I like the move to get rid of the macros, but that should be only a first step. The next would have to be a re-modeling of the skirmish event type. The hours of gameplay necessary to stay within top 1000 was ridiculous last time. Can't say I look forward to the next one..
The problem with that would be the fact that, if it's possible to do it, then some player out there will do it. If you increase the value of each skirmish battle, they will just do the same number of them and have an even higher total. Conversely, if some people didn't repeat the same action for hours and hours on end to rank high, the rest of us wouldn't have to, either.
The only way to limit this is to limit the resources available to do this with. I.e. have ship battles yield less intel, or skirmish battles cost more. But since that would be a significant nerf, there would be a sizable portion of the player base that would oppose such a move.
I wonder if we aren't better off by just letting it be and let people's appetites for doing skirmishes wane over time (something I would expect to happen). Even to the most dedicated, it has to get old at some point.
And perhaps if macros/botting is now more difficult to accomplish, we will already start to see an effect.
I hope I don't sound foolish here, but do players use macros on Galaxy events? I don't see how it would work since the missions rotate randomly.
There was a YouTube video linked of someone doing it posted here on the forums, 100% feasible.
Eh, I think maybe more like 0.3% feasible.
You would be mistaken, but ok.
It's something that's already been argued not only "to death" but all the way across the river Styx and down into Hades. So let's just agree to disagree on this one.
It would depend on whether you have the items pre-farmed, or not, wouldn't it? If your inventory is fully stocked, it's a fairly simple set of taps, on repeat.
Of course, assembling the item is not the hard part. Getting the ingredients is. So I wouldn't even mind if assembly could be automated. Heck, give us a quantity bar and let us craft 100 of them at the same time, if we have the stock.
I like the move to get rid of the macros, but that should be only a first step. The next would have to be a re-modeling of the skirmish event type. The hours of gameplay necessary to stay within top 1000 was ridiculous last time. Can't say I look forward to the next one..
The problem with that would be the fact that, if it's possible to do it, then some player out there will do it. If you increase the value of each skirmish battle, they will just do the same number of them and have an even higher total. Conversely, if some people didn't repeat the same action for hours and hours on end to rank high, the rest of us wouldn't have to, either.
The only way to limit this is to limit the resources available to do this with. I.e. have ship battles yield less intel, or skirmish battles cost more. But since that would be a significant nerf, there would be a sizable portion of the player base that would oppose such a move.
I wonder if we aren't better off by just letting it be and let people's appetites for doing skirmishes wane over time (something I would expect to happen). Even to the most dedicated, it has to get old at some point.
And perhaps if macros/botting is now more difficult to accomplish, we will already start to see an effect.
Sure, Skirmish events have as much or more tapping than Galaxy events...that being said, getting a fountain of honor, holoemitters, and super rare components doesn’t really get old.
I hope I don't sound foolish here, but do players use macros on Galaxy events? I don't see how it would work since the missions rotate randomly.
There was a YouTube video linked of someone doing it posted here on the forums, 100% feasible.
Eh, I think maybe more like 0.3% feasible.
You would be mistaken, but ok.
It's something that's already been argued not only "to death" but all the way across the river Styx and down into Hades. So let's just agree to disagree on this one.
I don't really understand where you are coming from.
I have not heard anything from you or anyone else that would actually present a barrier in creating a macro for a skirmish or galaxy.
I know people who go into galaxy events with 1500 or more of each item that has been previously used in a galaxy. The items commonly used don't really change a lot from event to event.
Only possible downside is that you have to sacrifice some percentage for the super rare item by picking the top crew each time.
And if someone happens to watch the macro run, they can easily see what items they're running low on, pause the macro to go run some missions for those items, and then hit play again when they're ready.
And if that isn't feasible enough for you, there are people with over 100k chrons saved up out there. They can easily figure out the recipes for every item, then calculate chron cost, of each, pick the two they don't want to run, and then farm away enough for the recipes they are going to run, and set the macro to repeat 50 times or however many times they have inventory for. Meanwhile, they can go on with their lives.
I'm not sure what about this is any less than 100% feasible. Unless you think 99.7% of the playerbase is on an iPhone.
As someone who has the app open at all times, this may prove mildly irritating. However, if it's to stop people cheating I'm not going to argue. I blame the cheats, not DB.
As someone who has the app open at all times, this may prove mildly irritating. However, if it's to stop people cheating I'm not going to argue. I blame the cheats, not DB.
Agreed! Personally though I would rather they made the events/game less dull/repetitive!!
Endless clicking in Skirmish and Galaxy events are not fun!
