Several macroers chopping down a yew tree. Notice how they walk away as soon as the tree is cut down.
Macroing is the act of using third-party software to perform automated tasks. A macro operates by automating user input to the game. A simple macro may automatically move the cursor to a certain position and perform a click while a more advanced one may actually interact with the game client. The terms macroer, autoer, botter or bot usually refer to players who use such programs. Usage of third-party software can allow the macroers to achieve high levels in a short amount of time. Usage of macros is not allowed under the RuneScaperules and may result in action taken against that player's account, such as a temporary or permanent ban. Jagex has since also been resetting both user's levels and bank-value before initiating bans.
Macros can be programmed to perform almost any task. They are typically used to perform tedious tasks, such as training a skill, collecting an item, or typing an offer. Some examples are given below.
Autotyping programs can be used to repeat a specific message over and over. This is often used by players in the Grand Exchange, where a trade offer quickly disappears in the volume of other messages, or used to advertise a real world trading site. This can be a nuisance to other players, as with all the spam, and can be reported under Honour, or if they are advertising a website they can be reported under Security.
Autoclickers can be used to repeatedly click a desired spot or click in many locations faster than is possible with a mouse. Autoclickers are mostly used to circumvent the auto-logout system. They can also be used to perform simple actions, such as Low/High level alchemy or rapidly cleaning herbs.
Autobuying programs can be used to buy large amounts of items from shops. They can also be used to buy and bank items that can be sold for a profit at the Grand Exchange.
Many macros involve more complicated tasks such as Mining, Woodcutting, Fishing, monster-killing, and more. These programs often have advanced programming that gives them the ability to solve random events, navigate between locations, respond to chat, avoid dangerous situations, and more.
On 10 December of 2007, Jagex implemented a number of updates aimed at ending the use of macros in the game. Although these updates have been successful at drastically cutting down on the number of both macros and real-world traders, reactions among players were mixed concerning how well-implemented these updates were. As a result of Jagex's improved ability to identify and ban macros, many of these updates were removed on 1 February2011.
Gold farmers commonly use automated macroing programs to gather resources that can be sold for gold. In addition to macroing, these accounts are in breach of the Honour rule for both real-world trading and more than one person using a single account.
Because bot programs are usually programed to perform a specific action in a specific location, there are a number of spots where macros can commonly be found.
With the better money making options available to Members, there is an increasing amount of macro activity on member servers. Some Membersmoney making and training activities that are more-often done by macros and gold farmers include:
Many programs claim to be a macro program of some sort. In addition to the risk of getting banned, such programs often originate from dubious sources and merely infect the computers that they are installed on with spyware and/or other malware. Because the "bots" can be downloaded from the Internet, there can be viruses or key logging software attached to the file. These types of software can slow down your computer and your internet. The sole aim of the malware is to obtain the RuneScape account details (i.e., keyloggers which record not only players' usernames and passwords, but everything typed on their computer). Some malware is reputed to be capable of discovering the in-game bank PIN, usually by taking screenshots of a player's computer every time the player clicks or by recording video.
Identifying and reporting macros
Many macros or gold farmers can be found performing highly repetitive tasks such as choppingtrees, or fishinglobsters. Although many activities can lead to suspicion of macroing, keep in mind that players who display the following characteristics are not always bots.
Names that are extremely difficult to report; a common example is a mixture of uppercase i and lowercase L, to produce a name similar to "IlllIlIllIlI", or just random letters. A typical name would be fgtdfdthb.
Low combat level players crafting, fishing, woodcutting, or using magic at high levels.
The player being on for long periods of time, such as over five hours so when you come back they are still doing the same exact thing.
Only one skill trained (usually woodcutting, fishing, mining, or melee combat) This can be checked by looking up the name on the hiscores, Adventurer's Logs (P2P only) or casting Stat Spy (P2P only) on a suspected bot.
May demonstrate strange behaviour such as not being able to fish in certain spots and thus running backwards and forwards from the fishing spot (or just not interacting at all with certain spots).
Gets stuck after a door or gate is closed.
Will act oddly if a player, follower, item, or NPC is on or near the spot they are working on or moving to.
Not talking to other players even when called (this doesn't always mean the player is a bot, the player might simply have their Public chat off and he/she should be observed for a longer time).
In relation to not responding, following seems to alert some people, especially if they have their public chat set to friends or off.
Stopping at the same location briefly when depositing materials or go to another spot to get to more of the materials (stopping in the middle of the cave to go to the other grouping of coal in the hidden dungeon under Falador after one side is depleted).
Repeatedly attempting to attack monsters already in combat in a single-way combat area, even if they have been in combat for a period of time.
Repeatedly attacking someone else's monster in a multiway combat area (This does not always mean the player is using a macro).
