Bug

The word "bug" typically refers to something that is not working as intended. BUG is also a command in DragonRealms that allows any player to report a bug to the DragonRealms staff.

The Bug Command

The BUG command works differently depending on which Front End is being used. In the Wizard Front End typing bug will produce syntax help as below:

Usage:

BUG {category};{title};{text}

{title} can be no more than 128 characters in length

{category} must be one of the following:

To see a list of valid categories type BUG LIST.

This will issue an email to play.net's bug tracking database. Be as detailed as possible, describing what you were doing, the behavior you expected, and the behavior you experienced. Preferably you should be in the same room you were in when the bug occurred, holding the same equipment, and wearing the same gear, as this information will be included in the bug report. DO NOT ISSUE BUG REPORTS FOR GAME CRASHES OR LAG PROBLEMS. Do not use this mechanism to make suggestions or feature requests. Those should be posted to the forums.

>bug list

DragonRealms specific categories

CHARACTER - problems related to your character

CREATURE - creatures and NPC problems

MAGIC - problems with a spell, sign or symbol

COMBAT - combat errors

ROOM - problems with a room or area

TYPO - misspellings and grammar errors

OTHER - problems with things not easily categorized Client specific categories

STORMFRONT - problems with the StormFront Front End

ESCAPE - problems with the eScape Front End

WIZARD - problems with the Wizard Front End

{text} can be no more than 875 characters

Bug Abuse

Abusing a bug to gain any type of in game advantage, such as money or experience, is a violation of Simutronics policy and may result in loss of gains made, lock out from accessing the game, or other punishments at Simutronics' discretion.

If one types POLICY 5 in game they will get the following Simutronics policy:

Attempts to gain an unfair advantage which circumnavigates the letter and/or spirit of the rules presented in the documentation and the version notes, as judged solely by Simutronics, are a violation of policy. Types of abuse range from sending special characters or signals to the software to obtain an unusual result, to using normal game mechanics in ways they are clearly not intended.

Examples of serious bug abuse: Disconnecting from the merchant manager to avoid paying the purchase price of an item; finding a "feedback loop" with spells or mana points, which allows spells to be cast multiple times with little or no cost; repeatedly injuring yourself (or another character) in order to generate experience for an empath or cleric; finding a special circumstance in which to use a potion whereby its quantity is not decremented when it is used; abusing game mechanics to cause duplication of items or coins.

Abusing bugs disrupts the balance of DragonRealms and reduces its effectiveness to remain an entertaining product. Sometimes there will be a great temptation to abuse a bug for personal gain because the negative effect is not readily apparent. However it should be understood that the consequences of allowing bugs and loopholes to be exploited is so detrimental to the product, that Simutronics will exercise no tolerance whatsoever for anyone participating in this type of activity.

Bugs should always be reported. If you observe someone else abusing a serious bug, or discussing a plan to abuse one, and fail to report it, you are subject to the same penalties as they are. Serious bugs should be reported through DragonRealms Feedback.

Benefits obtained from bug abuse may be confiscated, at Simutronics' sole discretion. Failure to cooperate with Simutronics as to the extent or nature of a bug, or failure to be honest about the benefits obtained from bug abuse, is grounds for immediate lock-out from DragonRealms.