27 replies to this topic

[Magicbullet141]

Macro programs allow players to take full advantage of AC recycle times, letting a macro using player to spit a stream of projectiles effortlessly. For those who don't use macros, it is possible to achieve nearly the same rate of fire (can't beat a computer program's reflexes), but they can't put out a fast firing rate while maneuvering their mech. Many say "Macros don't give you a higher DPS, though". While this is true, those same people forget about the cockpit shake caused by being hit with AC fire. While being pelted by a macro ac/2 jager, aiming becomes exceptionally difficult. Macro programs are also used to cheat the Ultra AC/5 jam system, rapidly switching weapon groups to automatically unjam them.

Macros should be banned in order to give all players a level playing field.

[Koniving]

Magicbullet141, on 15 July 2013 - 02:50 AM, said:

Macro programs allow players to take full advantage of AC recycle times, letting a macro using player to spit a stream of projectiles effortlessly.

Actually, without using a macro you can beat said rate by simply holding down the trigger.

Also, aiming wasn't "difficult" back when AC/2s gave the same shake as AC/20s. Simply hold the mouse over the target. It's literally that simple even in the hailstorm demonstrated here.


Your aim doesn't bounce no matter how much your screen shakes.

The UAC/5 doesn't feature the manual unjam anymore, it's literally "let go of the trigger and wait 3 seconds" or "hold the trigger and wait up to 5 seconds." Just let go of the button. There's no way to "cheat" the jam system by quickly unjamming it. Instead like everyone else they just wait. Although someone using the macro can just cut their firing rate in half, trading half the UAC/5's DPS and reducing it to an AC/5 weighing an extra ton with 10 shots less per ton just to have 0.3 seconds faster firing time than a regular AC/5.

Also. Any player who wants can get a macro. http://www.autohotkey.com/ The program is free. The autocannons can never be fired faster than intended by PGI. Setting them to chainfire in a macro is basically a faster chainfire, lessens the pinpoint alpha, and furthermore reduces the PPC meta. Players using the macro on AC/2s are trading real damage for lower heat and risk of "missing" their shot.

For instance an AC/20 user who fires a single shot and misses now has to wait 4 seconds to fire again. That can cost them their life.

The use of macros fill in the gap of what's missing from MWO, weapon variants. For example AC/20s that fire 10 shots to deal a total 20 damage in a rapid burst.

Personally I used a macro earlier today to reduce the firing rate of 3 AC/2s to be that of 2 AC/2s, and in so doing I created a constant rate of fire of 1 AC/2 every 0.25 seconds (instead of 3 every 0.5 seconds), effectively cutting my dps by 1/3rd in favor of the awesome sound of an 18 ton machine gun on the side of my hunchback.

If you have an issue with the firing speed of the AC/2, you should bring it up in the game balance thread as an issue with the AC/2's firing speed.

Are you aware that chain fire is, in itself, a macro script? Would you have us ban chain fire too? Alpha strikes only?

Download Autohotkey.
Put this in the script at the bottom.

Spoiler

#SingleInstance Force
#InstallMouseHook
#InstallKeyBDHook

#IfWinActive ahk_class CryENGINE
Q::
while GetKeyState("Q","P")

{
send {3 down}
sleep 200
send {3 up}
send {4 down}
sleep 200
send {4 up}
send {5 down}
sleep 200
send {5 up}
sleep 200
}

Group any 3 weapons you want to "3, 4, 5" and press Q whenever you feel like venting.

In the meantime, if macros really gave an advantage then consider watching these to see the amazing advantages you'd get!




To be honest, even using that macro I have all 3 AC/2s grouped together on number 2, where I just right click when I need to be serious rather than play around. When it comes down to actually fighting, only a fool relies on the macro.

This Dragon btw, is made and recorded before I knew how to use a macro. It has always fired faster than the macros ever could. It's as simple as holding down 3 mouse buttons and works best if it's not done at the same time or precisely.

