Just looking to get a ruling before I use something, recently found my keyboard has a function in which I can hold down a key and it will repeatedly press that button.
Not sure as of yet where or how I could find a use for this, but if I did/do, is this considered okay, rather than spamming a button I can hold it down.
EDIT - can also program macros into a single key, eg I press “1” and the keyboard will start a preset macro, eg it auto presses 1 2 3 4 in sequence.
while I can see this being abusable, I’m wondering if it’s allowed for anything, obviously I’d be playing it myself and it doesn’t move around looting or finding mobs, just for combat rotations.
Yes, you would be cheating by using any of the examples you mentioned.
In very generic terms: one key press = one action. No repeating it multiple times, doing multiple keys with single keypress etc.
While with my edit, I said I can see the macro part as being abusable, and pretty sure that wouldn’t be allowed and I wouldn’t feel comfortable using it either, the one key press = one action argument is an old outdated one. You can make macros in game that do more than that. eg pop multiple CD’s and using an attack, or classes with pets can macro that the char does one thing and issues pet commands with same key press.
The one I’m more curious about/interested in, is holding down the key and it repeating that action, provided it’s a single action. Best example I can think of atm is a mage in classic WoW holding down frostbolt, or a warlock holding down shadowbolt.
EDIT - Typo
As a general rule, the staff will not confirm if something is cheating or not (there have been exceptions), they usually say that if you have to ask, you probably shouldn’t be doing it.
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But it’s still the best rule to go by. Macros on keyboards count as botting and you can be banned for them, basically anything that does more than one thing with one press, especially with pauses.
I can’t see a difference between bashing a key repeatedly and holding it down, but I’ve been wrong about automation before.
I personally wouldn’t class holding a key down so it auto repeats, but Blizzard might, especially as the repeats would be at very specific and regular predictable intervals.
I’m not sure but I think Blizzard have designed the game so it won’t repeat if held down.
People have been banned in the past for using keyboard macros, so no, I would not risk it. There’s a chance you’ll go under the radar, but if there’s even a slight chance I’d lose my account, I would more than likely stay away from it.
There was a blue post in the US forums just yesterday that should answer the question: https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wow/t/recently-unbanned/535923/16
Esp. the last part:
If you can’t do something like a macro ingame - don’t do it through a program. The rule of thumb is always this. A program or hardware may allow you to string together things you couldn’t ordinarily do ingame, but don’t.
This is perfect. thank you.