Guild Wars 2

Hi Guys,

I happen to salvage alot of rare trinkets, usually 500-1000 per week, for a couple of months now. I was usually keeping track of my ecto salvage rate because every now and then people report low rng for ecto salvages. While my ecto salvage rate usually averaged out over a couple of hundred usages, i realised that my salvage rate of orichalcum over mithril ore was nowhere near the 25% stated in the tooltip.

So i started to keep track of it over the last 2 months and from 5000 salvages, only 11.3% produced orichalcum ore, the rest was mithril.

I know that there are some people out there that salvage alot of rares/exotics and i was wondering if they made the same observations.

From my point of view, i would say that the 25% chance to get rarer materials from the Master Salvage Kit is bugged but it could also be that the trinkets in general are buggedin their droprate.

As i dont salvage much rare weapons and armor, i would like to have some feedback on this issue from someone who does.

I gonna start using Mystic Salvage Kits for my next 1k trinkets to see if the droprate of ori is different.

The wiki states that it doesnt matter which rarity the salvaged item has, so i might extend my research to lower rarity items/kits.
http://wiki.guildwars2.com/wiki/Salvaging

Thx for any feedback

Edit: As there is a perception that all salvage kits seem to have the same drop chance for rarer materials, i will edit this post as i do more research.

Here is my data so far:
Sample 1:
Kit used: Master Salvage Kit (25% rare mats, 80% upgrades)
Sample Size: 5000
Salvage Item: Rare lvl 80 Trinkets
Mithril: 6334
Orichalcum: 715 (11.3%)
Upgrade Components: 408 (81.6%)
Ectos: 441 (88%)

Sample 2:
Kit used: Mystic Salvage Kit (25% rare mats, 80% upgrades)
Sample Size: 250
Salvage Item: Rare lvl 80 Trinkets
Mithril: 310
Orichalcum: 35 (11.3%)
Upgrade Components: 193 (77.2%)
Ectos: 235 (94%)

Sample 3:
Kit used: Crude Salvage Kit (0% chance of rarer mats)
Sample Size: 250
Salvaged Item: Discarded Garment
Silk: 389
Gossamer: 29 (7.5%)

Sample 4:
Kit Used: Journeyman (20% chance of rarer mats)
Sample Size: 250
Salvaged Item: Discarded Garment
Silk: 291
Gossamer: 33 (8.4%)

Sample 5:
Kit used: Basic Kit (10% for rarer mats)
Sample Size: 250
Salvaged Item: Ragged Garment
Wool: 116
Cotton: 342 (74.7%)

Sample 6:

Kit Used: Fine Kit (15% chance for rarer mats)
Sample Size: 250
Salvaged Item: Frayed Garment
Cotton: 80
Linen: 377 (82.5%)

Sample 7:

Kit used: Mystic Salvage Kit (25% chance for rarer mats)
Sample size: 250
Item salvaged: Worn Garment
Jute: 88
Wool: 379 (82.9%)

Sample 8:

Salvage Kit used: Salvage-o-matic (10% chance at rarer mats)
Sample Size: 250
Item Salvaged: Torn Garment
Linen: 103
Silk: 333 (76.4%)

You can even get orichalcum/gossamer when salvaging with a crude salvage kit (which has a 0% chance for getting rarer materials). In fact, the rate seemed to be almost the same as when salavaging with a “fine” salavage kit. So there might be indeed something wrong here.

What exactly is “rarer material”? :/
Is it ectos? Higher tier materials? Getting refined items instead of the unrefined?

I’ve always interpreted the % on the kits as “% increase to the base rate”.

I don’t understand why they leave this sort of thing ambiguous. -_-

I’ve always thought orichalcum vs mithral and gossamer vs silk was just what it was in the database vs random. I get copper from level 80 rare amulets all the time. Now that is broken.

I’ve gotten a salvage rate of ~11% T6 materials (from items level 74+), regardless of item rarity, regardless of salvage kit.

Khisanth.2948:

What exactly is “rarer material”? :/
Is it ectos? Higher tier materials? Getting refined items instead of the unrefined?

I’ve always interpreted the % on the kits as “% increase to the base rate”.

