Playerbot Autogear

'''Playerbot Autogear''' is the automatic equipment-upgrade system used by Playerbots on the Shadowmourne Realm.

Autogear evaluates a bot's current equipment and attempts to replace weaker items with better choices based on the bot's:

level
class
specialization
equipment slot
available items
configured item-quality limits
configured item-level limits

Autogear is especially useful after leveling, changing specialization, creating an AddClass Bot, or preparing Playerbots for Dungeon and Raid content.

Command

The standard command is:

autogear

This is a '''bot chat command''', not a .playerbots server-management command.

It should be sent directly to the Playerbot through a supported chat channel.

What Autogear Does

When the command runs, the Playerbot AI evaluates available equipment and attempts to improve the bot's current gear.

The system can consider factors such as:

character level
class
specialization
armor type
weapon compatibility
equipment slot
item quality
item level
configured gear limits

The goal is to improve the bot without requiring the player to manually inspect every item.

When to Use Autogear

Autogear is most useful after:

gaining several levels
creating a new AddClass bot
switching specialization
obtaining new equipment
entering higher-level content
preparing for a dungeon
preparing for a raid
replacing outdated leveling gear

A newly created or recently leveled bot may benefit significantly from running:

autogear

Shadowmourne Configuration

Shadowmourne currently has the standard Autogear command enabled.

The realm configuration includes:

AiPlayerbot.AutoGearCommand = 1

Autogear is also enabled for Altbots:

AiPlayerbot.AutoGearCommandAltBots = 1

This means both normal supported Playerbots and Altbots can use the automatic equipment system when other requirements are met.

Item Quality Limit

The Playerbot system can restrict which item qualities Autogear may select.

The configured quality limit uses numeric item-quality values.

Typical values are:

1 = Normal
2 = Uncommon
3 = Rare
4 = Epic
5 = Legendary

Autogear will not necessarily equip every technically available item.

The configured quality limit affects what the system is allowed to consider.

Item Level Limit

Autogear can also be limited by item level.

The relevant configuration is:

AiPlayerbot.AutoGearScoreLimit

Despite the historical name, this limit is used as an item-level restriction in the Playerbots configuration.

If the limit is set to:

there is no configured item-level cap.

If a limit is present, Autogear should refuse equipment above that threshold.

Class and Specialization

Autogear is not simply a highest-item-level system.

The bot's class and specialization matter.

For example:

a Protection Warrior should prioritize tank-compatible gear
a Holy Priest should prioritize healing-compatible gear
a Fire Mage should prioritize caster damage gear
a Rogue should prioritize melee damage equipment
a Death Knight may require different gear depending on tank or damage role

A higher-level item is not always better if its statistics do not match the bot's intended role.

Armor Type

The Playerbot system can prefer class-appropriate armor.

Examples:

Warrior → Plate
Paladin → Plate
Death Knight → Plate
Hunter → Mail
Shaman → Mail
Druid → Leather
Rogue → Leather
Priest → Cloth
Mage → Cloth
Warlock → Cloth

Autogear uses Playerbot equipment rules rather than blindly equipping anything the character can technically wear.

Weapons

Weapons are also evaluated according to class and specialization.

The system can consider preferred weapon types for different specs.

Examples may include:

one-handed weapons
two-handed weapons
shields
staves
daggers
bows
guns
crossbows
off-hand items

A tank should not necessarily receive the same weapon setup as a damage specialization of the same class.

AddClass Bots

Autogear is particularly useful for AddClass Bots.

Example:

.playerbots bot addclass warrior

After the bot is created and available, the player may use:

autogear

to help bring the bot's equipment in line with its level and specialization.

This makes AddClass bots much more practical when quickly assembling a group.

Altbots

Shadowmourne allows Autogear on Altbots.

The relevant setting is:

AiPlayerbot.AutoGearCommandAltBots = 1

This is useful for persistent characters that level alongside a player.

An Altbot can accumulate gear naturally and then use Autogear to evaluate whether better equipment is available.

Automatic Equipment Upgrades

The Playerbot system also contains automatic upgrade behavior.

Depending on configuration, bots may automatically evaluate newly obtained loot.

This can reduce the need to manually run Autogear after every item pickup.

However, the manual command:

autogear

remains useful when the player wants to force a fresh equipment evaluation.

Auto Maintenance on Level Up

Playerbots also contain maintenance behavior that can run after leveling.

Automatic maintenance may include equipment upgrades.

This means a bot may receive gear-related maintenance as part of normal progression.

See Playerbot Maintenance.

Autogear BiS

The Playerbot module contains a separate Best-in-Slot feature:

autogear bis

This feature uses the Playerbots Best-in-Slot database rather than normal Autogear item evaluation.

The module contains a table named:

playerbots_bis_gear

The BiS system can select equipment based on:

class
specialization
level
gear tier
configured limits

Shadowmourne BiS Status

On Shadowmourne, the BiS Autogear command is currently disabled in configuration:

AiPlayerbot.AutoGearBisCommand = 0

Therefore normal players should use:

autogear

rather than relying on:

autogear bis

If the BiS feature is enabled in the future, this Wiki page should be updated.

