aegis156 wrote: »

Bangstin wrote: »

dawnhawk wrote: »

Technically you are "manually" playing both characters (or 3 or 4) at the same time. Each client is running, each character is logged in. They are just all reading the same keystroke from the same keyboard.

It's not automated at all. It's just well multitasking. Instead of the "1" doing one thing on one client. It does the same thing on two (3, 4) clients. None of them will do anything unless you hit "1" and they will all do "1" when you hit "1".

Multiple puppets, one set of strings.

That doesn't make it allowed in every game and even the companies struggle sometimes where to draw the line with these kind of things so i have no idea what is the official stance in this game.
Multiboxing is forbidden in some mmo's like in Guild Wars 2. see example -

players are permitted to use macros as long as the macros are programmed with a 1 key for 1 function protocol.
This means that if you program a macro, it must require one keystroke per action. You may not program a single key to perform multiple functions.
Dual- or Multi-Boxing
You may use more than one account at the same time.
You may use more than one computer at the same time.
You must be actively playing on each account.
And as stated above, you may not program your keyboard to perform functions on more than one account at a time.
a. For example, if you press W on your keyboard to move forward, a single character on a single account should move forward. The keystroke or mouse click should not perform functions on more than one account.

I have no idea though what is the official truth about multiboxing is in ESO.

Thats an interesting interpretation on the macro rule. 1 key one function. your example is a poor one based on pressing one key "W" has one function moving forward.

Now for true multiboxing wizardry, (those who played DAoC see what I did there?) you can control multiple computers from one wireless keyboard. 7 Fire wizards all casting Nuke of Doom at the same time from a single key press anyone?

Again not illegal under your rule. Press one key "1" still only has one function, pressing the "1" key, it may effect multiple characters but still is only doing one function.

Point being you don't need to macro to multi-box, you just need a creative hardware set up.

It's not my interpretation. That was just an example to people who think that multiboxing is allowed by default in all mmo's so i just gave them an example of an another mmo where multiboxing isn't allowed.
That said i have no idea what the official stance is in ESO and until they come out and tell us everything talked here is just speculation.

the fact that the keystroke is transmitted to more than 1 client is irrelevant

I know where are you comming from, but this is actualy VERY relevant. There is no way of multiplying I/O commands on the windoes infrastructure alone, because wthout 3rd party software (that actualy makes the "bad" version of multibox possible) there is no way of copying command to other instances of a client.

So, this is the actual difference between bannable and non-bannable activity according to ToS and multiboxing - bots are plain easy in comparsion, when it comes to judging them.

It isn't only about 3rd party software otherwise add on users would be banned its the fact that the software is automating gameplay and allowing the character to move without human interaction.

Addons can't be considered seperate software, becasue they are just integral XML coded parts of ESO standard UI, just using a different layout/backgrounds etc. They are by no means programs - so addons would not be able to get anyone banned. As I remember ESO API can't acces movement commands, essentialy making addon based "bots" almost impossible to make without breaking the present limitations.

[quote="Robbiejuve;767025"In any case, the whole thread is irrelevant because you cannot multi box in this game. [/quote]

By "you" I am assuming you mean Robbiejuve. Your ignorance of a subject does not imply its negation. You can have two accounts running on two boxes or you can run two instances on the same box.

Egdod wrote: »

Robbiejuve wrote: »

You cannot multi box in this game, there is no /follow command and the targetting system is such that it cannot be done. At best you could have a healer tailing you but again no /follow so pretty much impossible.

You know of no way for a character to run without interaction with the keyboard? Check the keybinds and you may find a way

ARGH... I stopped thinking you know multibox automatization works.

OF COURSE there is a way other than pressing W, but that command has to be transfered to other launched clients. What good will it give, if you use mouse to move, if that command has to be multiplied for all other clients? Windows does not give you software solutions for that. Launch the game twice, go to login screen and tell me what happens - after you press the key or move the mouse or do anything, the only client that will get the command is the current active one. that's how Windows work - you can't send commands to non-active processes. You HAVE to use 3rd party software to multiply it and send it to other clients - and that's the point where ToS gets broken, and the account is a subject to ban.

So, laying it down plain and simple:
1. Addons cannot be used to create a bot (apart from a simple, standing in place button masher, and that also requires more of a keyboard software for macro, than an addon) or multibox - other bots are ofc present, but they are based on special 3rd party software not addons
2. Automated Multiboxing is not very effective because of the lack of movement comands in API scripts avaiable to client side (I'm not saying it's impossible, as we have bots underground and teleporting, so, it may as well be happening)
3. Normal multiboxing, where all accounts are used by a human with alt-tabbing and without any software help is by all means ok, if someone finds that entertaining.

Robbiejuve wrote: »

You cannot multi box in this game, there is no /follow command and the targetting system is such that it cannot be done. At best you could have a healer tailing you but again no /follow so pretty much impossible.

Understand what you are seeing before claiming it is multi boxing, which is also within every MMOs TOS.

As for why, a human has to physical press a key for their character to take action, the fact that the keystroke is transmitted to more than 1 client is irrelevant, the human must perform the action. BOTS do not require human interaction. It isn't only about 3rd party software otherwise add on users would be banned its the fact that the software is automating gameplay and allowing the character to move without human interaction.

