(WoW) How much Modding is too much Modding?

I use a LOT of mods. From your standard UI mods to Tootip mods to mods that let me know if my party's being attacked (and by whom) to mods that tell me who my target is attacking... except for the minimap, my screen doesn't even look like a standard WoW screen.

One of my biggest problems in groups/raids is retaining aggro on multiple targets. So I found a mod called HateMe, which basically simplifies the Warrior rage-generation experience. What worries me is that I think it might simplify it TOO much.

What the mod does is make a hotkey that, when clicked, goes through its calculations and generates the best rage-generating attack for the situation. If the mob's below 20% and I'm in Berzerker or Battle stance, it Executes. If I'm in Defensive Stance and Revenge is up, it casts that. If I'm in Battle Stance, the target's not on me, and Mocking Blow is up, it casts that. If all else fails, it casts Sunder Armor.

Now, it does NOT cast everything... many situational powers (such as Shield Bash, Challenging Shout, etc) still need my input, and I don't HAVE to use HateMe (meaning, it doesn't disable my other buttons, or autocast or anything like that) and I can REALLY see the benefits, along with a couple other mods I have (one called CombatSentryGizmo shows all the enemies causing damage in the area, so I can click on their bar instead of having to find them on screen, so I could click that, get close, and instantly cast the most rage-generating power I have) to keep aggro on me, where it should be.

But there's this little part of me that feels like it's pretty cheap. Still, I think mods are in the game to simplify and streamline gameplay (as well as your class roles) and I think Blizzard definitely supports their use, as long as it's not some third party farming automation.

Anyone else have any similar experiences where a mod seemed great but... maybe too great?

I have a 'Kill Ragnaros' hotkey. It really streamlines gameplay.

Actually, I just use the extra tool bars that are available with the stock interface. Haven't needed anything more intense... yet.

What the mod does is make a hotkey that, when clicked, goes through its calculations and generates the best

Sounds very similar to the healer mods that will calculate which party member is most injured and then cast the most mana-efficient heal for how injured that player is. Or the buffmods that will cast a certain type of buff on damage-dealers and another type on casters AND automagically select the right rank of that buff for the target's level.

I don't really have a problem with it.
I actually like that Blizzard has given so much control to the players, like in Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory. A very scriptable, moddable, macroable UI. If you're uncomfortable with it, then don't use it, but I love the things folks can do with what Blizzard released. Like the Bananaphone mod.

Any mod that does the thinking for you is bad, IMO. If it's a mod that makes decisions for you, I feel thats cheating. Difference between a great player and a "ubber leet" moded know nothing player? Knowing how to play and know how to hit a button over and over again. Once a few people start using these mods, other flock to them to keep up!
Because you can use those kinds on mods(for now) doesn't mean Blizzard intended for WOW. Just look at "Decursive", pretty harmless mod that auto targets for you? From what I have heard, it is being nerfed out of the game, by Blizzard. This might actually have indirectly contributed to the mana cost increase of de-cursing we will all be seeing soon. Makes me wonder what else will be broken because of this nerf or worse what will be nerfed next!
I love the fact that we can script/mod how the game looks and plays. One of the best features, imo. I just hate it when people use these mods for selfish again against others. How long will it be before this feature is mostly removed cause people were using it to get the edge on other non-moded players? Ok, maybe that is going to far, but I see a trend starting.

I'm all for mods that help you get organized. I'm not a big fan of mods that take decision making out of the players hands or overly automate tasks. My concern is that they have the potential oversimplify the gameplay and give the hardcore modders and unfair advantage. Is it really that much different from an aim-bot for a first person shooter?

I guess it's a personal decision much along the lines of buying gold online.

I don't think it's a matter of getting an edge against a non-modded character. I think it's the same thing group-based MMORPGs always boil down to - efficiency. It's a game of management. If you ever played a cleric or bard or enchanter in EQ or a cleric or healer or minstrel in DAoC, you know what I mean. The best cleric always knows exactly when to cast the heals and which ones to use. The best minstrel always knew which songs to twist in a given situation. Does the automation of which person to heal or which heal to use dumb the game down? Maybe, but it's already pretty much the lowest common denominator of MMORPGs. I mean, seriously, 5 million accounts?

If blizzard allows it, and you're ok with it, go ahead. If you feel uncomfortable, don't.

Hell, and I felt awesome when I discovered you could have more than one item bar...

