Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?

  • Kapitan Klaps
    Captain
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    I keep on running on other PC folks who use macros to do instant kills. Getting 1 shot killed from a distance without an animation because some PC players need every advantage they can get is really getting annoying. Isn't it enough that you're using M&K and have other perks? I play on PC most of the time, but the day cross-play would be optional I'd switch to console without looking back.

    Rare please do one of the following:

    • fix animation canceling, this is solely PC exploit (one of many)
    • make cross-play optional (because the list of advantages that ruin the experience is too long)

    Using macros to cancel animations is an EXPLOIT AND SHOULD RESULT IN A PERMA BAN.
    Is there anything being done in this matter or you'll just turn a blind eye like with other PC advantages/exploits?

    UPDATE: I am aware that you can switch weapons really fast without macros. What I'm describing here is being empty handed and then shooting 2 bullets that actually become one bullet because they're both shots in 0.05 second or so. This is easy to spot and is physically impossible without a macro.

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  • Sir SaltyBeard
    Ship Mate

    @captain-surgee i have to agree here. It's insane that we have to mingle with the PC people from the onset and now all of them use this strat.

    Even of Rare increases the switching time between weapons, PC wil still be more accurate. Instead of being killed in 0.24 seconds you will now get killed in 1.24 seconds (or however long they make the switching time).

    They will have to remove the ability to weild two guns if they want to make a difference.

  • SquallyCircle7
    Marauder

    a little disappointing that rare has never acknowledged their awareness of cheats or exploits. i still have faith that they are working behind the scenes, but i'd like some assurances. this is exactly the kind of case that needs the founders involvement. these exploits need to be fleshed out by our more talented pirates and demonstrated to the devs so they can adapt.

  • VilliEldr007
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    I think sword should be default and second weapon a firing one.

  • Guepard4
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    Not only in PC. Macros can be used even in Xbox.

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @guepard4 said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    Not only in PC. Macros can be used even in Xbox.

    No you can't. On the elite controller, you can assign 2 button combination to the special handles at the back, but all it does is it presses two assigned buttons at an exact same time. It's not a macro. It doesn't work. Please don't spread misinformation.

  • XxHypnoToadx
    Master
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    Can someone explain this to me like a two year old lol i think what i'm getting is they (pc users) can immediately switch weapons?

    apologies for my ignorance.

  • Musicmee
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    Deckhand

    @hailhypnotoad1 Ahoy matey!

    Yeah, macros allow programmatical button presses/key combinations without much user input so allowing for faster weapon switching... this is common practice in PC gaming as it enables you to outplay those that don't have macros set up.

  • Admiral RRRSole

    @sir-saltybeard said

    i have to agree here. It's insane that we have to mingle with the PC people from the onset

    What are we, freaking lepers?
    Have fun making games on your console.

    and now all of them use this strat.

    Um, you might want to hold up there making this accusation.

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @hailhypnotoad1 to be more specific. All pc player has to do is aim at you and press a macro button and you're dead even from quite long distance. Pressing macri will trigger (in most cases this is the setup) a chain of predifined actions:
    -take out a pistol
    -shoot
    -switch to sniper
    -shoot

    This all will happen in split second. So fast that you won't see any animations, just a bullet come out of players body amd yourself hitting the ground . Two weapons shoot at almost exactly same time.

  • XxMrVincexX
    Ship Mate
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    @captain-surgee I agree with this too... tonight i was on a gallion with a 4 men crew, all experienced players. But we got killed and sunk 3 times by one guy (pc player) on another gallion.
    Once I was on the ship and he just killed me with full health in one shot. And some minutes later from a long distance in the water... How is that possible?

    I sailed back again on my own after my crew ragequited because i just wanted to know his name, so i recorded it.

  • DrunkPunk138
    Master
    Founder

    @captain-surgee said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @hailhypnotoad1 to be more specific. All pc player has to do is aim at you and press a macro button and you're dead even from quite long distance. Pressing macri will trigger (in most cases this is the setup) a chain of predifined actions:
    -take out a pistol
    -shoot
    -switch to sniper
    -shoot

    This all will happen in split second. So fast that you won't see any animations, just a bullet come out of players body amd yourself hitting the ground . Two weapons shoot at almost exactly same time.

