Dancer Archive
Thread: AFK Dancers and Musicans who Macro
Thank you for reinforcing the point.
If you are anything at all like this in game, you are an embarrassment to our profession.
You get XP in your house.
You can't gain that much if you're AFK macro in the cantina. You will not be in a band because the leader will probably kick you when you don't respond to "Do you know suchandsuch song?" or they will /stopband likely.
What's the paranoia for? I'm not knocking going AFK or macroing... I'm just saying, have some class about it. The people who are AFK and playing in the cantina are a target for mockery. They are also very annoying even to the hard-to-annoy people as myself when they mess up there macros and say "flourish 1" all the time or beg for tips. AFK your heart out, but if you don't want to do it in the privacy of your own player owned house, then don't throw a fit when I tell you that it's annoying. And don't be so paranoid, I'm not jealous of AFK macroers because I'm confident that if I tried I would write a much more efficient macro and I would do it with much more class in the privacy of my player home.
a) I DON'T have a house yet, and out playing in the wild and street is very dangeous. (I was just attacked by a NPC thug for no reason yesterday)
b) Don't assume I will mess up, I don't, I have Programming backgrounds, and I macro very effiently and I tested it before I let it go
I have create an Ultimate Macro that runs, and people often mistaken that I am online 
c) I don't want AFK macroing nerfed. I think it can be very useful, and especially a pretty busy life like mine (And it's going to get Busier 
.
This game, which I paid $14.99 too like just you should be worth my time.
What if I DON'T have time? This is why I AFK Macroing...
You people who are only in High School, without a job, playing this game 24/7 or, sure you have NO need to AFK macro, but I DO!
If I cancel, with your policy, character is deleted only in 5 days.
If I don't cancel, I barely have ANY time to up my XP!
So, AFK Macro is the only thing
Look, (to Devs and Q-3PO, etc)... if it's against the game rules, BE SURE to state it clearly, otherwise it is NOT!
sleepdepzombie wrote:
Wow, Jedimutant I've seen several posts by you and you always seem to get really worked up and defensive over anything that might be even moderately critical of AFKers. Please don't take anything I might say in any of my posts as being a personal attack on the character of anyone. Different people play the game different ways and i don't think you or any of the other AFK people are bad people solely on the basis that you choose to AFK
Honestly I thought the suggestions presented by the original poster, myself and the other people in this thread were really working to make constructive suggestions. I know my intention was not to say that AFKers were bad people or any such thing. However, I do have to disagree that AFKers have any entitlement to group XP. Being AFK leaves you at the whim of the group. If the AFKer doesn't do things to irritate the other players, especially in a small group, if seen a lot of groups let the AFKer ride.
The suggestions in this thread were for the people who feel that AFKing is a necessity on ways not to irritate the people around them. These are the people that are playing the game around your AFK character. These are also the people that an AFKer is reliant on for group XP. It is in the best interest of the AFK player not to irritate the active groups. There is a finite number of Cantinas in each Galaxy.
Some one walking into the cantina, shouting 'GRP PLZ!!!!', getting the group to play down for them, and then instantly going AFK so they can go to bed or work or whatever is quite rude and inconsiderate. If you're AFK and can keep up with Ceremonial and Jazz you'll do fine. I don't want to nor will I listen to rock all night long so that the AFKer can level.
People will AFK as long as that is built into the system and there isn't something to break the cycle like they are trying for sampling. It isn't necessary to AFK to play and have a Real Life but it is the solution for many who are concerned about getting to the top skills quickly.
In beta I was really opposed to AFKers because I had visions cantinas cluttered with AFKbots making life difficult for the live players and people not being able to login because of AFKers tying up available connection slots. This doesn't seem to be the way things have turned out, at least not on Bria, so my views are significantly milder these days. In beta I was trying to point out a potential problem for the live game as opposed to saying that AFKers were horrible people (I have several friends in game that went the AFK route).
If AFKers remember that they aren't entitled to anything from the group they are with it will go a long way to clearing up these issues. The small XP bonus from an AFKer is not worth even the smallest amount of grief. I'm extremely noob friendly. I'll still play SW1 for people who are there and getting started out. Its the people that EXPECT and DEMAND that everyone else should cater to them so that they can level faster and then can't even be bothered to stay around that I have no patience with. (OK so I'm not really all that great with demanding, whiny players who stick around either) AFK Dancers have it a lot easier than Musicians in this regard because what dance someone is performing doesn't affect what the other people in the group are doing. All a fair number of people who actually play the game as opposed to being AFK 95% of the time want is for the AFK people to be considerate in their actions.
One final Note to anyone wondering AFK is really necessary, it isn't. The game can be played with out needing to be AFK for more than a few minutes here and there. I've really enjoyed the process and all (well at least the vast majority) of the people i've met while working thru the entertainer and music trees.
