Mouse, joystick and game controller exploits

[Edward Edgemenace]

This post was meant to be funny when I started writing it, to tease those horrible glitchers (gosh an' be golly!) who use programmable mouse controllers. But after listing these common ones, it's kindof sad, not funny. I've reported these a variety of ways over time and most of these are very popular. The more ways they get reported, the better their chances of getting corrected.


Exploit 1:

When stunned by a level 2 cadet, only keyboard turn speed is affected. Cheaters using right-mouse to turn are unaffected in their turn speed...likewise joystick and game controllers.

Exploit 2:

When a molusk uses grave shackles on you, you cannot turn at all using keyboard, but cheating by using mouse, joystick or game controller allows free movement (particularly, to aim.)

Exploit 3:

When on cannon and stunned by grape shot, keyboard aiming is disabled for the duration of the stun; mouse, joystick and game controllers are completely unaffected.

Glitch 4:

Mouse wheel weapon switching ignores last weapon selected from F1-F6, allowing for other glitches to build off this defect. (E.g. coin-flipping a cutlass.)

Exploit 5:

On cannon firing with the Ctrl key on the keyboard and clicking non-selected ammo types will simultaneously fire one of each. Very adept mousers can click one of each cannon ammo type to fire all at the same instant. One fury, one explosive, one thunderbolt, one firebrand, one grape shot, one chain shot, one round shot, all at once.

Exploit 6:

Same as #5 for grenades.

Exploit 7:

Same as #5 for pistol.

Glitch 8:

Mouse wheel can be used to switch weapons during full scene changes, light scene changes, teleportations and MOST dramatically when pressing shift: starting to search crates or dig spots or talking to NPCs. Charging then sometimes works, to blast away before you've even arrived. Another more common example: Olympic torch.

Glitch 9:

Only the mouse wheel can be used to zoom out sailing camera - if you have no wheel on your mouse, you do not get to see your enemies approaching/sneaking up on you.


I'd appreciate it if others could confirm (and REPORT and re-REPORT) the exploits, especially 1, 2, 3 and 5.

[Crazypirate]

I know 1, 2, and 3 work dont know about 5. Never knew it was cheating to use mouse to aim when hit by grape shot or grave shackles since the game tells you that you can use right mouse to aim.

[Edward Edgemenace]

Exactly. The exploits 1, 2 & 3 have been around so long, most (myself included) use them unconsciously. But a quick review of how it works with keyboard clearly shows how it is supposed to work. Hence, they are exploits.

[Sven Niscadae]

1, The mouse, etc have a greater range of motion and sensitivity than a key does. I don't think you can make an equivalent relation between the two's range of motion, especially since a mouse's sensitivity,etc is user-configurable depending on their needs. This may be hard to correct.

2. I always thought the purpose of grave shackles was to render the target unable to move (i.e. forward/backward/strafe) since I never had a problem with my mouse look. Always thought the non-moving bit was annoying enough. It sounds like D just disabled the movement keys for the duration of it. The NPCs sure can aim daggers and grenades at me when I shackle them.

#5 doesn't work like that. There's a loading time every time you switch ammo types. I just tried it. Just fires off the first one if that.

#6, You can do the same using the keyboard only as well. The reload time is probably supposed to be a bit longer. I have used this somewhat to switch out my grenade types after tossing one so I don't waste time reloading but never threw them that fast before. Never came to mind to try.

#7, Yeah but it each ammo you quickly switch to does take one of your shots. It isn't simultaneous. I do this all of the time to not waste time reloading (venom/bane/normal) for my first volley. Can use the keyboard hot-keys to switch them quickly as well.

#9, I doubt Disney is going to do something about that. "Who doesn't have a wheel on their mouse nowadays," would be their logic. IMO, not worth a hassle over either.

And you may want to not use the word "cheaters" to describe people who use the mouse-look feature. Some of us find mouse-looking second nature. If we're somehow cheating, it's probably unintentional.

