Generally speaking, the method is profitable. But...
I speak from experience : the rat method is more than just logic based. There are certain discretionary parts where EAs cannot really take over, yes. e.g news, market interventions, option barriers... etc.
Give it a go at the EA. But I warn you that the rules aren't really all there in black and white. Looks logical, but it 'works' and it doesn't 'work' too. There are more 'rules' than expected IMO.
There's the part where there's a plan A / B / C, 'depending on market conditions'. Watch TRO's youtube videos. Also, think about where does he live... it gives a big hint what timing window is this method more profitable.
These are the things that TRO will not say. I understand why he would do that : I think he can't be bothered anymore. Its a good thing actually. Why should he give us everything on a plate? Does he owe us anything? Nope.
Also, for traders to mature correctly, one should self discover as much as they could to come up with their own trading rules. The discovery process IMO is critical to blood traders to become traders. What TRO did is to give the basic template. That, I thank him for that. Then, I work off it.
So specifically speaking : I don't take the rat rules directly as it is. As much as I wanted and tried, it doesn't work for me. However, I make my own rules + create my variation of the rat method + consider the 'unspoken rules' + take the concept of trading D1 extremes / rat trading / 20 pips from D1 high or low / whatever its called. It does work!
So I've made my own EA to test my trade logic. Pretty good. I do give TRO credit for the concept thou.
I am aware of MT4 tick data being available, so no worries I am at your side for this one.
Michael Hans wrote:Huh? Can't be done? Why would anyone trade a strategy that can't be encoded? If a strategy can't be encoded then by definition, it is illogical at the core. Whether one takes the time to code it, is a completely different question - as that may require a lot of complex code, depending on the complexity of the trade logic. In other words, if the trade design is logical, then it can be coded.
Data not available to MT4? I routinely back-test using Tick Data and Multiple Time-Frames in MT4 and I do it all the time. That's been available for quite a while now - just google it.
A tick is nothing more than a market price at which a transaction was made. the Close price is either the Bid, or the Ask - Spread. So, at some point, in order for the High or the Low of any TF to be recorded, the Tick has to equal either the Close somewhere along the way.
Since no one has volunteered to post the EQ of the RAT Methodology, I'll go ahead and take the time to build the EA myself, test it and then post the results here inside this thread. The rules are extremely simple and the build should take no more than a few minutes to complete - I probably should have just done it myself.
I'm shocked that anyone would think that such a method (any trading method) can't be coded, and I am even more shocked that people are trying to trade a method without having an idea of the historicity behind its efficiency.
Anyway, I digress.
I'll have the results posted by EOD on Monday. I've come down with a headache today, so I won't be building and EA right this minute.
