemo--> I see little difference.
I've attempted to educate you and anyone else that's interested on how to determine if a server is running bots. It's unfair to expect the server ops to identify bots when the information is already available for players to ascertain if bots are indeed present. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
C'mon Depot, you're just being unreasonable. It's probably easier for server admins to show that their servers are running bots than trying to educate the mass public on operating the piece of garbage steam application to tell which are running bots...
How is it unfair to ask server admins to do this? If it's simple to do, just do it!
You think this little bit of education to the 5 people that read this forum is going to help anything? I highly doubt it...
I firmly believe it's up to server admins to make things as clear as possible to the players wishing to play on their servers!
I've attempted to educate you and anyone else that's interested on how to determine if a server is running bots. It's unfair to expect the server ops to identify bots when the information is already available for players to ascertain if bots are indeed present. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
C'mon Depot, you're just being unreasonable. It's probably easier for server admins to show that their servers are running bots than trying to educate the mass public on operating the piece of garbage steam application to tell which are running bots...
How is it unfair to ask server admins to do this? If it's simple to do, just do it!
You think this little bit of education to the 5 people that read this forum is going to help anything? I highly doubt it...
I firmly believe it's up to server admins to make things as clear as possible to the players wishing to play on their servers! <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Your request is unreasonable, and you're simply sticking up for the lazy people. You don't have the right to expect server ops to cater to the masses because they're to lazy to learn the game (INCLUDING Steam).
I don't have to worry about this stuff anyways...just thought I'd post my views.
I think that Depot is correct, if you cannot figure out how to determine if there are bots on a server, or not then you should have to live with the fact that there are servers with bots and it's just going to be that way.
To add into this, I think it's great that there are servers that run bots, they need testing and developing just like any other software. If it weren't for the "bot" servers how could we be able to enjoy the pleasure of getting owned, lol by a bunch of which bots? They have come a long way in a short time. There have been many suggestions by developers and players alike. The development team tries to please the end users, the player. The waypointers work hard to make them do and go where we want them to go.
I believe that everyone that doesn't like bots should give waypointing a try or how about this...run your own server for a while and see how easy that is. The server isn't too bad until there is a problem. Besides the fact that here people come and complain because they are getting something for FREE. You always have the choice of going somewhere else. If you want some control over my server then mail me a fat check that pays for the pc that it runs on, the hours of work invested into having and maintaining a server, oh yeah the bandwith that it takes to run a NS server. Talk about a resource hog! By the way the only internet service provider in my area that offers DSL is expensive. It cost me over $50/month for service and it is not by any means a good service at that.
Then people complain and cry about server admins...well the folks that are normally admins are contributers to the cause and they are usually selected carefully. Keep this in mind when they decide to include bots on their server.
I for one enjoy testing new things, I like to make the bots so hard that it is almost impossible to win! This is when I'm proud of my waypoints. <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
Thanks Depot for posting this on the WB forum, I wouldn't have ever seen this thread unless you did.
Maybe you have all MISSED the point here. Let's look at what the original post said...
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->it is gettign harder and harder to find a server with human beings. somedays i will get on log into ten different servers: co, ns 2 players 15 players 6 players always bots. i give up and go play soemthing else. this is too small a game for you to be running server after server full of bots. what is the point? no one wants to play with bots.
please sticky this so server admins can read it. instead of bots to get a server goign which doesnt even work just sit by yourself in your server. i love one on one fights and will join any serveri see with one person chilling there if your afk its ok ill wait till you get back for a few minutes. but please admins stop poluting the comunity with server after server full of bots ive almost quit the game after finding no humans for like 10 minutes its gettign redicoulous or can the dev team make a bot filter option?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
As you can see...the first paragraph may make a stab at bots (and at the end of the 2nd), but this is not the underlying issue. What this person is saying is summed up in the 2nd paragraph. I don't think he necessarily hates that there are bots in servers (although he may, I don't know, but that's just his personal opinion, which he is entitled too!), but rather hates that he thinks those bots are real people, and wastes his time trying to find servers with real people. That is what I've been trying to argue through this post...that server admins should clearly identify bots on their server as NOT to upset some NS players. Apparently this is a crime, and the server admins feel that "who cares about the NSPlayer, let them learn the game and steam application, and stop crying!"
