In my opinion, AHK is illegal.

[hapiguy314]

Hopefully there is a way to program AHK so that it doesnt duplicate the keystroke on both clients, but only sends it to the background client. If there isnt, i would appreciate any advice on the other ways to control both characters.

For what it's worth - this is how I use AHK on my priest. Keystrokes on the numberpad are only sent to the Priest WoW Client window.

My regular 1 to = keys are not sent to the 2nd client because my paladin presses a myriad of these keys to maintain agro and what have you. AHK on my set up is only sent to the 2nd client window.

However, I don't understand how being sent to one or both is any different. You're point was that it's illegal because it's automatically sent to another window without you having to go to that window. :roll:

Eitherway dude, if you are going to get banned because of AHK, they're not going to check whether you are only sending it to one window or both -they'll just check whether you have AHK running and bam! :twisted:

[Formulaone]

Ok so in summary:

I realize that this is just one GM's response, and that he may or may not know what he is talking about. It seems contradictory that voice-activation inputs are ok but AHK duplicating keystrokes to both instances of WoW isnt. It also seems contradictory that using one keystroke to perform the actions of multiple keystrokes is illegal, yet you can do this with the in-game macro system which certainly isnt illegal. So take it for what its worth. If you have been using AHK for a while without any issues from GM's, or you've had a GM tell you something different, more power to you. Personally I will continue to use AHK in the way that I believe is safe from being a violation. I made this post because I have seen several people who are interested in dual boxing asking if there has been any statements made by blues or GMs, because they are unsure if they want to take the risk of getting banned. This is just the information I got from one GM, think whatever you want about it and make your own decision.

[Bradster]

I do not use AHK but I know the real truth about the software and how it works. I’m on the same page with everyone else that it should be allowed. I decided to go with the hardware route for my 5 box setup. I’ll share with you my thinking on it.

Keyboard Multiplier – You are sending the command via keyboard/hardware.
This method has been tried and tested against the TOS and has been approved.

AHK – Software is relaying your command via software.
I haven’t seen much information about it.

I thought sending software commands to the wow client will most likely be frowned upon. Regardless of how harmless it is and what you’re using it for. As strict as Blizzard is, I doubt they are going to allow any exceptions. All they will look at is software interacting with the client, point the finger at me and ban me. Sure that may never be the case, but that’s just the way I feel.

At least thus far nothing has been said or done against AHK users, that’s a good sign. But it’s a concern, I just have this feeling.

[Runiat]

Simple as this: If you breathe oxygen or any other gas, liquid, solid or plasma-type substance, they can ban you. Only way you can avoid being banned is to either buy up 51% of the Blizzard stocks, or simply not play the game.

Now as for this GM, what you must realise is that this guy cannot tell you anything but pre-written statements when asked a question like that, which are hard to write for a program like AHK. On one side they've got thousands of dualboxers paying extra who'd probably stop doing so if they went out and stated clearly that it was illegal, on the other side you've got a program with botting-potential which you wouldn't want to say was perfectly alright, so they make up some general stuff and throw that at ya.

Chance of Blizzard actively hunting down AHK users is very small, but it's there. It's simply a matter of weighing the profits on dualboxers using it against the loss on ppl leaving the game after being owned by those dualboxers, the boss's moode, and how often it's used for botting. With some luck they'll make an option in the game to run 2 windows with shared keys before banning AHK.

[webology]

I'm fairly new to these forums but I think these questions are rather amazing. If you use *any* 3rd party program then there is a chance that you will be banned. Although it may be unlikely or less likely that AHK users will get banned on there first offense vs MMO Glider are banned on their first occurrence. If you do not use 3rd party software your chance is zero for getting banned for it but when you use any 3rd party product then your chance is > 0.

From reading your screen shots the GM gave you a fairly clear answer. "What you described would be a violation." The reason being is they don't mind the guy that alt-tabs and presses keystrokes on one pc or that has two keyboards because he's pressing every key. Since AHK automates the process of changing windows and sending keystrokes then you are taking a risk every time you use it (although it might be a low risk).

The problem with AHK is that the entire program is designed to "automate" keystrokes, mouse movements, and other such things. There were several banning on the mmo glider forums based on people that were running AHK bots because it is powerful enough to allow that.

The hardware solutions are better and more of a grey area because there is no 3rd party software involved. Software no matter how well written is detectable in some way. Check the mmo glider forums and you'll see proof that it both happens and it tends to happen in waves. They update warden, some people get banned, then they update mmo glider, rinse... recycle.. repeat... 3rd party software is a running process and you can only hide it so many ways and that process is a continuous chase. My point isn't whether or not Blizzard can detect what type of keyboard that you use but to the OS it is just a keystroke vs a program that fires off the keystroke or a series of keystrokes.

[zanthor]

First rule of thumb when dealing with ANY GM....

They are IDIOTS who are paid the lowest wage possible to answer the dumbest questions that blizzard can get away with off a script.

Case and point: A friend was using one of his three accounts to sell gold he farmed with the other two. His accounts (all three) were banned. He appealed it daily until his main account was unbanned.

Case and Point # 2: My guild name was changed 8 months ago. The change bugged and locked over half the guild into a bugged guild. The reason for the change was unclear and through each appeal I was simply told that the decision wouldn't be reversed. Yesterday my monthly appeal was granted and they reversed the name change. The same bug locked half my guild into a bugged guild this time as well.

Blizzard programs their GM's to tell you any 3rd party application is a violation. Voice command could be used to write a bot, and then it would be bannable... AutoIT can be, and oddly enough AutoHotKey has some roots in AutoIT unless I'm mistaken (It's window spy is the same as AutoIT's)...

That said, the G15 keyboard can write macro's that repeat actions... I used a quick and dirty macro on my G15 to grind 2h axes to 350... and yea, I could have been banned for that....