All a user supplied function is is a more organized way to call built-in functions. You're arguing that an addon executed top-to-bottom is fine, but the exact same functionality divided into legible, named chunks is over the line.
Publius_Scipio wrote: »Again, all this back and forth is because the house let the players touch the deck of cards. That’s not a good thing. Paul Sage knew very well all these discussions would come. For some reason modding and addons seem to be necessary for some games to even be considered as possible successes these days. Players seem to demand that it be this way.
A real bad formula, especially in games with PvP and connected complicated systems like ESO. When you allow this you lose some quality control on your product. Unless of course we all lived in a perfect world and no one would ever think of getting shady, let alone in a game.
This conversation will never end until ZOS heavily restricts certain API, or just tells us that how things are currently is the way it will stay. Surly I give less than 1% chance ZOS would announce one day they are closing all API in Sage’s memory.
Oh, definitely not sarcastic - just curious about which specific line in the API is the problem. But...
...It seems I may have misunderstood how the API functions. Am I correct in assuming that the API not only provides functions, but also serves to restrict ones created by players?
In this case, the problem wouldn't be some bad line in the API, but rather the lack of a line to restrict these kinds of exploitative addons.
Sure, just like things such as:
- Sharpened Mace exploit 2015 (if you're not aware of this one: maces actually reduced target's armor by flat 20%, rather than 20% of the maximum 50% armor)
- Nirnhoned Staff exploit 2015 (similar to sharpened mace)
- Double Mundus exploit 2015-2016
- Porting to an opponent player's Shadow Image to get inside keeps 2014-1016
- Using gap closers to get inside keeps 2014-2016(?)
were part of the game.
Doesn't change the fact that players exploited flaws/loopholes in the game's code (for addon's like Miat's, that part of the game's code would be the API).
I suppose you're right though, it's about definition.
I'd define that cheating due to how badly it affects the game (exploits generally don't have equally dramatic effects), but I guess exploiting is a valid term as well.
Interesting. I wouldn't be surprised if they added that function as part of the base game in the future (perhaps you're "beta testing" for them) - it isn't exploitative by nature.
But addons are practically third party, and I doubt detecting stealthed opponents' cast timers is "the way the game is meant to be played". Otherwise, why do they waste development time trying to buff cast time abilities if they're supposed to be obsolete by default? Why create item sets to counter sneaking players? Or item sets that buff cast time abilities? Or skills like Radiant Magelight?
No, highly doubtful.
Yet Miat's addon (and other similar ones) aren't created by the developer, they're created by players seeking to exploit unfair advantages in PvP. Just like wallhacks in FPS games.
Exploits, flaws and bugs are part of the game too - until they're fixed
Comparing this to a "skill you dont like" would be similar to comparing Sharpened Maces from 2015 to a "skill you dont like" - in other words, it makes no sense.
I can understand if you can't equate these API functions to things like wallhacks, but your comparison is way off.
Yep, that's why I keep posting, why I made this thread and why I'll make new threads until this is resolved.
This game is not playable for me in its current state and won't be next patch either, or the patch after that as long as these API functions exist.
And then you dont contribute or do anything at all. In which case this addon wouldnt even effect you. Good lord, please switch your brain on before making a comment like that.
InvitationNotFound wrote: »Well, interesting. In my opinion, there are like 100 bugs which should be addressed before i call this game enjoyable (the lack of alternatives is frustrating >_<). This function would have a very low spot on my list.
InvitationNotFound wrote: »But anyway, keep on complaining. As i said, that's fine for me. I simply dislike this attitude of calling other players cheaters because feelings are more important than facts.
Publius_Scipio wrote: »Again, all this back and forth is because the house let the players touch the deck of cards. That’s not a good thing. Paul Sage knew very well all these discussions would come. For some reason modding and addons seem to be necessary for some games to even be considered as possible successes these days. Players seem to demand that it be this way.
A real bad formula, especially in games with PvP and connected complicated systems like ESO. When you allow this you lose some quality control on your product. Unless of course we all lived in a perfect world and no one would ever think of getting shady, let alone in a game.
This conversation will never end until ZOS heavily restricts certain API, or just tells us that how things are currently is the way it will stay. Surly I give less than 1% chance ZOS would announce one day they are closing all API in Sage’s memory.
