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I was looking for helper tools to improve macro mechanics in SC2 and found a few timers around. However, I wasn't thrilled with any of them and they didn't work quite the way I would have liked. Therefore, I made my own and would like to offer it to the community...
It can be found HERE
Preview Image
Deep-Fried Larva is a small timer app for Windows created to assist with macro timing in Starcraft II. It allows you to set a custom timer down to a fraction of a second and assign hotkeys to control it. When the count-down hits zero, it will play an audio file and either restart automatically, or wait and listen for the hotkey to restart it. While DFL is obviously Zerg-themed, it can also be used to train good macro timing while playing Terran and Protoss as well.
Suggested use; disable the automatic looping option and set the Start/Restart hotkey to a key-stroke that is used during your normal macro cycle. For example, if using the "Backspace Inject" method, set the hotkey to "Shift + V" so it automatically re-launches your macro timer when you inject larva. This way, even if you fall behind, the timer will stay synced to your current macro progress.
For clarity's sake, it should be noted that this does not inject larva for you. It's simply a trumped-up stopwatch. I understand that many would have qualms about using such a tool during ladder play. However, I am going to take the stance that I just make the tools, you can decide how to use them. *Puts on flame-retardant suit.*
PS - Your browser may warn you that the file is "not commonly downloaded and could be dangerous". I can only promise it's just a Winforms app and not a virus. The screenshot posted above is proof at least that it is a real application.
PPS - Lastly, I would appreciate bug reports as I threw this together during my free-time over the course of a couple days. In the event that you do find a bug and wish to report it, I would appreciate a PM or a reply to this thread with steps on how to reproduce the error so I can fix it.
EDIT:
I got a few PMs in the last day or so since I posted this. Thanks very much for your feed-back! I have made the tweaks based on the bug reports that I got and released an updated version of the app on the website. Just download it and overwrite the old version. Update notes are listed on the download page.
Thanks!
As of this point I will not really have time to mess with this project, so I am not going to be releasing any other updates for it unless something is totally broken. Thanks again to all those who helped me test it out!! I really appreciate it.
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While I don't particularly care (so do what you want) but this def does violate their terms of use.
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On July 13 2014 08:05 Zenbrez wrote: While I don't particularly care (so do what you want) but this def does violate their terms of use. Not really, it won't provide anyone good with an advantage and it's not like it can be detected any ways.
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hmm i can see this being a tool used for advantage since it basically serves as a reminder that it is time to inject.
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On July 13 2014 08:11 Xinzoe wrote: hmm i can see this being a tool used for advantage since it basically serves as a reminder that it is time to inject.
Almost like writing a build order down on a piece of paper and leaving it on the table!
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Any third party tool that you use during your game in order to play better is cheating.
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DISCLAIMER: I am not a lawyer.
On July 13 2014 08:05 Zenbrez wrote: While I don't particularly care (so do what you want) but this def does violate their terms of use. I disagree. I'm fairly certain that this doesn't interact with Blizzard's terms of use at all, as it doesn't directly interact with Starcraft 2 at all. The only part I can see it conflicting with is the section that says this (emphasis added)
Use cheats, automation software (bots), hacks, or any other unauthorized third-party software designed to modify the Game experience, including without limitation, mods that violate the terms of this License Agreement or the Terms of Use; Even that's a bit of a stretch. It requires extending the meaning of "Game experience" from "the experience provided by the game" to "the experience the player has while playing the game" or something like that, which would also cover things like playing your own music in the background instead of the in-game music, except for the design intent. But a timer program that does all of these things and released as a generic program with no intended use and this one, which was designed with the intent of being used for SC2 are functionally the same, and it would be pretty hard to argue that the former is acceptable while the latter is not, as it is impossible to tell the difference between them based on how the user interacts with them.
It definitely provides an advantage and people using it should be aware of that, and whether it's acceptable to use a training tool like that while laddering is something the community will decide.
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On July 13 2014 08:25 pure.Wasted wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2014 08:11 Xinzoe wrote: hmm i can see this being a tool used for advantage since it basically serves as a reminder that it is time to inject. Almost like writing a build order down on a piece of paper and leaving it on the table! Not really, this is an audible cue that lets you know you need to do something. It's an advantage your opponents don't have - they're not being specifically told to make particular actions.
The more I think about it, the less I think there really is a problem. Oh well, doesn't matter to me anyways. Hope people enjoy it
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I think it's generally accepted that it's not cheating to listen to the radio while you play.
What if you listen to music that has a certain rhythm in sync with larva timings (or MULE energy/warp gate cooldown) -- like how one learns CPR to "Staying Alive" by the Bee Gees?
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On July 13 2014 08:44 Zenbrez wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2014 08:25 pure.Wasted wrote:On July 13 2014 08:11 Xinzoe wrote: hmm i can see this being a tool used for advantage since it basically serves as a reminder that it is time to inject. Almost like writing a build order down on a piece of paper and leaving it on the table! Not really, this is an audible cue that lets you know you need to do something. It's an advantage your opponents don't have - they're not being specifically told to make particular actions.
