Musician Archive
Thread: Nerf AFK-Performing
So if the guy went to his bad watching tv moving his wireless mouse every few minutes it would be fine?
I'm sorry, the game was badly designed to permit it. How can people gain exp just by standing around? no decision making, no risk, nothing. Just click a button and stand there playing an instrument over and over until you make master. That is what's wrong, AFK performing is just our letting devs know the system is boring and not worthy of being played as intended.
I don't have a problem with AFK entertainers.
Strangely enough, I have more problems with medics healing entertainers in the cantina although I thank them for that. If I'm in the field with a medic, and he's a master medic but doesn't know how healing in combat works because he got to master by healing dancers... I see a problem there. But what new things do we learn when we advance? new songs and instruments, but the mechanics for a master musician are exactly the same as for a novice entertainer.
I wish there was more things to learn for musicians and dancersalong the skills. Combat people learn many different types of attacks, some used in some situations, others used in other situations and against different creatures. We don't have that, all we do is type /startmusic, and do 2 flourishes each tick...
I see a reason for slowly advancing a profession, gives you time to assimilate the new attacks, the new weapons, postures, etc. I wouldn't want to start as master in a combat profession, I'd be lost. Dancers and musicians on the other hand might as well start as masters imho. There's nothing a master musician knows that a novice entertainer doesn't. He's not more skilled, he just to let the animation run more time.
Furthermore, server crowding is a perfectly legitimate reason to not want AFK macros. It isn't the only one, but it is the one that was addressed in that post. And if one developer speaks up, they speak for the whole team. When was the last time a developer stated something that was being worked on here and it turned out just to be their own opinion? Sure, they do state their opinions sometimes, but they say that. They need to present a unified front, otherwise they appear disorganized.
As to the EULA, the people who say it only has to do with 3rd party macros are people like you who don't want to admit you're violating it. It does not say 3rd party macros, it specifically says macros that permit unattended gameplay. Judging from the rest of Holo's post, I'd say the biggest reason they haven't done something about it is they are trying to find a way that won't just turn people to 3rd party macros instead.
Reread my analogy about not wanting to play a combat class but wanting to fight the big things and use the powerful weapons. It's basically what you're asking for.
And if the class is boring sometimes, find something else to do and come back when it's not boring. Nobody is forcing you to stay in the cantinas and play music.
JediMutantX3 wrote:
Anyhow, whenever I come about this topic, there is one concept and 1 word that I feel most violated by (people dislike others AFK macroing): FREEDOM
Why can't people have Freedom to pay the Expensive fee ($14.99) to do whatever the hell they want with the game, why Do you care what they do?
I wanted tosingle this one outbecause it is a misconception brought on by real life. Let's not forget this is a Massively Multiplayer game. I pay the Expensive fee because I like the experience of playing with other players online and I suspect that a majority of people out there are like me in that regard. Having a player character without a player defeats the purpose, doesn't it? People don't tip NPCs. NPCs are (generally speaking) not placed in the center of the floor. NPCs don't heal you (yet). Just a few differences there before that parallel is made. While I can ignore an NPC, I cannot ignore an NPPC (non-player player-character). 
Further, freedom is what a nation and a governmentmay giveyou so long as you pay the taxes. It is not, however,what you are purchasing when you pay the monthly fee to play this game. In fact, you voluntarily give up several freedoms when you agree to the EULA.
That, alone,may not be reason enough for anti-AFK-macroing (though it's a strong one, IMO). But likewise it is also not a reason for pro-AFK-macroing.
Anyway, please continue with your regularly scheduled program.
Doremar wrote:
Furthermore, I actually spoke to a CSR last night on the matter.
Their official stance is that the use of their macro program is inherently NOT against the EULA whether it allows unattended macroing or not.
Whether that causes practical gameplay issues or not is entirely a different issue that may or may not be dealt with in the future, andthat is the focus of the quoted dev post.
Well, Thank You CSRs!!
I think this is a problem created just by the players (not like others do whatever they want, it somehow bothers them *rolleyes*) but not something really illegal, so I am glad CSRs agree it's NOT against the EULA!
Pendarin wrote:
JediMutantX3 wrote:
Anyhow, whenever I come about this topic, there is one concept and 1 word that I feel most violated by (people dislike others AFK macroing): FREEDOM
Why can't people have Freedom to pay the Expensive fee ($14.99) to do whatever the hell they want with the game, why Do you care what they do?
I wanted tosingle this one outbecause it is a misconception brought on by real life. Let's not forget this is a Massively Multiplayer game. I pay the Expensive fee because I like the experience of playing with other players online and I suspect that a majority of people out there are like me in that regard. Having a player character without a player defeats the purpose, doesn't it? People don't tip NPCs. NPCs are (generally speaking) not placed in the center of the floor. NPCs don't heal you (yet). Just a few differences there before that parallel is made. While I can ignore an NPC, I cannot ignore an NPPC (non-player player-character).
Further, freedom is what a nation and a governmentmay giveyou so long as you pay the taxes. It is not, however,what you are purchasing when you pay the monthly fee to play this game. In fact, you voluntarily give up several freedoms when you agree to the EULA.
That, alone,may not be reason enough for anti-AFK-macroing (though it's a strong one, IMO). But likewise it is also not a reason for pro-AFK-macroing.
Anyway, please continue with your regularly scheduled program.
