Dual boxing + Dragon Naturally Speaking

#0 - April 2, 2008, 11:41 p.m.

[Repost due to original post vanishing into the nether]

I’m seeking clarification on the issue of automation.

As we’re aware dual-boxing is considered an acceptably form of play by Blizzard. I’m a dual-boxer with a difference. I have the standard 5 accounts; I use the standard key broadcasting software as everyone else. I play the tank as anyone would – normally. But I control the rest of my party members via voice recognition software. Specifically Dragon Naturally Speaking Pro 9.5

I’ll provide a very brief overview, Dragon Pro has a feature called custom commands, it's basically macro ability. You define a key or set of keys to be pressed upon receiving a voice command. A custom command cannot be executed in any way other than via the voice command. E.g. When I say “Pyro Blast” Dragon presses Alt+Shift+Z which in turn causes the mage(s) to cast a Pyro Blast. Basically it dramatically cuts down on my key “bashing”.

Another example is a custom command I have called Buff Group. I say “buff group” and Dragon sends the following key presses:

Ctrl+Shift+Q ‘Priest Group Fort
Ctrl+Shift+W ‘Mage Group Int
Wait 1.3 seconds
Ctrl+Shift+E ‘Priest Group Spirit
Wait 1.3 seconds
Ctrl+Shift+E ‘Priest Group Shadow Protection.
Wait 1.3 seconds
Ctrl+= ‘Priest drinks
Alt+= ‘Mage drinks

This is the same sort of command I could setup and use on my G15 keyboard. Is the above example breaching the automation policy? I have spoken to a GM in-game (screen shotted) but I, and others, are seeking a Blizzard post on the forums.

Malkorix

#25 - April 3, 2008, 1:15 a.m.

Q u o t e:
Another example is a custom command I have called Buff Group. I say “buff group” and Dragon sends the following key presses:

Ctrl+Shift+Q ‘Priest Group Fort
Ctrl+Shift+W ‘Mage Group Int
Wait 1.3 seconds
Ctrl+Shift+E ‘Priest Group Spirit
Wait 1.3 seconds
Ctrl+Shift+E ‘Priest Group Shadow Protection.
Wait 1.3 seconds
Ctrl+= ‘Priest drinks
Alt+= ‘Mage drinks

I believe that there may have been some confusion during your conversation with the Game Master in question.

The custom command you cited, for example, is completely unacceptable, and for a couple of reasons. I am still gathering information on the legality of the voice command software at the moment (by itself, I fully expect that it's just fine), but you may not, via any method, circumvent our automation or macro rules.

Multiple key presses/uses of abilities from a single command, spoken or typed? Not okay.
Inserting pauses? Not okay.

A single key press or command that issues a command to several different characters? Okay.

For example, you could use that same verbal command 'Buff Group' to trigger a single key-press macro (say, keybind c) which for your Mage is Arcane Brilliance, and for your Priest is Prayer of Fortitude. You could not include a step to have them rest. You could not make them drink. You cannot include more than a single step in that command.

If you were hoping to accomplish more than that with this program, then it is a very good idea to revert to more traditional multi-boxing methods immediately.

You can always refer to our policies here:

http://us.blizzard.com/support/article.xml?articleId=20309

And this post regarding the G15 keyboard may include some information that is useful to you:

G15 Keyboard Legality
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=1371550895&pageNo=1&sid=1#4

Malkorix

#27 - April 3, 2008, 1:19 a.m.

Q u o t e:

ty ty, been thinking of picking up one of these and was wondering blizzards stance on them

I use a G11 myself. Just don't use the macro keys to do anything a normal wow macro could not do in a single press. Think of them as extra storage for normal macros, and you're fine.

Malkorix

#30 - April 3, 2008, 1:25 a.m.

Q u o t e:

lol yeah this is the thing I needs mah macros. On my mage I've actually run out of space because like I have SO many macros. I once logged onto my account on my roomates computer and half the bars were blank lol

Even if I were to try and program an uber macro that would break the EULA/TOS I'm not good enough to do it lol. Just need more space, the second tab (character specific really helped a lot)

I would also like to point out that you are delicious. Which color combination are you?

Being undead, I expect green and yellow, and you get left in the bag for last though, huh?

Malkorix

#32 - April 3, 2008, 1:35 a.m.

Q u o t e:

OMG !! TELEPATHIC!!

That's correct, green/yellow and sour.. wiggled my way out of the bag into the crack between the keyboard and mousepad been here for YEARS and play WoW when my owner goes to work.

It is known that green/yellow has a longer life-span than other combinations.

While I do not find your brothers more delicious than the other combinations, I seek them out and eat them before the others intentionally so they don't get smug.

Congratulations on your escape, however, and I wish you many happy shankings =).

Malkorix

#38 - April 3, 2008, 1:51 a.m.

Q u o t e:

Am I to understand that making an in-game macro using the macro window that does the following:

/cast Nature's Swiftness (makes next heal spell instant cast)
/cast Oshu'Gun Relic (my healing trinket boosts heals by 200-something for 15 seconds)
/cast Healing Touch (my long 3.5 second heal)

Is illegal?

Please respond.

Nah, that's fine - Nature's Swiftness is a modifier and does not trigger the global cooldown, your trinket does not trigger the global cooldown, and more importantly, there is macro functionality built in to allow this to kind of command specifically to occur within the bounds of the default command language. Given those factors, this kind of macro is fine.

Basically, since this can be accomplished organically according to our macro rules, it's not a violation - make sense?

As a Rogue, you could

/cast Cold Blood
/use 13
/cast Mutilate

This would trigger the Rogue ability Cold Blood, use the trinket in the top slot on your character sheet, and then use the Mutilate ability, all in a single press.

Malkorix

#41 - April 3, 2008, 1:57 a.m.

Q u o t e:
to add on to what blue ^ said you might want to add the harm line to your use 13/14 so that it only uses your trinket if you're targeting a harmful character/mob.

Indeed, though I typically won't add modifiers, ShowTooltip and whatnot to my examples just to keep things more clear =). Honestly, I normally won't post macros at all, but I felt it justified in this case as an example.

Malkorix

#43 - April 3, 2008, 1:59 a.m.

Q u o t e:

This is exactly the reply I was hoping for. Thank you very much. I will go with Plan B now. Remove all "automation" based macros and revert to single spell / key presses. My earlier version of "buff group" was just as you suggested, keybind C was bound to INT for the mage and FORT for the priest. I'll revert back to that.

Glad to hear it!

I'm quite happy that I could help clarify the situation for you, and in turn I thank you for being mindful of our policies.

Best of luck to you and your 'kids' =).