I wrote the GMs a couple of days ago to get some clarification on what edits are okay/not okay.
First they wrote back saying "okay" and I was like "what about the ________ they're using?"
GM writes back "actually, not okay!"
All this okay/not okay ambiguous client editing stuff is so confusing and I mean really, it feels like it's grey areas all around, there's no way a player can really determine if what they are doing is going to be legal.
I'm saying this because any client edit can be argued as advantageous over someone who doesn't have it.... and in order to have it, you either need to come from an illegal server or know a guy. I know it sounds obvious but things like
* easier to see status effects
* removed potion animation
(These are two random examples) can improve client performance or visibility in game. I know its "just Quality of Life" but having a better QoL over another player allowing your gameplay to improve is an advantage, is it not? Pneuma timers are a great example because they allow an aco class to micromanage their gameplay more efficiently than someone who doesn't have them. Which is why people in my guild are making a "Legal Edits GRF pack" to share with eachother.
Maybe I'm just biased because I don't even like RCX. I hate having to jump through hoops and computer science things out to get my client to be "equal" to the supposed opposition. (I actually spent a few hours yesterday trying to get RCX working because for some reason it just wouldn't - and I need to know where gutterlines are and there's no official method for that and there should be.) and it just, in my opinion, changes the game as a whole from what it used to be.
Not only that but, RO is a game that basically relies on it's appeal to it's older playerbase. Seeing videos of what looks like a different game essentially, quite often detracts them from the nostalgia that would bring them back.
Okay rant over. Flame or whatever, shoot. I know the staff can't police client edits but that doesn't change how it just makes it feel like a different game now that it's openly encouraged. Even worse that it's encouraged but not shareable unless you know a guy.