[Sgt Helmet]

As a AC and macro user, I must disagree:

#1: UAC jam cannot be "cheated" with macros. Well you can make a macro which fires them right after the recycle to prevent the double fire. So you get a shot away at exactly 1.1 sec intervals, thus no jamming. Still you get better overall rate of fire, by just double firing, so this actually doesn't increase it's DPS, just adds more reliability. (Please do correct me if circumventing jamming is possible anyways and turn me into "cheater" instantly )

#2: Cockpit shake + chainfire macro enables you to stand and actually deliver the damage needed to down a mech. Energy weapons deliver cycle worth of damage during 1sec period (or instantly with PPCs), so you can retreat to cover to wait for the weapon cycle to run. Only with AC20 and Gauss this is possible. So in order to ACs to be really effective you need to find really good firing position and stay exposed while firing. When firing a moving target it is almost impossible to keep the fire at the same location, so any target being fired upon should be able to move into cover before any fast firing ACs can bring it down.

#3: AC2 max fire rate with "chain mode" can be easily done without using a macro. Group weapons into 2 groups: first in group fire and second in chain fire. Use the chain group to fire few of the ACs in quick succession and then hold the groupfire button down. Weapons will fire "out of sync" with the group fire instantly when the CD is over. Exactly same behaviour that any macro provides. So only think the macros really aid in, is to fire the UAC without the ultramode and that actually gimps your damage output. (the ultra mode should have a toggle anyways, so all macro needs would be eliminated.) Macros only make this more convenient to get running and the interval of shots fired is regular.

So personally I do not see any advantage using a macro with ACs brings, compared to what can be achieved through mechanics that are already in game.

Only thing is UAC, but there is no point actually using it, just fire as much as you can while you have the target on sights and then move to cover to cool down while the jams are cleared.

If anyone one have an example how the macros can be used to gain edge, that can't be done with in game mechanics. Please do share.

[Ph30nix]

Magicbullet141, on 15 July 2013 - 02:50 AM, said:

Macro programs allow players to take full advantage of AC recycle times, letting a macro using player to spit a stream of projectiles effortlessly. For those who don't use macros, it is possible to achieve nearly the same rate of fire (can't beat a computer program's reflexes), but they can't put out a fast firing rate while maneuvering their mech. Many say "Macros don't give you a higher DPS, though". While this is true, those same people forget about the cockpit shake caused by being hit with AC fire. While being pelted by a macro ac/2 jager, aiming becomes exceptionally difficult. Macro programs are also used to cheat the Ultra AC/5 jam system, rapidly switching weapon groups to automatically unjam them.

Macros should be banned in order to give all players a level playing field.

you do know all you have to do is put all your ac/2's in group 1 then the remaining ac/2's in groups 2 thru 6. Drum your fingers on numbers 2 thru 6 then click 1 and hold. Boom instant chain fire with no macro. (this is essentially what the macros do for you)

also why the holy F are you sitting out in the open?

Edited by Ph30nix, 15 July 2013 - 03:28 AM.

[El Bandito]

Macros are way less influential in the battlefield than pin-point 40 damage Alphas.

[Tennex]

lol why can't the take advantage of the AC2's full DPS? (also i don't use a macro and i get full stream, by using the in game grouping system. its possible)

they pay the required critspace/tonnage/heat


every other weapon in this game takes full advantage of cycle times when using chain fire.

Edited by Tennex, 15 July 2013 - 05:39 AM.

[Mechteric]

You don't even need a macro when using 3 AC/5's or 2 or 4 AC2's, chain fire does it all for you!

[Hammerfinn]

All the macros do is--for UAC--act as an artificial metronome, and--for AC2--make it sound cool.

Neither of these is cheating. Maybe a bit cheap, but certainly not cheating.

[Randalf Yorgen]

Hammerfinn, on 15 July 2013 - 05:40 AM, said:

All the macros do is--for UAC--act as an artificial metronome, and--for AC2--make it sound cool.

Neither of these is cheating. Maybe a bit cheap, but certainly not cheating.

Like this game needs more players taking "Cheap" shots

[Farix]

Randalf Yorgen, on 15 July 2013 - 05:50 AM, said:

Like this game needs more players taking "Cheap" shots

Ouch, right into the rear CT.

[PanzerMagier]

Magicbullet141, on 15 July 2013 - 02:50 AM, said:

Macro programs allow players to take full advantage of AC recycle times, letting a macro using player to spit a stream of projectiles effortlessly. For those who don't use macros, it is possible to achieve nearly the same rate of fire (can't beat a computer program's reflexes), but they can't put out a fast firing rate while maneuvering their mech. Many say "Macros don't give you a higher DPS, though". While this is true, those same people forget about the cockpit shake caused by being hit with AC fire. While being pelted by a macro ac/2 jager, aiming becomes exceptionally difficult. Macro programs are also used to cheat the Ultra AC/5 jam system, rapidly switching weapon groups to automatically unjam them.

