Is this bannable?

General Discussion
1

Hi! I’d like to bring up a topic for discussion. I think many people are familiar with the “autocast” technique, which essentially makes the game receive a constant input for a skill automatically. This is usually done with the numpad on a keyboard: you press a skill key on the numpad, and before releasing the key, you lock the numpad. This causes the game to continuously receive the input to press that key, casting the skill whenever it can.

Now, here’s my issue—my keyboard doesn’t have a numpad, but I’d still like to be able to use this function in the game. So, I created a Python script that simply holds down the skill key using pynput. That’s all the script does. My question is: is this bannable? I haven’t used it yet because I’m not sure if it might lead to a ban. Is this considered a third-party program? You could say it is, but all it does is hold down a key for me, similar to using a hotkey if one of my keyboard keys wasn’t working. It doesn’t provide any advantage over other players since I’m just replicating a technique that users with numpads can and already do. If anything, it’s leveling me compared to those who can perform this action.

It would be great if the game had a more native autocast option in its settings, but for now, I’d like to know if I’m allowed to use this script that I made. If needed, I can share the script here on the forum.

2

As far as i know if it isn’t casting multiple skills you can but can’t you just use normal numbers on kb?

3

I would advice you to rewrite your question to make it a hypothetical question instead of describing actual actions.

1 Like
5

Automation is automation. How Bliz reacts if it’s detected is solely on them.

No one here can definitively tell you if you will or won’t be actioned for it if you’re discovered.

6

Generally speaking, human beings are profoundly risk-adverse to the point of having incredibly well-toned intuition regarding risky behaviors, that we colloquially refer to as “gut feeling” or “instinct.”

Simply put, if you HAVE to ask, you already know. Everything else is just you attempting to talk yourself into ignoring that gut feeling. Because you WANT this, or “Everyone else” that.

People who DON’T have that innate ability to discern right from wrong, and consequentially inherently have trouble refraining from risky behaviors, are actually in the extreme minority, population wise. We call them psychopaths or sociopaths and I’m not accusing you of either; I’m merely illustrating how it would be HIGHLY unusual - in a BAD way - that you could claim genuine ignorance or naivete on this matter and have said defense be factual.

You KNOW the answer, before the asking. You just don’t LIKE the answer.

7

Lots of people numlock, and as far as I know, no one has ever been legitimately banned for it.

What you are proposing is different though. Using python to automate an input. Yeah, it might be mimicking numlocking, but it’s decidedly different. Think about how it might look to whatever blizzard does for autodetection of this kind of stuff. They could potentially see a python script generating an input. Which is going to look pretty bad.

Now I will say I’m not actually sure they are actually able to detect that a python script is alongside D3 and influencing inputs, and if all they see is a continuous keypress and not a complex repeating action with precise timing, it’ll probably be indistinguishable from an actual human input.

BUT… personally, I wouldn’t take the chance. If they DO see that a python script is influencing input, that’s going to trigger some red flags. Even if the input is relatively basic and something that could be accomplished with a basic keyboard. It’s still a script influencing input.

Alternative solution: you can buy a stand-alone numpad. You don’t need a whole new keyboard. You can get them pretty cheap on Amazon (~10 USD) or some local retailer. You might also be able to find someone selling used office supplies on marketplace or whatever and get one super cheap that way too potentially. Then just plug that in when you need it and you should be good to go.

2 Likes
8

Considering they are not banning players that actually cheats, even streams it, I doubt it. The numpad thing have been adressed, though I believe it is not a bannable offense. Using another program is, cause it is a socalled third party program

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9

Yeah, bannable offense does not equate to an offense that will be infracted. It just depends on who you are with Blizzard.

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10

Numlock is (silently) tolerated. But when I tried it years ago it interfered with accessing other skills manually.
One could also place weights on the keys.
(The pros on youtube use stuff like gaming keyboards…)

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11

Numlock is for the weak!

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12

Quoting from this Support article… Blizzard's In-Game Code of Conduct - Blizzard Support
(the highlighting is mine)

Cheating

You are responsible for how you and your account are represented in the game world. Cheating in any fashion will result in immediate action. Using third-party programs to automate any facet of the game, exploiting bugs, or engaging in any activity that grants an unfair advantage is considered cheating.

