Boards›Gameplay

Will this program be "legal" in Riots eyes?

TheYasuoMain·3/24/2016, 10:29:13 AM·14 votes·1,896 views

Update 3/24/16

I think I am going to just release it. If it really becomes an issue then I will stop the program, so far a Riot employee through support has said that to him the program is legal. If it isn't and a rioter would like to explain below, please do. Else wise, expect a release post in the next 2-3 days. GL HF!

So I have started working on a program that can track cooldowns. Now before you start bashing your keyboard to immediately type ILLEGAL in the below area, hear me out. The program works and will only work if the user inputs the cooldown. So it **doesn't (and can't) detect **when someone has flashed or used ignite. You have to tell it. But how? I use the "/note" feature. If you go into a game right now, and type "/note whatever you want to type here" it will add a note to your "Riot Games/League Of Legends" folder. This is how my program works. YOU HAVE TO TYPE (again NOTING THIS AGAIN, YOU have to input when the person flashed, IT will not "detect" a flash). So here is an example:

Karma has just flashed in-game. I type in chat "/note karma f" Timer starts

Thats all my program does. Before you also say its still accessing game files, think about it. The "Game" file is the note file, isn't that file meant to be modified by users? Its notes.

I'd like to not continue development if this will get users and myself banned. Hope a Rioter can sort this out for me, thanks!

Before you say message riot support, I have. This is there recommendation

> You can possibly put a post about it on our boards to see if a Rioter that works in that department can verify if it's okay or not as we do not offer support for program development here.

Note, it will only work with summ spells, and again, as stated many many times below, it will only work if the user manually tells it when someone has flashed!

26 Comments

DrCyanide3/24/2016, 1:27:06 PM6 votes

I'm reposting my comment from the last discussion you made on the topic:

This might be a question better suited to the Developer forms: https://developer.riotgames.com

First impressions:

This program has the potential to be inaccurate (distortion upgrade and some masteries can change Flash cooldowns). That inaccurate nature makes it feel less like an "I win because I have this program" situation.
Riot has always been OK with the idea of people manually recording notes on key events and using those notes to plan ahead.
The only difference between this program and one you alt-tab out to click on is how you interact with it. It could be argued that using the note command takes you out of the game less, making it more OK than a timer in a web browser.
Riot intends the Notes.txt file to be read by the end user. Riot isn't trying to hide that content from you.

If you cling to fragments of statements about third party programs you get a very distorted view of what is and is not allowed. I believe considering Riot's policies on third party programs as a whole leads to the conclusion this program would be acceptable.

Astôlfo3/24/2016, 2:34:32 PM3 votes

Wait I just realized you meant seeing ult cooldowns and stuff for enemy players. Yeah, absolutely not. Entirely illegal.

Sona Ping3/24/2016, 1:17:03 PM3 votes

Doesn't matter; automation isn't the issue. They have said specifically said, in so many words, that programs that change the in-game experience, what is shown in game, for an advantage is not allowed and that "any program that provides information that is intentionally hidden from the player, e.g. cooldowns, is forbidden".

Its notes.

It's still a file! That's terrible reasoning.

Lapis3/24/2016, 1:28:02 PM3 votes

I'd err on the side of caution here and say it's a no-no. Though there's nothing stopping you from writing the program and chucking it on your phone and just having it next to you.

Narasimha3/24/2016, 1:54:53 PM3 votes

I'm going to err on the side of the caution and say it's illegal. Riot's general policy is that if it messes with the in-game experience in a way that is not offered to all players, then it's a no go. Even if it's 'just' a cooldown timer, it's something other players don't have, and it does impact the way you play the game.

Astôlfo3/24/2016, 12:46:52 PM2 votes

CurseVoice was illegal in the past because it showed when jungle camps would respawn. Not sure how this would pass over.

Iqqi3/24/2016, 2:08:25 PM1 votes

I do not have an answer for you, and the unfortunate truth is Riot won't answer this either. Riot's stance about any sort of additional software is that they intentionally refrain from officially announcing a position so they can do whatever they want without appearing to act against what they have said in the past. Sure you will see an occassional Red post on a subject. That should never be taken as an official stance by Riot. If it isn't publically listed on their FAQ page, just know Riot can change their official stance at any time.

Some things Riot lets go others, not so much. Like skin programs that alter your skin. No official word, but it is generally believed to be ok.

In your circumstance, it is not as clear. On the one hand, you are creating a program that works in conjunction with League, that while still has to be manually initiated, could be considered as a system which improves your performance.

Let me explain. In League, we generally know the length of Cds for summoners and abilities, I say generally because of CDR and masteries which can adjust the time. We also have time stamps in game, and like some players do, we can type out when an ability was used so that we can record that time. However we still have to be mentally aware of that CD and remember to scroll up to check the CD timer.

Your program takes the 2nd (arguably most important part) out of the equation. It is one thing to record when something was used, it is another thing to be able to easily track the CD.

My suggestion to you would be instead of creating a program that works on your PC and through league, that instead you look for a timer app instead. Prior to Riot introducing timers for objective re spawns like baron, dragon, and jungle buffs. There were plenty of apps out there which allowed you to simply click on an icon and you would start an accurate timer for that objective. It could be extremely simple, does what you need it to do, and since it does not operate within League, you have 0% risk of Riot taking a negative position.

Tomate Cru3/24/2016, 3:01:37 PM1 votes

{quoted}

You can possibly put a post about it on our boards to see if a Rioter that works in that department can verify if it's okay or not as we do not offer support for program development here.

Don't you guys talk to each other?

Tomate Cru3/24/2016, 3:09:14 PM1 votes

Whether it is legal or not, I don't know. I guess it is not, for Riot...

But it is a great idea and I don't think they can really track it if you are just using the file in "read only" mode... Though, they could detect it by the fact that you will be doing "notes" a lot.

You could try a different approach. Something like Siri, Cortana, or Google Now, something on your phone that would listen to specific words or commands to start timers ;)

Stray Kat3/24/2016, 3:42:47 PM1 votes

If you wanted a simple way to make it 100% legal, add a hotkey to your program to make it pop up it's own prompt over top of league, type Lulu F in THAT prompt instead.

Then you're in no way using game files, you're simply keeping track of people's approx cooldowns on your own. It's literally no different than a stopwatch.

redruM473/24/2016, 6:12:45 PM1 votes

Timer.gg does this same thing except with your mic. I'm unsure how riot views this Website.

ƒoes3/24/2016, 11:36:33 PM1 votes

I'd just like to see a program where general game statistics would be updated live, and it wouldn't necessarily help you, but it would tell you things like your skillshot accuracy, average damage output, etc..