Guild Wars 2

Pre-Note: I am inquiring due to a muscular disease I have that makes opening stacks of things (i.e. bags, etc.) or consuming stacks of things (i.e. luck, food, etc.) incredibly difficult, but I still want to play the game.

I have tried searching on exact information about the use of “Turbo Clickers” “Autoclicker” or “Registry Editing”.

-Turbo Clickers (or Repeaters): Mouse functionality that allows holding of the button to repeat the mouse click (similar to holding a key on your keyboard)
-Autoclickers (3rd party programs): Programming your mouse to repeat clicking where your mouse currently is until manually disabled.
-Registry Editing (or use of Mouse Keys): Using RegEdit to modify a specific keyboard key to function like a left click (can also be done through Mouse Keys).

I found a posting here that states “4.You cannot program an “auto-clicker” macro that, for instance, opens chests while you play elsewhere”
https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/Policy-3rd-Party-Programs-Multi-Boxing-Macros/first#post1532762

From my interpretation of this it reads that I cannot use any of the programs above if it allows me to play elsewhere (such as run a dungeon or do some crafting, etc.)

However, I feel it is opened ended to the fact that autoclicker functionality is allowed if it is used in the appropriate context and not used to play the game for you like a “bot”.

I have sent in a support ticket and tried to PM some GM’s and staff… However, I haven’t gotten a response so I hope this post will gather the attention of someone with information as I do not want to be banned for anything!

Just attached the click function to your scroll wheel. Then scroll away, each click of the scroll will be a separate click function so it is fine since its a 1 click 1 function action.

Side note – Editing the registry what a horrible idea to change mouse functions.

Thanks for that tip Zypher, should work for me for many of the situations. While I don’t have a diagnosed muscle/nerve condition, my clicking fingers have gotten a bit worn out and I’m feeling a bit of “tennis elbow” in the forearm. Between luck, bags that open up to more bags, etc., it’s a bit ridiculous. Every thing that can stack needs a “use all” option, including a “salvage all” option. That way, even if we don’t want to use the entire stack, we could split into the amount we want to use and then do batches.

the only time a macro (or macro-esque technique) is acceptable is when it’s offering no in game advantage.

If you are using software allowing you to do something you normally could not, it’s against the rules (ie, an autoclicker that clicks faster than you can or clicks while you are away from keyboard).

for my luck/bag opening, I just have an autohotkey that I activate to click 10 times a second (well within what I can manage on my own) and disable it once all my stuff is consumed/opened

It’s not open ended or open to interpretation, just because you feel it is.

With Logitech you could also use their program to assign a click and hold button that would function like the double clicking. Since this does not give you any advantage, and you need to be present and operating this function to allow it to work I believe you may be in the OK. Really I do not think the CS is out banning people that are just trying to get through the tedious work of opening bags.

But I can say you will never see a CS rep come out and say that something like this is OK. And if you tried to email or enter a support ticket they are going to stick with the 1 click per 1 function ability, along with always being present for any action that is occurring in the game. This goes the same with the debatable use of macros for playing instruments. Since at one point I did email support and received a response that macros are ban-able and it is a 1 click to 1 function action in the game. This is even with many people admitting they use macros to play songs and yet are still in playing the game to this day.

Just have fun in the game, and if something that helps you click through all those bags so that you can get back out in the area whose to say that is wrong.

I don’t think clicking through a stack of bags or luck is considered an “advantage” unless anet considers getting carpal tunnel to be an expected side effect so that all their players in PVP are having arthritis pain in their right hand from clicking through stacks manually and if you’re NOT in pain it’s obviously an advantage..

I’ve asked Gaile Grey in a PM about this exact thing and have not gotten a response.

I’m going to continue to use a macro on my mouse to use right tilt to auto click through stacks of bags.

If I get banned for it, well this game isn’t worth playing then because manually clicking and breaking my mouse/fingers just isn’t worth it.

I’d suggest OP contacts support about this, I don’t want to be mean but autoclickers in any form or way are not legal.

Guardian of Angels.9867:

I’d suggest OP contacts support about this, I don’t want to be mean but autoclickers in any form or way are not legal.