This is a poor way to be acting in the community. I feel bad that things have gone away from making this game fun and inviting (and somewhat EASY to understand) to the new players...
Why not just invest some time into making things easier for people that may not know everything about steam or NS. Is it that hard? Just a little bit of courtesy on the server admin part, that's all. Didn't mean for this thing to turn into such a heated topic, but I feel many of you are missing the point we (or at least myself) are trying to make:
Nothing wrong with bots. Nothing wrong with bot servers. Something wrong with server admins not wanting to make it easily known that certain players on that server list are bots.
Running a NS server should be something you WANT to do, so I think most server admins would be willing to accomadate a bit of change to help make things better for everyone.
<!--QuoteBegin-by Rek+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (by Rek)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I just label all my bots either [wb] or [rc], I only ever have 2 idling if there are no human players (interesting to watch them run circles around each other). the motd clearly states that all players with the name either [wb]x or [rc]x are bots, or some retarded bot-poser.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
After going back over this post to see if I flamed bots unintentionally or anything, I came up with some good quoting material...Apparently you can name them easily enough. Thanks Rek for showing good server operation!
<!--QuoteBegin-by Depot+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (by Depot)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I've attempted to educate you and anyone else that's interested on how to determine if a server is running bots. It's unfair to expect the server ops to identify bots when the information is already available for players to ascertain if bots are indeed present.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
View the image at the bottom of the post, and tell me that all those are bots, or only 1 is, or only 2, etc. And how do you know FOR SURE, they are bots or not? If you can't completely answer both those questions with "I bet my life on this" answers, your whole arguement takes a big hit...(assume that the times are not in the 8 hour range, but rather in the 1 hour range)
Also in my search and testing of steam workings, etc. I noticed a lot of servers with bots all named with [wb] or [rc], which means it's obviously easy to keep them with bot identifying names. As well, servers marked with "B's" only tell you the server has at least 1 bot running, but does not inform you as to what players are bots? Is there a way to check this?
<!--QuoteBegin-by Rek+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (by Rek)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I just label all my bots either [wb] or [rc], I only ever have 2 idling if there are no human players (interesting to watch them run circles around each other). the motd clearly states that all players with the name either [wb]x or [rc]x are bots, or some retarded bot-poser.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
After going back over this post to see if I flamed bots unintentionally or anything, I came up with some good quoting material...Apparently you can name them easily enough. Thanks Rek for showing good server operation!
<!--QuoteBegin-by Depot+--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (by Depot)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I've attempted to educate you and anyone else that's interested on how to determine if a server is running bots. It's unfair to expect the server ops to identify bots when the information is already available for players to ascertain if bots are indeed present.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
View the image at the bottom of the post, and tell me that all those are bots, or only 1 is, or only 2, etc. And how do you know FOR SURE, they are bots or not? If you can't completely answer both those questions with "I bet my life on this" answers, your whole arguement takes a big hit...(assume that the times are not in the 8 hour range, but rather in the 1 hour range)
Also in my search and testing of steam workings, etc. I noticed a lot of servers with bots all named with [wb] or [rc], which means it's obviously easy to keep them with bot identifying names. As well, servers marked with "B's" only tell you the server has at least 1 bot running, but does not inform you as to what players are bots? Is there a way to check this?<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Just won't let a sleeping dog lie, will ya Boris? No one said or inferred the bots <b>COULDN'T</b> be named using a prefix ... as a matter of fact Whichbots <b>COME </b>with a [wb]tag.
The image at the bottom of your post shows 2 bots, which is enough to tell you to stay clear if you don't want to play vs bots. <b>BUT!</b> You are one screen ahead of yourself. The Steam Server List (the one you were at <b>BEFORE</b> you selected "view info") is the one that shows (<b>IF</b> you enable it) what servers have bots.
Again, all the info you need is already available via the Steam Server List.
How did I miss <b>THIS</b> one ?!?!? May I suggest you read through all my posts (as well the thread's author should too), and concentrate all your energies on educating the new Steam users (note I did NOT say new to NS) regarding their various options on the server list? Ignorance is no excuse for asking the ns comminity to develop a foolproof method for identifying bots on a server.
