AVR

[Siniroth]

This is a notice that we’re making changes in 3.3.5 in attempts to break the ability for the AVR (Augmented Virtual Reality) mod to continue functioning. For those unaware, this mod allows players to draw in the 3D space of the game world, which can then be shared with others who are also using the mod. In some cases this manifests itself through drawing/tagging/defacing the game world, but more popularly is used to give visual guides for dungeon and raid encounters.

We’re making this change for two reasons. The invasive nature of a mod altering and/or interacting with the game world (virtually or directly) is not intended and not something we will allow. World of Warcraft UI addons are never intended to interact with the game world itself. This is mirrored in our stance and restriction of model and texture alterations. The second reason is that it removes too much player reaction and decision-making while facing dungeon and raid encounters. While some other mods also work to this end, we find that AVR and the act of visualizing strategy within the game world simply goes beyond what we’re willing to allow.

The change we’re making in attempts to break the functionality is light in its touch and approach. When blocking any functionality we run the risk of affecting other mods, but we’ve targeted the changes as carefully as possible. If we find that the AVR mod (or any mod attempting to replicate its functions) are usable after 3.3.5 we will take further, more drastic steps.

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

Spoiler: show

I'm still not sure if this was worth a new thread, but it needed to be posted and I'm not really complaining about it so complaint thread didn't seem accurate

[Falaras]

Could have just bumped the old AVR thread.

[Siniroth]

Oh fuck me I forgot it existed

Just realized that other post was my 1337th, and I'm laughing about the breaking of something that lets 5 year olds raid...

[Norellicus]

Not surprised in the least lol.

[Lucavi]

I remember how hilariously easy putricide became after AVR with the malliable goo end-points showing up on-screen.

I really can't fault blizzard for doing this. If anyone died to any objects flung from any boss after AVR, they just... wow.

[Resin]

I get Blizzard's point of view on this, but how is this different from DBM marking targets? Or is that going to get nerfed as well?

[Tricen]

Marking is an ingame function that a player can use without addons. They are upset because people are augmenting the actual ingame graphics.

[Gulkeeva]

Might affect the arrows that dbm pops up to move for stuff like... shadow trap and where putricide's unbound plague or whatever its called.

I don't really see any other thing dbm does that could be affected by the changes. (although our casters/melee really need that arrow for shadow trap since tunnel modes dangerous...) Having an arrow showing you to move.. and disappear when your out of the shadow trap area really helps!)

[Correction]

Might affect the arrows that dbm pops up to move for stuff like... shadow trap and where putricide's unbound plague or whatever its called.

I don't really see any other thing dbm does that could be affected by the changes. (although our casters/melee really need that arrow for shadow trap since tunnel modes dangerous...) Having an arrow showing you to move.. and disappear when your out of the shadow trap area really helps!)

Are these tom-tom style arrows, drawn in '3d' relative to where your character is facing?

I'd hate it if tom tom broke too

[Mortilox]

Retarded. For a while I thought pugs on my server may be able to get further if every one used this addon. It distorts the game, but it's necessary for these shitty players.

They can increase the damage buff to 100%, there would still be fucktards who will forget to move out of a critical damage zone.

[Norellicus]

And those people shouldn't be allowed to finish the fight.

[Siniroth]

Might affect the arrows that dbm pops up to move for stuff like... shadow trap and where putricide's unbound plague or whatever its called.

I don't really see any other thing dbm does that could be affected by the changes. (although our casters/melee really need that arrow for shadow trap since tunnel modes dangerous...) Having an arrow showing you to move.. and disappear when your out of the shadow trap area really helps!)

That's just a big word across screen no? They'd break a lot of Add-ons if they did that I think

Are these tom-tom style arrows, drawn in '3d' relative to where your character is facing?

I'd hate it if tom tom broke too

This might break because it's placed in conjunction with a point on the map, and there are maps in WotLK instances

[vrumpt]

thank god.

i saw this addon highlighted on MMO champion one day and nearly nerd raged in my seat because it takes all the challenge out of WoW. This was after i had stopped playing because my guild (and my entire server) was just overflowing with baddies and i got my Kingslayer title and pretty much quit cold turkey after that. Wonder how far those guys got with this addon active.

[Aesctaa]

I enjoyed the simplification of ICC farm content, but think the encounters part of AVR was a little much, especially in future for a guild arriving in a new raid for the first time having it available from day one.

I never had an issue with people wishing to manually convey something to raid members graphically via an overlay on the screen, if the raid leader knows where people need to move/avoid its not really any different IMO than using smoke flares/pinging the map, other than the convenience factor.

[Metta]

No more drawing dicks and sharing with half the raid.

[Shaskoru]

Marking is an ingame function that a player can use without addons. They are upset because people are augmenting the actual ingame graphics.

Just to clarify on this: All addons use the API provided by Blizzard, whether it be through their own custom API or through lua (scripting language used by wow) itself. AVR operated within these restrictions. It was able to create a pseudo 3d overlay with camera manipulations, dungeon coordinates, and some ridiculous algorithms. The textures produced are just the result of that fact.

Blizzard is only responding to this due to it being able to trivialize encounters through virtual interaction. It's completely understandable, but it is unfortunate since AVR had so many other (im)practical uses. I also feel for the author since it was definitely a beast to create, but I'm sure he knew the risks involved. Here is a response of his on curse explaining what Blizzard did to break this:

They're removing access to camera rotation angles. A 2d overhead view you could do without those completely, just relying on map coordinates. There is such a mod already (HudMap). Note that it's still in experimental stage and not really ready for general use yet. Also it wasn't started as a response to AVR getting broken, it was started long before that and to my knowledge some parts of it were done before AVR altogether. As far as I'm aware the author of that is trying to get a response from Blizzard on whether it's against the new rules or not.

Partly replying to Linaeri's post under as well. "More drastic steps" probably means disabling more of the wow API instead of suspending accounts. So if Blizzard were to decide that doing what AVRE did in 2D, or what HudMap semes to be aiming at, isn't allowed and someone makes such a mod then they might make map coordinates unavailable for addons. This would then break a few other things like accurate range checks and arrows pointing to things.

[sy.ste]

It is unfortunate they do not take a step further and take action against DBM and Bigwiggs.

[Shaskoru]

It is unfortunate they do not take a step further and take action against DBM and Bigwiggs.

I'm sure if Blizzard thought that DBM/DXE/BigWigs were too invasive or removed too much reaction or decision-making, they would have been disabled at the patch closest to that judgment.

[Norellicus]

I always forget we have ignore lists, so nice

[vrumpt]

I'm sure if Blizzard thought that DBM/DXE/BigWigs were too invasive or removed too much reaction or decision-making, they would have been disabled at the patch closest to that judgment.

yeah it's obvious they think DBM is ok, as evidence by the many in-game raid warning they added to ICC and ToC encounters. Like so many other addon's that have basically been implemented into the game its only a matter of time before they incorporate most of what DBM does into the game too. or not, idunno.