And a written down build order is a visual cue that lets you know you need to do something. It's an advantage your opponents don't have - they're not being told to make particular buildings in a particular order.
This is literally just a stop watch. Anyone can jerryrig one of these at home and Blizzard will never know nor care. I don't even play Zerg..
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It is against the tos, but thats because their tos covers pretty much everything that they might not like. But Blizzard will not cut your hand off for using a stopwatch. Biggest reason is that they can't detect it especially if you use an actual stop watch. It is all about your own ethics anyway. I personally would never use tools that aid me on Ladder. The reason is, that my opponent might actually want a fair fight since its a Ladder. Others don't see ladder as important and use it for training. Others want a high ranking and use every shit they can get.
In the end every tool that aids you will prevent you from getting better.
Still nice to share things like this for everyone that likes lil gadgets.
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Gosh, better burn my BOs note beside my computer, I might get banned.
Wtf guys, this is in no way against the tos.
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Canada13372 Posts
On July 13 2014 08:44 Zenbrez wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2014 08:25 pure.Wasted wrote:On July 13 2014 08:11 Xinzoe wrote: hmm i can see this being a tool used for advantage since it basically serves as a reminder that it is time to inject. Almost like writing a build order down on a piece of paper and leaving it on the table! Not really, this is an audible cue that lets you know you need to do something. It's an advantage your opponents don't have - they're not being specifically told to make particular actions. The more I think about it, the less I think there really is a problem. Oh well, doesn't matter to me anyways. Hope people enjoy it
Its a training tool. People could just as easily set up a timer to go off every X seconds on their phone through some other sort of app which must exist at this point. I am less concerned with the purpose as much as I am with someone verifying the code is clean and that this won't make someone's PC insecure, or infected in any way.
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What if I alter my game experience by training my dog to bark every ~45 seconds to remind me to chrono boost my stuff? Is it against the TOS too?
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On July 13 2014 08:32 AicyDC wrote: Any third party tool that you use during your game in order to play better is cheating.
So what? A tool to help you gain tempo for injects while laddering at home? It's not like he will participate in Redbull BG with it. And it's not a maphack,like cheat that ruins opponent's game.
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Wow, awesome tool! Great work :D
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On July 13 2014 09:48 ZeromuS wrote:Show nested quote +On July 13 2014 08:44 Zenbrez wrote:On July 13 2014 08:25 pure.Wasted wrote:On July 13 2014 08:11 Xinzoe wrote: hmm i can see this being a tool used for advantage since it basically serves as a reminder that it is time to inject. Almost like writing a build order down on a piece of paper and leaving it on the table! Not really, this is an audible cue that lets you know you need to do something. It's an advantage your opponents don't have - they're not being specifically told to make particular actions. The more I think about it, the less I think there really is a problem. Oh well, doesn't matter to me anyways. Hope people enjoy it Its a training tool. People could just as easily set up a timer to go off every X seconds on their phone through some other sort of app which must exist at this point. I am less concerned with the purpose as much as I am with someone verifying the code is clean and that this won't make someone's PC insecure, or infected in any way.
Hell, I use my practice metronome to remind me to look at different map sections. Set it to 60 BPM, 5 clicks per measure, and whenever a new measure beep sounds, it's time to look elsewhere. Same thing.
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ahh back to the good ol days when I wrote this app and posted on TL!
http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/starcraft-2/357860-starcraft-ii-relocalizer-for-patch-150
Darklune, I am curious on how you make that webpage haha I want to make one myself on charter.net!
Pretty sure a lot of people have made these kinds of applications before. I have seen a bunch.
You could really say that these applications doesn't break ToS, because it doesn't really modify your game client files / monitor game client memory values / maphack, auto-blink, auto-inject, etc. It is merely a timer that goes off every 30 seconds.
At the same time, I would have hard time believing that you are allowed to use this in a tournament setting. Say you are going to MLG / dreamhack, and you say in order to play, I have to have this timer on my computer running in order to perform. Not sure if they will allow it haha.
Some people may argue that tools like these will give players a slight edge. But I mean it really is just an extra audio reminder that reminds you to do this every once in a while.
To people who really want to use these kinds of tools to train - be warned though, you could end up getting trained to listen to this exact audio reminder and macro that way, instead of really training your muscle memory the right way. You may become reliant on it and can't macro anymore without it. If you want to look into training your macro cycle, I suggest you use the macro trainer custom maps. Especially the version you have to micro a probe away from a zealot the whole time while macroing.
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Audio files with BOs have been around forever, and the looped "macro" reminder files as well. If this is forbidden on ladder, so would BO notes and music players be, right? However, tournaments don't allow music players either, so..
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