Hi everyone, I have the following question:
I understand that a macro may only remap single keys to single keys.
However, this requirement still does allow several kinds of macros which might be considered as abusing.
Thus, I want to ask whether the macros are “intelligent”, i.e. depend on some external factors, are allowed, i.e.:
Pressing ‘Q’ does something different depending on which window is currently active, e.g. uses Skill 4 when one window is active but Skill 5 when the other window is active
Pressing ‘Q’ does something different depending on how many times Q has been pressed in the last 10 seconds, e.g. a ‘combo’ can be done by just repeatedly pressing the same key
Pressing ‘Q’ does something different depending on whether the health percentage, captured by parsing the screen content, is below or above a certain value, e.g. casting an attack skill when the health is high or a heal skill when the health is low
Pressing ‘Q’ performs an action in a different window depending on some condition (e.g. one defined above), e.g. first activates Skill 4 in the first window, then Skill 5 in the second window
I think I wouldn’t chance this one. Since you are triggering different abilities with the same key it is probably violating the policy. That said if this done hardware side and the software is being sent 4 and 5 I don’t think it would show that to the hardware actually used Q for both since it would need to actually apply 4 and 5 in game aka software side. The intent was to prevent people from chaining skills and auto-playing by allowing for single key hits for different abilities. 2 cents.
Pressing ‘Q’ does something different depending on which window is currently active, e.g. uses Skill 4 when one window is active but Skill 5 when the other window is active
How is the macro going to figure out which window is currently active?
Pressing ‘Q’ performs an action in a different window depending on some condition (e.g. one defined above), e.g. first activates Skill 4 in the first window, then Skill 5 in the second window
Interesting question, definitely. Hopefully a dev can clear it up. As it is, so long as it only does 1 action per keystroke, if ANet is feeling lenient, I would guess context-dependent actions on activation wouldn’t be against the spirit of the rules. But don’t take my word for it.
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How is the macro going to figure out which window is currently active?
There are some Win32-Calls for that. I don’t think this is regarded as interacting with Guild Wars 2 because it just interacts with the Windows API
That is doing two things so an automatic no.
No, I mean when you press Q the first time, it acts like “4” in the first window, when you press Q the second time, it acts like “5” in the second window.
if ANet is feeling lenient, I would guess context-dependent actions on activation wouldn’t be against the spirit of the rules
Well, the thing is, while I don’t think it allows ‘better’ play, it allows more ‘braindead’ play (maybe, as I haven’t tried it out I don’t know) which might or might not be considered as rule violation.
It’s against the rules. Their policy states that 1 key should not be able to perform multiple actions. A smart macro is just that, allows you to automate your play and breaks their general advantage rule. In truth however, it doesn’t matter what you do as long as you’re not actually botting.
Well, I read it as that 1 key should not perform multiple actions at the same time, but nothing about whether it has to perform the same action whenever pressed.
I know, but there is “You may not program a single key to perform multiple functions.” in there. On the one hand, this could mean that the things I mentioned are forbidden as one action is performed from multiple possible actions. On the other hand, the examples which follow only talk about performing multiple actions for one keystroke at the same time.
That’s for one key – first action A, then B, then … macros
look they have their policy and they will stand by it but its hard for them to actually prove youre doing a thing or not unless you either talk about it in game and then get reported or a GM walks up to you and you dont respond intelligently enough for them to unequivocally say you arent botting. so if its the kind of action where if you accidentally afk for the wrong 5 minutes then a GM would say its botting, you prolly shouldnt risk it.
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Um, it’s a completely different thing to be detectable and to be allowed.
Also, I don’t see how I could go afk with the macro I mentioned – at least not more as with the macro explicitly stated as allowed (perform an action in a background window – where you would not read any GM messages).
Anyway, such macros could – in principle – be detected rather easily if not done in hardware, I think.
Sorry, that is 100% untrue. I haven’t even asked whether such a thing would be allowed since I know it isn’t. I also have no such program but actually maybe intend to program something like that if it was allowed.
Pressing ‘Q’ does something different depending on which window is currently active, e.g. uses Skill 4 when one window is active but Skill 5 when the other window is active
Allowed? No.