I do agree, to a point, that there comes a time when you're not really playing the game any more. You're just pushing buttons and watching.

I will say I miss the automatic pet-feeding mod I used to have before Blizzard patched in that "spellcasting must be triggered by a hardware event" thing.

I will say I miss the automatic pet-feeding mod I used to have before Blizzard patched in that "spellcasting must be triggered by a hardware event" thing.

I have this petfeeder mod that does just that.. auto feeds my pet when it drops below "happy" and will even remove bad food automatically.

Yeah see, that's the thing. Pet-feeding mods, Decursive, BuffAhoy... they're all basically doing somewhat of the same thing.

I've used the mod in the game, and it's great. I don't think I'll stop using it unless Bliz is like "hey, stop using that or you're banned."

Personally I got , BGAssist (great for those PVP BGs), decursive, spell timers, whisper cast (not too much use so I may diable), I used to have recap (disabled because it was hoggign too many resources in PvP), Necrosis, Auctioneer, enchantrix, gatherer (these last three are almost must haves for me), lootlink, discord bars, trinketminder, various CT mods, well lets jsut say I need to scroll when looking at my addons page

TheGameguru wrote:

I have this petfeeder mod that does just that.. auto feeds my pet when it drops below "happy" and will even remove bad food automatically.

That's probably the one I'm talking about. It seemed to stop working a few patches ago; I figured it was contrary to that policy. Guess I'll have to dig it up again.

I see no problem at all with mods in this game. The arguement that the artificial enhancement of game skills is a bad thing is crap IMHO. I want better players to team with. If a mod allows a terrible warrior to become an average one, then I am all for it if it keeps the group from wiping.

Don't listen to Nekar. He may not have any mods like decursive, but you should see the hacks he is using!

; P

If a mod allows a terrible warrior to become an average one, then I am all for it if it keeps the group from wiping.

And what if said mod prevents an average warrior from becoming a great one because they never have to learn, just keep mashing the button that the mod decides to give them? Isn't it actually kind of a handicap then?

That's what patches are for... to nerf the mods and make you remember how to use the standard interface...

Interestingly enough (since I'm the one that started this thread) I have to agree with Leap and Il Duce, to an extent.

After a couple days with the mod in question (HateMe) I realized it wasn't doing anything I couldn't do. But, surprisingly, I watched the patterns it used, and started relying on it less and less. Then, I specced Prot, and for some reason, it doesn't recognize Improved Shield Block (which is sort of, you know, important and stuff) and there are times I want to use Shield Slam (great talent, by the way) so by and large, I don't use it as much.

If I'm sort of in "relax" mode (3rd tank on an uBRS run or in an overpowered 10-man Strat for instance) I'll still use it, and a lot of times I use it as a Sunder/Revenge spammer, but if anything, it's taught me how to play better. Not exactly the outcome I was expecting, but a good one nonetheless.

So I guess yeah, if the mod is there to enhance your gameplay, I'm all for it. But if it's there to take the place of your gameplay, then I say it's probably not what Bliz was intending when they gave us modding abilities.

Thanks for the recap Warlock. Interesting what you found.

3rd tank on an uBRS run

Hell man, that's when you say screw tanking and go for DPS.

Hell man, that's when you say screw tanking and go for DPS.

We had SIX Warriors. And the problem with speccing Prot is that while I can still throw on a 2-hander and go for DPS to an extent, it's usually better for me to hang around and grab any targets that go for the casters... with 1 rogue and 1 mage, there's not a whole lot of CC available (because I don't count Frost Trap as CC), so it was actually kind of nice having three tanking warriors.

I find that all that the uber "do-everything-for-me" mods do is just improve the bad players, and give some insights to even the good players. But in the end, the uber player with the knowledge ALWAYS beats the modded person. If they didn't (like headshot hack in CS), that's when I have a problem.

I'm minimally modded and with my priest I will always decide what to cast and when.
Mods that give a character an advantage PvE - to each their own.
Mods that give a character an advantage by negatively impacting me - not so good.

I don't know what the 'auctioneer' mod mentioned is, but if it's the kind of thing that lets some jackass go to school or work or sleep while his toon gets good deals in the auction house then that's the type of thing I detest.

Auctioneer does nothing more than keep a running average of auction house prices. It allows you to mouse over an item and see what it routinely sells for in the AH. It also helps you create auctions by suggesting prices for items slightly below market.

Nice. I'll try to keep my pessimistic nature in check.