Jim
I don't know here is a crazy thought, if they made events mmm I don't know less repetitive and annoying, and requiring hours upon hours of mind numbing tedium, they might solve the macro problem all together ;p instead like sheep, you all congratulate them on putting a band aid over a much larger issue. wtg;) lol
I actually like the events pretty much the way they are. I don't have a solution to the macro problem, but I don't understand why you all even play events if you think they're so boring.
I actually like the events pretty much the way they are. I don't have a solution to the macro problem, but I don't understand why you all even play events if you think they're so boring.
I like the events, does that mean they can't be improved? or shortened, or maybe a bit more varied? Perhaps you don't put in the hours that it requires to rank in the top 100. Skirmish events are fun, the first few times you do it, but I would imagine almost everyone here, would prefer if they didn't last 4 days straight, with the same 5 battles over and over.
We all play for different reasons, not everyone plays simply for events, but regardless of why you play, if you want to stay competitive the game requires it.
It’s interesting that they’re going to start forcing people to restart the game right at the same time they introduce voyage tokens, which I’m sure we’ll be seeing an offer like “5 tokens for $49.99! 400% value!!!” sometime in the future. The forced game restarts will undoubtedly happen during voyages.
I actually like the events pretty much the way they are. I don't have a solution to the macro problem, but I don't understand why you all even play events if you think they're so boring.
I like the events, does that mean they can't be improved? or shortened, or maybe a bit more varied? Perhaps you don't put in the hours that it requires to rank in the top 100.
They can be improved or varied. I wasn't saying they couldn't, but some seem to be saying that they want to completely change the nature of some of the events because they are repetitive or time intensive or whatever.
I ranked top 100 in both skirmish events so far. I am not planning on going so hard again because of the competition from macros, but I'll probably still shoot for top 1000.
I actually like the events pretty much the way they are. I don't have a solution to the macro problem, but I don't understand why you all even play events if you think they're so boring.
I like the events, does that mean they can't be improved? or shortened, or maybe a bit more varied? Perhaps you don't put in the hours that it requires to rank in the top 100.
They can be improved or varied. I wasn't saying they couldn't, but some seem to be saying that they want to completely change the nature of some of the events because they are repetitive or time intensive or whatever.
I ranked top 100 in both skirmish events so far. I am not planning on going so hard again because of the competition from macros, but I'll probably still shoot for top 1000.
I honestly wouldn't let the macro thing scare you too much. If you enjoy the event, you can get just as many points doing it manually, perhaps even more since you might be faster and more accurate then whatever program they use. Only advantage they get is in the breaks I guess. I earned rank 50 last skirmish, when this freak out all started, and I did it completely manually
I actually like the events pretty much the way they are. I don't have a solution to the macro problem, but I don't understand why you all even play events if you think they're so boring.
I like the events, does that mean they can't be improved? or shortened, or maybe a bit more varied? Perhaps you don't put in the hours that it requires to rank in the top 100.
They can be improved or varied. I wasn't saying they couldn't, but some seem to be saying that they want to completely change the nature of some of the events because they are repetitive or time intensive or whatever.
I ranked top 100 in both skirmish events so far. I am not planning on going so hard again because of the competition from macros, but I'll probably still shoot for top 1000.
I honestly wouldn't let the macro thing scare you too much. If you enjoy the event, you can get just as many points doing it manually, perhaps even more since you might be faster and more accurate then whatever program they use. Only advantage they get is in the breaks I guess. I earned rank 50 last skirmish, when this freak out all started, and I did it completely manually
It's not so much that it was scary, but I did go a bit harder than I think was probably healthy for me to get top 100. I really tried to get top 50, but you and someone else did just a a little better than me, and I ended up at 52, but that was still my best finish yet.
I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't happen at all on certain areas of the game like voyages, gauntlet, away missions, etc. I'm guessing it might be limited to only happening during events, because that would make a lot of sense.
@Shan Any details on where this could or could not appear?
No details to add.
As with any new feature, you know the drill: give us your feedback via ticket/Engineering Room
Maybe give the box a five minute timer to restart so a player can finish anything pending like a Cadet mission or recall a voyage.
Just got my first pop up since this announcement, I literally just launched the game from scratch 2 minutes ago... cool
Yes, its important to take breaks. *irony*
As much as i appreciate DBs steps against macro cheating, i really hope this „take a break pop up“ doesn t result into being forced to restart the game every 5 mins during skirmishes.
I just got my first pop up too. The app for game had previously been sitting inactive, but logged in. I just wanted quickly deal with a voyage dillemna. Seconds after I resumed the messsge appeared.
Odd that it said I was playing along time when I was just inactive but had the program open. Also interesting that the message directly addressed that macros were the reason for thid system when the ingame message didn't mention it at all and only addressed player fatigue.
EDIT: I see now that other messages are possible; mine just asked if I was an andoid which I figured was refering to automated scripts.