You’ve been warned… several times :slight_smile:

2 Likes
13

If you are on a laptop, I guess it would be easiest to get an additional USB NumPad.
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=numPad&s=price-asc-rank&crid=2E2H5HNY4Y5KK&qid=1731398750&sprefix=numpad%2Caps%2C169&ref=sr_st_price-asc-rank&ds=v1%3AeI5Z5wPEixCCZXwAPZLODM96SFlA5ykA2MX7rlbaiTM

Never heard of anyone getting banned for using NumPad…

Any Program, even your Script could be detected as it runs in memory at the same time as the game does.

14

That is like more than 50% of the people that play the game. You know if Blizzard didn’t want some body to be able to do this. They would have deleted it yrs ago.

A lot of gaming companies have been putting things into the game for yrs to help people. If the gaming companies didn’t want you to cheat. Then they wouldn’t be putting hidden cheats in the game.

15

Just wondering if the Blizzard programmers could “delete” the numlock function and stop it from working in D3 as Davey says above?
Not that I doubt his expertise in the field of computers and games.

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16

NumLock, along with any other key on keyboards, can be locked out. They’ve simply chosen not to.

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17

Numlock is not automation. It holds a button down and that’s all it does.

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18

Numlock is not what’s being discussed, though it is itself a gray area. TC wants to write scripts to simulate the effects of numlock, which is a step beyond “1 press for 1 action.”

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19

Numlock is not a “grey area” and I don’t see how a macro that only holds a key down is more than “1 press 1 action”.

20

That’s on you. There is a difference between what is allowed/not allowed according to EULA and TOS etc. and what is being tolerated, accepted or maybe not even looked into by the team. OP is not banned and probably never will be but there will never be an official okay to using scripts and other stuff, like gaming keyboards with control panels and macro buttons used by lots of players.

3 Likes
21

Link to me to where and when official blizzard personnel have explicitly stated they ALLOW numlock. I’ll admit I couldn’t find it, but I’ll also admit I didn’t try particularly hard to find it either.

You’re being too literal on specific context. The precedent that has been set, is “no scripting.” PERIOD. And that, I can link to:

https://www.blizzard.com/en-us/legal/fba4d00f-c7e4-4883-b8b9-1b4500a402ea/blizzard-end-user-license-agreement

License Limitations. Blizzard may suspend or revoke your license to use the Platform, or parts, components and/or single features thereof, if you violate, or assist others in violating, the license limitations set forth below. You agree that you will not, in whole or in part or under any circumstances, do the following:

Derivative Works: Copy or reproduce (except as provided in Section 1.B.), translate, reverse engineer, derive source code from, modify, disassemble, decompile, or create derivative works based on or related to the Platform.

**Cheating: Create**, use, offer, promote, advertise, make available and/or distribute the following or assist therein:
    **cheats; i.e. methods not expressly authorized by Blizzard (whether accomplished using hardware, software, a combination thereof, or otherwise)**, influencing and/or facilitating gameplay, including exploits of any in-game bugs, and thereby granting you and/or any other user an advantage over other players not using such methods;
    bots; i.e. any code and/or software, not expressly authorized by Blizzard, that allows the automated control of a Game, or any other feature of the Platform, e.g. the automated control of a character in a Game;
    hacks; i.e. accessing or modifying the software of the Platform in any manner not expressly authorized by Blizzard; and/or
    **any code and/or software, not expressly authorized by Blizzard, that can be used in connection with the Platform and/or any component or feature thereof which changes and/or facilitates the gameplay or other functionality**;

Consent to Monitor. WHILE RUNNING, THE PLATFORM (INCLUDING A GAME) MAY MONITOR YOUR COMPUTER, CONSOLE, OR MOBILE DEVICE’S MEMORY FOR UNAUTHORIZED THIRD PARTY PROGRAMS RUNNING EITHER CONCURRENTLY WITH A GAME OR OUT OF PROCESS. AN “UNAUTHORIZED THIRD PARTY PROGRAM” AS USED HEREIN SHALL BE DEFINED AS ANY THIRD PARTY SOFTWARE PROHIBITED BY SECTION 1.C. ABOVE.

Basically, if Blizz hasn’t EXPLICITLY given the :+1: then you SHOULD treat it as a de facto :-1: