Guild Wars 2

The macro nonsense with instruments is so annoying. The people who took the time to create that macro are very skilled. However, being able to use them in game is not skillful. People like me who had played since the original bell came out find it very cheap. We learned songs and actually play them while others press one key and play an impossible song. I know this is has been posted before but really….this should have never been brought into effect.

I applaud you for playing well on your own. I respect and enjoy players such as yourself. However I enjoy listening to macro users as well…. minus the respect given to a natural player. Its nice to curl up and take a break sometimes — just to listen.

I personally don’t see what’s so bad about instrument macros.

When I hear music, I go: ooo, nice music. Regardless of whether or not the player is using a macro or not.

Because the macro user may not be using the macro to mask skill level. They may be masking a laggy internet connection that makes hitting the right key at the right time hard to do. They might be masking a disability that makes it hard for them to play the keys at the right time.

Why should they be shut out of being able to play music?

I do however give props, if only mentally, to those who I can tell are playing the song without a macro.

I prefer someone playing something nice with a macro over people who play something bad because they dont use a macro.
People should get used to it. Automatisation is getting more and more in real life, too. More and more jobs will get obsolete.

And what if the player made the macro he’s using himself? Do you feel the same way about people who make their own macros and then use them? Because I’m one of those.

As someone with zero musical skill, I’m happy there are macros so I can RP my characters being good at playing an instrument (theoretically. I have yet to find macros or try them out).

Do you get mad at someone who plays a cd of a Beethoven quartet rather than sitting down with a violin and 3 other people and playing it live?

Well – A.Net has stated one Key = one function and that includes macros. Anything other than that is against the rules.

It is very plain and simple.

Dusty Moon.4382:

Well – A.Net has stated one Key = one function and that includes macros. Anything other than that is against the rules.

It is very plain and simple.

You’re wrong about that. It’s allowed now (for instruments)….as it should be.

Dusty Moon.4382:

Well – A.Net has stated one Key = one function and that includes macros. Anything other than that is against the rules.

It is very plain and simple.

Yeah I can’t wait for all these roleplayers to get permabanned for their clear exploitation of the “one key one function” rule, that’ll surely make the community a better place.

I don’t understand why this bothers you. Unless your only concern for playing instruments is to try and impress others with how fast you can hit buttons, I don’t see why you would be worried about people who use macros for instruments.

Dusty Moon.4382:

Well – A.Net has stated one Key = one function and that includes macros. Anything other than that is against the rules.

It is very plain and simple.

Anet also said they’re fine with instrument macros. The only type of macros they crack down on are those that give you a clear in-game advantage over other players. Last time I checked, being able to play a digital instrument does not give you any in-game advantages.

So no, it’s not really that plain and simple, but I also would say that you can safely use instrument macros without having to worry about being banned. Anet has better things to do than ban harmless people who just like to play a cool tune on their instrument.

Macros make instruments easier to play, which makes more people want to buy them. I doubt ANet will stop the macros.

I can’t believe some of these comments. It’s allowed by Anet people. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant. Of all the things to get worked up about this should not be one of them.

Of course they could go back to making it unallowed if they added ABC file support. Even better if they add a visual to let people who the different between a live player and a file player.

Cazamar.7148:

I can’t believe some of these comments. It’s allowed by Anet people. Whether you like it or not is irrelevant. Of all the things to get worked up about this should not be one of them.

Eh, folks can get worked up over whatever they choose.

Although, as you point out, it’s probably not worth their attention, because ANet has already given an official ok to using macros to play instruments.

Wow, I never thought I’d see someone complain about that.

Pandaman.4758:

Wow, I never thought I’d see someone complain about that.

As the OP says, some people spent a lot of time learning to play GW2 instruments and figure out specific songs. I can really see how they could be miffed that someone else can just download a macro and imitate their skill, with few of us the wiser.

Regardless, ANet made it clear that such macros are ok to use in-game. They took a lot of feedback, spent time internally discussing the pros|cons, and made a decision. I doubt very much they are going to revisit it so soon after publishing it.

I like to listen to macroed music. Of course I admire people who have learned to really play the instruments, but it is more of their hobby than mine.

In real I also admire people who can play instruments and like to listen to live music, but I also enjoy listening to records.

Music is a great thing and macros bring more music to the world as more people are capable of using the instruments.

DarkWasp.7291:

Of course they could go back to making it unallowed if they added ABC file support. Even better if they add a visual to let people who the different between a live player and a file player.

Why does this matter to you so much?