    You can do this without a macro, as well, with quite a bit of ease on PC. The frustrating thing to me, is that this only occurs with weapons. Other items require the full animation to use them. If I don't wait long enough to press M1 when I switch from a shovel to a spyglass, I will dig into the ground. Or if I try to switch from my pistol to a map/spyglass/whatever and press M1 too quickly, my pistol will fire. Consistency here would be fantastic. Or, even better, they should remove the cooldown from using non-weapon items after a switch and enforce it with guns. At the very least, it certainly should not be possible with weapons.

  • XxHypnoToadx
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    @captain-surgee Woah....if that's accurate (not questioning you) that is messed up dude. I mean i don't particularly get wrapped up in the crossplay debate. where my reservations center around the framerate differences/sensitivity but on top of that...THIS damn dude that's a little concerning.

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @xxmrvincexx said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee I agree with this too... tonight i was on a gallion with a 4 men crew, all experienced players. But we got killed and sunk 3 times by one guy (pc player) on another gallion.
    Once I was on the ship and he just killed me with full health in one shot. And some minutes later from a long distance in the water... How is that possible?

    I sailed back again on my own after my crew ragequited because i just wanted to know his name, so i recorded it.

    That's the best thing to do. From now on I'll be recording every Macro user and sending a report with video evidence. I will also add them to my friendlist to see if they're still playing SoT. I better see some banhammer action, Rare. Joe, you specifically mentioned time and time again that Rare has no mercy for cheaters or people who use exploits and 3rd party apps that give in-game advantages. Walk the talk.

  • Gloog
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    @drunkpunk138 said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @hailhypnotoad1 to be more specific. All pc player has to do is aim at you and press a macro button and you're dead even from quite long distance. Pressing macri will trigger (in most cases this is the setup) a chain of predifined actions:
    -take out a pistol
    -shoot
    -switch to sniper
    -shoot

    This all will happen in split second. So fast that you won't see any animations, just a bullet come out of players body amd yourself hitting the ground . Two weapons shoot at almost exactly same time.

    You can do this without a macro, as well, with quite a bit of ease on PC. The frustrating thing to me, is that this only occurs with weapons. Other items require the full animation to use them. If I don't wait long enough to press M1 when I switch from a shovel to a spyglass, I will dig into the ground. Or if I try to switch from my pistol to a map/spyglass/whatever and press M1 too quickly, my pistol will fire. Consistency here would be fantastic. Or, even better, they should remove the cooldown from using non-weapon items after a switch and enforce it with guns. At the very least, it certainly should not be possible with weapons.

    Pretty sure it can be done with Xbox as well? I don't think people on this thread are understanding macro use. A macro will unload ten cannon balls with one button, nothing to do with weapon swapping.

  • DrunkPunk138
    Master
    Founder

    @gloog said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @drunkpunk138 said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @hailhypnotoad1 to be more specific. All pc player has to do is aim at you and press a macro button and you're dead even from quite long distance. Pressing macri will trigger (in most cases this is the setup) a chain of predifined actions:
    -take out a pistol
    -shoot
    -switch to sniper
    -shoot

    This all will happen in split second. So fast that you won't see any animations, just a bullet come out of players body amd yourself hitting the ground . Two weapons shoot at almost exactly same time.

    You can do this without a macro, as well, with quite a bit of ease on PC. The frustrating thing to me, is that this only occurs with weapons. Other items require the full animation to use them. If I don't wait long enough to press M1 when I switch from a shovel to a spyglass, I will dig into the ground. Or if I try to switch from my pistol to a map/spyglass/whatever and press M1 too quickly, my pistol will fire. Consistency here would be fantastic. Or, even better, they should remove the cooldown from using non-weapon items after a switch and enforce it with guns. At the very least, it certainly should not be possible with weapons.

    Pretty sure it can be done with Xbox as well? I don't think people on this thread are understanding macro use. A macro will unload ten cannon balls with one button, nothing to do with weapon swapping.

    It absolutely can be done on the Xbox, with third party peripherals. I'm not sure if it's possible without, as I currently do not own an Xbox controller.

