The Arcive of Official vBulletin Modifications Site.

Miserable Users for vB3 · **Released**: 01-04-2004

Miserable Users for vB3
Version: 1.01
vB-version: 3.0.0
Developer: KuraFire (original for vB2: Zzed)
Install-difficulty: Easiest
File edits: 0
Template edits: 1 (phpinclude_start)

Description of the Hack:
The Miserable Users Hack for vB3 is an upgrade from Zzed's hack for vB2. The vB3 version is streamlined and works without any file edits. It is purely template based.

Templates modified for this Hack:
phpinclude_start

(the above was generated via the Hack Tracking Log, soon to come)

1.01 update: January 5th, 3:10 pm CET
Instead of a custom check for the usergroup data to see whether the user is a Miserable User, vB3's function is_member_of() is being used now, cleaning up the code even more.

Here's what the Hack does: (original Hack thread)
This Hack will allow you to drive away people from your board without banning them. As explained by Zzed, the author of the original (vB2) hack:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zzed

So here is what really happens to a miserable user:

- There is a random 60-120 second delay each time they click on a link.
- 90% of times they have no search engine acccess.
- 75% of the times they get the server too busy error.

If they don't get the server too busy error:
- 50% of the times they may get a blank page
- 30% of the times they may get forwarded to the forum main page
- 20% of the time they may be able to see the page they asked for.

This vB3 hack uses NO FILE EDITS. Instead, it's all template based and Usergroup-based, making it even easier for you to manage your Miserable Users.

TO INSTALL:

1)
Create a new membergroup, and name it Miserable Users. Give them no particular permissions if you want, as you can use it as a secondary group (so you can effectively give them 0 permissions whatsoever).
Note: make sure to note down the Membergroup id !

2)
Put this code at the top of your phpinclude_start template:
Note: fill in the membergroup id from step 1 where it says "$miserableid = 8;" (replace the 8 with your id number).

PHP Code:


			
// Miserable Hack for vB3
    // Ported by KuraFire to vB3, original vB2 version by Zzed
    // #######################################################
    // Put the id of your Miserable Usergroup here:
    $miserableid = 8;
   
 // Check to see if the user is a Miserable User
 if (is_member_of(array('userid'=>$bbuserinfo['userid'], 'usergroupid'=>$bbuserinfo['usergroupid'], 'membergroupids'=>$bbuserinfo['membergroupids']), $miserableid))
    {
        $glitch = rand(60, 120);
        for($x=0; $x<$glitch; $x++)
        {
            echo ' ';
            sleep(1);
        }
    
        $vboptions['floodchecktime'] *= 10;
        $glitch = rand(0, 100);
        if($glitch < 90)
        {
            $vboptions['enablesearches'] = 0;
        }
    
        $glitch = rand(0, 100);
       if ($glitch < 75)
       {
           eval('$headinclude = "' . fetch_template('headinclude') . '";');
           eval('$header = "' . fetch_template('header') . '";');
           eval('$footer = "' . fetch_template('footer') . '";');
           eval('$timezone = "' . fetch_template('timezone') . '";');
           eval('$gobutton = "' . fetch_template('gobutton') . '";');
           $vboptions['useforumjump'] = 0;
           eval(print_standard_error('error_toobusy'));
       }
   
        $glitch = rand(0, 100);
       if ($glitch < 80)
        {
            if ($glitch < 50)
            {
                exit;
            }
         $templatecache['headinclude'] = '<META HTTP-EQUIV=\"refresh\" CONTENT=\"5; URL=$vboptions[forumhome].php\" />' . $templatecache['headinclude'];
        }
    }
    unset($ids, $glitch, $miserableid, $x);

Done!

Note: this Hack will come in an HTL* package once the HTL is finished.

Toning Down The Pain:

You'll find that this hack is a bit rough on people, and may be getting too obvious. If you want to tone it down, here's what you can do:

Toning down the page load delay:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
     $glitch = rand(60, 120);

specifies the random delay, in actual seconds. You can see that Miserable users will have at least 60 and at most 120 seconds loading delay for pages. If you want to dial that down, you could change it to 30, 60 for instance. The first number is the minimum amount of seconds they'll wait, the second is the maximum. A random number in-between the two will be used for each page load.