If you want to go that far, why don’t you just start demanding there be additional indicators for things like —

• What gender the player truly is… “That chick isn’t actually a chick? They’re lying to us? * gasp * No way! I demand ArenaNet put a stop to this.”
• How old they are…
• How they earn their $ in game…
  …..and so on and so forth.

Why are we drawing lines in the sand in what is supposed to be a game?

People used macros before ArenaNet allowed it and people will continue to do so regardless. Truthfully, it doesn’t matter what the policy is, if you’re not doing something harmful, nothing is going to happen. A simple macro cannot be detected without catching all types of special keys.

Even if you wanted to follow the 1 key rule, you could simply use a smart key to play music – simply spam it, the software will do the rest.

You can’t really tell for sure who is or isn’t using a macro. A macro may be slightly different each time due to CPU timing or ping and a player who has legitimately played the same song many times will probably seem like they’re using a macro. What is impossible? Something you find impossible might be trivial for someone else.

This is like people complaining about the music industry in real life.

In any case, I am truly astonished to see something like that actually bothering someone. I don’t know if I should laugh or be impressed. I think I’ll do both.

I use macros myself, sorry but it’s everyones own choice whether s/he wants to play with or without macro, it doesn’t break the rules of playing the game. Also, the songs they created are so good an nice to listen, it’s just about having fun with it.

Helius.8321:

The macro nonsense with instruments is so annoying. The people who took the time to create that macro are very skilled. However, being able to use them in game is not skillful. People like me who had played since the original bell came out find it very cheap. We learned songs and actually play them while others press one key and play an impossible song. I know this is has been posted before but really….this should have never been brought into effect.

Macro Instruments? like there are macros that make decent sounds from the instruments?

Azhure.1857:

DarkWasp.7291:

Of course they could go back to making it unallowed if they added ABC file support. Even better if they add a visual to let people who the different between a live player and a file player.

Why does this matter to you so much?

If you want to go that far, why don’t you just start demanding there be additional indicators for things like —

• What gender the player truly is… “That chick isn’t actually a chick? They’re lying to us? * gasp * No way! I demand ArenaNet put a stop to this.”
• How old they are…
• How they earn their $ in game…
  …..and so on and so forth.

Why are we drawing lines in the sand in what is supposed to be a game?

I was just pointing out a way to solve the inconsistency in the macro rules and also give musicians some recognition at the same time.

In that post, I never said I was deeply invested in the subject.

WindFall.1479:

This is like people complaining about the music industry in real life.

In any case, I am truly astonished to see something like that actually bothering someone. I don’t know if I should laugh or be impressed. I think I’ll do both.

no it’s not. it’s people being annoyed that an aspect of the game is being cheapened by people who don’t want to put any effort into it, and just because it’s not something you enjoy doesn’t make it laughable, you pompous kitten . why is that so hard for people to understand. start seeing it in the context of a game rather than try to justify it with these ridiculous comparisons

and to people who try to justify it by saying “well maybe they have disabilities and lag issues”, i don’t get it. for those people there are a billion other things in the game to do rather than go afk playing a script, and there are two cheap instruments on the tp for them to try out before they spend 800 gems on a gem store instrument

Malediktus.3740:

Automatisation is getting more and more in real life, too. More and more jobs will get obsolete.

yes what a GREAT comparison, genius, because it’s not like this is a game. let’s make leveling automated too. let’s all just quit wvw and have bots fight each other

For all we know, people that claim to be “good” at playing the instrument is also using a macro, including you OP. I don’t give a kitten if you use one or not, because either way you’re listening to something that may be enjoyable instead of a bunch of morons running around spamming “1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2, 1, 2,1, 2”

^and this is another reason why that macro site is terrible. people who are actually good get taken for talentless morons pressing play on an ahk script

eugenics.2561:

^and this is another reason why that macro site is terrible. people who are actually good get taken for talentless morons pressing play on an ahk script

and who cares if the people using scripts are talentless? They’re still using the instruments for the same thing, playing enjoyable tunes for everyone to listen to. These are virtual instruments you play with a keyboard anyway, if you want bragging rights, go pick up a real instrument and learn how to play that, you can’t ez mode those.

lol this is an mmo. bragging rights is a huge part of it. good job resorting to more pointless real life comparisons too

I rather listen to a complete macro song than 10 seconds of the same zelda song over and over again.

then mute it. if you want to listen to your favorite music on playback, you can just go on youtube instead of listening to it being butchered by a terrible soundfont in the game.