Originally Posted by Edward

But a quick review of how it works with keyboard clearly shows how it is supposed to work.

I believe Disney probably intended for the mouse to be used as well as the keyboard. You can't optimally play this game by just using the keyboard. I know that's not what you meant; however, the keyboard equivalent is doubtfully the baseline for the game's character pivoting mechanics. Apples and oranges.

[Edward Edgemenace]

The reason the keyboard arrow keys work as the baseline for pivoting, is because of the very drastic change in behavior, when stunned.

I made a very clear distinction between "glitches" and "exploits" - I'm sad to see you managed to miss that distinction. Regardless, for #9, I would like to see a camera zoom widget somewhere, instead of only the mouse wheel. I share your doubts, that Disney will care enough to fix it. I also agree it should have a very low-priority.

For 5, 6 & 7, you are talking about something else, not the exploits I described. Try doing it much, much, much faster and you'll see that you can fire them simultaneously.

[Miss Hexsilver]

Exploits 1 - 3 are hardly exploits. The right mouse button is there for you to drag and aim with. And nowhere does Disney disallow the use of the RMB in game. I will admit that people who take advantage of the Permanent Flameskull glitch are quite annoying, but they're just trying to have fun.

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

Glitch 9:

Only the mouse wheel can be used to zoom out sailing camera - if you have no wheel on your mouse, you do not get to see your enemies approaching/sneaking up on you.

As for exploit 9, that's what the compass is for >_> Besides, people don't use the wheel mouse to see enemies sneaking up on them, they use the Right Mouse Button to drag their screen to cover a 360 degree view. This would only be an issue for Mac users who don't have a "right mouse button".

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

Exactly. The exploits 1, 2 & 3 have been around so long, most (myself included) use them unconsciously. But a quick review of how it works with keyboard clearly shows how it is supposed to work. Hence, they are exploits.

Who said that the way our avatars move is defined by the keyboard alone? Certainly not Disney. Both the mouse AND the keyboard are utilized in game play, and there's no rule-book stating that the "keyboard shows how it is supposed to work".

[Edward Edgemenace]

Originally Posted by Miss Hexsilver

Who said that the way our avatars move is defined by the keyboard alone? Certainly not Disney. Both the mouse AND the keyboard are utilized in game play, and there's no rule-book stating that the "keyboard shows how it is supposed to work".

Excuse me, but please go try it. There is a positive, identifiable behavior that is supposed to happen, very very very clearly obvious with keyboard rotation; equally clearly, it is broken when rotating with mouse. The stun description above your health bar confirms it; you are not supposed to be able to move/turn that way, with the mouse.

In these examples, it is painfully clear that the keyboard behavior is correct and the mouse behavior is incorrect; exploiting that bug is an exploit.

[Sven Niscadae]

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

I made a very clear distinction between "glitches" and "exploits" - I'm sad to see you managed to miss that distinction.

I didn't miss that distinction at all, Edward. You said "Cheaters using right-mouse to turn", "cheating by using mouse" when stun/grave shackles occurs. So using the mouse look feature is fine and dandy until I get stunned? I better let not touch my right mouse button, I'll be cheating then.

The stun description above your health bar confirms it; you are not supposed to be able to move/turn that way, with the mouse.

Slow's description says "Slowed movement", yes, I know. I'm betting Disney defines "movement" as forward, backward, or sideways movement. The same thing is possibly applied to Grave Shackles (which is "unable to move") If you're going to include pivoting then we better take all actions out such as attacking because my arm moves too.

I mostly don't see how you can assume what Disney's intentions are for the game's design. I'm not saying we should all just accept odd things that happen in the game because we don't know exactly what D wants it to do. However, your view of a pivoting exploit, to me, is ridiculous as you'll see the same sort of behavior in any other game - MMO, FPS, or otherwise.

I'll turn this to another direction because I don't want to turn your thread into a battle over what Disney's master plan may be.