I don’t understand why they leave this sort of thing ambiguous. -_-

It actually means that the common crafting material that is guaranteed for every salvage (ore/scraps/logs, etc) has a higher chance to drop a common mat that is 1 tier above the salvaged item. So when you salvage a lvl 80 greatsword with a rare or mystic salvage kit, you are supposed to have a 25% chance to get some ori back instead of mithril, regardless of the rarity of the salvaged item.

Ensign.2189:

I’ve gotten a salvage rate of ~11% T6 materials (from items level 74+), regardless of item rarity, regardless of salvage kit.

Me as well, also with the Salvage-O-Matic. Maybe the whole mechanic is broken and the same on every salvage kit.

I have noticed that I seem to get a lot more Gossamer/Ancient/Ori from salvaging high level blues/greens with my Salvage-O-Matic than with my Mystic Salvage Kit, but then again, this is likely because I do way more salvaging with the Matic. (Plus I don’t get Rares THAT often.)

Been salvaging with Basic, Fine and Journeyman’s kits since the magic find mechanic was altered and essences became salvageable. Personally I’ve found that there’s very little difference between these 3 lower end kits (never tried crude kit), and so far I’ve salvaged over a stack of gossamer and stacks more ori. It’s not our perception that’s off, it’s definitely something in the game’s salvage mechanic and/or loot tables.

I’ve since settled on the Fine kit, often using 3-4 kits per day through normal use, Master’s kit for rares and BL kit for exo’s. But as far as trinkets being salvaged (as Arnon said) I salvage all rare trinkets with a Master’s kit and get the appropriate materials for the level of the item being salvaged.

Valandil Dragonhart.2371:

Been salvaging with Basic, Fine and Journeyman’s kits since the magic find mechanic was altered and essences became salvageable. Personally I’ve found that there’s very little difference between these 3 lower end kits (never tried crude kit), and so far I’ve salvaged over a stack of gossamer and stacks more ori. It’s not our perception that’s off, it’s definitely something in the game’s salvage mechanic and/or loot tables.

I’ve since settled on the Fine kit, often using 3-4 kits per day through normal use, Master’s kit for rares and BL kit for exo’s. But as far as trinkets being salvaged (as Arnon said) I salvage all rare trinkets with a Master’s kit and get the appropriate materials for the level of the item being salvaged.

I nearly used up my first Mystic Kit on rare trinkets now and its also hovering at the 10% mark for ori. I started putting in buy orders for salvage materials to test out lower tier salvage kits next.

I will update my OP with results for every stack i salvage. But regarding the feedback that i got here, i think i will keep the post active here a little longer and then ask to move it to the bug forum. I already sent a bug report with my results for my 5k trinket salvages but at that time i didnt know, if it was just the master kit that is bugged or the trinkets itself.

Arnon.1563:

I’ve always thought orichalcum vs mithral and gossamer vs silk was just what it was in the database vs random. I get copper from level 80 rare amulets all the time. Now that is broken.

I actually had some trinkets and weapons that give the wrong tier of common mats as well, not only lvl 80 giving copper but also lower tier gear giving the wrong mat.

I think the best way to tackle this is to file a bug report and tell them about which item it is, every time that happens.

Columbo.5924:

You can even get orichalcum/gossamer when salvaging with a crude salvage kit (which has a 0% chance for getting rarer materials). In fact, the rate seemed to be almost the same as when salavaging with a “fine” salavage kit. So there might be indeed something wrong here.

Just salvaged 250 discarded garments each with Crude Salvage Kit and Journeyman Kit.

The salvage rate for gossamer was 7.5% and 8.4% instead of 0%/20% as stated on the tooltip.

It’s probably more like a a 20% increase of the base 5% chance which would make it a 6% chance.

I’m going to have to try using mystics on trinkets to see if I quit getting copper.

Edit just making up numbers in my head.

I agree with you; it’s not the percent stated. But it’s not as far off as it appears.
When you salvage a heavy coat, for example, you get about 2.5 materials back (average).
If it’s upgraded material, it’s possible they only ever give 1?
so 100 salvages would give 25 ori and 187 mithril = “13.3% chance to upgrade”

Wanze.8410:

Sample 1:
Kit used: Master Salvage Kit (25% rare mats, 80% upgrades)
Sample Size: 5000
Salvage Item: Rare lvl 80 Trinkets
Mithril: 6334
Orichalcum: 715 (11.3%)
Upgrade Components: 408 (81.6%)
Ectos: 441 (88%)

715 / 5000 = 14.3%
better, but still not the 25% stated.