I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't happen at all on certain areas of the game like voyages, gauntlet, away missions, etc. I'm guessing it might be limited to only happening during events, because that would make a lot of sense.
@Shan Any details on where this could or could not appear?
No details to add.
As with any new feature, you know the drill: give us your feedback via ticket/Engineering Room
Maybe give the box a five minute timer to restart so a player can finish anything pending like a Cadet mission or recall a voyage.
Oh no, no, it doesn't force you out. Tap it and you're good to go.
I wouldn't be surprised if it didn't happen at all on certain areas of the game like voyages, gauntlet, away missions, etc. I'm guessing it might be limited to only happening during events, because that would make a lot of sense.
@Shan Any details on where this could or could not appear?
No details to add.
As with any new feature, you know the drill: give us your feedback via ticket/Engineering Room
Maybe give the box a five minute timer to restart so a player can finish anything pending like a Cadet mission or recall a voyage.
Oh no, no, it doesn't force you out. Tap it and you're good to go.
Ah ok. I haven't gotten one yet so thanks for the update. 😀
I Never used macros but can completely understand why some would the game is repetitive and super boring. Tap Tap Tap RNG remember when Devs used to make games that depended on player skill pepperidge farm remembers.
Even ship battles are lame you can’t move or dodge attacks press buttons and even at that you know you’d win or lose depending on your crew v opponent.
The only time I got the popup was within the first minute of building recipes. And it wasn't for every time I started building.
Sorry, but in my mind, this wasn't an effective deterrent, and in my mind, very easy to get around with a macro. The macro just needs to add another click in the location of the pop up ok. If no pop up exists, nothing happens.
I Never used macros but can completely understand why some would the game is repetitive and super boring. Tap Tap Tap RNG remember when Devs used to make games that depended on player skill pepperidge farm remembers.
Even ship battles are lame you can’t move or dodge attacks press buttons and even at that you know you’d win or lose depending on your crew v opponent.
100%. The gameplay of these events is awful. The bots exist because the gameplay is so dumb a bot can play them. Adding popups will just annoy players and won't stop determined bot makers anyway. What DB needs to do is build events that rely on player skill instead of player grinds. As long as the events are mindless enough that a bot can play them, people will create bots to play them.
I Never used macros but can completely understand why some would the game is repetitive and super boring. Tap Tap Tap RNG remember when Devs used to make games that depended on player skill pepperidge farm remembers.
Even ship battles are lame you can’t move or dodge attacks press buttons and even at that you know you’d win or lose depending on your crew v opponent.
Well if the game is too boring or repeating, just stop playing. And for sure its not a reason to justify cheating(by some players and by using macros) on other players, that put energy, time and real „handwork“ into ranking high in a skirmish or expedition event.
And grinding(not matter if it means to tap the same buttons over and over) isn t a skill? Well obviously it is, otherwise some players wouldn t feel the need to use macros against such „unskilled“ grinders.
But some ppl are just too lazy to put real effort and time into an event and are always looking for lame excuses(boring repeating gameplay) to justify their illegal actions they do to overtake legit players, rank higher and gain theirselfs an unfair advantage over all other players that play by the rules and TOS.
Comments
60,000 players per event
0.03% = 18 players.
Not insignificant in a game where the top 15-25 places are the ones to aim for.
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Check out our website to find out more:
https://wiki.tenforwardloungers.com/
That's assuming that everyone who technically would have the knowledge to "cheat" would also do it.
The problem with that would be the fact that, if it's possible to do it, then some player out there will do it. If you increase the value of each skirmish battle, they will just do the same number of them and have an even higher total. Conversely, if some people didn't repeat the same action for hours and hours on end to rank high, the rest of us wouldn't have to, either.
The only way to limit this is to limit the resources available to do this with. I.e. have ship battles yield less intel, or skirmish battles cost more. But since that would be a significant nerf, there would be a sizable portion of the player base that would oppose such a move.
I wonder if we aren't better off by just letting it be and let people's appetites for doing skirmishes wane over time (something I would expect to happen). Even to the most dedicated, it has to get old at some point.
And perhaps if macros/botting is now more difficult to accomplish, we will already start to see an effect.
It would depend on whether you have the items pre-farmed, or not, wouldn't it? If your inventory is fully stocked, it's a fairly simple set of taps, on repeat.
Of course, assembling the item is not the hard part. Getting the ingredients is. So I wouldn't even mind if assembly could be automated. Heck, give us a quantity bar and let us craft 100 of them at the same time, if we have the stock.
Sure, Skirmish events have as much or more tapping than Galaxy events...that being said, getting a fountain of honor, holoemitters, and super rare components doesn’t really get old.
I don't really understand where you are coming from.
