Image Designer Archive
Thread: Work smarter, not harder...
Kasi_Windspire wrote:
is it okay to use macros since this is my SECOND TIME grinding ID and I did it fully legit the first time?
I found this post on another thread, andit just utterly galls me. I unashamedly macroed my way through mastering ID BOTH times I did it. I see absolutely nothing wrong with it, and for hte people who make you feel like you're lazy, cheating, or both because you want to use a macro, don't let them. My opinion is: SOE has designed this game to be able to use macros, so why not? I didn't do it AFK, I was there every second of my grinding ID, but come on guys... it's all about working SMARTER, not harder. Think about it this way: typing in the command is the same thing as using the mouse (which I do as little as possible anyway, I hate using a mouse). A macro is simply those typed commands that are set to loop. It's sort of like using a photocopier. Sure, you could type out a letter 500 times, but it's so much easier to just copy the thing. Is that considered lazy? No. Will I continue to macro things if I can? You bet.
I get a little tired of all the exclamations I hear from people who didn't macro. Well, that's great, but I don't personally think it's anything to be commended for. You simply created a lot of unnecessary trouble for yourself, in my opinion. I truly don't understand WHY so many people have a problem with macroing, and I genuinely welcome hearing the other side of this. It's something I've been wondering about for ages.
Your method of "working smarter, not harder" has produced countless master IDs who finally begin to help clients and realize for the first time that they don't know a thing about the profession. They come to our forums, having macro-ground out their entire profession, and announce self-importantly that they found a brand new bug where the client's hair changes to brown. They achieve master ID and say, "I macro'd up to master ID in 20 minutes and I couldn't find any other masters to train under." They master the profession and say, "How do I image design someone? How much should I charge? Where do I get business? Why doesn't 'eye shape' work? Did everyone know you can't do male freckles? How do I show clients what hairstyles I have? Can I give humans tattoos?" Well, that's "working smarter" for you... you end up with a master who doesn't know the first thing about the ins and outs of his profession. You tell me: why should I respect someone who made it to master without learning a thing? You might as well ask me to respect a master ID character that some idiot player bought on eBay -- someone who doesn't know anything at all about what he's doing.
I concede that the use of macros would save a great deal of typing and mouse-clicking and I don't disparage macro use in general. They are an excellent tool. Macros have their uses, after all.They should not be a crutch; the player is still expected to learn his trade.
Would you buy from a master weaponsmith who worked his way up himself? Or would you buy from a master weaponsmith that was an eBay sale and the player couldn't be bothered to learn how to make a decent gun?
Also, we are understandably sensitive about handing out macro commands when you consider that there are enormous, unpatched exploits in the UI command lines for Image Design, and handing out macros is an open invitation to exploit them. If there were a macro for, say, Chef, that allowed a novice Artisan to manufacture Master Chef level products, would you hand that out to simply everyone? I wouldn't. I think it would diminish the work of the people who actually put in the time to become a Chef. That's the situation we have here with the Image Design command lines.
I would not want to make someone feel cheap for using a macro. However, I would have no qualms about scorning the people who macro their way to the top and then ask for help understanding the profession; those people are obviously more concerned about having the master title than in actually mastering the profession.
This profession more than any other in the game requires the player have patience, understanding, compassion, and a thorough knowledge of our tools. I respect the other master IDs who know how those tools work and when to use them. Macros don't teach you this.
Escia
I agree with your post entirely, actually. You made some excellent points, some of which I had actually forgotten about, such as people who grind through the profession without learning anything about how to DO it. As with any profession that you go into to actually USE (as opposed to holocron grinders), you need to learn what it can do and how to use it before you try to do it. That's one of the reasons these boards are here, they are UBER helpful for someone who actually takes the time to find what they need in a previously posted thread before running amok and making their own "HELP ME" thread. I guess a good policy might be "I help those who help themselves." But I'm getting off the point of my own thread.