I will also point out that most things you salvaged were salvage materials. The drop rate on those might be different than regular items. (like how opening bags has different chances at different items). And they are different salvage materials.

Mystic.5934:

I agree with you; it’s not the percent stated. But it’s not as far off as it appears.
When you salvage a heavy coat, for example, you get about 2.5 materials back (average).
If it’s upgraded material, it’s possible they only ever give 1?
so 100 salvages would give 25 ori and 187 mithril = “13.3% chance to upgrade”

Wanze.8410:

Sample 1:
Kit used: Master Salvage Kit (25% rare mats, 80% upgrades)
Sample Size: 5000
Salvage Item: Rare lvl 80 Trinkets
Mithril: 6334
Orichalcum: 715 (11.3%)
Upgrade Components: 408 (81.6%)
Ectos: 441 (88%)

715 / 5000 = 14.3%
better, but still not the 25% stated.

I will also point out that most things you salvaged were salvage materials. The drop rate on those might be different than regular items. (like how opening bags has different chances at different items). And they are different salvage materials.

715/6334 = 11.3% That was my calculation.

I want the ratio between regular common mat and rare common mat (mithril/ori).
At least from the trinkets i salvaged, it is also possible to get multiple ori ores, so from the 5000 salvages, it wasnt 715 trinkets that dropped ori but a bit less.

However, i think i made a miscalculation anyways because i think, to get the right , i have to divide 715 not by the amount of mithril i got but the overall amount of ore i got, so it would be:
715/(715+6334) = 10.1

Correct me if im wrong.

The salvage materials are a bit off, thats right. It is because Tier 1 Garment (shredded) only drops t1 cloth (jute), and then the next tiers of garment all have a chance of dropping 2 different tiers of cloth (their own tier and 1 below).

The high droprate on the higher tier cloth from the diffrerent garments make me think that each item actually has an internal chance of dropping a higher tier common mat and that % gets influenced by the rarity of the salvage kit. I think Arnon suggested something like that some posts above.

I just salvaged 250 shredded garments (t1, only drops jute). I did 200 salvages with crude slavage kit (no chance at rarer mats) and 50 with a mystic kit (kitten you, same icon) and all of them gave only jute.

Plus I also think that the various salvage garments have an intrinsic chance to drop more of one material than the other. Shredded Garments only ever salvage into Jute, as you pointed out. Worn Garments (the next tier up) primarily salvage into Wool, but do still occasionally salvage into Jute.

Zaxares.5419:

Plus I also think that the various salvage garments have an intrinsic chance to drop more of one material than the other. Shredded Garments only ever salvage into Jute, as you pointed out. Worn Garments (the next tier up) primarily salvage into Wool, but do still occasionally salvage into Jute.

Yeah, the mid tier salvage items are propably a bad example. However, the t6 salvage items which salvage into t5 and 6 mats might be the best example to do better research.

I gonna buy a couple of thousand Hard Leather Straps tomorrow (they are the cheapest and the other salvage items i used today dont really give you any profit) and salvage 1k with each salvage kit. That might be the easiest approach to see if the different percentages on the kits are simply broken or each salvageable item/gear has an internal drop percentage (like 8%) for the higher tier mat that gets influenced by the rarity of the kit.

Agreed. The top-level salvage items would be the best subject for this. I look forward to the results of your research.

Wanze.8410:

However, i think i made a miscalculation anyways because i think, to get the right , i have to divide 715 not by the amount of mithril i got but the overall amount of ore i got, so it would be:
715/(715+6334) = 10.1

Correct me if im wrong.

if you can get multiple ori, then that looks like the right calculation. ori would make up 10.1% of the ore you got.
I am leaning towards agreeing with other people: that there is something like a 10% base chance to get upgraded material, and the “25% chance at rarer material” just increases that 10% by 25% to 12.5%
sorta like how there is a base 150% critical damage, a base 100% magic find, etc.

