Guild Wars 2

From what I understand, macros are ok so long as it’s one keystroke = one action.

I play with my girlfriend. We are accustomed in other MMOs to /blowkiss or something similar at the end of our sessions. Since GW2 has no emote like that (Why not?), I would like to write a simple macro: “/me kisses Xxx” so I don’t have to type it every time.

I have no special keyboard or mouse. Is there a third party macro program which is allowed?

Thanks.

Daenon.2193:

From what I understand, macros are ok so long as it’s one keystroke = one action.

I play with my girlfriend. We are accustomed in other MMOs to /blowkiss or something similar at the end of our sessions. Since GW2 has no emote like that (Why not?), I would like to write a simple macro: “/me kisses Xxx” so I don’t have to type it every time.

I have no special keyboard or mouse. Is there a third party macro program which is allowed?

Thanks.

Technically speaking, a macro that executes a custom emote violates the terms of use (because it contains multiple keystrokes). While you certainly aren’t harming the game with such a macro, you could get banned for it so use it at your own risk.

Yup, it is like the macros to play instruments, the function in game is totally harmless, but goes against the rules or 1 key/1 action.

Oh I see. Wow. Ok, thanks.

Yep, what they said. You probably should just give her a real kiss.

keystroke =/= action
the “action” is “send the message ‘/me kisses Xxx’”
if a single macro sent the message and used skill #1, then that would be 2 actions, and thus, against the rules. this is like saying double-click to open a bag is 2 actions; that’s just ridiculous. The action is opening a bag. it’s the character’s action, not yours. a macro to press control-1 to use your profession skill would be legal despite it being 2 clicks.
This is all aside from the point that Anet would never be able to catch you doing this, or care that you were. In all of their examples, with the “1 key = 1 action”, they always example opening boxes while fighting or casting 2 skills at once; an actual advantage in the game.

Anet is trying to protect the integrity of the game, by making it so you can’t get an advantage using a macro. A harmless blows kiss macro (as long as you’re not spamming chat with it) isn’t going to get you a ban. It’s harmless.

Anet bans people who exploit or try to gain some sort of advantage.

I macro /cheer and /bow.. Still need to see the first ban for macro-ing emotes, tbh..

Mystic.5934:

keystroke =/= action
the “action” is “send the message ‘/me kisses Xxx’”

Technically wrong, in your example that keystroke would perform 14 actions which would result in 1 in game emote.

Tribio.8531:

I macro /cheer and /bow.. Still need to see the first ban for macro-ing emotes, tbh..

While it is bannable, Anet won’t search for that, player won’t report for that and it is likely that Anet would even ignore that if they knew you are macroing those emotes, but still technically bannable.

Macroing modifies only personal gameplay. Botting(playing unattended) and hacking(super powers – account steal) are the reason that macroing has a bad reputation. But it is definately not the same. I never had any problem for simple macroing. Nobody cares if i press one button , and the macro sends 2 more. It does not affect anyone , but my personal playstyle. Of course the company will only go by the book , since allowing the use of macros officially, will result in many people(stupid) taking advantage of it, and creating problems to the game , and the other players.

Darklander.1937:

Macroing modifies only personal gameplay. Botting(playing unattended) and hacking(super powers – account steal) are the reason that macroing has a bad reputation. But it is definately not the same. I never had any problem for simple macroing. Nobody cares if i press one button , and the macro sends 2 more. It does not affect anyone , but my personal playstyle. Of course the company will only go by the book , since allowing the use of macros officially, will result in many people(stupid) taking advantage of it, and creating problems to the game , and the other players.

You could very easily create a macro that does the following:

1. Uses specific skills in a specific order, including swapping between different weapon sets
2. Repeats itself after it’s over
3. Can be started/stopped with 1 key

That literally results in 1 key turning on your rotation and the same key turning it off. The only difference between this macro and outright botting is that you have to press that button and search for targets to use it on. And you could even take care of the target part by using the “Nearest Enemy” key in the macro. No one in their right mind would think that such a macro would be allowed under any circumstance.

Have you ever wondered why the built-in system only allows you to have one skill on automatic repetition?

Hi Olba. I get your point. However, i still insist that macroing does not affect other players or the game. It is a different playstyle.
Macroing will not turn an inefficient gamer into efficient. A not experienced player with a i.e. 6 button rotation(like the one you suggest) will still lose against an experienced player without macro rotation. Additionaly macro gaming has also disadvantages. Activating a rotation with wrong timing , will require quick interruption
of the rotation, and reaction. An additional step which makes it harder for use during wrong timing situations, or general in pvp where you have to act-react according to the moves of your opponent. Macros imo are viable in PVE. What is that has to bother anyone? If you buy a 20 button mouse which improves your gameplay, and maybe makes you even play a bit better than me, should bother me? No.

The built in systems keep on changing according to the user feedback-requests. This is why , more and more mmos , everyday are building in game macro systems(wow, ff14, rift…etc). This is a need that should be available , for every gamer, according to their playstyle.

Darklander.1937:

Macroing will not turn an inefficient gamer into efficient. A not experienced player with a i.e. 6 button rotation(like the one you suggest) will still lose against an experienced player without macro rotation.

True, but would give an advantage to an experienced player over another experienced player that doesn’t use macro.
An experienced player with a gaming mouse/keyboard that knows exactly when to use the rotations and thanks to the macro knows that the rotation will be executed perfectly 100% of the time will have the advantage. A big advantage? No, but still one.

I seriously don’t think Anet cares if you macro /emotes to a key, but I DO feel it violates the “spirit” of their macro policy, so I would not rule out a possible ban for using it (tho as stated above, I’m SURE thousands of players use this and I doubt a single one has ever been banned for it).

Belzebu.3912:

Mystic.5934:

keystroke =/= action
the “action” is “send the message ‘/me kisses Xxx’”

Technically wrong, in your example that keystroke would perform 14 actions which would result in 1 in game emote.

how do you justify copy/paste? I perform 2 clicks and the computer does 140 actions. no way are you going to convince anyone that’s against the rules, despite it being multiple actions from 1 click under your interpretation. it’s just silly. ‘1 action’ = ‘1 in-game action’

Again, the semantics of whether or not /sit = 1 action or 4 keystrokes is only relevant if anyone at Anet CARES if you make it easier for your character to perform the sit animation (which I highly doubt). The only possible “advantages” this could provide is for getting out of a “stuck” movement bug (an emote is usually an easy fix for this) a moment faster or any in-game activity that involves emotes (the Guild Challenge in Plains of Ashford comes to mind).

Technically, I believe it is 4 keystrokes, but my opinion on this does not matter.

The only way you would get in trouble for using a macro to type a message is if you are spamming it and clearly annoying other players with it. That’s what gold seller bots do. Don’t do that and you should be fine.