Thanks for the food for thought. I will keep it in mind for reading future posts. And I am glad to see that I am not despised for using a macro, LOL. I started reading the forums a good three months before I posted, I took my time grinding through my first couple of trees (used the macro for the rest) so I could learn how the profession worked (and what DIDN'T work). For my second time mastering, I used a macro for the whole thing because I already knew how to do it, I just had to get the tedium of mastering AGAIN out of the way. And I never, ever, ever have used any of the exploits. I know how they work so that I can fix people if I need to, but our server doesn't seem to have a huge problem with that, actually. Maybe if people who are serious about being an ID and not just in it for the Jedi slot did something similar, this profession might be a little better off.
Fishwan, you are utterly amazing. Dang that really hit the nail on the head!
This has been one of the most enlightening posts. I think it should be sticky and maybe it would help newbie ID's who really want to be IDs.
I bow down to your greatness, your articulateness (prolly not a word) and your knowledge!
Elka!
As a holocron IDer (/ignore boos) I'd agree with you too, Fishwan. Macros shouldn't be used as a crutch. But then, you're not likely to have macro'ed Master IDers come in and ask those questions because they'll drop the profession two minutes after they master it, unless they've taken a liking to it along the way and want to stick with it.
For the record, I don't use macros as a crutch. I learn through experimentation about each level that I gain in ID. I'm no expert, but I know the basics.
Kielker wrote:As a holocron IDer (/ignore boos) I'd agree with you too, Fishwan. Macros shouldn't be used as a crutch. But then, you're not likely to have macro'ed Master IDers come in and ask those questions because they'll drop the profession two minutes after they master it, unless they've taken a liking to it along the way and want to stick with it.
For the record, I don't use macros as a crutch. I learn through experimentation about each level that I gain in ID. I'm no expert, but I know the basics.
Actually, there are some who do just that (macro to master ID and decide to try it out, yada yada).
It's a similiar situation to the AFK Macro'ers in the performing professions (that existed even before Holocrons, which is really a seperate issue). It's really just a problem/trouble with the general perception/ideaology of MMORPGers. Folks tend to fixate on the 'end' rather the journey. Hence you find folks who sacrifice the journey (and honestly the majority of the fun imo) to get to the end as soon as they can.
For Holocroners, I have no problem really with them grinding in and out. I have problems with folks who berate the profession, and by no means are all the holocron grinders (or even a simple majority of them) berating us. They're just going through some poorly designed hoops. Even with that said, I refuse to tell folks how to Master/Advance in any profession unattended, which is another question that shows up disproportionally often.
work smarter, not harder?
i agree! thats why i went from novice to master in 3 hours doing it the smart way. 
how do people seriuosly get master in 3 hours. I am currently 4.2.1.1 in ID and have macro'd alot, but not afk, on my friends while we just chat and get med xp. i have been doin this for bout 3-5 days, so how do u do it in 3 hours, do u have the ultimate macro and what about your mind?
any information would be nice......
Oh, BTW, i agree with both the first 2 posts, macroing should be allowed but knowledge of the profession should be too. Maybe their should be a little question when u hit master to see if u understand the profession or not....wait, thats a stupid idea
LOL, I'm amused by the idea of having to pass a test in order to be a master. I mean, you have to take hairstyling boards IRL to be a hairstylist... why not here!
As for mastering in 3 hours... it is an exploit, and I am seriously losing patience with my charming guild member for continuing to troll theseboards when I have politely asked him not to. Starscream, for the love of God, GO AWAY!
It is possible to master ID in three hours, but it is through an exploit that takes no mind pool. Please don't do it.
if it is an exploit i do not waqnt it, i though it was possible by doind it fairly, but thats cool..
thx
Mordor666 wrote:if it is an exploit i do not waqnt it, i though it was possible by doind it fairly, but thats cool..
thx
You can get close to that if you have the tools available.
Muon Gold, Chef Food buffs, Master Muscian buffs, Master Dancer buffs.
Set up the macro and have an ID trainer nearby/available.
You can get alot of ID xp with those combinations long as you click fast.