Many players in computer games are familiar with and/or have used scripts. Games like Team Fortress 2 and several MMOs support and encourage scripts to allow players to communicate easier but there is also a very exploitable side to scripting. Scripts when designed correctly can shave off several seconds to reaction time in using ability chains or auto-casting an ability/action/movement at the click of a button or even when moving. However, scripts can be a boon in trade servers or when communicating to teammates. Being able to automate commands such as "Advance" "Flank" "Retreat" "Reloading" are very important and having these be automated instead of having to type them out isn't necessarily an exploit that can make an engagement one side. One of the most well known exploits comes from Team Fortress 2 with the auto jump after each shot as Sniper. While not that annoying, it is a very easy way for players to enhance their gameplay to gain advantages over other players. Another well known script is hiding player view models of weapons, accessories, and armour. Though only noticeable by the actual player, it is fairly simple to extend this to affect everyone who sees you. Not knowing what a player is holding or if they have a helmet on or not can negatively effect gameplay if exploited to beyond just affecting the sole player. Should we as a gaming community allow scripts into Eternal Crusade and if so, to what extent do we allow them?
Scripts usually rear their heads in MMOs with hotbars. EC not being such an MMO probably wont have anything to make a micro/script out of. So i dont think it will even show up in EC. If it does, well im undecided with leaning more towards not allowing it. Cant recollect the exact example my friend gave me, but if i recall well he made a micro in WAR for a Black Ork (could be wrong on the race) and basically he tailored it so well he could take on like 4 people with it. Without it he wasnt that lucky though.
you'd be very surprised, prime example being the macro for firing UAC5's in mechwarrior online without ever having to worry about the jam mechanic. If there is even the SLIGHTEST advantage by using a script/macro (or anything else for that matter) it will be abused until even the dead horse has been beaten into the ninth circle of hell.
I'm like them so I don't have to spend time in chat as long as it doesn't do anything like make you special in fact it should cause you to stop combat for a second for you character to say it
There is always the option to narrow scripts to only being available in safe areas for trading, since there's no way a combat script could benefit you. My major concern is that scripts are really hard to control without removing them all and once they are included into a game, they are even harder to remove which is why games that already have them don't remove them or even try to limit them. This is the major reason why it has to be done right the first time. The only real thing that would annoy me more than scripts at this time is people using scripts in conjunction with maximum sensitivity so they auto lock onto people behind them as soon as they turn and end up getting reaction times four-five times faster than normal. It's how people in FPS's end up turning around and headshotting so quickly without "aimbots"
Though I see little to no harm in scripts that simply print out text (though I have seen my good share of hyperactive twelve-year-olds spamming /spit macros), I concur with the statement that, if there is an ever-so-slight chance of abusing them, people WILL abuse them without no mercy or second thougth. And then whine on the forums if things get fixed (cf. the recent butthurt about the Demoknight Turning Script in TF2). As such, if scripts are to be included, great care must be taken to limit their potential to text output only.
i may asume that we are talking about written responses, and maybe voice coommands? after all they can just put an one command every 10th secound. works so far in the games i have seen.
I have been fairly anti-combat script for awhile. I first ran into it in Counter Strike where people would unload a whole pistol in one shot. When I complained, people said I should use it or quit, so I quit. If using a script in a fight gives you an unfair advantage, then I don't think they should be allowed. Now, if we are talking about something that adds a voice com to an action, I am cool with that. I am not cool being able to bypass game design though.
