Console Players don't need Addons

[MediArgentum]

So tell me how is plugins like BDTH not breaking the ToS?

They do. All plugins break ToS. Innocent QoL plugins included. However, despite of this, innocent QoL plugins like GShade and Chat Bubble aren't a problem. I don't know about this BDTH, so I can't tell you how innocent that one is or isn't.

Core of the big problem in this whole situation here is: plugins that interface with the game data and decrease the difficulty of the content (of dungeons, trials or raids) by doing so.

So let us drop these "It's just nice QoL features" argument, because, yes, we already know that. Plugins that just fall into this "Nice QoL features" category aren't a real problem (yes, they still break ToS but most likely you won't be banned for it). Real problem is that other category I've described above in bold text. Re-read it again, to let it sink in.

[Myrasil]

They do. All plugins break ToS. Innocent QoL plugins included. However, despite of this, innocent QoL plugins like GShade and Chat Bubble aren't a problem. I don't know about this BDTH, so I can't tell you how innocent that one is or isn't.

Core of the big problem in this whole situation here is: plugins that interface with the game data and decrease the difficulty of the content (of dungeons, trials or raids) by doing so.

So let us drop these "It's just nice QoL features" argument, because, yes, we already know that. Plugins that just fall into this "Nice QoL features" category aren't a real problem (yes, they still break ToS but most likely you won't be banned for it). Real problem is that other category I've described above in bold text. Re-read it again, to let it sink in.

Can you say with addons are you talking about and elaborate why they decrese dificulty?

[Menriq]

Core of the big problem in this whole situation here is: plugins that interface with the game data and decrease the difficulty of the content (of dungeons, trials or raids) by doing so.

So just to confirm. If the addon has to meet both parts of your criteria to not be QoL, then ACT should be ok right? It doesn't do anything but report your DPS, so it has no bearing on the content itself.

[MediArgentum]

So just to confirm. If the addon has to meet both parts of your criteria to not be QoL, then ACT should be ok right? It doesn't do anything but report your DPS, so it has no bearing on the content itself.

Correct, ACT wouldn't be cheating if it simply displayed your DPS, as that info doesn't really decrease the difficulty of the content you're doing. Simply knowing how much DPS you're doing doesn't help you do the content in that moment. This info can be helpful beforehand, when you're practicing to figure out/master your rotation. And that's fine. Bettering yourself makes it easier for you to complete the raid later, but not because the difficulty of the raid has gone down, but because your own skills have gone up. That's why it's fine.

However, as I have been informed ACT doesn't simply display your DPS. Apparently it has that functionality that calls out/resolves mechanics so the player doesn't have to think and/or tracks/compiles information (such as CDs for buffs and whatnot) that the player is supposed to track themselves through their own skill and not automated software.

[anhaato]

However, as I have been informed ACT doesn't simply display your DPS. Apparently it has that functionality that calls out/resolves mechanics so the player doesn't have to think and/or tracks/compiles information (such as CDs for buffs and whatnot) that the player is supposed to track themselves through their own skill and not automated software.

That would be Cactbot, which is rarely used because raiders acknowledge that reliance on botted callouts doesn't help develop real skill. There is no plugin that resolves the mechanics for you, that would just be straight up botting. Also, lol? Buff timers are literally mmo tech 101 these days, virtually every mmo displays buff/HoT timers except this one. I don't use a plugin like that myself but I see no reason why that shouldn't be built in already.

[LittleImp]

That would be Cactbot, which is rarely used because raiders acknowledge that reliance on botted callouts doesn't help develop real skill.

Rarely used? Cactbot is incredibly ubiquitous these days, and has only been rapidly growing in popularity over the last few years. Almost every time I join a pug raid VC I can hear the stupid pops and pings it makes through peoples mics. You'd be really hard pressed to find groups where no one is using it. It's not even widely frowned upon; Most of the times I've tried to call it cheating I've been drowned out and called an ableist, even in high-end groups.

There is no plugin that resolves the mechanics for you, that would just be straight up botting.

A fundamental part of resolving a mechanic is reading the mechanic and determining how exactly you are supposed to respond. Cactbot automates that part of the process in many fights.

[Ransu]

Rarely used? Cactbot is incredibly ubiquitous these days, and has only been rapidly growing in popularity over the last few years. Almost every time I join a pug raid VC I can hear the stupid pops and pings it makes through peoples mics. You'd be really hard pressed to find groups where no one is using it. It's not even widely frowned upon; Most of the times I've tried to call it cheating I've been drowned out and called an ableist, even in high-end groups.



A fundamental part of resolving a mechanic is reading the mechanic and determining how exactly you are supposed to respond. Cactbot automates that part of the process in many fights.

Because its not cheating, no matter how much you want to pretend it is.

[LittleImp]

Because its not cheating, no matter how much you want to pretend it is.

This isn't cheating? You're dellusional.

[Shurrikhan]

Because its not cheating, no matter how much you want to pretend it is.

It's not as if it's botting or changing player parameters, no, but it does supply additional information to an extent essentially allows a player to bypass a sub-mechanic (that is, reading the cues of the mechanic).

Does it do anything wholly new? No. Can what it does for the player be replicated through default in-game capacities? Yes. But does it significantly allow for particular, non-redundant player interactions to be removed from a fight? Also yet.

This is still, of course, referring to certain extremes; it's not as if the system itself demands that it be used to provide that level of advantage.

That is the same reason, though, you see plug-in distributors police themselves, drawing a line between

1. what simply makes already existent capacities more accessible in ways that'd be technically and practically redundant for all but a subset of players who could particularly benefit from them (see: disability-aimed plugins) and
2. plugins that (can) present altogether new capacities or significantly allow players to bypass mechanics within the fights themselves (as opposed to just, say, hitting an equally fixed and singular progression of 1-2-3-4-5 instead of a single button for a single decision).

Sometimes a plugin is even removed from a distro just because it moved from that a plugin that "can" provide that further advantage to one that "does". Both those that can and those that do are still the rarities, practically outliers, but they do exist.