I get plenty of ori, very little gossamer, and next to zero ancient wood. Recently sold another stack of ecto while sitting on 11 ancient wood and around 17 gossamer. As an artificer, this salvage rate is pathetic, it takes me nearly 6 months just to salvage enough stuff for one staff while in that amount of time I can sell 2 stacks of ecto just from the same salvages. Gossamer… yeah about the same as that stupid wood.

Mystic.5934:

Wanze.8410:

However, i think i made a miscalculation anyways because i think, to get the right , i have to divide 715 not by the amount of mithril i got but the overall amount of ore i got, so it would be:
715/(715+6334) = 10.1

Correct me if im wrong.

if you can get multiple ori, then that looks like the right calculation. ori would make up 10.1% of the ore you got.
I am leaning towards agreeing with other people: that there is something like a 10% base chance to get upgraded material, and the “25% chance at rarer material” just increases that 10% by 25% to 12.5%
sorta like how there is a base 150% critical damage, a base 100% magic find, etc.

It doesn’t sound like the right calculation to me, or at least it doesn’t reflect what you are trying to prove. What you want to verify is that in 20% of the cases, you get a higher tier material. Which would verify if you got orichalcum 1000 times out of your 5000 tries, no matter how much you got.

Now you do mention that it is even less than your 715 because you mention that you sometimes got more than one, so your conclusion still stands. It seems like Mystic is right, there should be some kind of base chance to get higher materials and the kit’s percentage applies to this base rate.

Sacrai.6280:

Mystic.5934:

Wanze.8410:

However, i think i made a miscalculation anyways because i think, to get the right , i have to divide 715 not by the amount of mithril i got but the overall amount of ore i got, so it would be:
715/(715+6334) = 10.1

Correct me if im wrong.

if you can get multiple ori, then that looks like the right calculation. ori would make up 10.1% of the ore you got.
I am leaning towards agreeing with other people: that there is something like a 10% base chance to get upgraded material, and the “25% chance at rarer material” just increases that 10% by 25% to 12.5%
sorta like how there is a base 150% critical damage, a base 100% magic find, etc.

It doesn’t sound like the right calculation to me, or at least it doesn’t reflect what you are trying to prove. What you want to verify is that in 20% of the cases, you get a higher tier material. Which would verify if you got orichalcum 1000 times out of your 5000 tries, no matter how much you got.

Now you do mention that it is even less than your 715 because you mention that you sometimes got more than one, so your conclusion still stands. It seems like Mystic is right, there should be some kind of base chance to get higher materials and the kit’s percentage applies to this base rate.

Yeah, to get best most precise percentage, i should have recorded how often from the 5k salvages i get mithril and how often i get ori, disregarding altogether the extra ore i get from some salvages.

I gonna start testing out the t6 leather straps in a bit but as i am looking at nother couple of thousand salvages, i wont count each single one but will pay attention, if i actually get multiple t6 leather from 1 salvage, as the wiki states its only possible to get 1 each. If that is the case, i will adjust the calculations.

OK here goes:
I bought 7k Hard Leather Straps and i gonna salvage 1k with each salvage kit except Black Lion…

I love salvaging a rare 80 accessory from an event and getting copper. GG Anet

Ken DeBoer.9268:

I love salvaging a rare 80 accessory from an event and getting copper. GG Anet

Copper is more valuable than mithril, so why are you complaining?
If the chance to get ori from that trinket offsets the loss you make on salvaging mithril, well, thats what we are trying to establish here.

1000 salvages with Crude Salvage Kit (no higher chance at rarer mats).

1565 Thick Leather (1.75 leather per salvage, 1565/895)
105 Hard Leather (10.5%)

I only ever got 1 hard leather, if i got it, so i divide by the amount of salvages, not the overall amount of leather.

1000 salvages with Salvage-o-Matic (10% higher chance at rarer mats).

1513 Thick Leather (1.73 per salvage)
125 Hard Leather (12.5%)

1000 salvages with Basic Kit (10% chance)

1526 Thick Leather (1.75 per salvage)
130 Hard Leather (13%)

Your mouse is going to hate you for this.

Seriously though, this tends to prove your previous point, though the sample can still be viewed as statistically small. It looks like there really is a base percentage and that the augmentation of kits applies to this base chance.

