Third-Party Perform Macros?

[Lilseph]

Did you even read the part that I mentioned using the in game options -.-; apparently not.

Eh, you asked for the part of the ToS where it mentions automation. It's very open to debate, because what do we consider a third party tool to automate something? Gaming keyboards require a software to organize said macros, and they automate in-game functions. But these rules are more focused on botting if anything.

[Awha]

It is murky, what would you define as automation. I made one macro for one song and with one press the entire song plays. Now if SE goes with one press and one action anything more is automation then rip me.

[Aylis]

So now I'm confused again. If I program a macro key on my keyboard to do ANY 2 actions simultaneously or in succession (even something as harmless as, for example, doing 2 different emotes back to back) instead of creating an in-game macro for it, that is technically an offense that can justify getting banned?

I just want to make sure I don't do anything that I'm not supposed to! :P

You're fine, with a macro keyboard and mouse you still have to be at the computer to press the buttons. More or less what they mean by automated game play is if you're running a bot that plays the game for you while you're afk. If macro keyboards and mice were included in this then they wouldn't be sellers cos they would violate ALL multiplayer games ToS.

[Hasrat]

Finally. Yeah, that. Automation is typically referring to botting in a roundabout way.

The truth is literally nobody will every be able to verify your using any third party macros for performing, and any reports against you will just be hearsay, especially since you'd be at your keyboard (presumably) to easily confirm you're not just botting it.

Also the whole thing that it's just perform. You're not exactly getting any exp or resources out of it. As long as you're not obnoxious/obvious about it, you could probably get away with being afk anyway.

[Sida]

This thread seems to have two views of what gaming keyboards can and can't do. One is that keyboard just remaps the keypresses to different keys. That is completely fine as onekey action causes one key event. You could play the game with piano keyboard that way if you wanted and it would be in no way shady.


What gaming keyboards can do though, is to create sequences of keypresses. You press one key from your keyboard, and the keyboard driver sends multiple keyboard events for the game as if the keys were pressed in succession. This starts to get in the gray area since in some models you can even set this on repetance. Even if it's just a keyboard. You could feasibly make a keyboard macro that executes an attack macro in the game and continues activating it on timer until you cancel it. This is pretty obviously not ok. That's why just blatant saying keyboard macros are, or are not ok is hairy matter. (As for third party, by the way, it means party that is not you or SE, gaming keyboard driver would be third party)

However, as others here have said, if you use it just for bard performance or stringing up emotes (in reasonable quantities I hope) no one propably cares.

[Altena]

From a technical standpoint, yes it's against ToS.

From a realistic standpoint, you and the people you tell are going to be the only ones that would know you're automating them.
On top of that, I doubt anyone would report you. It's not like your craft botting or automating combat.
Finally, it's nearly impossible to prove that you would be doing it, so even if someone had some bone to pick with you - they would have a very hard time getting you punished for it.

[Gamerfan001]

I am curious, what if the fact that you are diabled like myself. I can't use my right hand well so I have to sadly end up being a clicker most if the time. I feel it should be accped in set ups like that. I understand it can be an issue due to the fact its a 3rd part program but also, is it hurting anybodies feelings or anything? Is it effecting gameplay in a manner of cheating? I don't feel it is. I feel it is a helper for players who can'y play or players that can't even do the notes cause they are disabled like myself. Just curious on thoughts cause I just find it fun to click around random notes.

[theLoser]

I am curious, what if the fact that you are diabled like myself. I can't use my right hand well so I have to sadly end up being a clicker most if the time. I feel it should be accped in set ups like that. I understand it can be an issue due to the fact its a 3rd part program but also, is it hurting anybodies feelings or anything? Is it effecting gameplay in a manner of cheating? I don't feel it is. I feel it is a helper for players who can'y play or players that can't even do the notes cause they are disabled like myself. Just curious on thoughts cause I just find it fun to click around random notes.

It really depends. It would be up to Square Enix if they choose to enforce the no aids (helping software / hardware etc.) policy in such a case. As long as you're not doing anything competitive or botting, I don't think they'd have an issue with it as long as you make clear your case.

The reason for the policy in the first place is that FFXIV is a video game. Competitive activities like first clearing, speed clearing, and pvp are supposed to be players competing in player skill. Being able to use aids to decrease the number of hotkeys used and such artificially raise player skill by lowering the difficulty of playing optimally which is why they are banned. They literally change the game from a balance standpoint.

To use an absurd example, it would be like saying all sprinters are allowed to wear these special shoes that increase their running speed up to a maximum of 30 mph. This changes the entire sport from "who can run the fastest thanks to their physical prowess" to "who among the people using aids (the shoes) reacted the fastest at the start"? Suddenly being able to run really fast isn't special anymore since everyone can do it.

Essentially what I'm saying is as long as its being used responsibly, I don't think Square Enix will have any problems with you using such aids as long as you make it clear to them that you need them to play.

The reason why you wouldn't be allowed to use them in a competitive setting, even with a disability of some sort, would be because it IS literally cheating. Part of the difficulty of playing the game is being able to use the right abilities when you need to and using aids makes it easier to do this which means you are literally playing an easier game than everyone else. It would be like giving some soccer players a bigger goal to shoot at because they have trouble aiming.

[Limecat]

Something something Fight Club.