Macros should be banned in order to give all players a level playing field.

Should programmable mouses and keyboards be banned as well? Should surround sound headsets/speaker systems be banned? Yes let's ban all hardware that makes the game run smooth as well. Everyone gets 4 keyboard buttons and 2 mouse buttons.

Please, just stop posting, OP, if you had some clue of what's going on in the game, you'll have noticed that you can create an identical macro fire with ac2's if you group them in chainfire groups and hold the alpha strike button down. Macro's just make 2~3 buttons into 1.

[Monky]

The only thing macros do is let you fire UAC5's in a 'no jam' mode, but you do not benefit from the potential rate of fire they could give you. The correct answer isn't to ban macros (since it's impossible), but to enable a no jam mode for people even without macros.

As far as AC2's, all it does is make it visually more intimidating. Your point of aim doesn't change when being pummeled (just your view, and the difference is negligible), actual DPS is the same. I don't use macros, but I've fought many a macro user in similar builds and come out on top.

[IceSerpent]

Magicbullet141, on 15 July 2013 - 02:50 AM, said:

For those who don't use macros, it is possible to achieve nearly the same rate of fire (can't beat a computer program's reflexes),

You can achieve exactly the same RoF by simply holding the trigger down.

Quote

but they can't put out a fast firing rate while maneuvering their mech.

You can fire all weapons as fast as cooldowns / heat allows while maneuvering and torso twisting - moving mouse around doesn't prevent you from pressing other buttons.

Quote

Many say "Macros don't give you a higher DPS, though". While this is true, those same people forget about the cockpit shake caused by being hit with AC fire. While being pelted by a macro ac/2 jager, aiming becomes exceptionally difficult. Macro programs are also used to cheat the Ultra AC/5 jam system, rapidly switching weapon groups to automatically unjam them.

There's no way to "automatically unjam" UAC5, regardless of macros.

Quote

Macros should be banned in order to give all players a level playing field.

All players already have a level playing field, because everybody can create/use a macro if they want to. That being said, currently there are absolutely no in-game advantages that can be gained via use of macros.

[GODzillaGSPB]

I use a macro so that the wheel on my mouse can be used for zooming. It's very intuitive this way, a true advantage. And something that should be in the game. Right there alongside a usefull chainfire mode...

[Odins Fist]

Magicbullet141, on 15 July 2013 - 02:50 AM, said:

"Using A Macro Program Is Cheating"

No it's not, and not that I use MACROS (because I don't), but I have the ability, if I so choose..

You see i'm NOT playing MWO with a P.O.S. $7.99 Logicrap OEM 3 button mouse.

I spent $25.00 on sale for a 11 button programmable mouse, deal with it

If you want to ban all the players using Macros, then you have to ban all the hardware that supports it, meaning anyone that spent $25.00 or more for "decent" mouse, not counting the higher end mice.

So no, bad idea, actually an awful idea.

[verybad]

I don't feel like macro users are cheating, and I am not using them. It's simply a part of their equipment. I don't think it gives them a big, or really even any advantage, so I don't care about it.

[R Razor]

I feel sorry for people who are so desperate to win they'll use any and all available cheats (or cheap shot methods if you prefer) just to gain that slight advantage.

It must suck not getting to really enjoy the spirit of the game because you're more concerned about your ELO or K/D ratio. I bet it was fun growing up in your houses.

[Deathlike]

I like the OP's roll of bad threads.

It's hilariously bad, and is great train wreck fodder.

Please continue to make a fool of yourself. Thanks.

[Mystere]

Deathlike, on 15 July 2013 - 09:17 AM, said:

I like the OP's roll of bad threads.

It's hilariously bad, and is great train wreck fodder.

Please continue to make a fool of yourself. Thanks.

I think he's on a trolling spree.

[Deathlike]

Mystere, on 15 July 2013 - 09:36 AM, said:

I think he's on a trolling spree.

It looks like trolling, but it isn't really. You could argue it either way, but from the arguments he has, it easy to mock.