So let's talk about this controversial topic.
FIRST RECENT INCIDENT
I recently got crushed in a 4v4 at the 12-minute mark. I watched the replay and popped back into the game before if finished. I said about my opponent: "It looked like he used a start script, and possibly auto-queuing too. His start was sick."
He said that I'm a sore loser, which isn't entirely wrong -- I was sore about losing so quickly and decisively. And he said that he wasn't cheating, though I didn't quite use the word "cheating" in my comment. I'm not 100% sure that such mods are cheating. I'm probably only 80% sure.
When I asked him how it's possible to get all units into the TC, and then simultaneously send them to three different locations, he responded that used some start script, which was exactly what I had said. I didn't press about auto-queuing, as I wasn't completely sure about it from the replay. If it wasn't auto-queuing, he was just extremely precise and efficient. There were only two barracks going at the same time, which is within a good player's ability to do manually, though the timing and rhythm seemed uncanny.
SECOND RECENT INCIDENT
About a week ago, I got crushed in another game. (Yes, that's a recurring theme in my 0ad experience.) Except this time I wasn't sore at all, because it was at the hands of an elite player who often plays in top games. This time, I watched the replay not out of frustration, but to learn how these top players do it.
To my great disappointment. It was completely obvious that he was auto-queuing. There were multiple barracks producing at the same time but all of them out of sync, and the instant one batch finished, another would form with some different amount -- depending on available resources and house limits. Also, he had turned on the auto-queuing for javs too early, and the TC production of women was briefly interrupted by javs.
Anyway...
I'm curious what the status of this startup mod is, and what's going on with the controversial "Pro GUI" mod.
I tried installing the Pro GUI mod, but it doesn't seem to be compatible with any hosted games. Is the incompatibility a new development? I remember checking out the mod a year or two ago, and though it was confusing, it worked. What happened?
Also, I can't can't find any start-up script mod at all. And the guy I played just today said he was using one.
What are your thoughts?