Hey guys, I am worked up because I am SO against it get nerfed!
Also, No problem if you want to kickAFK peopleout, if you want do it, DO IT!
MagnaVVV wrote:
Why on earth are some of you people even playing the game let alone playing that's supposed to be a social profession? What fun are you having playing a game while you're AFK? Personally I'll be glad when they make it so the game kicks you if you're AFK for extended periods of time. Because you sure aren't really "in" the game playing it. I just don't see the point. It's like having the TV on while you're asleep & then telling your friends you watch a movie on there last night. Why? To become a master musician or master dancer that never talks to anyone or is there to play?
I think it's a shame that the professions that should be the most sociable are turning out to be the most UNSOCIABLE professions of all.
Ummm, You may not be an adult who has a JOB like I do. (If I am wrong, then why don't you understand where I am coming from?)
Well,simply,I DON'T have All the time in this world! I work 8-10 hours daily! Then get very LITTLE sleep... then I get up I am still tired, then I load up the game... gee... when I play, not always is the band full or fun. Or, I have other stuff to do. I am not only an Entertainer I am multi-profession! I like the entertainer profession, YES, because of socialness, BUT I still want to be doing other things.
If you have
Then, recently, I found out the XP ratetakes ridiculously long, and I want to
You are purely Jealous, if you say right out that I don't deserve Master Musician because I earned it AFK macroing! Because, that line of thought is only pointed toward intolerant of rivalry or unfaithfulness.
As you (or someone else) said, I am not automaticallya bad person, I appeciate reading that ... so, think again. Just because I AFK macro a bunch of times, DOES NOT mean I do it ALL the time!
So, I still put in some effort, by manually, like you do!
Understand?
Well, I paid $14.99 a month to play this game, I DO want to get my money's worth, right?
That's what I am doing. Exactly!
And I still maintain that there's no skill in earning Master in ANY profession while AFK & that it's the equivalent of a fighter-type exploiting their way to the top. What exactly do you gain by having a master level character that you barely were there for? It's certainly not any sense of pride or accomplishment in hitting a macro button & walking away. You didn't make friends along the way or meet new people to have laughs with & get to know because you weren't there to talk to them. So what exactly do you gain by that? It's a hollow accomplishment. And when I say "you" I mean anyone who spent the majority of their "play time" with their character as a computer zombie. The point is that you've bypassed the entire purpose of your profession AND the game. You might as well be a harvester or a pet parked there. No wonder half the players have no respect for entertainers. It's honestly the easiest class to reach master in & the only one that I know of where you can go from the bottom to the top without even being there playing the character other than for 5 minutes a day to turn the automoton on or to ask the few live members of the group for training.
Btw last night I was lucky enough to be in a group in the Theed cantina that actually had members talking to each other & it was very enjoyable!! The only thing that marred it was a non-member AFK dancer that had the eternal macro going that spammed the area with comments over & over.
MagnaVVV wrote:
I'm 53 yrs old so I guess that's old enough to understand about adult responsibilities. And I still maintain that there's no skill in earning Master in ANY profession while AFK & that it's the equivalent of a fighter-type exploiting their way to the top. What exactly do you gain by having a master level character that you barely were there for? It's certainly not any sense of pride or accomplishment in hitting a macro button & walking away. You didn't make friends along the way or meet new people to have laughs with & get to know because you weren't there to talk to them. So what exactly do you gain by that? It's a hollow accomplishment. And when I say "you" I mean anyone who spent the majority of their "play time" with their character as a computer zombie.
The point is that you've bypassed the entire purpose of your profession AND the game. You might as well be a harvester or a pet parked there. No wonder half the players have no respect for entertainers. It's honestly the easiest class to reach master in & the only one that I know of where you can go from the bottom to the top without even being there playing the character other than for 5 minutes a day to turn the automoton on or to ask the few live members of the group for training.
Btw last night I was lucky enough to be in a group in the Theed cantina that actually had members talking to each other & it was very enjoyable!! The only thing that marred it was a non-member AFK dancer that had the eternal macro going that spammed the area with comments over & over.
No no, you still don't understand where I am coming from. I will say it again, and probably won't say it anymore.
I am saying: I AFK macro Mostly because I don't have much time to play it live.
Then you guys go: Why not play it whenever I can!
Again, I say: It probably will take months and years to get it. Not exactly sure how long, but I think would take at least 2-3 weeks to just advance one(1) frigging level. That is TOO long!
Then you guys go: You are missing the social aspect!
Again, I say: Not really, if I didn't have my time to play this game, I probably wouldn't even load the game everyday. I won't get social regardless I AFK macro or not!
But, at least I should get my money's worth by getting my XPs, skills, and abilities, etc.
I will worry about getting social another time. There istime to do that once I have mastered my skills, don't I?