Need to read through all the posts, this has been done before. If it is not a 1 click 1 action function then technically it is ban-able. Will they ban you for it, most likely not.

I’ve seen Gaile reply to the topic of auto clickers, that they’ve never been allowed and never will be.

True, it’s a gamble.

The rules on macros are a bit like speed limits (in America).

They CANT tell you you’re allowed to go 5 mph over the limit. If you ask a cop, they’ll say you cant even go 1 above the limit (officially), however, in most cases you won’t get pulled over going 5 over. Yet, there are a few rare times where you will.

It’s likely ANet can’t come in here and say “yes you can use clickers” they also will probably leave you alone if you do.

So long as you are at your keyboard holding a button down and that button is ONLY clicking, nobody reasonable is going to be mad at you.

rapthorne.7345:

for my luck/bag opening, I just have an autohotkey that I activate to click 10 times a second (well within what I can manage on my own) and disable it once all my stuff is consumed/opened

You might want to review this post from Gaile

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/AutoClicker-Macro-Legal-Still/first#post4666463

rapthorne.7345:

the only time a macro (or macro-esque technique) is acceptable is when it’s offering no in game advantage.

If you are using software allowing you to do something you normally could not, it’s against the rules (ie, an autoclicker that clicks faster than you can or clicks while you are away from keyboard).

for my luck/bag opening, I just have an autohotkey that I activate to click 10 times a second (well within what I can manage on my own) and disable it once all my stuff is consumed/opened

It’s not open ended or open to interpretation, just because you feel it is.

Technically speaking, this action is ban-able.

The rules are one button must correspond to one in-game action.

Zypher.7609:

With Logitech you could also use their program to assign a click and hold button that would function like the double clicking. Since this does not give you any advantage, and you need to be present and operating this function to allow it to work I believe you may be in the OK. Really I do not think the CS is out banning people that are just trying to get through the tedious work of opening bags.

But I can say you will never see a CS rep come out and say that something like this is OK. And if you tried to email or enter a support ticket they are going to stick with the 1 click per 1 function ability, along with always being present for any action that is occurring in the game. This goes the same with the debatable use of macros for playing instruments. Since at one point I did email support and received a response that macros are ban-able and it is a 1 click to 1 function action in the game. This is even with many people admitting they use macros to play songs and yet are still in playing the game to this day.

Just have fun in the game, and if something that helps you click through all those bags so that you can get back out in the area whose to say that is wrong.

ANet has stated that they will not currently be punishing for music macros.

This post is the comment by Gaile, it is followed by someone from CS

They have said in later posts that using them for the Bell Choir activity is bannable since there are rewards available from it.

Magic find is used to get better rewards. How much better is debatable, but ANet may rule that even that minuscule improvement in rewards is enough advantage to ban anyone who uses a macro to consume the essences of luck faster.

Extrapolating what macros they aren’t likely to ban for from what was said is risky. The TOS says none can be used. I personally would only use the ones that ANet explicitly gives exceptions to and I wouldn’t hold my breath on them to allow for any. I’m honestly shocked they allowed the music macros.

Guardian of Angels.9867:

I’ve seen Gaile reply to the topic of auto clickers, that they’ve never been allowed and never will be.

True, it’s a gamble.

That’s not what she said.
“We have never approved the use of auto-clickers. The policy linked by Ic makes it clear, specifically clear.”
Ic’s linked policy: https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/support/support/Policy-3rd-Party-Programs-Multi-Boxing-Macros/first#post1532762

Personally, I read that response as “we have never said you can use them, [but we have also not said you can’t]”.
Also, that policy is not clear at all, as OP brings up. I believe this is intentional, so it leaves them open to this scenario: “well, in 99% of cases a repeating clicker is fine, but that last 1% of the time where someone abuses it in ways we can’t predict we reserve the right to ban them” (such as placing 4 million buy orders on the TP)
Why they can’t just say that… either I’m wrong or it’s some corporate privacy conspiracy that I will never understand but have to acknowledge exists.

Guardian of Angels.9867:

I’d suggest OP contacts support about this, I don’t want to be mean but autoclickers in any form or way are not legal.