@InvitationNotFound
Right, so it pretty much boils down to whether these things the API permits are intentional or not.
You mention they reviewed this addon - I say they didn't.
They only looked at the top most complained thing and adjusted that, without looking at all what else the addon and API permitted.
Because any sane person who was aware that a 3rd party plugin could ruin entire playstyles, item sets & skills would restrict their API posthaste.
If you can find a statement by ZOS saying "we are fine with the API showing stealthed/out of FoV opponents' cast timer" then please show me.
We're looking at the usual case of ZOS not testing their things properly, nothing else.
It's interesting how I can tell based on that you either don't PvP much or don't play (or want to play) a bow build/dark flare magplar.
Not that the function doesn't affect other people, but those two (especially bow builds) are the most affected - PvP is practically unplayable.
That's to say, it'd be in top of your list too if you played one of these cast time oriented builds.
Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't call people cheaters for simply using this addon. Sheesh, that'd make me a cheater too
I call people cheaters for their attitudes, for trying to justify the existence of these API functions by saying things practically like "I dislike stealth, thus it's fine I ruin the game for people who do like it with this addon".
InvitationNotFound wrote: »
No. You are wrong. Punkbuster wasn't there to keep a game fair. It was there to prevent cheats / hacks (in general third party applications). Punkbuster didn't care if the game logic or whatever the developers implemented was fair. Those are two completely different things.
Feel free to read my other posts on why addons are part of the game and this isn't an issue (technically seen, you might not like the game play or whatever, but your complaint is the same as saying i do not like skill xyz for whatever reason as it is simply part of the game) as i wont repeat myself over and over again.
ZOS_RichLambert wrote: »As a heads up - in today's PTS patch, we've made an adjustment to the API that will have a direct impact on this addon (and others). Patch note as follows:
- Effects that last longer than 30 seconds now follow the same rules as effects that last less than 30 seconds: they are only available to player-made addons if they are cast by the player or cast on the player.
Kneighbors wrote: »
Look, I think you already realized that I don't play PvP in ESO from my previous post although beyond ESO I was strictly PvP player who played different PvP games for 20 years and participated in pretty big events with nice prices for first places. So I know a thing or two about how PvP game supposed to look like to be fair, skill based and competitive. In short: ESO PvP nowhere near that and will never be with one of the factors amateur developers and accepting community.
Kneighbors wrote: »But ok, not every PvP game must be serious. This is minor problem really.. The major problem is the direction of the game. Soon enough everyone will be using the same addons. Everyone will be having Miats. Everyone will have a warning on their screen and dodge seconds before they get a clue from where it is coming. Many skills will become obsolete. Noone will be using Snipe anymore. There will be builds without those skills at all, simply because they are no use anymore. Do you think this is cool? Well you will be there to check it out, not me. I'm not even going to touch it when I know I have to start by download add-on that is informing me on incoming attacks I don't even know which side they are coming from.
InvitationNotFound wrote: »
All i found in a few minutes in the initial Miat thread if I remember correctly. Guess that's more or less everything they considered worth changing. I think there were more comments but i can't find them. Btw. the thread should be full of analysis what the addon is exactly doing in which situation, so by simply reading through it, ZOS (should have) knew what the addon is about.
They´re hiding pretty well considering i´ve never met a player i thought was using cheatengine except for the weekend when everybody did.
On that note: Can we finally turn meteor into a spammable. Looked way too cool.
*lurks again*
About channeled attacks notifications.
This has nothing to do with the API functions per se.
The game supplies different events to game clients.
In this case the game supplies EVENT_COMBAT_EVENT with all appropriate information when a channel starts.
About ZOS review of the addon.
Besides already mentioned, in the result of the review they stopped providing EVENT_COMBAT_EVENT for stealthed heavy attacks channel start, but left all other abilities channel starts intact.
If that is not an indication of what should and shouldn't be in the game, i'm not sure what is:)
But carry on please
ps. They did as proper review of the addon as ZOS can do, because at that time they made a post on the forums describing what addon does in details (mostly correct details).
pps. You can't get info about opponents ultimate points, because all the functions that return those return nothing for anybody besides yourself.
*lurks again*
About channeled attacks notifications.
This has nothing to do with the API functions per se.
The game supplies different events to game clients.