1000 salvages with Fine Kit (15% chance)

Thick Leather 1517 (1.73 per salvage)
Hard Leather 123 (12.3%)

1000 salvages with Journeyman Kit (20%)

Thick Leather 1484 (1.75 per salvage)
Hard Leather 151 (15.1%)

1000 salvages with Master Kit (25% chance)

Thick Leather 1503 (1.77 per salvage)
Hard Leather 151 (15.1%)

1000 salvages with Mystic Kit (25% chance)

Thick Leather 1489 (1.81 per salvage)
Hard Leather 178 (17.8%)

Sacrai.6280:

Your mouse is going to hate you for this.

Seriously though, this tends to prove your previous point, though the sample can still be viewed as statistically small. It looks like there really is a base percentage and that the augmentation of kits applies to this base chance.

I use an autoclicker macro, which is fine to use according to Anet.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/account/Policy-3rd-Party-Programs-Multi-Boxing-Macros/first#post1532762

Conclusion:

Items do have an internal base percentage to give back a higher tier common material when salvaged, this has been proven by the salvages with the Crude Kit.

The rarity of the Salvage Kit and its chance to recover rarer mats is added to that base percentage. But even though my salvage rate of Hard Leather from the Hard Leather Straps seemed to have improved the better the salvage kit was, it is very inconsistent and i struggle to find a good relation between the salvage rate i got from each of the 1k samples and the chance advertised on the tooltips.

Wanze.8410:

OK here goes:
I bought 7k Hard Leather Straps and i gonna salvage 1k with each salvage kit except Black Lion…

This will be a good test

Ken DeBoer.9268:

I love salvaging a rare 80 accessory from an event and getting copper. GG Anet

I realized when I first read this post that I don’t regularly salvage trinkets. What you say should be impossible. I’ll have to test it when I test salvage drop rates of trinkets.

Sacrai.6280:

Your mouse is going to hate you for this.

Seriously though, this tends to prove your previous point, though the sample can still be viewed as statistically small. It looks like there really is a base percentage and that the augmentation of kits applies to this base chance.

I have to disagree. 1000 salvages on each will get a fairly high correlation. I plugged it into wolfram:
http://www.wolframalpha.com/input/?i=confidence+interval+for+binomial&a=FSelect_**BinomialInterval-.dflt-&f2=0.95&f=BinomialInterval.c%5Cu005f0.95&f3=1000&f=BinomialInterval.n%5Cu005f1000&f4=0.105&f=BinomialInterval.phat_0.105&a=*FVarOpt.1-_***BinomialInterval.phat--.***BinomialInterval.k—-.*—
with 1000 samples, we can say with 95% confidence that the crude kit % chance to give upgraded material is within 8.6% and 12.4%.

I put those points into excel (stated % chance of rarer materials vs. actual % chance of rarer materials) and got this formula: (actual % chance) = 0.239 * (stated % chance) + 10.172
I’m gonna go out on a limb and guess the actual formula: (actual % chance) = (stated % chance) / 4 + 10. example outputs:
“0%” = 10%
“10%” = 12.5%
“20%” = 15%
“25%” = 16.25%
“50%” = 22.5%

I then included the rare trinket and discarded garment results you got above. it altered the equation a bit: (actual % chance) = 0.1686 * (stated % chance) + 10.899
But those are less trustworthy as they are different items, so let’s not include them

it’s definitely not something like: (actual % chance) = 10 * (1+ (stated % chance))
unless it was closer to: (actual % chance) = 10 * (1+ 2.2*(stated % chance)) which just seems too unusual

Thanks for the research, Wanze.

So it seems like the kit quality DOES affect the chance to get rare mats back (although the increased chance is applied to the kit’s base salvage chance, NOT as a flat additive bonus), but unless you’re salvaging thousands of items, you might actually get better value just using a Crude Kit/Matic for everything bar items you’re trying to get upgrades/Ecto off.

