Is AutoHotKey OK? (NOT for macros or gameplay!)

MoonPile · January 25

I am wary of the new "AI" mod and do not want to get my account locked for anything stupid. I can't find anything in the ToS about AutoHotKey or keybinds.

I use AHK for normal keybinds totally unrelated to ESO gameplay, but they can get used while the game is running. For example instead of ALT-TAB I make AHK use SHIFT-TAB. Or some key combos spit out an ASCII symbol. That will not trigger anything, right?

...

On that note,
it would be really nice to use this addon, unless ZOS implements a toggle for accessibility:
https://www.esoui.com/downloads/info537-AutoSprintHotkey.html
I don't use it; as I understand it, that is the kind of thing that could get flagged?

Kappachi · January 25

one key press per one action is typically mmo policy, i think that should apply here. Now if you press one button and it does two buttons at once you are absolutely breaking the rules with macro software.

Desiato · January 25

The "AI moderation" only relates to chat, not cheat mitigation.

You'd probably be okay as things stand, but in general it's a bad idea to use ahk when playing online games IMO. You never know when something may become problematic to the devs, resulting in a crackdown you could get caught up in.

TaSheen · January 25

WoW absolutely did NOT want anyone using AHK (that was years ago, haven't played for a decade). RIFT didn't seem to care.

Orbital78 · January 26

TaSheen wrote: »

WoW absolutely did NOT want anyone using AHK (that was years ago, haven't played for a decade). RIFT didn't seem to care.

Rift had built in custom actions/macros?

Danikat · January 26

You are definitely allowed to change keybindings, either within the game or using 3rd party software. For example a lot of PC players have mice with extra buttons and will use the software that comes with the mouse to bind actions in the game to those buttons.

So things like changing an action to use shift+tab instead of alt+tab (or even to just use 1 button) is definitely ok.

The terms of service say "Third-party tools, the use of "bots", "speed hacks", "deep-link", "page-scrape", "robot", "spider", algorithms or other programs that copy or monitor any part of the Services (including, but not limited to, the Game(s) and/or forums), software that transmits, manipulates, or distributes (including, but not limited to, "mirroring") the data stream or any aspect of the Services to another computer, server websites or other publication or distribution media, or software that permits You to access, receive, play or use Services without human input are examples of methods not authorized by ZeniMax." (It's in section 9, Your Use of the Service.)

So the important thing is you cannot play without human input. Changing a held key to a toggle doesn't do that because it still requires human input to start and stop it.

But for example if you set up a script so you push 1 key and your character uses 2-3 skills one after the other, without any other input that would be against the rules. Or even if you set something up to post your guild advert in chat once per minute while you're off making lunch or whatever.

TaSheen · January 26

Orbital78 wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

WoW absolutely did NOT want anyone using AHK (that was years ago, haven't played for a decade). RIFT didn't seem to care.

Rift had built in custom actions/macros?

Did it? I don't remember now....

MorganaLaVey · January 27

Kappachi wrote: »

one key press per one action is typically mmo policy, i think that should apply here. Now if you press one button and it does two buttons at once you are absolutely breaking the rules with macro software.

There are many addons that automate things like crafting dailys, puting stuff in bank, repeairgear, swap gear, etc.

Orbital78 · January 27

TaSheen wrote: »

Orbital78 wrote: »

TaSheen wrote: »

WoW absolutely did NOT want anyone using AHK (that was years ago, haven't played for a decade). RIFT didn't seem to care.

Rift had built in custom actions/macros?

Did it? I don't remember now....

It has been quite awhile since I played too. I remember there was a way to add a light attack to custom actions. It boosted my dps. Rift had a much more simplified system though. I remember you could basically switch from dps to tank just by switching armor.

Dragonnord · January 27

Use it at your own risk.

If the controls option is not in the game to the point that you have to use a third party software that IS NOT APPROVED by ZOS then you are probably against ToS.

Addons are third party software embraced and APPROVED by ZOS.

CameraBeardThePirate · January 27

MorganaLaVey wrote: »

Kappachi wrote: »

one key press per one action is typically mmo policy, i think that should apply here. Now if you press one button and it does two buttons at once you are absolutely breaking the rules with macro software.

There are many addons that automate things like crafting dailys, puting stuff in bank, repeairgear, swap gear, etc.

Sure, but those are explicitly allowed through what ZOS allows in the Addon API. ZOS gets to pick what addons can or can't do through the API.

When they don't like something an addon is doing, they remove the API (see Miat's no longer alerting you about incoming projectiles/heavy attacks) or balance an interaction to nullify the addon (see all the changes they made to Arena weapons to prevent gear swap hotkeys at the beginning of fights).

MoonPile · January 27

Danikat wrote: »

You are definitely allowed to change keybindings, either within the game or using 3rd party software. For example a lot of PC players have mice with extra buttons and will use the software that comes with the mouse to bind actions in the game to those buttons.

So things like changing an action to use shift+tab instead of alt+tab (or even to just use 1 button) is definitely ok.

The terms of service say "Third-party tools, the use of "bots", "speed hacks", "deep-link", "page-scrape", "robot", "spider", algorithms or other programs that copy or monitor any part of the Services (including, but not limited to, the Game(s) and/or forums), software that transmits, manipulates, or distributes (including, but not limited to, "mirroring") the data stream or any aspect of the Services to another computer, server websites or other publication or distribution media, or software that permits You to access, receive, play or use Services without human input are examples of methods not authorized by ZeniMax." (It's in section 9, Your Use of the Service.)

So the important thing is you cannot play without human input. Changing a held key to a toggle doesn't do that because it still requires human input to start and stop it.

But for example if you set up a script so you push 1 key and your character uses 2-3 skills one after the other, without any other input that would be against the rules. Or even if you set something up to post your guild advert in chat once per minute while you're off making lunch or whatever.

Helpful comment; thank you for quoting that part of the ToS.