Macros seem to usually wear standard, default clothes when not training combat skills
Macros and the economy
Some players argue that macros benefit the game by performing tasks that no person would want to do, such as cutting yews constantly. Many disagree however, arguing that macros sell vast amounts of resources, causing the price of those resources to drop. This then hurts legitimate players who are trying to make money selling that same item.
Many monsters that are monotonous and relatively safe to kill are targets for macroers, such as chaos druids (frequent good herb drops), which then causes those herb prices to drop. However, areas that require difficult and/or complex quests to complete most likely have no macros. In addition, unique drops from monsters that require human intelligence to kill will not have their prices fall because of bots. Examples include the Dragon pickaxe from monsters on the Chaos Dwarf Battlefield or a Spirit sigil from the Corporeal Beast.
Macros can also cause the price of rare items to rise. Firstly, by spending their millions that were made easily through cheating they out-bid honest players for rare items, pushing their prices up. When the macroer finally gets banned for cheating, the rare items remain with the banned player, meaning there are fewer of those items in the game, which further drives up their prices.
Internal workings
Like normal players, a macro tool needs to control the game by giving the appropriate inputs. These controls result in some game reaction that the macro needs to observe and interpret to plan the next action. Typically, a macro tool is split into several components that are described below.
Gaming engine
The gaming engine is the part of the macro that interacts with the game and that analyses the responses. A software program running on the game playing computer usually has the capability to generate mouse input (move, click, drag, etc.) and to generate keyboard input (key down, key up). Analysing the response from the game can be done by capturing the entire game image. Some image processing might be required to obtain information about the game response. The gaming engine provides the basic mechanisms to play the game, but it requires task specific knowledge to actually perform the macro operation. Some basic programs click colours on the screen, while others interface directly with the game.
Task script engine
In order to create a bot, a macro tool contains a task script engine to implement a sequence of steps to perform a particular task. A single purpose bot is not particularly useful, so task script engines have the capability to load and execute scripts containing the programming instructions for a particular bot task. Common tasks such as random event detection are supported in default scripts that any bot will need to use.
Response by Jagex
Mod Jon H confirming that stat wipes are used against offenders.
Jagex has responded to the use of macros by banning thousands of accounts, wiping stats, and deleting items. The most prominent response by Jagex was the removal of free trade and other changes that occurred on 10 December2007. While the changes were highly controversial, they did succeed in greatly decreasing the prevalence of bots in RuneScape. These changes did not, however, eradicate botting altogether, and Jagex continues to enhance its ability to ban bot accounts and disrupt bot activities to this day. These improvements in macro and real world trading detection lead to the return of free trade on February 12011. Jagex has further clarified its action against those who use bots in other posts on the forums.
On 30 September2010, Mod Paul posted on the RuneScape forums in an attempt to address the concerns that some players have had about the high number of bots and Jagex's attempts to combat them.[1]
Stopping macros
Current bots usually have complex code that can respond to and overcome attempts to disrupt their task. Prior to the use of these more advanced bots, players would throw gnomeballs at bots, lure them to aggressive monsters, or close a door or gate to trap the bot. Although simple techniques like these no longer work consistently, many players spend a great deal of time discovering new ways to impede the actions of bots. Jagex also continues to add features to the game that make macroing more difficult and to remove macroers from the game. Some macros are programmed to stop when they read certain ingame messages related to their task.
For example, some bots that collect Potato Cactus in the Kalphite Hive can be easily killed by picking up and moving the Potato Cactus around the hive. This causes the bot to run around the Hive attempting to collect the Potato Cactus' while simultaneously getting attacked by level 85 Kalphite Soldiers.
It is still possible to stop bots killing blue dragons or ogres by closing the doors to the Castle Wars lobby. There is a bank chest located in it and that is where those bots bank their drops, preventing them from getting in. This method is not recommended because the bots will simply wait until the door is open and walk right in. This might also disrupt players who have something to do and need to exit the building.
Albeit useless if the target has Accept Aid disabled, teleother spells may disrupt bots that have it enabled.
Another method that is effective, but hard to pull off is to open gates in posion waste dungeon leading from Warped tortoises to Warped terrorbirds. If the Terrorbird is targeting one of the macros killing the tortoises, and if the maroc runs past the gate and the terrorbird has a clear shot at the player it will attack them with its range which will almost always hits. This will cause the bot to run in and attack the terrorbird. Once the macro does this close the door and he willed be stuck inside. at this point most of the terrorbirds will be shooting the bot with range. The bot will start to run around aimlessly attacking terrorbirds while tring to reopen the door in which you will close so he cant excape. This goes on until you manage to let him excape or the bot runs out of food and dies. However, because of the Terrorbirds attack style once he attacks one then moves on to another, the original one might become unclenesed and and once the bot attacks it again the monster will change its target to the player nearest to it (which is probably you so beware the sudden attacks of many warped terrorbirds).