No. You will never EVER get a clear answer. The only thing we know is that music macros are allowed everything else.. who knows. For example “Does opening bags faster than other players give you an ingameadvantage?” Yes it does because the more you open the higher the profit is (bags usually result in profit as long as you open enough).

Lodius.5392:

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

I believe “while you play elsewhere” is the key phase here. I’ve programmed my Razer Lycosa keyboard so that one of its macro keys will repeatedly click (with a 0.5 second delay between clicks) while I hold it down. I can’t do anything else while I’m doing this – I’m just standing in place holding down a key so I don’t wear out my mouse button (and my mouse finger!) prematurely. The macro stops as soon as I lift my finger off the key or take any other action.

The only “advantage” I see this giving me is not getting carpel tunnel syndrome. Hopefully this is an advantage which ArenaNet is willing to permit.

Reminder: you can convert luck drops to exotic lucks using Artificer, greatly reducing the number of clicks required.

Don’t use an autoclicker, but feel free to set up Mouse Keys so you can press the + key to double-click instead of having to double-click on your mouse. Given that it effectively halves the number of presses, that should help considerably.

timmyf.1490:

Reminder: you can convert luck drops to exotic lucks using Artificer, greatly reducing the number of clicks required.

Don’t use an autoclicker, but feel free to set up Mouse Keys so you can press the + key to double-click instead of having to double-click on your mouse. Given that it effectively halves the number of presses, that should help considerably.

I do this as well. It’s not ideal as a macro, but it’s better than double the clicks.

timmyf.1490:

Reminder: you can convert luck drops to exotic lucks using Artificer, greatly reducing the number of clicks required.

Don’t use an autoclicker, but feel free to set up Mouse Keys so you can press the + key to double-click instead of having to double-click on your mouse. Given that it effectively halves the number of presses, that should help considerably.

Again… Mouse Keys to use the + key to double click is technically 1 button press for 2 occurrences.

Also I know you can convert luck using Artificer… but I was just using it as an example for stacks of things that may need to be consumed (Thirst Slayer for instance?)

kokiman.2364:

Guardian of Angels.9867:

I’d suggest OP contacts support about this, I don’t want to be mean but autoclickers in any form or way are not legal.

No. You will never EVER get a clear answer. The only thing we know is that music macros are allowed everything else.. who knows. For example “Does opening bags faster than other players give you an ingameadvantage?” Yes it does because the more you open the higher the profit is (bags usually result in profit as long as you open enough).

Could a user get banned for using a higher mouse speed than another? Should a user get banned for using a gamepad or gaming board? Those could offer significant advantages over others in PVP, for example…

Does opening bags fast give you an advantage? You state yes… but again… you have your opinion and I have mine. The intent of this was to hopefully get clear and concise answers from ANET on what is legal and what is bannable.

There are to many open ended statements that I can find. Just because I interpret something one way doesn’t mean ANET will… I’m really requesting someone take note and answer me officially so I do not get banned.

When you have muscular and nerve type diseases… Once you get off work (if you’re able to work) you are not able to do much besides sit down and play a game or something. I don’t want any investments to die due to some rule that is up for interpretation.

They should honestly build this functionality into the game itself. They give out so many click to open things, stacks of click to salvage, double click to buy – it’s a massive, massive quality of life upgrade that should be available without having to use a programmable keyboard or other 3rd party software.

Lodius.5392:

Does opening bags fast give you an advantage? You state yes… but again… you have your opinion and I have mine.

And this is where you are wrong this is not an opinion this is a fact. Someone who can, without any effort, open endless amounts of bags will be able to make more money than I do with clicking or even using a scrollwheel to open them, if this is not an advantage, what is? Especially in regards to pve.

Lodius.5392:

The intent of this was to hopefully get clear and concise answers from ANET on what is legal and what is bannable.

You won’t get a clear answer.

Lodius.5392:

Again… Mouse Keys to use the + key to double click is technically 1 button press for 2 occurrences.

The standard has been one out of game action = one in-game action. One button press = one in-game double click. I’m 100% confident Mouse Keys are okay.

Lodius.5392:

There are to many open ended statements that I can find. Just because I interpret something one way doesn’t mean ANET will… I’m really requesting someone take note and answer me officially so I do not get banned.