Toning down the % chance disabling of the Search engine:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
     if($glitch < 90)

specifies the chance of the search engine being disabled. Currently it will be a 90% chance. Change the number to (for instance) 50 for a 50% chance.

Toning down the chance of a Server Too Busy error:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
    if ($glitch < 75)

specifies the chance of getting a Server Too Busy error. Lower the number for a smaller chance.

Toning down the chance of a blank page:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
        if ($glitch < 50)

specifies the chance of getting a blank page. Lower the number for a smaller chance.

Increasing the chance of getting a normal page:
This line:

PHP Code:


			
    if ($glitch < 80)

specifies the chance of not getting a normal page. So, if you want to increase the chance of getting a normal page, decrease this number!

Toning down the chance of a refresh to Forum home:
This section:

PHP Code:


			
    $glitch = rand(0, 100);
       if ($glitch < 80)
       {
           if ($glitch < 50)

specifies the chance of getting a refresh. If the 20% chance of getting a normal page is not the case, there will be a 50% chance of a white page, and if that doesn't happen, there will be a refresh. If you want to change it, meddle with those two options to find a balance you like.

Hope you guys enjoy this update of the excellent hack by Zzed, with the improvements I've made to it for higher maintainability (and, no file edits

).

bolynn · #32 01-13-2004, 01:50 AM

The reason I asked for that is that I wish my moderators to be able to add people to the ignore list as well as the miserable group. The current method where you have to add user numbers in a row is a pain and it is not available for moderators only admins.

Bo

Sal Collaziano · #33 01-13-2004, 10:44 AM

Is there any way to make this work for more than one user group? Could it possible be as easy as adding a comma and another group id?

Frank · #34 01-13-2004, 01:21 PM

Fantastic hack, thanks.

KuraFire · #35 01-14-2004, 08:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bolynn

The reason I asked for that is that I wish my moderators to be able to add people to the ignore list as well as the miserable group. The current method where you have to add user numbers in a row is a pain and it is not available for moderators only admins.

Bo

If I have the time for it at some point, I can try and look into making a cron script for you that will put all users from the Miserable group to the Tachy C list. I can't promise that I'll have that done any time soon though :/

bolynn · #36 01-14-2004, 10:09 PM

Thank you very much in advance.

Bo

SloppyGoat · #37 01-18-2004, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KuraFire

You have to make sure that the usergroupid in the hack is not one you belong to yourself, of course.

To fix, go into your database via PHPmyAdmin or whichever, and empty your phpinclude_start template. If that doesn't work, then you messed up something not related to this hack and I've no idea what you did, then. Hell, even if it IS related to this hack, I've no idea what you did. It's a very simple copy-paste into the phpinclude_start template, and only if you belong to the usergroup that you made miserable will it have an effect on your account.

Ok, I don't know much about PHPMyAdmin, but I tried this hack again, with the same results. So, this time I went into PHPMyAdmin and looked for the phpinclude template. I found that there were two! Both appeared identical, but one had a "-1" and one had a "1" for templatesetid, and there are two different templateid numbers. Could this be the problem? Should I delete the one with the "1" and the earlier id? (Is this normal?) I do hope this is the problem, otherwise I don't just know. Maybe you can shed a little light on this? I'd be forever grateful.

KuraFire · #38 01-18-2004, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SloppyGoat

Ok, I don't know much about PHPMyAdmin, but I tried this hack again, with the same results. So, this time I went into PHPMyAdmin and looked for the phpinclude template. I found that there were two! Both appeared identical, but one had a "-1" and one had a "1" for templatesetid, and there are two different templateid numbers. Could this be the problem? Should I delete the one with the "1" and the earlier id? (Is this normal?) I do hope this is the problem, otherwise I don't just know. Maybe you can shed a little light on this? I'd be forever grateful.

Don't delete them, as that will break your vB (if you delete the -1 one) / revert your template to the original (if you delete the 1 one).

I'm gonna release the Hack Tracking Log soon, and after that I'll re-release this hack with an HTL installer.

SloppyGoat · #39 01-19-2004, 12:22 AM

Cool!!! Thanks! I kind of figured I'd be asking for trouble if I deleted anything in there. :nervous: I'm looking forward to your re-release!