BiS Requirements

The Playerbots configuration indicates that BiS Autogear requires:

AiPlayerbot.AutoGearQualityLimit = 4

and:

AiPlayerbot.AutoGearCommand = 1

If these requirements are not met, the BiS system may refuse to run.

BiS Fallback

The Playerbot code contains fallback behavior for BiS equipment.

If no suitable BiS entry exists for the bot's:

tier
specialization
level

the system can fall back to normal Autogear behavior.

This prevents a missing BiS record from completely blocking equipment upgrades.

Gear Data

The Playerbot system uses dedicated database tables and cached data to evaluate equipment.

Examples include:

playerbots_bis_gear
playerbots_equip_cache
playerbots_item_info_cache
playerbots_weightscales
playerbots_weightscale_data

These tables support automated gear evaluation and equipment selection.

Equipment Cache

The equipment cache contains gear candidates grouped by information such as:

class
level
equipment slot
item quality
item ID

Autogear can use this cached information to quickly find potential upgrades.

Item Information Cache

The item-information cache stores additional information needed by the Playerbot equipment system.

This can include data related to:

quality
slot
source
faction
reputation
minimum level
stat scaling

This allows Playerbots to evaluate items without repeatedly rebuilding all item information.

Weight Scales

Playerbots can use stat weighting to determine how useful an item is for a particular role or specialization.

A weight scale assigns relative importance to different statistics.

For example, a tank may value:

stamina
defense
armor
avoidance

while a caster may value:

spell power
hit
haste
critical strike

This is why Autogear should not be treated as a simple item-level comparison.

Gear Persistence

The Playerbot system includes equipment and specialization persistence options.

Persistent gear behavior is important for long-term Altbots and other Playerbots that continue progressing over time.

This helps prevent bots from being completely rebuilt every time they log in.

Recommended Usage

A useful progression routine is:

level the bot
allow normal maintenance
collect equipment
run autogear
verify the bot's role
inspect important gear slots
test the bot in combat

For example:

Bot reaches level 40
↓
Run maintenance
↓
Run autogear
↓
Check weapon and armor
↓
Test in a dungeon

Dungeon Preparation

Before taking bots into a Dungeon, consider running:

maintenance
autogear

This helps make sure the bot has:

reasonable gear
appropriate equipment
required consumables
updated spells
proper talents

See Playerbot Dungeon Guide.

Raid Preparation

For Raid content, Autogear becomes even more important.

Poorly equipped bots may struggle with:

survivability
threat
healing output
damage output
mana efficiency

Before raiding:

verify specialization
run maintenance
run Autogear
inspect tank gear
inspect healer gear
confirm weapons
confirm shields or off-hands
verify important stats

See Playerbot Raid Guide.

Tank Gear

Tank bots require special attention.

A tank generally benefits from defensive equipment.

Depending on class and level, important stats may include:

stamina
armor
defense
dodge
parry
block
hit
expertise

Do not assume the highest item-level item is automatically correct for a tank.

See Playerbot Tanking.

Healer Gear

Healing bots generally require gear that improves:

spell power
intellect
mana
regeneration
haste
critical strike

A healer with poor gear can quickly become the weak point of a Playerbot group.

See Playerbot Healing.

Damage Gear

Damage bots require gear appropriate for their damage type.

Melee bots may prioritize:

strength
agility
attack power
hit
expertise
critical strike

Caster bots may prioritize:

spell power
intellect
hit
haste
critical strike

Hunters and other ranged physical classes use different stat priorities.

See Playerbot DPS.

Troubleshooting

Autogear does nothing

Check:

Autogear is enabled
the bot is supported
the bot has available upgrade candidates
the bot is the correct level
item-quality restrictions
item-level restrictions
class and specialization compatibility

The bot may already have equipment that the system considers better.

Bot equips unexpected gear

Remember that Autogear uses AI equipment evaluation.

Possible reasons include:

specialization
stat weighting
armor preference
item availability
weapon preference
configured limits

Inspect the bot's specialization before assuming the item choice is incorrect.

AddClass bot has weak gear

Try:

maintenance
autogear

Then inspect the bot again.

Autogear BiS does not work

Shadowmourne currently has:

AiPlayerbot.AutoGearBisCommand = 0

so the BiS command is disabled.

Use:

autogear

instead.

No suitable equipment found

Possible causes include:

equipment cache is incomplete
no suitable item exists
level restrictions
quality restrictions
class restrictions
specialization restrictions

The Playerbot system may keep the current item if no valid upgrade is available.

Command Quick Reference

Standard Autogear

autogear

Runs normal automatic equipment evaluation.

Maintenance + Autogear

maintenance
autogear

Useful after leveling or preparing a bot for group content.

BiS Autogear

autogear bis

Supported by the module but currently disabled on Shadowmourne.

Best Practices

Run Autogear after major level increases.
Run it after creating an AddClass bot.
Use maintenance before difficult content.
Check tanks and healers manually after Autogear.
Verify weapons and shields.
Do not assume item level alone determines the best item.
Remember that specialization affects equipment choices.
Use normal autogear while BiS Autogear is disabled.