There will never be an official answer, and really there shouldn’t be. The moment the say “Yes they are fine” the next round of arguments will come as well what is “They”.. So Anet comes back “They means auto clickers”. So the arguments continue well if I use an auto clicker to auto click every node in a map this is ok since Anet said auto clickers are ok. Which clearly this is not ok.

This is why you will never get an answer, as you can see from many people in this thread that have a press and hold to open at .5 sec intervals, the same as if you double clicked at those intervals. There is no advantage compared to someone not using it, besides possible lack of wrist injuries.

You have been given an answer by your fellow forum members who have been most likely using these methods for the last 2 years with no issue. If this is not good enough for you, stop posting on the forums open a ticket with support and once they respond, with what is found in the ToS, move on. Not trying to sound mean or anything but it seems like you are just trying to start an argument.

It really depends on whether ArenaNet considers a double click to be two clicks or one double click.

Personally, I’m of the opinion that a double click is a SEPERATE action from two clicks as it performs different functions (in both this game and in nearly every operating environment since 1985).

Granted, I don’t use any type of macros, but if I did, that’s the argument I’d make with respect to binding a double click. Also granted, ArenaNet doesn’t care about your argument.

Zypher.7609:

Lodius.5392:

There are to many open ended statements that I can find. Just because I interpret something one way doesn’t mean ANET will… I’m really requesting someone take note and answer me officially so I do not get banned.

There will never be an official answer, and really there shouldn’t be. The moment the say “Yes they are fine” the next round of arguments will come as well what is “They”.. So Anet comes back “They means auto clickers”. So the arguments continue well if I use an auto clicker to auto click every node in a map this is ok since Anet said auto clickers are ok. Which clearly this is not ok.

This is why you will never get an answer, as you can see from many people in this thread that have a press and hold to open at .5 sec intervals, the same as if you double clicked at those intervals. There is no advantage compared to someone not using it, besides possible lack of wrist injuries.

You have been given an answer by your fellow forum members who have been most likely using these methods for the last 2 years with no issue. If this is not good enough for you, stop posting on the forums open a ticket with support and once they respond, with what is found in the ToS, move on. Not trying to sound mean or anything but it seems like you are just trying to start an argument.

I am not trying to start an argument. I even listed in the OP that I opened a ticket and they have apparently been ignoring the ticket.

“fellow forum members” or even “friends in game” will not amount to much if I am trying to contest a ban I got in part by using what someone said should be okay.

I have played the game for almost 2 years… I even read through the ToS in detail. The post that I linked in my OP was to open ended and vague.

I used to post to these forums but realized why I stopped … people nit pick your posts and flame you over it.

Luck can be upgraded so consuming a stack of luck is not an issue.
Food is only consumed in large quantities when working on an achievement which is only done once.
That leaves bags. If you open those bags on a regular basis and not wait until you stockpile hundreds of them (as some posting screenies have shown) then any repetitive strain is not that difficult to handle.

The main issue then boils down to not how many bags one has to open but how you manage the opening of all those bags. At 60 and having spent many years as a heavy duty mechanic there are days when my arthritis makes computing difficult but you have to learn how to keep your actions varied enough so as not to introduce a repetitive action. Stockpiling bags and then opening a hundred or so is not going to do anyone any good.

JustTrogdor.7892:

rapthorne.7345:

for my luck/bag opening, I just have an autohotkey that I activate to click 10 times a second (well within what I can manage on my own) and disable it once all my stuff is consumed/opened

You might want to review this post from Gaile

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/gw2/AutoClicker-Macro-Legal-Still/first#post4666463

She says it’s clear but it’s not.

People are asking about holding 1 button, to repeat 1 action as long as the button is held. Not hitting 1 button to do multiple functions.

This would all be solved if stacks of items had a “use all” heading.

This is especially problematic for wintersday where if you do PVP you’ll wind up with hundreds of gifts to open.

It’s pointless, for some reason you will never ever get a clear answer. They greenlit macros for playing instruments but then they say they haven’t? The only right thing to do is, not using any of that stuff and maybe in some years we will get a clear answer. Because that question has been asked since release and we have yet to see a clear standpoint from A.Net.