I just hope I can get it working. I just can't find anything I could possibly screw up on this one. The install is so quick and easy. :up:

gmarik · #40 01-19-2004, 07:22 AM

This is tough. Any .txt install file?

KuraFire · #41 01-19-2004, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gmarik

This is tough. Any .txt install file?

no, wait for the HTL installer..
it's not hard at all guys... :|

SloppyGoat · #42 01-19-2004, 09:15 AM

I didn't see anything hard about it at all. It's easy to install. It just didn't work right for me and one other person, for some odd reason. I think everyone else said it worked fine, right? Why me??!! DOH!!! :ermm:

mharmon · #43 01-21-2004, 02:06 PM

This hack is SOOO evil -- why TURN down the pain?? I'd turn it up!

buro9 · #44 01-21-2004, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mharmon

This hack is SOOO evil -- why TURN down the pain?? I'd turn it up!

Or do as I did and remove the calls to the error page

This way it doesn't even look like my servers fault... they just think they have strange network problems

SloppyGoat · #45 01-27-2004, 10:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mharmon

This hack is SOOO evil -- why TURN down the pain?? I'd turn it up!

Because, it's even more frustrating if they get a chance to type out a post, then it screws up on them!

If they can't even get a page to load, they won't waste anymore time trying. But, if you get it tuned just perfectly, then they'll continue to try, getting more and more frustrated. The main objective, IMO, is to give them the false hope that they may actually be able to post something. LOL

Silverstangs · #46 02-11-2004, 06:31 PM

I love this hack, now can you add one more feature to it. Can you add a random "fly away" hack in which us admins can add a list of a dozen or so sites and the person in Misery will randomly end up redirected to on of those dozen or so sites?

Thanks
--Silver

X vBulletin 3.8.12 by vBS Debug Information
Page Generation 0.06244 seconds Memory Usage 2,402KB Queries Executed 30 (?)
More Information
Template Usage: (1)SHOWTHREAD (1)ad_footer_end (1)ad_footer_start (1)ad_header_end (1)ad_header_logo (1)ad_navbar_below (1)ad_showthread_beforeqr (7)bbcode_php (7)bbcode_quote (1)footer (1)forumjump (1)forumrules (1)gobutton (1)header (1)headinclude (1)modsystem_post (1)navbar (6)navbar_link (120)option (1)pagenav (1)pagenav_curpage (4)pagenav_pagelink (1)pagenav_pagelinkrel (16)post_thanks_box (16)post_thanks_button (1)post_thanks_javascript (1)post_thanks_navbar_search (16)post_thanks_postbit_info (15)postbit (16)postbit_onlinestatus (16)postbit_wrapper (1)spacer_close (1)spacer_open (1)tagbit_wrapper Phrase Groups Available: global inlinemod postbit posting reputationlevel showthread	Included Files: ./showthread.php ./global.php ./includes/init.php ./includes/class_core.php ./includes/config.php ./includes/functions.php ./includes/class_hook.php ./includes/modsystem_functions.php ./includes/functions_bigthree.php ./includes/class_postbit.php ./includes/class_bbcode.php ./includes/functions_reputation.php ./includes/functions_post_thanks.php Hooks Called: init_startup init_startup_session_setup_start init_startup_session_setup_complete cache_permissions fetch_threadinfo_query fetch_threadinfo fetch_foruminfo style_fetch cache_templates global_start parse_templates global_setup_complete showthread_start showthread_getinfo forumjump showthread_post_start showthread_query_postids showthread_query bbcode_fetch_tags bbcode_create showthread_postbit_create postbit_factory postbit_display_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_start post_thanks_function_post_thanks_off_end post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_start post_thanks_function_fetch_thanks_end post_thanks_function_thanked_already_start post_thanks_function_thanked_already_end fetch_musername postbit_imicons bbcode_parse_start bbcode_parse_complete_precache bbcode_parse_complete postbit_display_complete post_thanks_function_can_thank_this_post_start pagenav_page pagenav_complete tag_fetchbit_complete forumrules navbits navbits_complete showthread_complete
Messages:

The Arcive of Official vBulletin Modifications Site.

It is not a VB3 engine, just a parsed copy!