well… it’s pretty rare that the upgraded material is significantly valuable than the base one, but there are a few exceptions:
mithril → ori
elder → ancient
cotton → linen
with crude SK (2.13c/use), let’s say there is a 90% chance at elder (34c) and 10% chance at ancient (4s95c). average value returned per use = 0.9 * 34 + 0.1 * 495 = 80.1
with infinite SK (3c/use), there seems to be a 87.5% chance at elder and 12.5% chance at ancient. average value returned = 91.625c
so a 11.6c increase for a 0.87c increase in price
Journeymans: 85% elder, 15% ancient = 103.15c
11.525c increase over infinite, but it costs 29c more to use.
Master/Mystic: 83.75% elder, 16.25% ancient = 108.9125
higher than journeyman, but not nearly enough to make up the 29.44c difference.
Fine is between jouneyman and infinite, but the drop rate reported here was the same as infinite kit. If they do fall into the equation I suggested, fine would have a 13.75% upgrade chance: 86.25% elder + 13.75% ancient = 97.3875c. 5.7625c above infinite but costs 8.52c more. So it looks like infinite is the most profitable in terms of upgraded vs. basic materials for elder vs. ancient. I chose those because it was the largest percent difference between the tiers. I would expect a lower difference in values to show an even lower difference in the returns.

Mystic.5934:

well… it’s pretty rare that the upgraded material is significantly valuable than the base one, but there are a few exceptions:
mithril -> ori
elder -> ancient
cotton -> linen
with crude SK (2.13c/use), let’s say there is a 90% chance at elder (34c) and 10% chance at ancient (4s95c). average value returned per use = 0.9 * 34 + 0.1 * 495 = 80.1
with infinite SK (3c/use), there seems to be a 87.5% chance at elder and 12.5% chance at ancient. average value returned = 91.625c
so a 11.6c increase for a 0.87c increase in price
Journeymans: 85% elder, 15% ancient = 103.15c
11.525c increase over infinite, but it costs 29c more to use.
Master/Mystic: 83.75% elder, 16.25% ancient = 108.9125
higher than journeyman, but not nearly enough to make up the 29.44c difference.
Fine is between jouneyman and infinite, but the drop rate reported here was the same as infinite kit. If they do fall into the equation I suggested, fine would have a 13.75% upgrade chance: 86.25% elder + 13.75% ancient = 97.3875c. 5.7625c above infinite but costs 8.52c more. So it looks like infinite is the most profitable in terms of upgraded vs. basic materials for elder vs. ancient. I chose those because it was the largest percent difference between the tiers. I would expect a lower difference in values to show an even lower difference in the returns.

Well, most of the time when im salvaging, i do so for the upgrade component or ectos anyways, not the common mat.
I find the Tooltips on the salvage kits missleading though, as they state:

XX% chance of rarer materials.

This is definately not the case. as it is only a XX% higher chance at best.

Any conclusion regarding ecto salvage rates?

Axialbloom.8109:

Any conclusion regarding ecto salvage rates?

Well the ecto salvage rate for lvl 80 rares is ~0.88 for me with a master/mystic kit.
As I am usually going for the upgrade component in a salvage, i dont relly want to do research on that with lower tier kits. I might buy some cheap lvl 80ies without upgrades and try the journeyman kit on 100-200 but usually that is too small a sample.

Good point. Would cost too much. I will keep using my rare kits on rares then. Cheers lover.

Wanze.8410:

I use an autoclicker macro, which is fine to use according to Anet.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/account/Policy-3rd-Party-Programs-Multi-Boxing-Macros/first#post1532762

I do not believe you understand the message in that post you linked…

(From that post….)

Macros

4. You cannot program an “auto-clicker” macro that, for instance, opens chests while you play elsewhere.

Gentle Is Insane.6594:

Wanze.8410:

I use an autoclicker macro, which is fine to use according to Anet.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/account/Policy-3rd-Party-Programs-Multi-Boxing-Macros/first#post1532762

I do not believe you understand the message in that post you linked…

(From that post….)

Macros

4. You cannot program an “auto-clicker” macro that, for instance, opens chests while you play elsewhere.

You are missing some details from his other posts. AFAIK the macro in question just does one click, then the mousewheel is set to trigger that macro for both scroll up and down.

Gentle Is Insane.6594:

Wanze.8410:

I use an autoclicker macro, which is fine to use according to Anet.

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/account/Policy-3rd-Party-Programs-Multi-Boxing-Macros/first#post1532762

I do not believe you understand the message in that post you linked…

(From that post….)

