Explain like I'm 5... What exactly is macro'ing?

Vynist

1.) What exactly is macroing?

2.) Is macro'ing against the rules?

3.) How can you tell if someone is doing a macro?

ThePonzzz

Macroing is setting up a keystroke to perform multiple keystrokes. Usually done with a programmable key or button on the mouse. So it fires off a chain of skills in order to perform the best outcome for you.

You generally can't tell if someone is doing it or just really good with their animation cancelling.

Sallington

Macro + cheese =

VoidBlue

macroing is when you have a skill/button that is mapped to use multiple skills. it can do alot of things with just a few lines of text.

like you can have the skill target something and than use this skill and after that skill use this other skill all with one press of a button instead of pressing 3-4 buttons.

its not against the rules that i know of

you really cant tell if someone is using a macro, it tends to be just a time saver.

usually people only make macros for certain fights. boss is about to use this one move that does massive damage, well press this macro that targets tank and than casts a shield and regen along with a massive heal.

Rinmaethodain

Keyboard macros and mouse macros allow short sequences of keystrokes and mouse actions to be transformed into other, usually more time-consuming, sequences of keystrokes and mouse actions. In this way, frequently used or repetitive sequences of keystrokes and mouse movements can be automated. Separate programs for creating these macros are called macro recorders.

MmmmTofu

1. record, or set a series of key-stoke/mouse movement and bind them to one key. Example: start recording - charge - ability - light attack - ability - bash - ability - finisher - end, assign it to F1, then everytime you press F1 your character will execute the saved series.

2. AFAIK, ZOS considers macros that execute a string of actions, or automate a process to allow unattended gameplay as violation of TOS. However they doesnt seem to have a way to detect them, hence ppl still use macro in pvp.

3. It is very hard to tell if it is nothing else but a serie of pre-recorded human inputs. Once it incorporates abilities with animation-cancelling then fast-forward it to a state that none of the animations even play out, and said player does the same combo multiple times with no execution errors, then its pretty easy to tell.
Look at this post: http://forums.elderscrollsonline.com/en/discussion/139523/the-advantage-of-built-in-mouse-keyboard-macros

Rune_Relic

You might have a specific sequence of light/block/skills that can be performed from stealth to guarantee a kill before response.
To guarantee a kill it might be imperative that this sequence is performed without delay in the right sequence.
Enter.. the macro.
1. You maximise the DPS by doing the same damage in a much shorter time frame through optimised animation cancelling.
2. You don't make any mistakes with the opening combo.
3. There is some bugs/exploits that requires extremely unusual keyboard activity outside the usual button combat that require awkward key combo sequences [one of which induced lag supposedly].
4. The victim never sees the tells of the incoming damage.

Banky71

I'll tell you when you are older! Now quit back sassing me and go to bed without supper!!

Arunei

Macros are, as far as I'm aware, considered against the rules when it comes to PvP. However, there's one macro in particular that lots of people use, including myself, and that's MultiCraft add-on. It lets you craft dozens of items, such as potions or Glyphs, with one keystroke. This doesn't give you any advantage over other players, though, and instead just means you can do your crafting without hitting the keys over and over. There's also the Roomba add-on, which automatically withdraws, stacks, and deposits items in your personal and Guild banks (but only if you have withdraw rights in your Guild). Again, this does not give you any advantage over other players, so it's fine to use.


Basically, anything that lets you use multiple Abilities with one keystroke, avoid it. If it's something that can't be used in PvP against other players, it SHOULD be all right. All the same, I'd only use existing add-ons like MultiCraft instead of programming your own macros for these things, just to be on the safe side.

Robbmrp

Arunei wrote: »

Macros are, as far as I'm aware, considered against the rules when it comes to PvP. However, there's one macro in particular that lots of people use, including myself, and that's MultiCraft add-on. It lets you craft dozens of items, such as potions or Glyphs, with one keystroke. This doesn't give you any advantage over other players, though, and instead just means you can do your crafting without hitting the keys over and over. There's also the Roomba add-on, which automatically withdraws, stacks, and deposits items in your personal and Guild banks (but only if you have withdraw rights in your Guild). Again, this does not give you any advantage over other players, so it's fine to use.


