Formation - Finally found a way to get my guy to break /follow without pressing any additional keys

[Deshu]

This is more for 4 boxers since I can see easier ways to achieve this with 5 boxers.

I searched through the forums for this question a week ago and the posts I found stated that there was no way without doing movement (IE. manually moving your guy on the screen or using a movement key, which is 100% true). So I tried to find a way to achieve the following formation below using one single programmable macro button:

.....X
X...X...X

The problem with this one was the the middle guy on the back row would never break /follow since I just had the outside guys strafe left and right. So I incorporated a backwards/forwards movement with the middle guy. It looks like this:

(Starting Placement)
.....X
.....X (x3)

(Initial Movements)
.....X (#1 does not move)
..X.....X (#2 and #3 start to strafe left/right)
.....X (#4 moves backward to break follow)

(Finishing Movement)
.....X
X...X...X (#2 and #3 still strafe left/right as #4 moves forward into formation)


So far, this has worked beautifully and looks really cool in the process. Only thing is, #4 takes an extra second of time to get into formation, although considering my opening shots can be done while moving, it really doesn't hinder me in battle.

I use a Logitech G15 keyboard and key binding alternative movement keys to achieve this formation, if you're wanting to know.

Just wanted to share a solution I found that works! If it's been shown before, I apologize but I searched for this and did not see it prior to discovering it on my own.

[Talamarr]

I'm probably missing something. How is that not two key presses? How does #4 go back then forward in one key press?

You mentioned the programmable G15 macro; are you saying that your key binds to one keystroke for a second and then another keystroke for a second? If so, is that legal? I know introducing timed or paused events with programmable keyboards is a no-no but is this the same thing?

[Deshu]

I set up #4's keybindings in game like this:

Move Backward - Ctrl + Down Arrow
Move Forward - Ctrl + Up Arrow

Then I just programmed the G15 key to record the multiple keystrokes, so yes, it is more than 1 keypress, but there are no pauses or delays. Because the same movements are keybinded to the alts for their strafe left/strafe right. So they all move at once and finish at once.

As far as I know and have researched, this is legal and there'd be no reason it shouldn't be.

[Oswyn]

Isn't using one button to perform multiple button presses illegal?

[Deshu]

How so? I'm curious because I was told by another boxer that it was not, even shown how to setup formations. I'm not automating anything, I press the key to toggle it.

[HTeam]

He's pressing the same button twice and it alternates for #4 only. Everyone else just hops in the same direction twice.

Looks legal to me.

Something illegal would be press a button and move backward and a fraction of a second later move forward again..that's a no-no.

[Deshu]

He's pressing the same button twice and it alternates for #4 only. Everyone else just hops in the same direction twice.

Looks legal to me.

Something illegal would be press a button and move backward and a fraction of a second later move forward again..that's a no-no.Correct.When I said with one key I meant without pressing additional keys. It's still toggled. IE. - Push button twice.

[Talamarr]

He's pressing the same button twice and it alternates for #4 only. Everyone else just hops in the same direction twice.

Looks legal to me.

Something illegal would be press a button and move backward and a fraction of a second later move forward again..that's a no-no.

Unless I'm completely mis-understanding, he isn't pressing the button twice but doing what you described as a no-no. Again, I could just be misreading. Haven't had my cofee yet =)

Edit:

Correct.When I said with one key I meant without pressing additional keys. It's still toggled. IE. - Push button twice

Yup, I mis-understood :D MY BAD!

[Talamarr]

Honestly, I had no idea the G15 had a toggle feature like that. That's cool how you used it; I really need to get one.

[Deshu]

No. I keybinded their movements as such:

#2 - Strafe left (ctrl + down arrow), (ctrl + up arrow)
#3 - Strafe right (ctrl + down arrow), (ctrl + up arrow)
#4 - Backwards (ctrl + down arrow)
#4 - Forwards (ctrl + up arrow)

Then to I set the G15 button to toggle the two keys (ctrl + down) & (ctrl + up), so when you press and hold the G15 button they begin to move, release, press and hold again an they move again but into place. I see no reason why this isn't legal or could be considered automation. I'm having to press the same button for movement (which is no different than you pressing and holding your strafe left button). All I did was set it up so that my finger doesn't have to move off the 1 single button. I thought it was a neat thing that I've seen others post in the past on "how to?" and I wanted to share how I figured it out. There are no pauses or delays, I toggle the key (which is like the way a /castsequence macro would work).