I have not heard anything from you or anyone else that would actually present a barrier in creating a macro for a skirmish or galaxy.
I know people who go into galaxy events with 1500 or more of each item that has been previously used in a galaxy. The items commonly used don't really change a lot from event to event.
Only possible downside is that you have to sacrifice some percentage for the super rare item by picking the top crew each time.
And if someone happens to watch the macro run, they can easily see what items they're running low on, pause the macro to go run some missions for those items, and then hit play again when they're ready.
And if that isn't feasible enough for you, there are people with over 100k chrons saved up out there. They can easily figure out the recipes for every item, then calculate chron cost, of each, pick the two they don't want to run, and then farm away enough for the recipes they are going to run, and set the macro to repeat 50 times or however many times they have inventory for. Meanwhile, they can go on with their lives.
I'm not sure what about this is any less than 100% feasible. Unless you think 99.7% of the playerbase is on an iPhone.
I don't know here is a crazy thought, if they made events mmm I don't know less repetitive and annoying, and requiring hours upon hours of mind numbing tedium, they might solve the macro problem all together ;p instead like sheep, you all congratulate them on putting a band aid over a much larger issue. wtg;) lol
DB is forcing us to close the ap and restart.
The result could mean no more stuck voyages.
There may be other bugs that this takes care of too.
Edit: The pop up message does seem to imply they are doing it for Macros.
I like the events, does that mean they can't be improved? or shortened, or maybe a bit more varied? Perhaps you don't put in the hours that it requires to rank in the top 100. Skirmish events are fun, the first few times you do it, but I would imagine almost everyone here, would prefer if they didn't last 4 days straight, with the same 5 battles over and over.
We all play for different reasons, not everyone plays simply for events, but regardless of why you play, if you want to stay competitive the game requires it.
They can be improved or varied. I wasn't saying they couldn't, but some seem to be saying that they want to completely change the nature of some of the events because they are repetitive or time intensive or whatever.
I ranked top 100 in both skirmish events so far. I am not planning on going so hard again because of the competition from macros, but I'll probably still shoot for top 1000.
I honestly wouldn't let the macro thing scare you too much. If you enjoy the event, you can get just as many points doing it manually, perhaps even more since you might be faster and more accurate then whatever program they use. Only advantage they get is in the breaks I guess. I earned rank 50 last skirmish, when this freak out all started, and I did it completely manually
It's not so much that it was scary, but I did go a bit harder than I think was probably healthy for me to get top 100. I really tried to get top 50, but you and someone else did just a a little better than me, and I ended up at 52, but that was still my best finish yet.
Maybe give the box a five minute timer to restart so a player can finish anything pending like a Cadet mission or recall a voyage.
Yes, its important to take breaks.
As much as i appreciate DBs steps against macro cheating, i really hope this „take a break pop up“ doesn t result into being forced to restart the game every 5 mins during skirmishes.
Odd that it said I was playing along time when I was just inactive but had the program open. Also interesting that the message directly addressed that macros were the reason for thid system when the ingame message didn't mention it at all and only addressed player fatigue.
EDIT: I see now that other messages are possible; mine just asked if I was an andoid which I figured was refering to automated scripts.
Oh no, no, it doesn't force you out. Tap it and you're good to go.
I believe that is the ultimate outcome
Ah ok. I haven't gotten one yet so thanks for the update. 😀
Yep, same here. Game rebooted, and took around a minute or two to give me my first pop-up.
Even ship battles are lame you can’t move or dodge attacks press buttons and even at that you know you’d win or lose depending on your crew v opponent.
Sorry, but in my mind, this wasn't an effective deterrent, and in my mind, very easy to get around with a macro. The macro just needs to add another click in the location of the pop up ok. If no pop up exists, nothing happens.
100%. The gameplay of these events is awful. The bots exist because the gameplay is so dumb a bot can play them. Adding popups will just annoy players and won't stop determined bot makers anyway. What DB needs to do is build events that rely on player skill instead of player grinds. As long as the events are mindless enough that a bot can play them, people will create bots to play them.
Well if the game is too boring or repeating, just stop playing. And for sure its not a reason to justify cheating(by some players and by using macros) on other players, that put energy, time and real „handwork“ into ranking high in a skirmish or expedition event.
And grinding(not matter if it means to tap the same buttons over and over) isn t a skill? Well obviously it is, otherwise some players wouldn t feel the need to use macros against such „unskilled“ grinders.
But some ppl are just too lazy to put real effort and time into an event and are always looking for lame excuses(boring repeating gameplay) to justify their illegal actions they do to overtake legit players, rank higher and gain theirselfs an unfair advantage over all other players that play by the rules and TOS.
Long live the spirit and values of Star Trek.