>Having a player character without a player defeats the purpose, doesn't it?<
Why do you care when someone plays a character not been at their computer? **edit**? I am trying to understand why people care about what others do so much??? It boggles my mind Why aren't some people just worry about themselves,and NOT others like I do!
What does it matter to you? No. It only defeats the purpose for YOU, and others don't AFK because it's not your style, you don't like this style...
However, for someone loves to use this style, it's definately purposeful!
It's like an Instant messenger (AIM, ICQ, or trillian). People go to sleep or work, whatever but leave their Computer on, Internet connection active, and IM prog running with an Away status.
They could just shut OFF the computer, but they choose to dothis way. It's THEIR style!!
And, about the EULA Read what Doremar said... Jeez, didn't you and Tiaga read what he said, that he actually spoken to an official CSR, and the CSR said it's NOT violating the EULA?
So its not against the EULA, doesnt matter, I still consider it an crappy gamestyle... its about getting good at something withany actually workput into it... That, and the fact that playing in the same band as someone who is AFK just sounds terrible, its the same repetetive music and predictable...
I actually do agree from many different levels that unattended macroingdoes hurt the game. Lots of things hurt the game and provide unfair/damaging advantages.
Very same In Real life, many things are unfair to you or me... hehwhat's different about it in a game like this?
I will come back to this later...
So its not against the EULA, doesnt matter, I still consider it an crappy gamestyle... its about getting good at something withany actually workput into it... That, and the fact that playing in the same band as someone who is AFK just sounds terrible, its the same repetetive music and predictable...
Oh yes, some of you may consider others gain XP by AFK unfair, but it's really not.
Why Not? Because you can doittoo, but you just choose NOT to.
And, seriously, please remind yourself again this is not a way of life! Whenever you say you put work in something like this game...whatever, I am laughing at you, because you are taking a game Too seriously!
(Oh And, my macro is good, so even if you change songsitdoesn't affect me) 
So big deal, if people are not active in the game, but they are acting like they are (by doing AFK Macroing)... What the hell is so urgent about this matter to you you want to get rid of it!? 
You just don't like it, but I am sorry, I have to disagree, ILIKE IT!
You and I can argue back & forth about what you like to do, what I like to do or not. It really doesn't matter, in the endyou must respect other people's freedom of playing style!
Right now, you group of Anti-AFK people Are NOT respecting others' playing style!!
I am Sick of a group of players telling another group of players what to do, and all... even when CSR themselves directly responded it's not in violation of anything!
I mean, in RL people go about their business... andgetting THERE without putting in much effort.Yes, it's kinda unfair, but WHAT can you do?
You gotta at least worry more about RL unfairness than unfairness in games, don't you think? I mean, It's kinda pathetic to be complaining "It's unfair... in a game".
If Devs/CSR doesn't feel it's that big deal, then you shouldn't either!
I hate to say it, but the answer to a question can be greatly influenced by the question.
I will agree with the CSR.. Use of the macro system isn't inherintly against the EULA. That was never in question. Just like use of a pistol isn't either. But using that pistol to stand inside a lair so you can't be attacked while you kill it is. It is the unattended gameplay that is against the EULA, not the macro system.
You seem so quick to accept a single CSRs word as gospel (Who are notoreous for having only partially informed decisions) yet to dismiss a developers word as just their opinion.
Tiaga wrote:
I hate to say it, but the answer to a question can be greatly influenced by the question.
I will agree with the CSR.. Use of the macro system isn't inherintly against the EULA. That was never in question... It is the unattended gameplay that is against the EULA, not the macro system.
You seem so quick to accept a single CSRs word as gospel (Who are notoreous for having only partially informed decisions) yet to dismiss a developers word as just their opinion.
Good lord... you seem to read only what you want to read.
Please, read again,
Their official stance is that the use of their macro program is inherently NOT against the EULA whether it allows unattended macroing or not.
Their just as official stance is also that they want to get rid of it.
JediMutant, I know what you're trying to say, but we're just not connecting. Let me ask you a few questions:
Would you be against putting NPC entertainers in the game (for instance, the NPC band that plays in Mos Eisley, but that you could actually listen to and heal from)? If so, why?
Do you think a Master title in any profession should be challenging to get? If so, why?
Lastly, why do you want to be a Master Musician?
Would you be against putting NPC entertainers in the game (for instance, the NPC band that plays in Mos Eisley, but that you could actually listen to and heal from)? If so, why?
I am not against them no, but why would you ever need them, when there are plenty of players could do the same (AFK or not)?
Do you think a Master title in any profession should be challenging to get? If so, why?
Not much in thisparticular game is challenging to begin with (Thus why a lot of Players complained about this game) Especially Musician/Entertainer profession, it's like easy to do, but just repetitive and not very challenge. If anyone thinks press a key or type /flourish 6; /florish 5... over and over and be there at the computer doing it and feels it's an accomplishment. IMHO, that's actually pretty dumb, and you are certainly wasting good life away!
But it'sbig part of this gameto relax and getting social as well, so I like it. (see below)
Lastly, why do you want to be a Master Musician?
I like to play good music, and have a show when I am actually there. Meeting people, getting social!
So, DON'T EVER get it wrong, I DO love doing these type of things. HOWEVER, life is busy for me, or not always I meet the Right people in-game I want to get to know, so I DO have a freedom choice of what to do, when that happens!!!
If not able to play live, I try to get there (MM)As soon as possible by gaining XP when I am away. So, I wouldn't run behind...Though as you know, I am NOT pleased with the group of Anti-AFkers trying to prevent that from me.