Dancer Archive
Thread: Guild buffbot stabs me in the chest...
First, I want to appologize to everyone for this post. I promised myself and others that all my posts would go back to being upbeat and constructive, but I need to get this out and ask for opinions and advice.
So, I've been away from SWG for a little over two weeks due to back problems. I finally log back in and what do I find? A buffbot on my stage in my cantina.
Now, normally I ban the bot and go on with my life. What made this especially shocking was that this buffbot was approved by my guild. They had a strict policy of NO AFK MACROING of any kind. People have been warning and kicked from the guild because of it.
But now it seems they've worked hard to find a loophole. Apparently AFK macroing is not allowed in order to level. Once you reach master it's perfectly alright.
One thing that I can't understand is how the council didn't wonder how this bot became a Master Dancer AND a Master musician in two weeks by someone ATK...
I understand their side of it and always have. Entertainers are rare, and getting a buff at a moments notice can be difficult. But to approve of this method is to encourage us to drop our profession.
I've seriously started to consider leaving my guild over this. Members are upset at me for even considering it, and I'd be happy to find a way to stay, but I'm seriously at a loss. What method beyond disallowing the use of the buffbot, EVER, will convince me to stay??
So, that's my story of how the buffbot problem has affected me directly. Please, no anti-buffbot posts needed, we all know it does. I was just wondering if anyone here has any suggestions as to a possible solution to this dilemma? It seems like my only recourse is to simply leave. Banning the bot will only make the bot's owner set up a house or cantina of his own. Of course, so will quitting the guild.
Again, sorry for the downer post.
Either they want live entertainment or they want 24x7 buffs and healing. Most live entertainers will refuse to dance next to an AFKer in their own home town, so your guild needs to make a choice.
Some cities I have seen have two cantinas, one for bots and one for actual entertainment. Maybe this would work for you and your guild?
picklesSW wrote:
Seems really simple to me.
Either they want live entertainment or they want 24x7 buffs and healing. Most live entertainers will refuse to dance next to an AFKer in their own home town, so your guild needs to make a choice.
Some cities I have seen have two cantinas, one for bots and one for actual entertainment. Maybe this would work for you and your guild?
The one solution that was proposed was that when I was online the buffbot wouldn't be. I couldn't see how that was possible since a buffbot being AFK wouldn't know when to log off.
I assumed that if I took any kind of stance at my cantina they would just set up a house for the bot anyway. I would just feel bad approving of this since it only helps belittle entertainers even more.
Thanks for your input Javier 
Ub-ick, I'm very sorry to hear that you've been placed in such a situation as this. We can't tell you which way to go..only what we would do and as this is such a personal situation involving friendships developed over time,oursituations can'tcompare to your's.
I'm opposed to unattended game play as it usually detrimentally effects other players, the economyand eskews player demographics that effect design decisions. I'm not a member of a guild right now (and I'm enjoying the freedom of that) in part because I have decided not to be a part of organizations that support or encourage unattended game play. But that was my decision and I'm quite aware of how unpopular my opinion is in this game. I can not encourage you to do the same.
What course of action would bring you the most fun? Please don't lose focus on your fun..playing games is not about conflict..it's about having fun.
Ub-ick, I am sorry that you guild seems to prefer their own convenienceover your game career. We had a similar situation a few months ago - shortly after we placed our live entertainer cantina in our guild town. A fellow guildmate set up a buffbot in the main cantina for the use of other guild members and visitors. His purpose was not to gain money, he assumed he was helping out his fellow guildies. It was advertised in our weekly guild email and had every live entertainer in town (and a few non-ents) upset. Some of our ent friends were so upset that they wanted to storm the town! LOL! We addressed our concerns with one of the guild leaders who in turn took the matter to our mayor/guild president and the guild member who set up the bot. What we were able to address was one of the tenents of our guild - that at no time will one guild member do anything that would cause harm to another guild member. Since this buff-bot was causing fellow guildmates to lose their source of income it was considered "harming" us. Based on this, the bot was removed to a separate location (I have no idea where or even if it is still available).
Perhaps you can use this as leverage with your guild. If they don't care whether or not they are causing you harm, then perhaps you should look for a guild who cares about you as a player and a person.
Esharra, thank you for your honesty. You're absolutely right, the fun is the #1 priority and that's one thing that I need to determine before I make a decision. Also, I thank you for letting me know how you feel about unattended game play, regardless of how unpopular it is. I'll make sure that my decision won't be based on one person's previous actions, but more on the combination of all factors.
Kirah, thank you for revealing to us your own stuggles with the same problem. It does indeed seem like a similar situation as what I'm going through. The only real difference I can see is that I was one of two entertainers in the guild. My fellow dancer quite quickly dropped all her dancing skills however once the bot was placed and the decision about its use was finalized.
I'm in the process of determining whether they care more for their convenience or my feelings. My first talks with them seemed to indicate that they would rather keep the bot alive in some way, so we'll see.
I've posted my feelings on the matter on our Guild forums. Since I'll be busy for the next few days, I won't be able to log on so they'll have some to time mull it over.
Again, thanks for your input
However, I have pretty much decided that I'm going to be actively looking for another guild to join. Or, perhaps I'll go unguilded for awhile. But, I don't intend to stay in this guild any longer. There are certainly some members of my guild who *were* supportive. And, it's really too bad for them that the other members said the things that they said. But, all I know is that the next guild I join will be fully entertainer supportive and there will never be a buffbot. A caveat of me joining will be that there will be no buff bots, and if they are, I will then quit and join another guild. It's as simple as that.
Most everyone has already mentioned any original input I may have made. Like Kirah said we had a similar problem. Communication and support of fellow guild members solved or problem I can only hope they can have a similar effect for you. I can only think of what my feelings and reactions would be like to walk into our cantina and see a PA sanctioned bot. /shudder The multiple cantina optioncan bea viable solution. We are blessed with five live ATK ents in our guild (not counting a few others who perform as a sideline, plus a certain vagabond whocan be found here often as well other members of the Brian ent community who stop in from time to time) so we do have a great mutual support system. Going solo in a second cantina will be tougher, but if get your fellow guild members support it can still be a workable option. I wish we could do more than offer or advice and our support.
***hugs***
Ub-ick,
I am very sorry you are having to go through this I was not going to post my thoughts, but I decided I should. What I thought when I read this, and then waited and read it two more times to be sure it wasn't just a knee-jerk response, was that your guild cares about your function but not about you. If they cared about you, it seems to me, they would not do anything to hurt your in game experience. I'm not sure what you can do about it, but the old phrase... with friends like that, who needs enemies? ... sadly came to mind.
/hug
Dare I point it out? BRIAN?!
ArgentWulf wrote:
We are blessed with five live ATK ents in our guild (not counting a few others who perform as a sideline, plus a certain vagabond whocan be found here often as well other members of the Brian ent community who stop in from time to time) so we do have a great mutual support system.