Windower; is it really safe?

[johnboy]

No windower = No ffxi

Fuck gear swap macros changing 6 pieces a time, and all the other stuff...

[Vigilia]

Saying 90% of PC players isn't probably that far off... According to Windower's own website there's been 222462 downloads (as of about a minute ago). That's not including peeps who have shared windower files by other means. FFXI at its peak had about half a million individual players iirc, that number's bound to have dropped some although it's still in the hundreds of thousands. Obviously exclude Xbox/PS players and anyone who lives under a rock.

On topic though, if you're that paranoid about using Windower just don't use it.

[burytheweak]

Ok thanks for the replies, I don't think I'm a paranoid pussy, its just I already have 1 suspension on my account so . . don't want to take risks.

Anyways here is a more distilled question:
Whats up with the Plug-Ins? I realize some of these are going to be more risky than others, like the one that shows the map and position on the screen, but are most of these relatively safe? For example, Distance, Recast timers, etc.

[Thorny]

Ok thanks for the replies, I don't think I'm a paranoid pussy, its just I already have 1 suspension on my account so . . don't want to take risks.

Anyways here is a more distilled question:
Whats up with the Plug-Ins? I realize some of these are going to be more risky than others, like the one that shows the map and position on the screen, but are most of these relatively safe? For example, Distance, Recast timers, etc.

None are 'more risky', really. These are all client side tools, they cannot be legally detected by SE without a ToS change.. you need to make it obvious you're using them for SE to be able to do anything. If you keep it to yourself, it's fine.

[Baelorn]

Saying 90% of PC players isn't probably that far off... According to Windower's own website there's been 222462 downloads (as of about a minute ago).

That number is probably inflated by quite a bit.

[Kohan]

Ok thanks for the replies, I don't think I'm a paranoid pussy, its just I already have 1 suspension on my account so . . don't want to take risks.

Aikar is the primary guy when it comes to the Windower project. He's explained that SE can't detect anything aside from the IME (and that's only because you'll be typing in Japanese while you're on an English client, which makes its use obvious). If he says you don't have to worry about it, then you don't have to worry about it.

Anyways here is a more distilled question:
Whats up with the Plug-Ins? I realize some of these are going to be more risky than others, like the one that shows the map and position on the screen, but are most of these relatively safe? For example, Distance, Recast timers, etc.

They're all safe. SE can't detect you using any of them. The only way they could possibly even suspect you're using one is by the same rules that apply to the IME. Example: you're using TParty, you know when someone has TP, you tell them you're going to WS and they don't need to report their TP to you, you WS. You are saying right in recordable PT chat that you use Windower, thus they could obviously find out you are if they wanted to.

Now, are they going to give a care? Probably not, I SC with people without them reporting their TP all the time. Distance numbers are used on FFXIclopedia of all places, one of SE's favorite official sites (sadly).

They have bigger fish to fry. They really don't care about people who are using Windower but not poshacking and doing other crap like that. Occasionally you'll get a stuck up GM, but it's the same as running into a crappy cop--if they want to stick you with something, they will stick you with something, no matter what you do--so don't worry about it.

[Skeelo]

60% of all statistics are made up

[Darunia]

60% of all statistics are made up

Come up with that one all by yourself? Try reading up a lil

[Starr]

I've used it for 4 years straight

[Stromgarde]

^

Don't talk about fight club, and you'll be fine.

[Aikar]

I estimate us at about 80-100k users, and the game is said to have 500k subscribers, so nearly 20%.

And OP, take note there is a difference between plugins and other 3rd party programs written by other developers.

Stuff like ApRadar for the minimap is not a plugin, however the applications found on Windower.net's forums for 3rd party applications are deemed trusthworthy, which is why we have an 'Approved' section.

Don't download any 3rd party program if its not on Windower.net, because if the author doesnt post on our forums its
A) prolly going to steal your account
B) prolly immoral usage and going to get you banned

[Silenka]

^

Don't talk about fight club, and you'll be fine.

Even people who work for SE use Windower.

[altwight]

Having windower scripts that repeat actions for you will get you banned. They see this as botting.

Example:

/console exec ja.txt

JA.txt consist of

/ja provoke <t>
/ja steal <t>
/ja mug <t>
*repeat like 500 times*

Useless macro but if you hit it does the same thing a bot does to an extent. (spam jas)

I think if you just stick to plugins and gear swap macros your fine.

[Eticket]

'Aw, people can come up with statistics to prove anything, Kent. Forty percent of all people know that'