Basically, anything that lets you use multiple Abilities with one keystroke, avoid it. If it's something that can't be used in PvP against other players, it SHOULD be all right. All the same, I'd only use existing add-ons like MultiCraft instead of programming your own macros for these things, just to be on the safe side.

@ZOS needs to create something internal that when people use macros to cast these multiple abilities that their game crashes every time they use it. That would stop the macros, if it did that every time, they wouldn't use them. Even if it's just casting 1 spell with animation cancelling, those are two separate processes and should not be able to be done together.

Rinmaethodain

I really hope that the thing they said in last ESO live about "looking into animation cancelling" means they are going to finally fix it and prevent people from doing that.

Im quite confident that only because there is such tempting mechanic like "animation cancelling" only because of that people do macros.

Take away animation cancelling and i bet lot of people will stop using them (because now they will be spending time on forums crying that they cant cheat anymore).

EQBallzz

Vynist wrote: »

Explain like I'm 5... What exactly is macro'ing?

1.) What exactly is macroing?

2.) Is macro'ing against the rules?

3.) How can you tell if someone is doing a macro?

Goochi goochi goo! Who wants to string multiple abilities together automatically with the push of a button? You do! Yes you do! What a good boy! Now don't use macros to do anything that you couldn't do without them like automate your play while you are not at the keyboard or you will get a spanking young man! Bad! You can tell when someone else is a bad boy when they are doing something more efficient than is likely possible without a macro but just because someone else is doing it that doesn't mean you should. Would you jump off a bridge or a keep if your friends did?

*disclaimer- I have no kids so I have no idea how to talk to a 5 y/o.

Gamertaglemieux

Vynist wrote: »

1.) What exactly is macroing?

2.) Is macro'ing against the rules?

3.) How can you tell if someone is doing a macro?

Really just play on console, should not have to deal with it.

Forestd16b14_ESO

Sallington wrote: »

Macro + cheese =

Hmm toss in some bacon and chicken with that.

Forestd16b14_ESO

In a nutshell it allows you to use ton of stuff in one press of the key.

CaptainObvious

and control the timing of said events.

Ahzek

@Vynist

1.) macroing is THE excuse to use when someone has killed you, but you dont want to admit you make mistakes (right after come lag (with switch or without), XX is OP and CP difference ) additionally it is a way to que certain keystrokes together so you only have to press the macro in order to exectue them all in a row.

2.) It is against the ToS but 3.) you will never be sure if some1 is macroing and thus 1.) comes into play.


Have Fun !!!
By the way from what I can tell in actual combat macroing is only useful for very specific combos, such as a stealth gank combos, or very basic ones, like adding a light attack before every skill to ultilize animation cancelling without the work it usually brings. Queing several spells together would be a great risk in the day to day PvP encounters, since every spell takes up its global cooldown and you run the risk of casting spells you actually dont want to.

CaptainObvious

So macros can be applied to anything. They are a Time Ordered Event List. Time between events can be precisely controlled. An enterprising set of folks could develop a combat macro and refine the timings by using a "training dummy" to remove time gaps that normally occur via human processing. Thus, you get "perfect" timing of a complex chain of events every time.

Imagine playing Street Fighter and while you have to maneuver the joystick and buttons to fight, your opponent can press a button and do an unblockable 15 hit combo without any other participation.

Macros can be detected using heuristics, similar to computer algorithms for detecting handwriting forgeries.

Leandor

The problem with removing animation cancelling is that it would actually be an even worse nerf for tanking than the stamina change. As of now, block overrules all animations and allows for immediate reaction even while stuck in another ability animation. Block is also one of the shortest animations around.

To enforce the animation, e.g. of a taunt, would open you wide for a deadly attack from a boss. A tank needs to be able to block anytime and everytime. Thus, block cancelling can't be removed as long as taunts or other tank abilities have an animation.

Vizier

[quote="VoidBlue;2073294"

its not against the rules that i know of

.[/quote]

It is against the rules. ZoS has already made clear it's not acceptable.