Handling Cheaters Gracefully vs Hardline ToS + Questionable legality of bans

[StealthPaladin]

The thing here is, you're lumping together things that are not the same.

Discord specifically is no different than having your pals on Skype, or Line or any other communications tool. It can be run completely independent of the game and does not interface with the software. It's like saying having physical printouts of the game map with treasure chest locations marked is bannable. Or that playing with two screens on your computer is bannable. It's nonsense.

The line is already there: They do not want you using (tools, apps, whatever) that directly interface with the game, or alter the game files. The most grey-zone thing out there would be texture swapping, model editing or perhaps the bard auto-music player. These WOULD be bannable if caught, but since it doesn't cause any actual mechanical cheating advantage to "win", the Devs don't care. Like I said earlier, speed limit or seat belt laws. It's not about whether it gives a competitive edge.

Thanks for clarifying that. Was not trying to lump these things together, they are specifically different. Simply to see where you personally set the line. Really what you're saying seems perfectly reasonable to me.

Only thing I'd counter is Discord DOES break the current ToS as a 3rd party tool, though true I don't believe that is the intent of the rule at all. However Discord does interface with the game process to provide overlays and show status especially. Currently that is bannable, but they look the other way as you point out for many types of mods.

Assuming they did not increase enforcement in the near future, leaving things alone would be workable. Though not my ideal, for many that might be good enough. If they actually take the full no-3rd party tools stance due to the recent cheating, well then they may have to be "fair" and just throw out all 3rd party tool use

I don't think it has any real risk of being slammed by them, but then IMO the ToS should be softened to reflect the reality. The idea of switching to in game penalties is another way of giving clarity to the line without actually saying it out loud

If you want to make an app that enhances inventory management, or one that auto-rolls loot, or one that auto-throws away "junk", I can't imagine it would be a problem until it's automating your actions or allowing you to do something you shouldn't be able to do (like giving items to GC for seals, or automatically doing Leves, or highlight players hidden behind walls etc).

This is a good place to draw the line imo. Automation is at least one very clear category.