You guys go: AFKers are generally annoying and rude.
Me: Stop generalizing OK? Not everyone is like this type you worry about! Many AFK Macroers are quiet. I got a verygood scriptit will (not because I talk too much in it, but because it can fitwith many changes a bandleade does Nor do I have a load of crap asking anyone for tips!)
...
But nevermind all this, the bottomline is: WHY YOU EVEN CARE what I do (What AFK macroers DO?) And, why you have to cut my air, by trying to get the devs to nerf this function?
How isthat of that any of Your business? How does it ruin your experience.
I truly Don't think it is. I have heard from many posters and in-game guys that AFKers doesn't bother them!
THEN WHY a bunch of you on this board, is against it so much???
(edit)
I got a verygood scriptit will fool people to actually believing real bad I am not AFK.
I have actually got several /tells asking me "Man, are you really AFK?"
I came back read that and responded "yes I was"
He replied "man, your macro is really good!"
Up until recently I was fine with AFK people plugging away with their macros to get xp. If that's how they enjoy the game, fine, let them enjoy it, it didn't hurt me.
But I've changed my mind in the last few days.
Sunday, the leader of the band in the Theed cantina had the gaull to go AFK without even turning on his flag so as new entertainers came in we were trying to get the leader's attention. When I got fed up with it and quit and tried to make a new group, I couldn't get anyone to come with me. Apparently they were all AFK as it took 10-20 minutes for each of them to notice that the group had shifted away from them.
Last night I went inthere, said hi, asked who was leading the Entertainer group. When I got no reply I asked if there was a group. All 6 entertainers there were part of a group (as I found out when I invited them) but NO ONE was there to respond.
On top of how incredibly rude this is, there is then the issue of half or moreof the entertainers in the place AFK and them being the ones /watched or /listened too! Even the ones outside of groups are in effect taking xp away from me by having the crowd watch them instead of me, the active player. I'll chat with everyone and say hi to as many people as I can, but I know a bunch of brain dead kids are coming in and watching the scantily clad AFK dancers...
If you want to AFK dance or play, get the heck out of the cantinas and go to a private home or a street corner or something where you're NOT detracting from those of us who are actually trying to entertain.
There, thanks for letting me vent.
I was there for an hour playing in a group with most of the people AFK & non-responsive. I looked around the room & there were twice as many people - more than in my entire group that're all individually dancing or playing music. Some are marked AFK & some aren't but for hours they dont respond or their macro comments don't change & it's obvious they are AFK.
Yes, this takes away from my musical & healing experience, it takes away from tips, it takes away from the game atmosphere & the fun of playing a MMORPG with OTHER people. Instead it's more like being in a room filled with NPCs. When you're in a big cantina & there are 30 entertainers & 25 of them are AFK for hours you'd better believe that it affects the game experience of the 5 that're there trying to actually be a part of the game rather than just be another NPC crowding the room.
MagnaVVV wrote:
JediMutantX3 - You ask how it affects my game play experience with so many AFK? Read ParAlbon's reply because that's pretty much how it is on every server now in almost any cantina. Last night in Theed on Corbantis server I was in a group playing & over two thirds of the room was AFK - not a couple of players - MOST of them. Three or four are right up front in the middle AFK for hours, all with their looping macros going with what they think are cute little comments over & over again. I don't care HOW great you think your macro is. There's NO way you can respond like a real live person.
I was there for an hour playing in a group with most of the people AFK & non-responsive. I looked around the room & there were twice as many people - more than in my entire group that're all individually dancing or playing music. Some are marked AFK & some aren't but for hours they dont respond or their macro comments don't change & it's obvious they are AFK.
Yes, this takes away from my musical & healing experience, it takes away from tips, it takes away from the game atmosphere & the fun of playing a MMORPG with OTHER people. Instead it's more like being in a room filled with NPCs. When you're in a big cantina & there are 30 entertainers & 25 of them are AFK for hours you'd better believe that it affects the game experience of the 5 that're there trying to actually be a part of the game rather than just be another NPC crowding the room.
Argh, I am SICK & TIRED of this generalizing. Can you all stop it? Not everyone has a
And, if you sayMOST (As you say it is) are AFK Macroing, hey thenI am sure they will NOT be pleased with you trying to have the devs take away THEIR/OUR playing style.
How DOES it affect anyone? I really don't understand! They are either socialing or not even in the cantina, you CAN'T just force them to be NON-afk and be socializing with you!! By taken away AFK macroing, you intent to FORCE them to be there andsocializing? Is that what you are trying to accomplish?How the hell does nerfing AFK macroing change that?
If anything, these many AFK Macroers would (If AFK macroing gets removed)
A) Protest the removal of AFK Macroing
B) Won't come online, they don't have time to do it live!
We talked about the tipping issue already, many times. I for one, really don't care for Tips, but it's not my fault to get tips!