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

Thanks for the tip about artificers for luck. It’s only one of the things that needs a lot of clicking, but I totally forgot about my artificer.

The whole macro thing is why I’d like to see more options in the alternate menu for an item. “Use all” or “use x amount” or some such. If we ALL had those options in game, then it’s not an advantage. I’d really rather see in-game tools for these repetitive stress movements. This is loot we’ve already obtained, or generally achievements that effect no one but our own characters (food/drinking achievements, etc.). Making us spend more time just clicking isn’t fun. I totally agree that one click/one skill should remain. Actions that do effect combat or other competitive activities should not give an advantage. They made processing stacks of crafting items quick and painless, they can do it for other repetitive actions.

And please devs…fewer “Russian stacking doll” type loot bags. Honestly, I stopped the Wintersday event because the open-open-open loot took more time than the events.

Well I was under the impression Anet’s view was a ‘turn the other cheek’ on this, especially with how much clickable crap is in this game. I’ll admit right now I use a macro to open ToT bags for the mini, though now I guess I will go back to manually clicking. I just don’t understand.. I have opened 108,000 bags for this mini and still not gotten it. I am supposed to manually click that many times and the RNG is still that bad? And how about all the luck that comes from them? I know you can upgrade them but that is still a HUGE amount from those bags. To give you an idea, I started at somewhere around 120% and I am now 260%. Even with the macro, my fingers hurt after a while.

Argh.

Lindelle.3718:

Well I was under the impression Anet’s view was a ‘turn the other cheek’ on this, especially with how much clickable crap is in this game. I’ll admit right now I use a macro to open ToT bags for the mini, though now I guess I will go back to manually clicking. I just don’t understand.. I have opened 108,000 bags for this mini and still not gotten it. I am supposed to manually click that many times and the RNG is still that bad? And how about all the luck that comes from them? I know you can upgrade them but that is still a HUGE amount from those bags. To give you an idea, I started at somewhere around 120% and I am now 260%. Even with the macro, my fingers hurt after a while.

Argh.

You can bind mouseclicks to your mousewheel.

You don’t need to use any weird programs or scripts or even key rebind anything to ease clicking. Windows has a “mouse keys” functionality for the exact situation the OP is describing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/accessibility/guides/keyboard_mouse/computer/win/win7/

Here is a detailed guide for customizing it. Once you toggle on mouse keys, numpad + is the default shortcut for double click.

The short version is, press Lalt +Lshift + numlock to toggle mouse keys on and off, when it’s on you can put your cursor over anything and just tap numpad + to double click very very fast and easily. You can do like 50,000 clicks this way in the time it would take you to do 5000 with the mouse and expend half the energy. And it’s just a standard Windows function, I don’t see how Anet could object or even tell you’re doing it.

ArenaNet will likely never confirm if using a macro to click is okay and they shouldn’t have okayed the use of macros for instruments. They probably did that because they thought they would sell more, but they also opened up other problems by doing so. If automating (botting) instruments is okay, why isn’t everything else that doesn’t cause any gains? Can I use a macro to keep myself logged in? If not, why can I use one to play music to keep myself logged in?

Truthfully, ArenaNet will not ban anyone over using a macro regardless of what rules it breaks. It’s only when you use a macro to bot that it becomes an issue. If you want to get more advanced, you can create a macro using only hardware, which cannot be detected unless you do something not humanly possible.

The scroll wheel trick is technically a macro. Spinning the wheel only causes 1 event (spin direction) whereas clicking the button has 2 (on or off). In order to make each “click” of the wheel act as a click, it has to perform 2 functions.

Healix.5819:

Can I use a macro to keep myself logged in?

You don’t need to. ctrl-right click a movement skill (actually, it seems almost any utility skill works) with a 40 second cooldown or something and you can stay logged in forever.

The day someone gets banned for using an autoclicker to open bags is the day I give up on Guild War 2. There are blatant hackers and siege trolls logging on everyday into WvW for years on end that are completely ignored by Anet staff and some of you really think people will get banned for opening bags a little bit faster?