Restrictions on Addon Range Checks for Enemy Targets Being Reverted in Future Hotfix

Live Posted 2023/11/29 at 5:01 PM by Jaydaa

UI/Addon range check changes

This effect on addons that make the game playable for some players was definitely unintended, and we apologize for that. We’re working on a hotfix that will hopefully narrow the original change so that only friendly targets are restricted. Thereafter, enemy targets will resume being available to range checking.We’re also going to reach out to addon developers to make sure they get this message.Looking forward, we’re working on future changes to better address the need for range checking for accessibility purposes, so we really appreciate hearing from you about things you’d find most useful.Thanks again for all of your feedback!

Comment by AedionMorrisOf all the "combat" addons that they needed to target first they chose range checking for what reason?Comment by PersequorOf all the "combat" addons that they needed to target first they chose range checking for what reason?Comment by m2geekYay, good on them for undoing this.

The nameplate draw distance change was Jarring too.Comment by mysticalosEDIT, post was edited as i was typing this :D

This was mostly done because myself (DBM) and funky (Bigwigs) asked to still be able to check distance players are from boss in a non abusive way, so we can continue to filter alerts that are far away on fights where the raid splits. IE the following bosses:

Nymue
Amalgamation Chamber
Assault of Zaqali
Raszageth
Dathea
Broodkeeper Duirna

Blizzard agreed with this logical reasoning that just knowing boss distance was non abusive and the reason for wanting to know it was very sound (to simply improve user experience so they don't get alerts for abilities that are happening really far away)

Even if we had tried to replicate it using spell casting distance, not every class has 40 yard spells, and even then. being within 48 yards of something is still in range of it for mechanical purposes even though every spell would be out of range. item checks allowed more refind ranges of 50, 60, 80 etc for fights like raszageth where you want an alert if you're anywhere on that platform, but not if you're on the other platform.

We're also hoping that better apis are formed in future, that allow doing it in a cleaner way, as the item check thing was always hackyComment by PeacemoonI'm finding since this change, that Healbot does not change the colour of health bars if someone has a magic debuff but is out of range of my cleanse. Caused some issues on Tindral until I realised!Comment by Anaidewhich allows for the creation of fight maps in real time that trivialize certain mechanics and narrows design space for future bosses.Comment by TOMRUSThey should revert this change completely. It was working fine for 19 years, why it's suddenly such a problem now that they had to break everyone's addons by removing this useful feature that should be part of default UI to begin with?

And bring back UnitPosition inside instances while at it.

Stop hurting game's accessibility due to some world first raiders minority using addon API's provided to them in unintended ways.Comment by JaiieWe're also hoping that better apis are formed in future, that allow doing it in a cleaner way, as the item check thing was always hackyComment by mysticalosI'm finding since this change, that Healbot does not change the colour of health bars if someone has a magic debuff but is out of range of my cleanse. Caused some issues on Tindral until I realised!Comment by ETSekiOf all the "combat" addons that they needed to target first they chose range checking for what reason?Comment by KerathrasI don’t understand where this “accessibility” angle is coming from. I can’t think of any situation where this type of addon would enhance a disabled person’s ability to play the game. Unless they just mean QoL which is a very different thing from accessibility.Comment by robotscostrentI don’t understand where this “accessibility” angle is coming from. I can’t think of any situation where this type of addon would enhance a disabled person’s ability to play the game. Unless they just mean QoL which is a very different thing from accessibility.I and many other blind players use range display in order to get sound notifications for range with friendlys or enemy’s in or out of combat, it is absolutely fundamental for our ability to navigate and play this game.Comment by TastelikelemonAs much as they remove , the more addon and weakaura creators gona work to bypass it somehow , this changes literally nothing.Comment by Faol4n90which allows for the creation of fight maps in real time that trivialize certain mechanics and narrows design space for future bosses.Comment by PandaabearThey should revert this change completely. It was working fine for 19 years, why it's suddenly such a problem now that they had to break everyone's addons by removing this useful feature that should be part of default UI to begin with?

And bring back UnitPosition inside instances while at it.

Stop hurting game's accessibility due to some world first raiders minority using addon API's provided to them in unintended ways.Comment by Pandaabear
I guess you have no clue, WHY the Bossdights got such complicated, that WeakAuras and so on were NEEDED do beat them... it was simply, BECAUSE of WeakAuras and Addons that kinda trivialized the fights... e.g. compare Ragnaros... a Boss with like 3-4 Abilities... with a Boss from like WotLK... Blizz is designing Bosses and their Mechanics and NEED to think about how WeakAuras/Addons can automate different things... and If you only have like 5 Abilities and all of them can be done by Simply following an Arrow on your Screen... they have to make fights so complex, that even with such "Helpers" the fight is engaging, entertaining and challenging.Comment by ArchosWe're also hoping that better apis are formed in future, that allow doing it in a cleaner way, as the item check thing was always hackyComment by akaRavenwhich allows for the creation of fight maps in real time that trivialize certain mechanics and narrows design space for future bosses.Comment by Vynillinwhich allows for the creation of fight maps in real time that trivialize certain mechanics and narrows design space for future bosses.Comment by qaccy

Or players are just bad.

I know a few people who have never used addons, but still clear mythic raids.

Personally, I am a lazy sack of &*!@ and just cannot be bothered so I use addons because they work great, but they are certainly not needed.