  • Dreamcrusher401
    Commander
    Insider

    I haven't been very vocal about this problem but it seems to be happening to me almost nightly where I'm one-shotted across the deck before I can even see the weapon. These people are usually quick to tell you about how they are the "PC m*********e" as they cheat.

    With that being said, PC players (I'm an Xbox player) are generally a pleasure to have in my crew as long as they can keep that m*********e junk to themselves, I mean it gets really old. I am equally disapointed when SOME PC players will tell me bluntly they don't want me in their crew when I am searching LFG, because they want they're entire crew using exploits.

    I will not go as far as to say ALL PC players are doing this, but word travels fast and many are doing it now. I would never want cross platform to be lost , but I do think it's nonsense that the "m*********e" who already have a good advantage over us X-Boxers need to do this.

    Please stop thinking we are less skilled than you. I own a nice gaming PC, but when I play these types of games, and after a 14 hour day of sitting a desk, I really don't want to be using a KB&M in my chill time.

    I just want a fair fight please.

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @hailhypnotoad1 said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee Woah....if that's accurate (not questioning you) that is messed up dude. I mean i don't particularly get wrapped up in the crossplay debate. where my reservations center around the framerate differences/sensitivity but on top of that...THIS damn dude that's a little concerning.

    Unfortunately that's how it works. A lot of PC players will just do about anything to get an edge and produce an unfair fight. That was the main reason I switched to consoles for online gaming. Pc folks, you've got invited to xbox network - don't destroy the experience for others, play fair.

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @drunkpunk138 said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @gloog said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @drunkpunk138 said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @hailhypnotoad1 to be more specific. All pc player has to do is aim at you and press a macro button and you're dead even from quite long distance. Pressing macri will trigger (in most cases this is the setup) a chain of predifined actions:
    -take out a pistol
    -shoot
    -switch to sniper
    -shoot

    This all will happen in split second. So fast that you won't see any animations, just a bullet come out of players body amd yourself hitting the ground . Two weapons shoot at almost exactly same time.

    You can do this without a macro, as well, with quite a bit of ease on PC. The frustrating thing to me, is that this only occurs with weapons. Other items require the full animation to use them. If I don't wait long enough to press M1 when I switch from a shovel to a spyglass, I will dig into the ground. Or if I try to switch from my pistol to a map/spyglass/whatever and press M1 too quickly, my pistol will fire. Consistency here would be fantastic. Or, even better, they should remove the cooldown from using non-weapon items after a switch and enforce it with guns. At the very least, it certainly should not be possible with weapons.

    Pretty sure it can be done with Xbox as well? I don't think people on this thread are understanding macro use. A macro will unload ten cannon balls with one button, nothing to do with weapon swapping.

    It absolutely can be done on the Xbox, with third party peripherals. I'm not sure if it's possible without, as I currently do not own an Xbox controller.

    You're talking here about XIM keyboard & mouse. All it is is a keyboard and mouse. All you can do with it is press buttons fast. For macros you need third party app and these don't exist for xbox. Also just about no one owns XIM when you look at total xbox user base. Console gamers just don't care. You might bump into one in a million that will use M&K converter to get better aim but that's nothing.

  • xCALYPT0x
    Master
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    Boatswain

    @captain-surgee Uhm, I know this is an old example but I had a controller on the PS2 that had macro functionality so I would definitely think it's possible with today's xbox controllers.

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @gloog said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @drunkpunk138 said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @hailhypnotoad1 to be more specific. All pc player has to do is aim at you and press a macro button and you're dead even from quite long distance. Pressing macri will trigger (in most cases this is the setup) a chain of predifined actions:
    -take out a pistol
    -shoot
    -switch to sniper
    -shoot

    This all will happen in split second. So fast that you won't see any animations, just a bullet come out of players body amd yourself hitting the ground . Two weapons shoot at almost exactly same time.

    You can do this without a macro, as well, with quite a bit of ease on PC. The frustrating thing to me, is that this only occurs with weapons. Other items require the full animation to use them. If I don't wait long enough to press M1 when I switch from a shovel to a spyglass, I will dig into the ground. Or if I try to switch from my pistol to a map/spyglass/whatever and press M1 too quickly, my pistol will fire. Consistency here would be fantastic. Or, even better, they should remove the cooldown from using non-weapon items after a switch and enforce it with guns. At the very least, it certainly should not be possible with weapons.

    Pretty sure it can be done with Xbox as well? I don't think people on this thread are understanding macro use. A macro will unload ten cannon balls with one button, nothing to do with weapon swapping.

    You're wrong. Macros are predefined gestures. It has everything to do with weapons swapping and that's how PC playsrs use it. Unloading 10 cannonballs very fast can be done with autofire on elite controller but it won't help you with weapon swapping.

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @xcalypt0x said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee Uhm, I know this is an old example but I had a controller on the PS2 that had macro functionality so I would definitely think it's possible with today's xbox controllers.

    You must be mistaking it with hotkey mapper. Pretty sure real macros don't exist on xbox. Google it.

  • xCALYPT0x
    Master
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    Boatswain

    @captain-surgee How are you defining macro in this case?

  • Admiral RRRSole

    @captain-surgee said

    Also just about no one owns XIM when you look at total xbox user base. Console gamers just don't care. You might bump into one in a million that will use M&K converter to get better aim but that's nothing.

    And you know this because these figures are posted where?

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @xcalypt0x said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee How are you defining macro in this case?

    Look at my previous comment. I explain it in detail there. It's a chain of actions that are triggered one by one extremely fast, not at the same time (it looks like it tho).

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @admiral-rrrsole said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee said

    Also just about no one owns XIM when you look at total xbox user base. Console gamers just don't care. You might bump into one in a million that will use M&K converter to get better aim but that's nothing.

    And you know this because these figures are posted where?

    I won't really be debating that becuase you're grasping straws and looking for any argument. Playing on consoles in competotive games online for over a decade can tells me a lot about the community. You can spot mojse&keyboard user easily and back in the day they were getting banned (nowdays they still do in some games) you can also look up sales on amazon as an example. It's compatibile with every console yet sales are extremely poor. Anyway, the point of this thread is not to find proof that you can maybe use macro on consoles by doing some dark magic - it's to prevent the use of macros all together and make that banhammer do the job. Situation with macros is an exploit, according to rare exploits will result in ban. I wanna see macro users getting banned. Exploits like these, cheats and other advantages did not exist before forced cross-play. Rare decided to leave it on so they should clean the filth it brought to the xbox network. I'm all for crossplay if everyone will play fair.

  • SquallyCircle7
    Marauder

    speaking of the latest exploits, has anyone seen one where the entire contents of a storage barrel can be depleted at once? this has happened twice recently, and is potentially even more game breaking. your ship and crew are instantly toast if a boarder strips you of all planks or cannonballs.

  • xCALYPT0x
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    @captain-surgee Right so the controller had a button that sent a rapid fire r2 press. Which would be considered a macro.

  • Admiral RRRSole

    @captain-surgee No mate, I'm not after an argument but you can't just pluck figures from your stern and call it fact. Is Amazon the only place to buy this c**p? No, so even if you can track one company it doesn't account for all.

    I'm tired of reading "all PC players" this and "all PC players" that, garbage.

    When people use exploits and cheats it effects all of us, not just console players.
    By all means record and report any suspicious activity. I'm all for that.
    I am a PC gamer and I video record all game sessions for the purpose of finding cheaters or bugs.
    As they say, "It's too late to shut the gate after the horse has already bolted".

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @xcalypt0x no, thats autofire and that's not the issue with SoT. Autofire won't let you shoot 2 guns at the same time.

  • CallMeBackdrafT
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    I only use “macros” when afking on a ship full of friends and solely after their consent is i need to step away for 10 min+

    However i i do have another hardware advantage with my mouse i can set it the scroll wheel to spin freely (without the clicky steps) this means i can switch REALLY fast between weapons continuosly and whilst doing so if i am holding two loaded guns and button mash my left mouse button i can shoot twice within a matter of milliseconds.

    This is not a macro, not against any ToS and just something my mouse can do (and pretty much any mid to high end logitech mouse).

    I dont use it, because i don’t need it but it is a viable advantage still

  • Kapitan Klaps
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    @admiral-rrrsole said in Rare, what are you doing to combat makros on PC?:

    @captain-surgee No mate, I'm not after an argument but you can't just pluck figures from your stern and call it fact. Is Amazon the only place to buy this c**p? No, so even if you can track one company it doesn't account for all.