How about I suggest that there's a bug with the keyboard keys and pivoting when stunned or shackled? It seems to me that D just hindered/disabled the keyboard keys (up/down/left/right/WASDQE) for the duration of a stun or shackle because it was easier that way. I suggest that they fix that by allow the pivoting keys (A/D/left/right) to function normally.

For 5, 6 & 7, you are talking about something else, not the exploits I described. Try doing it much, much, much faster and you'll see that you can fire them simultaneously.

Really? I was mousing around as fast as I can. Is your computer skipping a beat allowing for these extra clicks and presses to be caught? For me the game runs smooth as silk and there's absolutely no way for me to change my cannon ammo type in mid-fire without it going through the reload process.

As for the grenades, I said I was able to duplicate what you are talking about (quickly throwing multiple grenade types without waiting for a reload). The pistol, on the other hand, I can except that it made me reload after 3 shots no matter how fast I did it.

[Edward Edgemenace]

Originally Posted by Sven Niscadae

I didn't miss that distinction at all, Edward. You said "Cheaters using right-mouse to turn", "cheating by using mouse" when stun/grave shackles occurs. So using the mouse look feature is fine and dandy until I get stunned? I better let not touch my right mouse button, I'll be cheating then.

By calling that "cheating" I was attempting to shift focus to when it occurs in PvP: one person using keyboard vs. one person mousing. That is, exploiting the behavior to the detriment of another pirate (who read the hint "You can use WASD to move.") I don't agree with your theory that they did it that way because it was easiest: the forward backward movement looks like a much different rate of slowing than the pivoting, yet mouse slow pivoting is unaffected.

So, you found my terminology of "cheating" to be ridiculous when you didn't pick up the logical extension to PvP. Fine. But you did see the dramatic inconsistency. Fine again. In the interests of thread harmony, I'll concede that perhaps they didn't intend for the dramatic pivoting slowness on keyboard. It still is an unfair advantage - unconscious perhaps - when used against another pirate.

Really? I was mousing around as fast as I can. Is your computer skipping a beat allowing for these extra clicks and presses to be caught? For me the game runs smooth as silk and there's absolutely no way for me to change my cannon ammo type in mid-fire without it going through the reload process.

Now, I didn't send you those specs for nothing. No, my computer is not skipping a beat or something. The first time I saw this was on cannon; the first time I did this was the day before yesterday on cannon. Pressing Ctrl THEN clicking fires more than one ammo type with some regularity. I'll experiment more with the timing to see if I can teach you how to reproduce this exploit. (Cheating...positively. The first time I saw it was when I was hit by one-of-each from a single cannon in SvS. It has been around for a while now.)

As for the grenades, I said I was able to duplicate what you are talking about (quickly throwing multiple grenade types without waiting for a reload). The pistol, on the other hand, I can except that it made me reload after 3 shots no matter how fast I did it.

Are you saying that one also works by pressing Ctrl 2 3 4 5 6 7 without the mouse, yet stops after only 3? Maybe I tested that one incompletely, but it sounds to me like you didn't reproduce what I was describing, instead a completely different bug. Three simultaneous shots simultaneously is still wrong...each shot is supposed to wait for the "firing" animation of the previous shot. But that wasn't the exploit I was describing, merely a lightweight cousin of it? I'll test this a bunch more tonight.

[Poison elf]

My view is it is not cheating to use a sensible method that works best. In most games, that is designed around your mouse, versus keyboard options. In pvp environments, many of these things are key to help survive against another opponent. Setting a mouse to scan the screen quicker, to faster internet connection. In my view, this is following the same path to internet connection and its cheating if someone has a faster connection?

I think if there is argument in this area in game mechanics, it should be approached that way. Why can cutlass jumpers still jump when stun. Why does cutlass seem to have the effect more over dagger, grenades, pistol etc. Why is pistol undead shot useless in pvp, type things.

Those that use keyboard options only, should report that they are not getting the same response as other users. In that point you are correct that they should report it.

