Dancer Archive

My definition of macrotaining is theuse of looping macros, and really is more directed at unattendedness.

Although I think that manual flourishing shows greater mastery of the dancingskills we have, I also recognize that our 'jobs', if you will, is not necessarily about clicking a hotkey to trigger a skill animation. Rather, it's about being entertaining... which means being able to read our patrons, and providing them with an enjoyable experience during their cantina stay.Sometimes that means engaging, witty or funny conversation, other times it means letting them know we'll have them healed up and out the door as soon as possible. Sometimes, it means showing them a performance where they see something they haven't seen, and say "how did you do that?" These are, 9 times out of 10, why other players tip us, and not simply for the BF healing game mechanic.

I personally think that there is nothing wrong with using macros to create a polished performance, orto free us up to engage our patrons in entertaining conversation. Use of macros in these ways take a little away from our ability to react to the environment (song changes, patron requests, or just a particular flourish to play off of a situation at hand), but at least if we're right there at the keyboard, we can adjust if needed. Manual flourishing gives us total control.There is some give and take.

Some things, like an elaborate costume quick-change, require that they be driven with a macro to accomplish... there just isn't enough time in the full coverage of a smoke bomb to change 5 or 6 articles of clothing. I don't think that anyone would seriously argue that costume quick-changes are harmful or bad in any way... they are one of the fun things we can do to put on a better show.

Macros in and of themselves are not evil - macros that allow supposed "entertainers" to be plying their trade without even playing the game I believe are, whether officially allowed by SOE or not. And it's withinthis definition of macrotaining - when a character is dancing away as if they are present in a showhall to entertain, and yet there is no player behind that character to have any interaction with other players - that reduces our profession to NPC status, and allows others to view our profession as not worthy of being played at all.

Entertainers are so much more than skill animations and game mechanics to many players, even outside of our professions. Unattended game "play" cheapensourroles to something that is not worthy of being played... and ironically, is indeed not being played when macros are used this way.

Macrotaining refers to using looped macros exclusively to entertain. By itself, there is nothing wrong with macros. I use macros often for performances, buffing, or simply if I'm so tied up with talking with all the customers and group members that running a macro for a short period of time keeps me going.

But, any entertainer who is really good at her/his profession won't just use macros. Macros are simply another tool for us to use, not the end all for entertaining. A "Macrotainer" is someone who only uses macros to entertain. This isn't necessarily bad by itself, many entertainers are just macrotainers.

However, there are other types of entertainers who fall under the "macrotainer" definition. These are:

Holotainers: Macrotainers who usually care little about the profession and simply want to get through it as fast as possible. They also tend to be afk most times and many care little about anything but their own advancement even at the cost of others enjoyment. Not all holotainers are bad(I know a few really nice ones ) but the bad usually outweighs the good so "holotaining" has a bad conotation and is generally considered the main source of the cheapening of our profession.

Buff Bots: Macrotainers who are afk and have macros specifically designed to buff players while not at the keyboard. These are pretty much hated by any entertainer who actually plays their profession as buff bots are usually used by guilds/player cities to give out free buffs to their members. It isn't just about the credits though, it just lowers the value of real entertainers when all our work can be immitated effectively by a bot.

AFK Entertainers: These are macrotainers by definition. They might not be holotainers or buff bots, they might simply be regular entertainers just trying to get xp, or players who just hate logging off and as such whenever they have to go somewhere they go afk. This is generally frowned upon, but it entirely depends on the circumstance.

Anyway, macrotainers by themselves aren't necessarily bad, and using macros definitely isn't a "bad" thing. But, it all depends on how you use it.

Thanks so much for the replies, I was wearing my asbestos hat, but I should have known better.

By the way, Deila, I have seen your changes outfits in the smokemove and it is a sight to see. Very nice job with the timing and all.

Buff Bots: Macrotainers who are afk and have macros specifically designed to buff players while not at the keyboard. These are pretty much hated by any entertainer who actually plays their profession as buff bots are usually used by guilds/player cities to give out free buffs to their members. It isn't just about the credits though, it just lowers the value of real entertainers when all our work can be immitated effectively by a bot.

For my part these are the least offensive macrotainers as they are normaly in private clubs and therefore it's none of my buisness what they do there. Now if I arive in yoru town and one of these people are on stage center I probly won't stay becase the stage is small enough allready. If they where off to the side and not spaming I would dance there so if cities are using buff bots but also would like to draw live entertainment place your buff bot in a house or off to the side in the cantina. Now don't get me wrong I would like to see Sony take steps to eleminate unatended play completly, but since they are in private clubs and I never charge for my healing or buffs then they are the least of my problem with macrotainers.