I DO strongly encourage the players to always tip an Active Band member instead, tipping us AFKers are NOT necessary...SEE! I even have the balls to say this! What else do you want?
Again, the THING you have to realize is, a lot of us are AFK macroing because Real Life is Hectic, yet we pay TOO MUCH ($14.99) to Not play, so why not Play with a skillful macro?
You think going against AFK Macroer's style will turn them into more active players, Think again!
edit: Again, NOT everyone has a leadership position when they AFK,OR AFK very annoying (Please tip me... please tip me message) Or do non-flourishes thruout the whole time.
So...
Why go against ALL AFKes (Including the fine ones) when some do it poorly. Not all of us has poor macros, as I said, I have a great one.
We are all older, not babies (this game is NOT meant for babies), take care of these problems OURSELVES. We shouldn't have to make a Dev get rid of it! There are literally hundreds, thousand of improves BETTER to worry aboutthan nerfing AFK macroing!!!
Again, I wrote this in another thread, it's related, read it!
Here is what I think is the BEST solution.
1. Certainly Kick A FK members if they are useless, or unskilled enough to keep up with the band, causing band people upset cuz they ain't even doing flourish. Just kick them OUT!
Next time, if they return and ask you why you did it, or you feel you want to enlighten them, you tell them "They suck"... nah j/k, tell them honestly "You don't get frigging Musician XP by NOT flourishing, and Yes it's annoying everyone in the band"
2. AFK leaders should get a talk by others(You maybe)when he returns, give this people a speech about poor leadship... unless it's an accident (like took over because original leader LDed) and they are next. In that case, get with whoever was the leader that LDed to remind of /makeleader (someone is NOT AFK)
3. Any AFK people with lines that demand tips, do 1 to them!
4. Any AFK people without AFK on their head,you can also do 1to them
AFK Macroing should NEVER NEVER be nerfed!
God, this should be a friendly game, a player interaction, not something (as Unimportant as this) you whine to the Devs to change the whole frigging code. You have nother better want this game to improve? Argh!
See, I don't see why you people care about what OTHER people do?
One of myTOPpet reeves IS people minding other people's business... forcing other people to act like you do.
It really gets on my nerves, and piss me off!
So... Please, just worry about yourself, anddo 1-5 if you feel necessary, I don't care myself if you do those to me, when I am AFK.
Yes, it DOES impact other players that choose to actually BE THERE and play the game & interract with other players. I've seen too many times where entertainers walked into a cantina & couldn't even get into a group because it's filled with AFK players & the entire center of the floor is wall to wall AFK zombies. Half the time customers walk in & can't even see someone talking to them because of the wall of AFK players & the spam from their witty talking macros.
These professions have SO much potential in this game. It's a shame to see it ruined. Maybe some of the Beta testers had it right when they suggested just replacing the entertainer professions with NPCS since that's how the majority of dancers & musicians seem to be anyway. It is NOT fun to be a customer & come into a crowded cantina of 20-30 AFK entertainers. It is NOT fun to be an entertainer & be in a group where the majority are silent & AFK or where the floor is hogged by 30 zombies.
Your "freedom" to AFK macro for hours DOES impact my gameplay & the gameplay of many others. And I sure don't have respect for players that reach master status while not even being there. Your inability to have or make time to actually play the game is NOT my problem or concern. Your ability to take up space as an AFK zombie for hours IS my problem. One player doing this quietly in a corner is no big deal. Twenty players doing this in a private home is no big deal. Twenty players doing this in the middle of a crowded cantina taking experience from others who ARE there playing IS a big deal. Just like with any other aspect of the game - your freedom should end when it starts impacting the gameplay of many others. And that's what the masses that're AFK macro'ing does.
I am just worrying about myself, and the AFK macro player overload has crossed the line into stepping onto my toes.
If you want to go do this in a player home, or a streetcorner, or in a deep dark pit where no one will see you (like the performance guild hall... :-) then go ahead, but doing that in the cantinas IS effecting me.
You're taking my spot in a band which costs me xp.
You're taking my listeners which costs me xp.
I doubt they could implement it, but if they could just ban the Macros in the healing areas, I'd be fine with it.
"BUT HOW COULD WE GET OUR ENTERTAINER HEALING XP???" Simple, play on line in person sometimes like those of us do, despite our jobs and other hobbies. Get in character and provide ENTERTAINMENT for the people who come in.
If you just want to hear the cool songs, stop being an entertainer and come listen to us when you have some free time. Don't complain that you can't hear the songs because you can't play all day. Neither can I, but I play music when I want to play the part of an Entertainer!
I'm going to start inviting people that are going to go AFK, just so I can /stopband them once they're gone...
grrrrrrrr
(Ok, the bad mood may be because I'm posting from work, but it's really been bugging me lately.)