# Proposal for Integrating Bots as First-Class Participants in Splinterlands

**Objective:**
To create a sustainable, controlled environment for botting in Splinterlands, enhancing the game experience for all participants, including those who use bots as a form of investment or time-saving mechanism.

**Overview:**
The proposal suggests treating bots as legitimate entities within Splinterlands, offering a structured and official pathway for their integration. This approach aims to balance the interests of different player groups while maintaining the integrity and enjoyment of the game.

**Key Strategies:**

1. **Official Registration and Regulation of Bot Services:**

* Require bot services to register officially with Splinterlands.
* Splinterlands will define specific guidelines and boundaries for bot interactions within the game.
* Players can delegate authority to registered bot services of their choice.

2. **Creation of Bot-Specific Infrastructure:**

* Develop Splinterlands-endorsed APIs, data endpoints, and other resources tailored for bot interaction.
* Ensure cost efficiency and control over bot access to game data.

3. **Dedicated Bot Leagues:**

* Establish a separate ranked league exclusively for bots.
* Allow bot league to serve as a platform for players who prefer an investment-focused approach to the game.
* Enable clear identification of compliant bot services and easier monitoring of their activities.

4. **Restrictions and Incentives:**

* Implement specific rules and limitations for bots, possibly excluding them from certain rewards like soulbound cards.
* Adjust game mechanics like the energy system to be bot-specific.

5. **Protection of Non-Bot Player Experience:**

* Enforce bot and battle helper regulations or bans in current Wild and Modern leagues to ensure a bot-free environment.
* Focus on enhancing the experience for manual players and new entrants.

**Further Considerations:**

1. **Access Control as a Differentiator:**

* While the concept of a separate league for bots is not novel, this proposal brings a crucial addition: implementing a controlled access system. This key feature, overlooked in previous suggestions, aims to effectively manage and monitor bot activities, ensuring a more balanced and fair gaming environment.
* Set enforceable restrictions on bot services to ensure they don't become a new kind of extraction farm.

2. **Market Potential and Ecosystem Benefits:**

* Offers a return on investment avenue for investors in assets beyond just DEC and SPS.
* Provides a passive engagement option for players, supporting diverse player interests.

3. **Addressing Development Effort Concerns:**

* Adopt a phased implementation approach, aligning with team resources and game evolution.
* An example approach could look like:
1. Create a self identification mechanisms for bots.
2. Start Wild league bot and battle helper ban except for access controlled bots.
3. Create separate league for access controlled bots and remove them from current Wild league.
4. Optionally, developers can now add creative ways to interact with bots from this league such as PvE mode, challenge and practice mode opponents, etc.

4. **Expanding Game Dynamics with Bots:**

* Introduce bot-controlled elements in tournaments, PvE modes, and special 'boss encounters'.
* Use bots to create unique gameplay experiences and challenges for players.

**Benefits:**

1. Improved New Player Experience: New players can engage in a bot-free environment, ensuring fair competition and a focus on skill development.
2. Control of Large Bot Farms: With a segregated bot league using access controls, current bot farms can be removed while making it easier to monitor and manage bot operations going forward, reducing their disruptive impact.
3. Support for Invested Players: This approach accommodates players who view Splinterlands as an investment, allowing them to participate in a controlled and recognized manner.

**Implementation Considerations:**

* The transition to this new system may be gradual, requiring time and resources to develop the necessary infrastructure.
* Ongoing community and stakeholder engagement will be crucial in refining and adapting the strategy.