[QUERY] API-only bot and restricted actions

[Racoda]

According to viewtopic.php?f=16&t=260044, the mentioned script rules apply only to scripts interacting with the HTML site.

Is your script hitting the regular HTML site? If so, it is bound by these Script Rules. If it's using the NationStates API instead, you're in the clear! These rules don't apply. We encourage all bots to use the API wherever possible.

If you use a tool (e.g. a script, bot, macros, or browser add-on) to interact with the regular HTML NationStates website, you must:
(...)

The NS API provides a way to answer issues through Private Commands, without ever interacting with the regular, HTML NationStates.
Am I correct in understanding that a script automatically answering issues through API Private Commands, without user input, is not illegal, since such interaction is not a restricted action?

[Eluvatar]

It was, but is no longer legal to use a script to answer issues so as to get card decks.

New script rules text:

A tool may not automatically perform a "restricted action." Restricted actions are:

• answering / dismissing an issue
• creating a nation
• sending a telegram
• moving regions
• endorsing / unendorsing a nation
• banning / ejecting a nation from a region
• anything that generates a Happenings event line in a region, the World Assembly, or a nation other than your own
• anything that sends a request to the forums (https://forum.nationstates.net) as a logged-in user, or a login request

This applies to simulating clicks via the HTML site. This rule does not ban use of the issue selection API, any more than it bans use of the telegrams API. This rule does not ban using a script to open card decks. This rule change does not ban using a script in any way other than answering issues via the same HTTP form submission the interactive HTML website uses.

[Racoda]

Thank you, that fully answers my question.