Macros - Against the rules?

  • Genuine Heather
    Captain
    Insider

    A while back, I purchased a nice gaming keyboard. I bought it mainly for the mechanical keys and the pretty lights. But I know it can also run keyboard macros. I've thought about setting up macros for some of the more tedious functions in Sea of Thieves, like storing/removing resources, filling a banana crate, etc.

    So my question is, would such use of keyboard macros be a violation of the game's rules? I wouldn't want to unwittingly break the rules and risk being banned. It's not clear to me if macro use is explicitly and always against the rules. Clarification would be appreciated.

    Then there's the less cut and dry issue...

    Assuming macro use isn't expressly against the rules...is it ethical in a shared-world, cross-platform game? As far as I know, Xbox users don't have the ability to use macros. Even other PC users without whiz-bang gaming keyboards may not have access to macros. So even if it's not a violation, should I voluntarily choose not to use the abilities my hardware provides? This PC and all its peripherals cost a lot more than even a top of the line Xbox. Am I entitled to benefit from that investment in Sea of Thieves? Or should I resist for the sake of fair-play?

    These are all open, unbiased questions. Let's talk about it.

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  • Algaram4x

    Use your gaming hardware how it was meant to be used, you didn’t modify it or change it your just using it how it’s designed

  • Chympa8785
    Captain
    Insider
    Founder

    I don't think you will be banned or something, but I think it will kick you from the game if you use more than 10 click on macro, something like that

  • Sgt Paloogoo
    Commander
    Insider

    Thankfully I don't know what a "Micro" is, so I don't have to give you potentially disastrous advice.

  • ENF0RCER
    Captain
    Insider
    Founder

    @genuine-heather The use of Keyboard Macros are not explitly agianst the rules as they sit in some what of a grey area. Macros can ethier be a feature of the device or come from a 3rd party application. If you 3rd party application interacts with the S.O.T in anyway then it is considered a MoD which is detectable and grounds for a ban. However if the Macro is a feature of the Keyboard itself which is what you described then it is not detectable and can't be banned. While it is not expressily agians't the rules it is a practice that is frowned upon but falls within the same argument as using an Elite Controller or playing on a Xbox on X/High end gaming Rig as you are giving yourself an advantage over other players. This is also in the on going argument of K/B versus Controler debate. Another Argument of the practice of pasting a cross hair on the screen also falls in the same ethical argument.

    We all do things that gives us advantages and in a skill based game ideally you want everybody to start on an even playing feild, but this is simply not feaseable. We are all unique so inherently some players will have advantages over others. Since you have obtianed a keyboard that is technically avialible for anyone to obtian it is not considered an offence. Unless you modified it or had it custom made would be another story. So no your all good but now someplayers will doubt your skillz.

  • Genuine Heather
    Captain
    Insider

    @enf0rcer said in Macros - Against the rules?:

    @genuine-heather The use of Keyboard Macros are not explitly agianst the rules as they sit in some what of a grey area. Macros can ethier be a feature of the device or come from a 3rd party application. If you 3rd party application interacts with the S.O.T in anyway then it is considered a MoD which is detectable and grounds for a ban.

    I believe there is a helper app that goes with the keyboard, but I doubt it would interact with SoT in any way. I think the macros are stored and fired directly from the keyboard. I don't know exactly since I haven't set it up. I'll have to investigate.

    So no your all good but now someplayers will doubt your skillz.

    I could not possibly care less if anybody doubts my "skillz." LOL! I never claimed to have any. I play Sea of Thieves for personal enjoyment, not to artificially inflate my ego. Let them doubt all they want, I'm not in competition with anyone.

  • ENF0RCER
    Captain
    Insider
    Founder

    @genuine-heather said in Macros - Against the rules?:

    @enf0rcer said in Macros - Against the rules?:

    @genuine-heather The use of Keyboard Macros are not explitly agianst the rules as they sit in some what of a grey area. Macros can ethier be a feature of the device or come from a 3rd party application. If you 3rd party application interacts with the S.O.T in anyway then it is considered a MoD which is detectable and grounds for a ban.

    I believe there is a helper app that goes with the keyboard, but I doubt it would interact with SoT in any way. I think the macros are stored and fired directly from the keyboard. I don't know exactly since I haven't set it up. I'll have to investigate.

    You didn't specify the Keyboard, but I'm fairly sure the Macros are stored in the board itself and tye helper app is just part of the firmware that allows you to configure and store the macros. I'm sure your all good.

    So no your all good but now someplayers will doubt your skillz.

    I could not possibly care less if anybody doubts my "skillz." LOL! I never claimed to have any. I play Sea of Thieves for personal enjoyment, not to artificially inflate my ego. Let them doubt all they want, I'm not in competition with anyone.

    You go Girl. I personally use a Professional Headset and i have used an Elite controler so player can doubt all the skillz they want but at the end of the day no one can question my Knowage of the game mechincs or my tactical prowess.

  • XRayLexx
    Lord
    Insider
    Founder

    As far as I am concerned anyone using a mouse/keyboard is already cheating and should be banned! :)

  • Kzoo Kid
    Marauder
    Insider

    I think macro use is unethical if not against the rules. You could use a macro to instantly loot barrels. In a PvP situation this, in my opinion, is borderline cheating (along with double shot macros). However, I personally don't see the problem in using macros in such a way that you aren't gaining advantage over other players. If it makes your experience better without ruining someone else's experience then have at it I say.

  • Boxcar Squidy
    Captain
    Insider

    If it's a feature of the keyboard then it's a feature of the keyboard.

    Just like how my PC gets me reliable 100+ fps in nearly all situations. Is it an advantage? Sure. Is it cheating? Nah.

    I think the double gun thing is unintended, I also think it will be handled with a short weapon switching delay. A macro to shoot switch shoot with a single button press does give you an advantage in some combat situations, but Rare can fix that on the code end to prevent it. Using a macro to speed load/unload barrels really is only a few micro seconds of an advantage and probably isn't worth worrying about, but those 1 frame deaths from full health due to double gun macros really annoy people so I expect they'll be dealt with.

    There's a lot more to SoT combat than having an insta win button in 1:1 combat. Once you fire those guns you are helpless until you reload. Plus hand guns don't sink ships.

    If you feel bad about using a macro in combat, don't feel bad, you are only cheating yourself, you'll never get better relying on a crutch like that. It'll get changed soon enough and then you'll need to learn other tricks. If you are only using a macro for other stuff I wouldn't worry, it makes no real difference.

    If you don't feel that using one is 'ethical' then just don't use that feature of your keyboard in this game.

  • RareCSM
    Lord
    Rare Employee

    Under the Xbox Code of Conduct, Terms of Use and Services Agreements, it is not permitted to tamper with the game or services in any un-authorised way, whether that is via Hardware such as Mouse and Keyboard or 3rd party software that emulates Macro functionality. As such, accounts can be terminated if found to be doing it.

    Hope that clears it up for you.

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