I would agree with op if there was no option to turn off sound. But there is so the answer is: “dont like it? dont listen”

that doesn’t apply here because the op isn’t about the noise. it’s about people using scripts to automate/fake something that some people put a bunch of effort into.

and another thing that makes those macros so insanely egregious, anyone who’s played the instruments properly knows that there are only so many notes that can be played at the same time in one instance. if youre trying to play something as a group and an idiot nearby decides its time to bust out the macros, your notes start skipping and it becomes impossible

this is open world game, you must learn to handle other ppl around,
find a peaceful place to play on your own if city noise interrupts you;

macros is only more options, which is good; noone is personaly forced to use macros but dont deny more options to other players

I couldn’t care less if someone else used a Macro for playing or not.

What i do care about are stupid people accusing others of using macros, just because they can’t wrap their tiny minds around the fact that someone may actually be able to manually play the instruments the way they hear it. Saw this happen multiple times to people which clearly weren’t using macros; they were being verbally attacked, just because the attackers couldn’t imagine playing like that on their own – it makes me wonder what those people think if they see a musician in real life “uhh! Stop using Macros, pianist! you lifeless n00b!!!! Why u use Macro an guitar!! Learn to play u talentless sc**!!!”

Many.8419:

this is open world game, you must learn to handle other ppl around,
find a peaceful place to play on your own if city noise interrupts you;

macros is only more options, which is good; noone is personaly forced to use macros but dont deny more options to other players

again this isn’t about the noise, it’s about the effects of it.

should people be free to have the option to use other hacks too? why should cheating be conidered an option?

its not a hack when its allowed

and it shouldn’t be allowed is my point

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/archive/audio/Sad-truth-of-playing-the-ingame-instruments#post4546267

Not happening.

so once the opinion was voiced here so it is acknowledged you dont agree with instrument macro policy we can assume there’s nothing more to discuss

macros for instruments are allowed, you dont agree with this, dont use macros until policy is changed (or not)

i would mind a lot less if there was some sort of visual cue that showed when people were using macros. like the autoplay icon you get with the drum

Wonder what they play with their macros, over used pop tunes?

eugenics.2561:

i would mind a lot less if there was some sort of visual cue that showed when people were using macros. like the autoplay icon you get with the drum

and what would it change for you? are you going to false report them for botting?

uh no?? obviously i meant because it would clearly set macro users apart from actual players, since theres nothing right now that sets them apart other than ridiculous octave switches

So it comes down to you wanting to be recognised.

I’m a little torn on this one. I do have more respect (clearly) for people playing the instrument by hand. At the same time, it’s…really much more entertaining for me to listen to somebody with a macro playing “River flows in you” than someone floundering through the first 20 or so notes of “Saria’s Song” again…and again…and again.

I can certainly see where people who invested the effort to legitimately learn to play these instruments would feel slighted by having macros allowed in. But at the end of the day, there are two tracks of mind here:

-The instruments are intended as indicators of skill and effort, in which case this thread has merit and macros shouldn’t be condoned, tacitly or otherwise.

-The instruments are intended as sources of entertainment, in which case macros are irrelevant. Given that this seems to be the stance of the powers-that-be, and given that a ruling has already been issued on the subject, I don’t…really see the point of a thread like this one. It’s not going to go anywhere.

But if it’s therapeutic for someone to voice their opinions on it here, all’s well, I guess.

it keeps coming back to the completely misguided idea that people can only play irregular zelda and game of thrones songs, but it’s just not true. there are lots of people that are genuinely good at playing and there are entire guilds dedicated to playing band arrangements of songs

As someone who plays by hand….

I don’t care about macro’s 1 way or the other.

It’s not about pride, it’s about the music. When i play music it’s not for me, but for the people around me. It’s no different for those people who use macro’s.

Also, it’s a game. It’s not like this game is your lively hood. You’re not losing out on anything by playing by hand. If anything you’re offering something that is increasing in rarity, an actual live performance which believe it or not most people enjoy more than the macro’s which are painfully obvious.

Let us know when and where you’re playing, and we macro users can come stroke your ego a bit.

Some of us just really enjoy music, and perhaps we don’t have the skill to play it by hand. So you’re saying we should be denied being able to play music on our own?

Music brings people together in towns. Music adds to the atmosphere. It’s not the end of the world that someone isn’t playing it by hand.

Anet has confirmed that they have no issue with macros being used for music as it does not impact game play. I can dig up the comment if you really care to see it, but I’d rather spend my time doing something else.

Really? Someone is complaining about music instrument macros? Really? Wow!