Likely response if reported? None, if that was the only “infraction.”
Comment:* Would require some sort of software to detect the active window. Since that can’t be done with the API or via other approved uses, it wouldn’t be approved. On the other hand, it’s unlikely to matter that much.
Pressing ‘Q’ does something different depending on how many times Q has been pressed in the last 10 seconds, e.g. a ‘combo’ can be done by just repeatedly pressing the same key
Allowed? Probably, depending on what the OP means
Likely response if reported? None, if that was the only “infraction.”
Comment:* There’s no material difference between this and pressing the different buttons. There would be an issue if you could just hold the key. It should be okay as long as each in-game key press requires the user to press one key at home.
Pressing ‘Q’ does something different depending on whether the health percentage, captured by parsing the screen content, is below or above a certain value, e.g. casting an attack skill when the health is high or a heal skill when the health is low
Allowed? Absolutely not.
Likely response if reported? They’d respond with a minimum of a warning and perhaps suspension.
Comment:* At best, you’re allowed to report data to you via an overlay (such as a DPS meter). You aren’t allowed to let software decide for you what actions to take based on that data.
Pressing ‘Q’ performs an action in a different window depending on some condition (e.g. one defined above), e.g. first activates Skill 4 in the first window, then Skill 5 in the second window
Allowed? No.
Likely response if reported? Warning or suspension.
Comment:* Same as above: allowed 3rd party tools can’t detect the window, let alone act upon the information available from them. Even moving the cursor for you is not allowed.
Short story: I recommend the OP take a much more conservative approach to thinking about tools for this game. There’s only one example above that is unlikely to be an issue, one that is borderline, but two that would involve disallowed functions.
John Smith: “you should kill monsters, because killing monsters is awesome.”
I think the active window can be even detected without using the Windows API (as I said, I already think it is borderline to think of using that as not allowed as it is e.g. required to check the active window even for deciding whether to apply a macro based on whether e.g. Guild Wars 2 or Google Chrome is running) by just listening to mouse-clicks and alt-tab key inputs and “calculating” the active window based on that. Would that change your opinion for the first part?
I think the active window can be even detected without using the Windows API (as I said, I already think it is borderline to think of using that as not allowed as it is e.g. required to check the active window even for deciding whether to apply a macro based on whether e.g. Guild Wars 2 or Google Chrome is running) by just listening to mouse-clicks and alt-tab key inputs and “calculating” the active window based on that. Would that change your opinion for the first part?
No.
Yes, you can detect the window, but the problem is that you’re giving your software decision-making power: if this, then that.
Really, the only use-case I’ve seen that might successfully push on ANet’s comfort level is the example you gave of pressing the same key and getting different results, but only based on having pressed it before. (It wouldn’t be okay if it were based on a timer.)
So for example, press [f1] once triggers skill ‘1’, press it a second time, it triggers skill ‘2’. That’s not meaningfully different from pressing 1 then 2: you still have to decide when to press and you actually have to worry about whether you want a 1-2 punch or not.
I think you absorbed the idea that one key equals one action and that the macro shouldn’t give an unfair advantage (a tricky concept to define, isn’t it?). Add to that: the software can’t make decisions in place of the player.
John Smith: “you should kill monsters, because killing monsters is awesome.”
Add to that: the software can’t make decisions in place of the player.
Well, that was my main point as I couldn’t see that point in the policy. But if you are sure, I think I will have to accept it.
EDIT: Interestingly I found ‘software that intercepts or otherwise collects data from or through the Game;’ which might or might not apply to parsing data from screenshots in principle
EDIT II: Well, it seems you are probably right. If they were completely allowed you could just program a regular bot which just would perform the next action on the next keypress which, in turn, could be generated by a stone (or any other sufficiently heavy item) on the respective key on the keyboard.
What about targeting macros? Targeting in this game is really bad and having a key press with say /target Shadow Soul would be very very handy in raids. Am forever still hitting KC or Gors or whatever when it needs to be the add at that time. WOW had “multi” macros, where you could put say 3-4 skills on one key and yea, I can see that maybe being a bad thing but something to target with would be nice.
