Question : Key Macros and Cheating ?

So I want to set up a Macro to get Power Play merits.
Would that be considered cheating by frontier ?
If so do they punish for it ?
 
Frontier said something about "long running macros" and that people who use them would be getting an email or some such thing. I don't know what ever came of that.

I'd suggest putting your macros together and running them. If you get an email, stop running them and ask for clarification. Sometimes, asking for forgiveness is easier than getting permission.
 
They probably would frown on/punish AFK type macros.

I use macros to load PP fast tracked merits while sitting there - no way I'm putting all those clicks onto my mouse and/or HOTAS.
 
Last edited:
I think the long macros thing was about selling one unit of a cargo at a time to influence the BGS more than selling bulk.
Docking requests etc should be fine.
 
I've yet to figure out the definition of a "long running macro" as it applies in this case.
I've also no idea what the OP is talking about as I have never engaged in Power Play, or what manner of macro would be of use to obtain Merits.
If nothing else, if an easy way to obtain anything of benefit is found, discussed or shared, it will at least be nerfed into oblivion.

Elite is meant to be endless hard work, not easy and enjoyable.
 
I've yet to figure out the definition of a "long running macro" as it applies in this case.
I've also no idea what the OP is talking about as I have never engaged in Power Play, or what manner of macro would be of use to obtain Merits.
If nothing else, if an easy way to obtain anything of benefit is found, discussed or shared, it will at least be nerfed into oblivion.

Elite is meant to be endless hard work, not easy and enjoyable.

You could, with a macro program, set it up to leave your game running and load up the free PP resources every 30 mins to your ship, then come back hours later and deliver them. Not exactly cheating I guess, but perhaps frowned on. I don't see a big difference between this and coming back or logging on every 30 mins to load them.
 
The Macro I am using for for buying merits because, well making you click the button over and over instead of buy XXX amount is a stupid mechanic.

For example here is what I have to buy just 100 merits @ 10 per buy.
Code:
keylist = s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space} ;

Alot of key presses, when I should be able to buy as many as I want at what ever cost the game has placed on them.
 
Last edited:
  • Like (+1)
Reactions: EUS
So I want to set up a Macro to get Power Play merits.
Would that be considered cheating by frontier ?
If so do they punish for it ?

Do you consider it cheating? Are you gaining an unfair advantage using it? I use a number of macros, especially in combat (not that it keeps me alive) and nobody has ever sent me a notice to stop. :p Maybe if you were botting they might detect that, then again maybe it's a just a threat.
 
Last edited:
hope not or all us ppl that use voice attack and/or hotas with docking request macros are stuffed

Docking request macros? That seems so.. ..lazy. I know it's like 4-6 key presses but I pull it off in just a second or so given that the station is always the top target in the menu.

Now, macros for menu navigation in a station I could understand.
 
The Macro I am using for for buying merits because, well making you click the button over and over instead of buy XXX amount is a stupid mechanic.

For example here is what I have to buy just 100 merits @ 10 per buy.
Code:
keylist = s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space},s,{Space},d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,d,{Space},{Space} ;

Alot of key presses, when I should be able to buy as many as I want at what ever cost the game has placed on them.

A better UI for PP cargo has been asked for since the start. Still ignored.
 
Do you consider it cheating? Are you gaining an unfair advantage using it? I use a number of macros, especially in combat (not that it keeps me alive) and nobody has ever sent me a notice to stop. :p Maybe if you were botting they might detect that, then again maybe it's a just a threat.

I would not consider what I am doing as a cheat per say. It actually costs me credits when i use it.
The thing I gain is time and user input effort, I guess.

I run 9 macros in total. 4 Pip management, Target Sub-power PP selection, Docking request, Double shield cell + Heat sink, Have Been interdicted and now PP buy.
 
I would not consider what I am doing as a cheat per say. It actually costs me credits when i use it.
The thing I gain is time and user input effort, I guess.

I run 9 macros in total. 4 Pip management, Target Sub-power PP selection, Docking request, Double shield cell + Heat sink, Have Been interdicted and now PP buy.

I don't consider it cheating either. I have macros for combat pip management also, docking request, throttle percent, refuel-restock-repair, landing gear, take-off ... I forget about them most of the time and end up doing it all manually.
 
I guess, at the end of the day I see it like this:

As I am not in any way modifying any of the files supplied to me by Frontier in any means other than what is required for the game to operate (keybinds) nor using any form of memory manipulation, what I do with my other software, on my computer, is my business alone.

I use a G13 game pad, which is capable of running macro functions - and I do use one to request docking, one to deploy my SRV, one to deploy my crew in a fighter, and even one to log out and back in. That is controlled by entirely by the G13 software, and its own keybind data files. That software, nor the files created by that software, are not anyone else's concern.

I don't believe I would respond well to an e-mail that says "It seems you may be using a macro to press buttons repeatedly...." as there is little difference to me if I'm actually pressing 15 different buttons in sequence dozens of times, or if my controller software does it automatically - it's not circumventing any of the game's systems, nor modifying the software in any way. It would be little different than bothering someone with a physical limitation that relies on something like Accessibility Options. What if I suffered from Parkinson's Disease and required such automation simply to play?

Now, when it comes to the matter of using things like this to sell off hundreds of tons of cargo because one is worth more than the lot - telling people "don't do that" isn't fixing the problem. Fix the G---mned game code instead. That's the problem.
Compare:

When I start Notepad, my computer blue-screen errors.
I call Microsoft Support, and they say "We are aware of this, just don't start Notepad."

That is not a solution. That is an excuse.
 
Docking request macros? That seems so.. ..lazy. I know it's like 4-6 key presses but I pull it off in just a second or so given that the station is always the top target in the menu.

Now, macros for menu navigation in a station I could understand.

It's a frequently asked for feature though.
 
Run your macro. If they send you an email send them one right back highlighting the inadequacy of their powerplay UI. I'm sure they'll let it slide.
 
Back
Top Bottom