What specifically is allowed?

[Syclone]

I've been doing a bunch of research online as to what can get me banned and what can't. I want to be as careful as possible. I understand automation is not allowed. However I have read online that having a program send a modifier key + action key is against the ToS. Is that true? Such as Alt-1 for instance. I have a hard time believing that especially since I'd assume that programs like HotKeyNet would have to forward modifier+key even if you just want it to pass through to the focused window. The script needs to specifically be told to do that so wouldn't HKN be sending the main focus window a modifier+key in that instance anyways? So you wouldn't be able to use HKN at all.

Ideally I would just like the ability to send modifier+key to background windows. I may click on a character portrait to trigger a heal but it would trigger it by sending a background window a modifier+key.

Are we allowed to send 1 key press to multiple clients? i.e. 1 button press tells 2 mages to cast frostbolt.

Those of you who have been doing this for awhile without a ban/suspension. What kind of functionality have you been using?

[Xyl41]

You are able to do 1 action and have that action cause 1 action to occur in each WoW client. Your example, you can hit Alt-1 and have it go to all 5 clients you have up with no issues.

[Jabberie]

Don't Bot.
Don't do zone disruption.

Edit: I feel like I need to add this part

Do pay attention and be aware of your slots at all times


I've been doing a bunch of research online as to what can get me banned and what can't. I want to be as careful as possible. I understand automation is not allowed. However I have read online that having a program send a modifier key + action key is against the ToS. Is that true? Such as Alt-1 for instance. I have a hard time believing that especially since I'd assume that programs like HotKeyNet would have to forward modifier+key even if you just want it to pass through to the focused window. The script needs to specifically be told to do that so wouldn't HKN be sending the main focus window a modifier+key in that instance anyways? So you wouldn't be able to use HKN at all.

Ideally I would just like the ability to send modifier+key to background windows. I may click on a character portrait to trigger a heal but it would trigger it by sending a background window a modifier+key.

Are we allowed to send 1 key press to multiple clients? i.e. 1 button press tells 2 mages to cast frostbolt.

Those of you who have been doing this for awhile without a ban/suspension. What kind of functionality have you been using?

[Syclone]

I appreciate your responses. What about if-else blocks that are simply for hotkey convenience? For example if I used HotKeyNet to check if the mouse is within a rect on a window:
<If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 28 30 224 57>
<Else>

etc...

I ask because another user posted his response from a GM after having a ban uplifted. He states the following:


Borroq

Hello again, Gage.

When we last spoke, I'd requested some of our developers look into the situation. Because we couldn't eliminate the possibility of a mistake on our end, we opted to reopen each of your accounts.

While you're welcome to resume playing, I want to encourage you to abandon any third party software that does anything more advanced than key cloning. The moment there is any level of outboard scripting or automated interpretation/decision making, the line between multiboxing and botting has been crossed.

Thank you for your understanding, and I look forward to seeing you playing for years to come.Regards,

Supervisor Borroq

Wouldn't even the simplest if-else block fall under "The moment there is any level of outboard scripting or automated interpretation/decision making, the line between multiboxing and botting has been crossed."?

[Jabberie]

Botting is the use of software to control/react in the game without human interaction. This would also include repeater macros, commonly made on keyboard/mouse software.

Unless you're planning on coding Hotkeynet to interact with the game executable and/or memory in some way to create an automation, there is nothing wrong with it.

But then again, you're example is quite limited so hard to tell where you're going with it.

Last edit: You really shouldn't be going into something with this sort of mentality. Normal multiboxing does not even get close to botting and such.


I appreciate your responses. What about if-else blocks that are simply for hotkey convenience? For example if I used HotKeyNet to check if the mouse is within a rect on a window:
<If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 28 30 224 57>
<Else>

etc...

I ask because another user posted his response from a GM after having a ban uplifted. He states the following:

Wouldn't even the simplest if-else block fall under "The moment there is any level of outboard scripting or automated interpretation/decision making, the line between multiboxing and botting has been crossed."?

[Syclone]

Botting is the use of software to control/react in the game without human interaction. This would also include repeater macros, commonly made on keyboard/mouse software.

Unless you're planning on coding Hotkeynet to interact with the game executable and/or memory in some way to create an automation, there is nothing wrong with it.

But then again, you're example is quite limited so hard to tell where you're going with it.

Last edit: You really shouldn't be going into something with this sort of mentality. Normal multiboxing does not even get close to botting and such.

Perhaps I am being a bit too paranoid about basic multiboxing functionality.

My example is a snippet from HotKeyNet script that checks if the mouse is over a character portrait in game. Such that I can click/type a hotkey while the cursor is over a window region and have it trigger a corresponding macro to heal that specific group member on my healer.


<HotKey ScrollLockOn Button5>
<If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 28 30 224 57>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 1>
<Else If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 18 165 136 40>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 2>
<Else If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 18 240 136 40>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 3>
<Else If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 18 315 136 40>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 4>
<Else If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 18 390 136 40>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 5>
<Else>
<SendFocusWin>
<Key %Trigger%>

[Jabberie]

That's not doing what you said it does. It's not checking if you are over a character portrait. If it was, that would be interacting with the game in a bad way.

It's simply checking if you are over a certain section of the screen. You're making an overlay essentially.


Perhaps I am being a bit too paranoid about basic multiboxing functionality.

My example is a snippet from HotKeyNet script that checks if the mouse is over a character portrait in game. Such that I can click/type a hotkey while the cursor is over a window region and have it trigger a corresponding macro to heal that specific group member on my healer.


<HotKey ScrollLockOn Button5>
<If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 28 30 224 57>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 1>
<Else If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 18 165 136 40>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 2>
<Else If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 18 240 136 40>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 3>
<Else If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 18 315 136 40>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 4>
<Else If MouseIsOverWindowRect WoW1 18 390 136 40>
<SendLabel w2>
<Key Alt 5>
<Else>
<SendFocusWin>
<Key %Trigger%>

[JohnGabriel]

You cant bot without delays. Don't use delays in your code and you're fine.

- Send 10 keys to WoW at once, because of GCD WoW still only performs one action. Not botting.

- Send 1 key to WoW, delay, another key, delay, etc, WoW now performs multiple actions from your one keypress. Botting

An if-else will still only perform one action on the WoW client. Not botting.

[Jabberie]

it's hard to call the second one botting with just that example. It would be more keyboard macroing. The automation at that point is the same as the drinking bird toy. If you're watching the bird, you're not going to fail ingame testing if you're reported. (edit; I'm not condoning this at all)


I'd consider "Botting" as more complete automation primarily doing things based on input/knowledge of the game itself which shouldn't be possible for a 3rd party app. Interacting with memory or watching pixel changes for example.

People get hung up about the 1 button, 1 action philosophy but that is not what gets people banned/suspended.


You cant bot without delays. Don't use delays in your code and you're fine.

- Send 10 keys to WoW at once, because of GCD WoW still only performs one action. Not botting.

- Send 1 key to WoW, delay, another key, delay, etc, WoW now performs multiple actions from your one keypress. Botting

An if-else will still only perform one action on the WoW client. Not botting.

[Uhnknown]

https://us.battle.net/forums/en/wow/topic/18300113639?page=2#post-36 - There's a few Blue comments there, if you want to read over them to get an idea, but it's pretty much been covered here, and more than a few times at that.

[SubzerorE]

Alittle off topic but I want to say that Borroq is a really good guy to work with, so you were or your friend was lucky to be able to talk to him about the situation.