Even if 100% of the server ops WITH bots tagged all of them [wb] or [rc], the new users <b>STILL</b> wouldn't know what the tags meant. Give it a rest. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
I am unclear about this. As I see it, the main server list shows which servers HAVE some bots, but it will not tell you which ones on the server actually ARE bots. So how am I to know how many of those are real humans without the bots having [wb] in the name or something? When I bring up the server info, I don't get any B's beside the bots...is there a way to do this?
And did you thoroughly read through my post. If the bot times were 1h 2m 23s let's say, you would be willing to bet your life that both of those players were infact bots?
How could you know for sure without joining the server? Is it not possible that those could be real players joining at the exact same time, and that the other so called players were infact the bots?
*EDIT* NOTE: the ""'s that are not in quoted material with names attached to them are not quotes, rather a made up quote interpreted. Stop taking everything so literally. Also, noone is asking the NS community to come up with a 100% foolproof method, we're just asking to help make it easier. All we can do is ask, apparently you don't want to do anything, and that's fine, but to any other admins of servers reading this, maybe they'll consider it...
I am unclear about this. As I see it, the main server list shows which servers HAVE some bots, but it will not tell you which ones on the server actually ARE bots. So how am I to know how many of those are real humans without the bots having [wb] in the name or something? When I bring up the server info, I don't get any B's beside the bots...is there a way to do this?
And did you thoroughly read through my post. If the bot times were 1h 2m 23s let's say, you would be willing to bet your life that both of those players were infact bots?
How could you know for sure without joining the server? Is it not possible that those could be real players joining at the exact same time, and that the other so called players were infact the bots?
*EDIT* NOTE: the ""'s that are not in quoted material with names attached to them are not quotes, rather a made up quote interpreted. Stop taking everything so literally. Also, noone is asking the NS community to come up with a 100% foolproof method, we're just asking to help make it easier. All we can do is ask, apparently you don't want to do anything, and that's fine, but to any other admins of servers reading this, maybe they'll consider it...<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The author didn't ask WHICH ones on the server were bots, only that the server had them. But it matters not WHAT their time is, if you see 2 or more with identical times, odds are they're bots. Let me say the odds are VERY high they're bots, and extremely unlikely they're humans.
As noted several times in this thread, <u>it's very simple to determine if a server has bots on it</u>. When players don't care to compete against bots, for the most part it's insignificant if there's 1, 2, or 8 - they don't want to play with bots, period.
a) The steam server browser has a handy function with which you can filter out any/all servers running bots. The original poster must not have known this, but it is there and very easy to use. That right there solves this issue.
b) all bots aren't fakefull bots. I agree fakefull bots that do nothing other than rott in the RR and do nothing all day are lame. wb and rc aren't these type however.
c) should it need to be made any clearer, wb and rc all have [wb] and [rc] tags. For the dumbarses in life who can't figure out who these people are, they can exist for a few hours thinking the wb and rc clan just kicks ****, till they read the MOTD or notice the wb's canned chatter on the chat channel.
d) bots are nothing new to hl/cs/ns. people know about them and there are ways(easy no less) to find servers with or without them.
e) given how fractured the ns community is over different versions, each time a new patch comes out, bots(real bots) serve a valuable purpose to the NS community and let people practice vs. somebody even if they are bots rather than not being able to play NS at all.
Find another holy war, bots aren't the evil you are making them out to be.
As an avid bot server hosting admin, I actually get a kick out of ...shall we say intellectually challenged.. people playing against my bots for a good 30 minutes, talking with them, replying to their responses, etc.. and going "WTH! are these bots?!"
Of course, I'm evil, and I get pleasure from the torment of stupid people suffering <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin-fix.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin-fix.gif' /><!--endemo-->
And who wouldn't like playing against bots who aren't all "OMG BS HAX WTH I PWN JOO NUB!!!1111one" every freaking time they die. It's the main reason I quit playing CS. I'm too short-tempered to deal with retards anymore...
Bottom line, bots are better than the dregs of the NS players who seem to frequent public servers. If you configure them right, they're challenging, and if nothing else, it helps new people learn how to play the game without "vets" bitching constantly about the "nub" commander every 30 seconds.