The EVE player base churns out web tools and apps at a prodigious rate. It’s part of the community’s charm. One of the most niche, and most interesting, new arrivals is the EVE Bot Detector by Broadhead.
The Bot Detector, on the surface, is pretty plain: a table of around forty nullsec systems, their sov holders, their security levels, and their probability of botting activity. The last number is where the magic happens: algorithmic analysis of data gleaned from EVE’s most current API system. “It is not a guarantee for botting, obviously,” Broadhead cautions, “just an indication… It can, however, be used to look for specific traits in a dataset. In this case, we’re looking for two characteristics shown in bots, persistence, and consistency. The systems listed are all showing these specific characteristics, among others, so they become candidates.”
The webtool’s creator is a bit of an enigma. His killboard is virtually empty, his corp has one member, and he’s been around for half a decade. It’s pretty clear he’s a third-string alt of someone who doesn’t want to be recognized. Fortunately, his creation speaks for itself. The Bot Detector comes with a whole lot of caveats but looks like a solid attempt at disturbing the status quo of nullsec ratting. Sadly, Broadhead notes that the Bot Detector can’t disentangle bot data from player activity in more heavily populated areas: “I collect data from all systems, but you are right, I only display null systems. There is too much interference in ls/hs from regular people to make a proper analysis.”
For nullsec, though, the results look promising. As of this writing, the Bot Detector is showing slates of 90%+ probabilities for systems in Branch, Etherium Reach, and Vale of the Silent, among others. Branch, for reference, shows up in the latest economic report as the second-highest region in New Eden for NPC bounty revenue.
So will this one tool make a dent? Maybe, but that doesn’t appear to be Broadhead’s goal. He speaks fondly of years spent ‘hunting and annoying’ bots and just wants to share his new tool with like-minded souls. Carry on, Broadhead; you’re doing Bob’s work.
Jenne Exupery is a low-wattage independent who dabbles in shipping, salvage, trade, exploration, and nearly victimless heists. He can usually be found bumming around Derelik and Domain under one name or another. Preferred contact method: in-game mail to Jenne Exupery of Manticore-Horizon Shipping [MANHO].