One character is being controlled by the player. The others are all being automated. The only reason this is not against TOS in any MMO is because it makes them more money. It is completely detrimental to the game and negatively affects the players around them. I would love to see a game company grow a pair and do what's best for their customers as a whole and not what's best for their pocketbooks. It won't happen but I can dream.

AlliN wrote: »

Multibox automatization happens

The statement I meant to be responding to was not made by you. Migraine plus no sleep make everything run together. The statement made above by someone else was

"You cannot multi box in this game"

Which is false. You can multibox and you can even run multiple instances on the same box both of which are allowed. What you cannot do, according to the agreement and as you pointed out is use software to automate multiboxing.

thjudgeman1142ub17_ESO wrote: »

A new thread on this... good grief. Its been said umpteengagillion times and reported to ZOE probably as much. Think they posted once or twice on what they are doing about it...

/whois "ZOE", and is she cute?

#@ZOS

(/sarcasm off.)

_______________________
(edit) Note: I have an unused set of "EPIC" [RINGS OF MARA]

Big_Bob wrote: »

I've reported characters that follows a group from moving to attacking in synchronization regardless whether theyre actual china
goldsellers or multiboxers. They're all the same, taking the fun out of exploring and fighting mobs just for the sake of exploiting for loot and doing so by denying others a chance.

Oh no, brah...I'm thinking about it from outside of the box. (Besides all those multi-boxing gold pharming "botters" can #DIAF for all I care.)

Try looking at it like this:

First Person Shooter

Your character takes up the two middle screens and the (edit) 8 other screens (the four on each side) (/edit) are your field of view.

One step below the concept of gaming with an #Oculus Rift.

Big_Bob wrote: »

Gwarok wrote: »

Try looking at it like this:

First Person Shooter

Your character takes up the two middle screens and the 4 other screens are your field of view.

One step below the concept of gaming with an #Oculus Rift.

How is this relevant or has anything to do with farm bots or multiboxing?

*/duh*, 'Behkey'.

Well, I multiboxed in lineage 2, but there I had follow and assist commands in the interface. Neither is available in ESO, so my imagination fails me how one can achieve it without bipolar disorder and extra pair of hands or third party tools.

FENGRUSH wrote: »

Milanna wrote: »

awhecknum1ub17_ESO wrote: »

Not all multiboxing is botting. "Good" multiboxers do it for the challenge of running a group. But good multiboxers also have a strict code of not interfering with others game play. They stay out of players way in public dungeons and don't hog mobs to farm them.

I love to multibox - but I never do it while afk, and I always am considerate of other players. I have not done it in this game and probably won't. But don't lump botters and all multiboxers together.

Please do explain. I really don´t understand that. See, silly me has always thought it´s about leveling multiple characters at once.

Botting is automating chars through a 3rd party software.

Multiboxing is someone running multiple chars on different clients. EI: I am playing my main and have a 2nd char that just pops buffs/heals. This is not against most MMO rules.

No idea what the poster means about 'good multiboxers have a strict code of not interfering with others'. There is no difference between someone playing a single char or having a 2nd char nearby while they level AFK doing nothing or just popping a skill or 2... at all.

So you are saying that the person using multi. clients to multibox is literally sitting at the cpu's pressing actions for each 4 or 5 clients he has running. Because if not then it is considered botting. I just saw a post on another games forum were a dev. explained the diff. between mutliboxong botting and not. He said fi can press every action manually on every client then you are NOT botting but if you use ANY kind of software to press those actions for the OTHER clients it is BOTTING>

You explain how anyone could press the actions of 4 or 5 clients as fast as they do ingame and it not be helped by some form of software to input actions for the other clients.

I just read a post in mmorpg.com that I think sums it up nicely:

"I used to multibox in EQ. After years of seeing what it has done to that game, as well as seeing people using it to exploit/cheat in other games like WoW and RIFT, I'm firmly in the camp of banning any tool that automates actions or multiboxes.

Multiboxing is just a gray area of cheating used by those who can't stand to play on even footing with others, they must always have the advantage, and most of them usually flaunt it. Banning multiboxing in PvP was one of the best decisions Rift made over the years, especially after it went F2P.

I have no problem with fancy keyboards and mice with 20 buttons if people need the handicap and want them, my problem arises when someone uses a software to make 1 button push move 5 characters. That's clearly cheating and botting in my book."

Amsel_McKay wrote: »

I multiboxed in EQ I had 4 accounts and 4 computers 4 keyboards and 4 mice... It was easy because of the "follow" command... Why did I Multibox? because wow just came out and many of my friends moved and because the game requires groups I could still play the game.

I dont multibox in ESO because you can solo the entire game and still have fun... if they have group only content I will need to start multiboxing again.

So how would you multibox in ESO without a follow command?

I see no problem with people multiboxing for the challenge of it, but I don't think you are the majority of multi boxers in this case.

I would like to invite you to Chrysamere EU, Cyrodiil. At first you will marvel at the amount of perfectly coordinated team play and communication. Then you'll start to see little things that makes you wonder:

Why do these 10 people always stack up perfectly on their leader?
Why do they follow him around in such perfect syncronization at all times?
Why do they all jump at the exact same spot?
Why do they use abilities at the exact same moment?

And the most telltale sign of them all:
If I survive the initial attack, why do they run straight past me and my 3% health without finishing me off?

At first you might not think so much about it, but when it happens again and again and again you start to wonder.


THIS is when you use it wrong.