This being said, I don't think we need more going backwards in this game, they need to try to go forward for the FIRST TIME. I have seen way to many reductions, degrades and such and not any upgrading at all. Specially these areas like upgraded weapons, that give higher % damage to lower level skills to level slower.



I am not seeing the multiple shot either with mousing different ammos, have heard of some using multiple shots like this though and may be a real glitch in there somewhere. I have noticed before though, switching ammo does cut the wait out some in something like throwing next grenade.

[Edward Edgemenace]

OK, you all are right. In the interests of just making the game more fun, it is better to call the keyboard behavior the error for #1-3.

For grenades, throwing without reload time is a different glitch than I was describing. (That's indicative of a problem too.) I'll refine my tests some more, but it looks like I pause 1/10th to 1/5th of a second after pressing Ctrl before clicking, to do the one-of-each-ammo. I mean, this is a really hard thing to guage and estimate.

Edit: GAH! Trying to video it, causes too much delay to do the glitch.

[CaptainGreenGene]

The rapid throwing of grenades without the reload time is not a new glitch. Its been around forever. I have never been able to throw more then one type of ammo at the same time. I can however throw multiple ammo in very rapid succession without reaching into my right pocket to reload. It more then doubles the firing rate and is useful when training your nades in Kingshead field. For all of you that think the fence is broken let me advise you it is not. If the veterans get through the fence its because your in the wrong spot. Some day go to Kingshead and look at the fence. There is an area where it's bowed out. That's the best spot to stand behind. If you don't believe me go look for yourself.

[Poison elf]

The fence was broke if at all in Kings only for short brief time period. It still works like 5th post from end of big long fence. They break through though if taking other targets, like the soldiers walking the path while also the six lined up.

Really was never broke, just not working at the usual spot people lined up at.

[Cheleszoo]

Originally Posted by Edward Edgemenace

By calling that "cheating" I was attempting to shift focus to when it occurs in PvP: one person using keyboard vs. one person mousing. That is, exploiting the behavior to the detriment of another pirate (who read the hint "You can use WASD to move.") I don't agree with your theory that they did it that way because it was easiest: the forward backward movement looks like a much different rate of slowing than the pivoting, yet mouse slow pivoting is unaffected.

I'm not so sure that there are too many ppl out there playing without a mouse. And we've argued before in many different threads about "fair" PVP. With all the worry about, No Dolls, No Tonics, Blades Only, Combos Only, No Dirt, No Brawl..... I don't think it ever occured to anyone to say - No Mouse. I don't think anyone even thinks twice about the mouse because it is so second nature to use it.

If shackles is the issue, then that's where to lay the blame, not the mouse. The person being shackled "should" be disabled in both the keyboard and mouse if it is true to the description. But that is not the case and I for one am going to Asp the Doller to shatter the attunement whether I'm shackled or not. There is nothing to stop the "doller" from being out of range or moving constantly to make a harder target. And in PVP you are going to try to win by any means you have within the rules that were set (and any PVP with set rules will not allow the use of Dolls so shackles would not be an issue). Free for all, well that's just it, a Free for all.

The mouse is for precise aiming - not the keyboard. The players online handbook details it's use and the tutorial on how to use the gun specifically demonstrates the mouse and how to aim with the right mouse button. It's one of the first skills we are taught in the game (aiming the cannon and firing at the ship). It is Ying and Yang with the keyboard. If people are not using the suggested Mouse and only using the keyboard, well i can only say they are jipping themselves out of a more satisfying way to play the game.

[Edward Edgemenace]

I guess the only thing left to be said about #1-3, is that it is inconsistent. Either keyboard shouldn't lock pivoting, or mouse should. One or the other is broken.

I switch from mouse to keyboard to mouse to keyboard a lot in this game. As I said above, I use the mouse unconsciously in such situations, but it is plainly an unfair advantage, when one mode of pivoting is affected while another is not. In the interest of making the game more fun, I agree it is better to call the keyboard behavior "broken."

The fire-one-of-each-ammo defects, however, are quite serious in comparison. (Shame on me, for associating them with each other.)