Macros

4. You cannot program an “auto-clicker” macro that, for instance, opens chests while you play elsewhere.

The auto clicker i use doesnt enable me to play elsewhere, as my mouse cursor has to be pointed at the item in my inventory. It doesnt enable me to play elsewhere, while opening or salvaging.

About 8 months ago I was working on something in which an auto clicker would have been beneficial. The Thirsty Achievement. Fearing the possibility of violating a rule and getting a perma ban. I sent an email to anet regarding my question. I sent my questions, since there appears to be different opinions of what is and is not acceptable on the forums.

I do not remember exactly what their answer was word for word. But in short it was, anything done using any resource outside of the game for any benefit regardless what that benefit was to accomplish a task inside the game had potential for a ban. The dev did say, they may never know. If they did find out they could not guarantee the account would be safe from a ban.

I can say it was not an automated response as I really wanted to get a specific answer. The dev who responded was very polite and very receptive to my multiple questions.

Yes I know “potential” does not mean certain. I just was unwilling to take the chance.

danielrjones.8759:

About 8 months ago I was working on something in which an auto clicker would have been beneficial. The Thirsty Achievement. Fearing the possibility of violating a rule and getting a perma ban. I sent an email to anet regarding my question. I sent my questions, since there appears to be different opinions of what is and is not acceptable on the forums.

I do not remember exactly what their answer was word for word. But in short it was, anything done using any resource outside of the game for any benefit regardless what that benefit was to accomplish a task inside the game had potential for a ban. The dev did say, they may never know. If they did find out they could not guarantee the account would be safe from a ban.

I can say it was not an automated response as I really wanted to get a specific answer. The dev who responded was very polite and very receptive to my multiple questions.

Yes I know “potential” does not mean certain. I just was unwilling to take the chance.

This is another quote from Gailes post:

Guild Wars 2 players are permitted to use macros as long as the macros are programmed with a 1 key for 1 function protocol.

The way i see it, i am allowed to use an auto clicker program, as long as the program doesnt perform a double click, when i push the activate key. But at a rate of 1 click per ms, it doesnt really matter, when you program it to only perform a single leftclick instead of a doubleclick, it opens bags at a rapid pace regardless.

@Wanze, First, wanted to say thank you for the data regarding salvaging,
Its the reason I was reading this thread, I got sidetracked closer to the end when the subject of the auto clicker was brought up.

I see your point and agree. Even though the auto clicker I was going to use would have clicked so fast as to perform the function as a double click. Even though it was single clicks. I felt had I got busted for it, I wouldn’t really have a leg to stand on so opted not to. A one key one function done so fast it accomplished the same as 2 functions is splitting hairs, I didn’t feel it was doing anything wrong had I used one. But wasn’t willing to take a chance to find out if Anet had the same opinion.

Considering what I was doing was for an achievement this may be completely different.
The dev commented, specifically about it being done for an achievement and any achievement is to be accomplished by a person not an auto clicker.

Not trying to debate or argue a position here, just posting my dealings with a similar situation is all.

That’ some pretty good research there Wanze, thank you for that. I am almost inspired to do some similar research on level 20 clothes.

As for ANet’s policy on macro’s, any reasonable policy is likely to have room for interpretation, which is why debs hadge their bets when talking about banability. I don’t think they’ll be after Wanze for finding a way to do an activity that loses money more quickly.

danielrjones.8759:

About 8 months ago I was working on something in which an auto clicker would have been beneficial. The Thirsty Achievement. Fearing the possibility of violating a rule and getting a perma ban. I sent an email to anet regarding my question. I sent my questions, since there appears to be different opinions of what is and is not acceptable on the forums.

I do not remember exactly what their answer was word for word. But in short it was, anything done using any resource outside of the game for any benefit regardless what that benefit was to accomplish a task inside the game had potential for a ban. The dev did say, they may never know. If they did find out they could not guarantee the account would be safe from a ban.

I can say it was not an automated response as I really wanted to get a specific answer. The dev who responded was very polite and very receptive to my multiple questions.

Yes I know “potential” does not mean certain. I just was unwilling to take the chance.

I did the same. Although I can’t see how an auto clicker macro could have done any better than one mouse button being assigned a double-click option, due to the fact that the game won’t allow you to click more than a certain amount (say one double-click every 0.5 sec), and if you exceed this then it just won’t register.