Just requires being creative with keybindings really.

[Deshu]

Honestly, I had no idea the G15 had a toggle feature like that. That's cool how you used it; I really need to get one.When you go in to edit the macro it gives you the option to delay, pause, toggle, etc. Theoritcally, if I held the button down for too long they'd simply strafe off into the distance... so I guess it takes some timing but it's such a simple formation to use that I don't worry about timing because while my one finger is pressing that button my other finger is firing away at my target. The true main reason I wanted this formation was for the skilled use of traps. So I can place outer frost traps or a range of immolation traps (which are wckedly cool btw)!

[Talamarr]

I think what you are doing is fine. I took what you said "Then I just programmed the G15 key to record the multiple keystrokes" and not knowing about the toggle feature of the keyboard as something else. Carry on with your coolness ;)

[Knytestorme]

I'm having to press the same button for movement (which is no different than you pressing and holding your strafe left button). All I did was set it up so that my finger doesn't have to move off the 1 single button.
If you mean you just hold the key down the same way you would for moving forward for instance then this is considered automation by Blizz and has had posts about it from blues in CSF to confirm it. I argued against that for a while but then had an analogy pointed out to me that set me at ease that it would actually be automation.

[Talamarr]

I'm having to press the same button for movement (which is no different than you pressing and holding your strafe left button). All I did was set it up so that my finger doesn't have to move off the 1 single button.
If you mean you just hold the key down the same way you would for moving forward for instance then this is considered automation by Blizz and has had posts about it from blues in CSF to confirm it. I argued against that for a while but then had an analogy pointed out to me that set me at ease that it would actually be automation.

That's not what he's doing. He presses key X, it does one thing, releases, presses the same key X again and it does something different. Sort of like a castsequence but through the keyboard.

[Deshu]

I'm having to press the same button for movement (which is no different than you pressing and holding your strafe left button). All I did was set it up so that my finger doesn't have to move off the 1 single button.
If you mean you just hold the key down the same way you would for moving forward for instance then this is considered automation by Blizz and has had posts about it from blues in CSF to confirm it. I argued against that for a while but then had an analogy pointed out to me that set me at ease that it would actually be automation.

Do you happen to have a link to any information pertaining to this that would argue the fact that Blizzard calls it automation? Thanks!

*EDIT* I found Vynd's link... thanks.

[Deshu]

Keybindings
If the signal is identical but you have a different keybinding for the signal is that automation. Eg. If I push a button and one character moves left and another moves right.

"Fine. :)"

-Belfaire, Blizzard Poster [9] ('http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=5288579356&sid=1&pageNo=2#23')



Am I missing something? They say it is fine?

[Toned]

You're fine with what you're doing. It's more if you press key X and 2 toons strafe left and right, then like 1second later toon 3 moves back into formation or just taps back... Then that is automation.

The simple form is 1 key for 1 action (might be 3 different actions on 3 clients but it's 1 key for 1 input how your clients handle the input is different).

Your setup is 2 actions for 2 keypresses. The example I used above is multiple "timed" actions for 1 keypress which is a no-no.

[Sivier]

I'm using Hotkeynet at this moment. With only pressing my numpad 7 my 5 toons make a diamond form.

<hotkey NUMPAD7>
<sendpc local>
<sendwin "World of Warcraft">
<keyDown W>
<sendpc 192.168.1.4>
<sendwinm WoW2>
<keyDown E>
<sendwinm WoW1>
<keyDown Q>
<sendpc 192.168.1.5>
<sendwinm WoW2>
<keyDown S>
<sendwinm WoW1>
<key w>

<hotkeyUp NUMPAD7>
<sendpc local>
<sendwin "World of Warcraft">
<keyUp W>
<sendpc 192.168.1.4>
<sendwinm WoW2>
<keyUp E>
<sendwinm WoW1>
<keyUp Q>
<sendpc 192.168.1.5>
<sendwinm WoW2>
<keyUp S>

For the WoW1 on the 192.168.1.5 i didnt use a KeyDown, just a single Key W tap so he dont keep follow my leader. ^^