This game badly needs mods and macros.

Couldn't agree more. One of RIFTS most positive attributes was the UI customization.

The problem with Addons is that they do go from "Optional" to "Required" rather quickly.

Most addons start off as just being useful tools for players, But in time they are quickly abused from their original purpose. I think Recount for WoW is a perfect example of an addon being abused. It was a great tool when used properly, but self proclaim elitist started abusing the junk out of it, kicking members from the raids for not doing X amount of DPS, even though that person was still pulling their weight.

Another good example would be DBM, again a great tool; but it got to the point for some (not all raiders) that they could not down a simple boss without DBM telling them they were standing in the fire/poison/etc...

And my personal favorite (though it isnt used anymore) QuestHelper. It got to the point that if a major patch came through and disabled all addons until updates were made, players simply would not quest until this one was working again. It is like they forgot how to read the quest that told them exactly where to go.

Again the above does not imply that EVERYONE who uses an addon became a mindless drone, but there were a good number of them. So for my 2 credits, I dont mind macros, but this game would be better off without addons.

opening the game to mods and macros opens the game to easier cheats and multiboxing

in order to use 3rd party mods players need access to the game code to change it and the devs allow it somewhat freely.

when things like dps meters come into play players get left out of instances they need because of requirements of other players. and youll see things like this in chat "LFM for [instance here] must do a minimum of [number here] dps and must have [minimum of this gear] also link [this achievement] showing youve already done it or dont bother"

allowing macros lends itself to people controlling more than one toon at the same time from the same PC on different accounts. making pvp a nightmare for those not doing it. (imagine a sniper shooting you with ambush 4 tims at the same time..4 different toons..one person doing it...yeah enough said imo) they do it in wow through macros and because its not a "bot" or anything like that blizzard keeps allowing it even though they shouldnt.

granted these are somewhat extreme examples but they do indeed happen.

No way in heck we should ever ever ever ever have marco's of any kind (except to Do Recruting or Prof spamming)

Macros is for people who are looking to take shortcuts and I personally feel like they would ruin the game.

I would agree to a combat log and a Threat Meter. But not to DPS/HPS meters it always causes it elitism in games. Specially the 8 year juggernaugt knows as WoW.

I like how in this game there is not as much of this and I feel addons and mods cause alot of the problems.

put the red text in a ui box - let us put it where we want it

I fully support the implementation of macros. It would be a great help to those of us with only 1 arm, or those who like to play with 1 hand down their pants.

i thought thats what the swtor mouse was for

SWG had awesome macro customization.

I support the OP, except, that it isn't a must or a need, but,it is another PLUS, to the PLAYER, who is after all, a PAYER, of the bills of TOR.

Time and time again, these Game Companies lose sight, that, the player is a the payer, and not a bunch of whiney kids, as they think we all are.

Macros are neat, and those that hate them, are like evil incarnate to them. you will never convince them of their value, to older players, handicapped players, or people, who hate toggling the same keys, 5000 times,in an hour. Funny, they always say, Learn to Play, the game, and yet,rage against any game with macros. To me, they are ignoring their own advice. Learn to make a macro, if its in a game, its something you need to learn.

I miss my macros, in SWG, they allowed me, to focus on movement,in pvp, and bosses in pve, rather than button mashing.

However, given this games prediliction to game credit sinks, they would probably charge us a skill, for use of macros,lol

This is why I would be very surprised if we ever had addons, seriously.

Blizz didn't have LucasLawyers hovering over them. If Bioware allowed addons, somebody would do a "Nekkid Girl" reskin, and once Unca Georgie's lawyers took a look at that, the bantha poodoo would fly.

Personally, I'm just as happy that we don't have Mos Espa turning into Goldshire.

Macro's are a very good idea. Especially for healers who need to switch a lot between characters. But there must be need some kind of restriction. The macro's don't need to be "overpowered" because players without a macro keyboard or some kind should have a change to.