    I'm tired of reading "all PC players" this and "all PC players" that, garbage.

    When people use exploits and cheats it effects all of us, not just console players.
    By all means record and report any suspicious activity. I'm all for that.
    I am a PC gamer and I video record all game sessions for the purpose of finding cheaters or bugs.
    As they say, "It's too late to shut the gate after the horse has already bolted".

    That's why I don't say "all pc players" but "a lot", "many" etc. The reason why many console gamers go out and say "all pc players" is just because they're not used to all of this pc vs xbox/cheats/advantages issues. Cheating is impossible on xbox (some exploits are obviously possible) 360 times are over, there is no jailbreak, everyone have pretry much same framerate, controler, hardware. It's a norm in console world. You can be sure you have the same chances of winning as the other guy. Now with SoT out and it's forced cross-play, everything is going downhill. Cheats, pc exclusive exploits, tons of advantages and Rare does nothing except talking how they won't allow anyone having any advantages (duh!). I understand what you're saying, but you also have to understand what position console players are in. We just wanna play in peace and not worry that we might bump into a pc player and lose everything in an unfair fight. I've tried both sides (I was a hardcore PC gamer before) and these issues remind me why I don't wanna play on PC online anymore. It's just two different worlds. I'm glad you're trying to clean it up a little, however we can't do a thing if Rare won't step up.

  • xCALYPT0x
    Master
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    Boatswain

    @captain-surgee Right but it could just as easily be made to press r2, y, r2 very fast.

  • Orgrum
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    @xcalypt0x are you suggesting using a ps2 controller on Xbox?

  • Admiral RRRSole

    @captain-surgee said

    That's why I don't say "all pc players" but "a lot", "many" etc. The reason why many console gamers go out and say "all pc players" is just because they're not used to all of this pc vs xbox/cheats/advantages issues. Cheating is impossible on xbox (some exploits are obviously possible) 360 times are over, there is no jailbreak, everyone have pretry much same framerate, controler, hardware. It's a norm in console world. You can be sure you have the same chances of winning as the other guy. Now with SoT out and it's forced cross-play, everything is going downhill. Cheats, pc exclusive exploits, tons of advantages and Rare does nothing except talking how they won't allow anyone having any advantages (duh!). I understand what you're saying, but you also have to understand what position console players are in. We just wanna play in peace and not worry that we might bump into a pc player and lose everything in an unfair fight. I've tried both sides (I was a hardcore PC gamer before) and these issues remind me why I don't wanna play on PC online anymore. It's just two different worlds. I'm glad you're trying to clean it up a little, however we can't do a thing if Rare won't step up.

    Fair call but even then you said "We just wanna play in peace and not worry that we might bump into a pc player and lose everything in an unfair fight." were as you could have said "We just wanna play in peace and not lose everything in an unfair fight.".

    You also made it sound like PC gamers are intruding on video gaming when it's quite the opposite as PC gaming has been out far longer. lol
    We've had to tolerate these cheaters since prior to the the new millennium where as Micro$oft have only just recently cut the Xbox users from it's apron strings.
    Yeah, welcome to our world.

    Just for the record, I have never used macros or cheats in multiplayer games. I don't have any third party enhancements.

    At the risk of going off-topic, but as you've mentioned it I'll reply.
    Don't get me started on frame rates. lol I'm lucky to hit 20 fps. It's usually around 15 fps on my system. Not all PC gamers can afford a kick-a*s gaming system.
    I have posted a few video clips here displaying my frame rate (and ping 300+) on unrelated game-play topics.

    Also another advantage no Xbox player seems to mention is there huge 4k family TV screen compared to my 19" monitor. Geez it would be nice to be able to actually see in a video game. Not only for ships on the horizon instead of a blur of grey pixels that could be anything, but treasure maps are also scaled down considerably. Pretty much like how text messages are hard to read on Xbox.

    But anyway, I'm 100% for stopping any exploit, advantage or cheats and I agree that Rare does need to step up. But alas, that usually falls onto PC users to make cheat detection programs and anti hacks.
    Game developers very rarely (if at all) spend any time or effort into combating cheats.

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