I have had a lot of questions regarding Tarabot and the raffle system. Or, more accurately, every time I log on, I get 2-3 people sending me tells. So hopefully I can answer everything in a single message and stop some of the onslaught.
First, Tarabot has two functions: chat and raffle. These two functions are unrelated with the exception of the access list.
The chat system has the following commands (via tell):
CHAT (user) - if you are in the access list, Tarabot will invite you.
LEAVE (user) - kicks you out of chat
INVITE (admin) - force an invite to someone not in access list.
KICK (admin) - kick someone out of chat
KICKALL (admin) - kick everyone out of chat
LOCK (admin) - lock chat so CHAT requests don't work
UNLOCK (admin) - unlock chat
The raffle system has:
CREATE (admin) - create a playfield
OPEN (admin) - open a playfield for raffle registration (and this is spammed to chat)
REGISTER (user) - registers the requesting user for raffles in the playfield
CLOSE (admin) - close a playfield's registration period (also spammed to chat)
DEAD (admin) - marks time of death for Tarasque (spammed to chat)
RAFFLE (admin) - starts a raffle for an item (spammed to chat)
ENTER (user) - enters the requesting user into a raffle
ROLL (admin) - selects a potential winner out of those who ENTERed (spammed to chat)
WINNER (admin) - closes the raffle and sets the winner (spammed to chat)
Access control functions:
ADD (admin) - adds a player to the access list
REMOVE (admin) - removes a player from the access list
BAN (admin) - locks a player out of the access list
WHOIS (admin) - shows the database entry for that user (for admin verification of the ADD/REMOVE/BAN commands)
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So now to address the questions/issues:
Can I have administrative access to Tarabot?
You're asking the wrong person. Talk to Javaschick. I add/remove people at her direction.
We want to be able to see what happens behind the scenes on Tarabot.
Nothing happens behind the scenes. Please note in the command list above how "spammed to chat" is popular. Everything the admin does regarding the playfield and raffles is broadcast to all participants.
We don't trust <insert admin here>.
Note that there are no administrative functions for modifying the registration or raffle lists. The admin(s) can't do anything to tamper with the raffle.
I am the only one who has access to the server and the database and consequently the only person who could tamper with the raffle. To ensure that there is no issue here, I have not and will not register for raffles.
If you have issues with admin behavior, talk to Javaschick.
Can I get a copy of the source?
Sorry, no. Tarabot was only about three hours of work because I used perl modules from my company. The code doesn't leave my server unless at some point later I choose to rewrite those portions.
We need a copy of the source so we can verify the integrity of the raffle.
No, you don't. I could just as easily send you bogus code. The best I can do is provide the model (which I am happy to do) and you either take my word for it or you don't.
The ROLL function does the following (in a mixture of perl and SQL):
$count_entered = SELECT COUNT(*) FROM tarabot_entered WHERE raffle=<raffle id>
$roll = int(rand($count_entered))
$winner = SELECT user FROM tarabot_entered WHERE raffle=<raffle id> LIMIT $roll,1
In english: it counts the people who used ENTER, picks a number randomly from that count, then counts down the list of ENTERed people to that number. It's not rocket science.
We'd like to see a point system implemented.
Whatever. This is not my issue. Talk to Javaschick.
We don't like the rules.
Whatever. This is not my issue. Talk to Javaschick.
Why do you keep referring us to Javaschick?
She's the one that's been organizing raids. All I did was develop a tool to provide more reliable chat and an efficient raffle system.
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In summary, please stop sending me tells unless you want to discuss something positive. When I'm in the game, I'm trying to play and socialize with my friends, not defend Tarabot or the looting rules at Tarasque.
I appreciate those of you (the majority) that have been enthusiastic about Tarabot. I'm just a little fried right now from people who are trying to dramatize the loot issue, especially when it's something that I've voluntarily given up in order to enhance the experience for other clanners.