In this case the game supplies EVENT_COMBAT_EVENT with all appropriate information when a channel starts.
About ZOS review of the addon.
Besides already mentioned, in the result of the review they stopped providing EVENT_COMBAT_EVENT for stealthed heavy attacks channel start, but left all other abilities channel starts intact.
If that is not an indication of what should and shouldn't be in the game, i'm not sure what is:)
But carry on please
ps. They did as proper review of the addon as ZOS can do, because at that time they made a post on the forums describing what addon does in details (mostly correct details).
pps. You can't get info about opponents ultimate points, because all the functions that return those return nothing for anybody besides yourself.
UnseenTruth wrote: »meanwhile
Downloads 51,893
Publius_Scipio wrote: »
Anything for that extra edge. PEDs, HGH, and roids injected: 35,675,901
Edit: Whoops, more like 45,035,675,901
The mentality is different in this one. People that wanted edge were the first one to go. Then time passed without repercussion or changes and then people that do not want disadvantage go.
It would be far different if this addon or similar were secretly used and abused (like it probably was all the time since 2014)
What makes you think they actually read our threads?
Just look at how all our player feedback gets implemented (example from this patch alone: Agony changes).
*lurks again*
About channeled attacks notifications.
This has nothing to do with the API functions per se.
The game supplies different events to game clients.
In this case the game supplies EVENT_COMBAT_EVENT with all appropriate information when a channel starts.
About ZOS review of the addon.
Besides already mentioned, in the result of the review they stopped providing EVENT_COMBAT_EVENT for stealthed heavy attacks channel start, but left all other abilities channel starts intact.
If that is not an indication of what should and shouldn't be in the game, i'm not sure what is:)
But carry on please
ps. They did as proper review of the addon as ZOS can do, because at that time they made a post on the forums describing what addon does in details (mostly correct details).
pps. You can't get info about opponents ultimate points, because all the functions that return those return nothing for anybody besides yourself.
That sounds more like an oversight than anything else.
Why else would they only remove heavy attacks and then leave the rest of the cast times alone?
I bet they thought removing that function would fix things, but as so often happens they were wrong.
Chances are they're still unaware your addon lets people see others' cast timers, wouldn't surprise me given how little they care about our feedback/threads/bug reports in general.
Publius_Scipio wrote: »
There are shady people out there in the world. This isn't new news to anyone. A video game is just a game, you don't go to jail, you get a ban. I think in ESO most "bans" are in actuality temporary suspensions if I am not mistaken, and any permanent bans were circumvented by simply purchasing the game again and creating a new account.
I don't believe ZOS is "stupid" as many seem to claim especially in these forums. I don't believe ZOS isn't aware of what players say in game or here on the forums. And I don't believe solutions (like ones for this API discussion) are simple or come easy. ESO has many systems that all work with one another and ZOS can't simply flip switches on or off and call it a day. If ZOS were to further restrict Miat's addon for example it might affect other things, other addons, that ZOS doesn't want to mess with.
I'd say that most likely sums up the truth and reality of the whole situation. I don't believe ZOS wouldn't agree that Miat's addon as is isn't an advantage to a player using it versus one who isn't.
As long as you're trying to justify something that you like, you are definitely going to find oversights and conspiracies all along:)
But good luck pushing your agenda.
I'd want to get any official response as well, since, unlike you i always need to know if i'm wasting my time making something better that will be gone at any moment.
That's quite uncomfortable:)
My current assumption is that they did what they wanted to do. Heavy attacks specifically were abused against addon users, unlike anything else.
But yet again, if you approach the subject from the point 'how make something stop' instead of analyzing 'why does it even exist' you'll get quite far in no time:)
So why is this thread on the PTS sub again?
InvitationNotFound wrote: »
Actually i saw that post he describes, as far as i remember.
I know what you're talking about, when you say they don't read or ignore us. certainly true to a certain extent. but usually when they answer they did a few things. furthermore, other people are involved, when it comes to the API. and currently i consider the guy responsible (or at least a team member) way more competent and communicative then the rest of zos (unfortunately you wont find him on the forums).
So no, everything indicates that they are okay with the current state.
No. You don't get to use the word "communicative" when after 15 pages & 87 agrees on the post we still have no word on this subject.
Nor the word "competent" after having this API loophole in the game for so long.