Have you ever wondered how many players on your server bot their characters? It's a question on anyone's mind who has ever used a bot, as many advanced bots like Honorbuddy are very difficult to detect from a superficial glance at another character in game. As time goes on, bots are growing more and more realistic in their emulation of human playstyles and situational awareness, and this makes them hard to spot on the battlefield.

In search of honest answers, I used an alternate account to question players on different servers about their history with using bots or automated programs on WoW. While many were unwilling to speak about this sort of thing in game, I was usually able to bring them into an interview on Skype, Ventrilo, or MSN. Most were happy to provide answers for a small price.

The survey was conducted on Moon Guard (US), Magtheridon (US), Area 52 (US), and Sen'Jin (US). 372 players were surveyed in total, with a bit over 50% consisting of out-of-game contact methods verified to be the owners of the characters n game. The survey was conducted over a period of three weeks.

Question: Do you bot on World of Warcraft, and if so, how often do you bot?
YES: 55 players

• 1-3 hours a week: 10
  
• 4-7 hours a week: 7
  
• 8-13 hours a week: 12
  
• 14 hours or more: 26

NO: 317 players

• Used to bot/Botted once: 140
  
• Never have used a bot: 177

Other Staistics:

• Most botted class: Paladin and Druid tie (by less than 1%)
• Average age of botters sampled: 21
• Server with the most botters (from sample): Area 52 (US)