Modes Multiboxing is a spreading pestilence....

Smykes · Jan 20, 2018

I agree wi the difficulty factor..
but in Powerplay it doesnot help represent the true percentages in a prep or expansion race..
and on that basis, any territory gains ( or loss prevention )
by any of the superpowers can be seen as having been acheived thru cheating.
This is a game yes.. vote rigging is still vote rigging..... illegal.

UmbraRex · Jan 20, 2018

Smykes said:
My issue is wi th deliveries of materials..
I take say 10 mins A-B-A to fly and deliver 500t.. in one ship.
Someone multiboxing takes slightly longer time say 12mins, flying say 4ships delivering 2000t.
The advantage to them is delivering almost 4 times the amount I can.
Competing in CGs is one thing.. thats a personal goal..
but in prep and expansion Powerplay its a blatant cheat as far as I am concerned..
its like vote-rigging in elections.

Assuming for a moment it takes you 1 min to take off and jump to the first system, 2 min to dock at your destination once dropping out of supercruise that leaves seven minutes of 'travel' time.

a hypothetical multiboxer who is not scripting would take that same 3 minutes per ship, or 12 min total. Added to the 7 minutes travel time that's 19 min, vs your 10 min.

Does he have an advantage? Yup.

Personally I salute his ingenuity and dedication. I'm not gonna spend the extra money for additional accounts, additional computers (Elite is hard on graphics and I'd want all windows open so I could see what was going on with each ship, just in case.) just to gain an advantage in a game but hey, some folks will.

This is a game yes.. vote rigging is still vote rigging..... illegal.

Well, if you take the position that each purchased account is a 'person' in the elite universe, then there is nothing illegal about it, even if there is only one 'live' person behind all four.

Smykes · Jan 20, 2018

my 10 mins was a hypothetical situation for comparison onl,y...

dang phone posted before i was finished..

the fact that powerplay materials deliveries can be exagerated by multiboxing is still not
giving a true measure of how an expansion or preparation race is proceeding..
I give up..
powerplay is broken until FDev do something to prevent cheating by this method.

UmbraRex · Jan 20, 2018

Smykes said:
my 10 mins was a hypothetical situation for comparison onl,y...

dang phone posted before i was finished..

the fact that powerplay materials deliveries can be exagerated by multiboxing is still not
giving a true measure of how an expansion or preparation race is proceeding..
I give up..
powerplay is broken until FDev do something to prevent cheating by this method.

Any 'fix' to multiboxing will break people playing from the same location.

Propose a solution that prevents multiboxing while still allows several people from the same location to play.

Smykes · Jan 20, 2018

Propose a solution??

With my limited tech knowledge and previous experience with games that do not allow multiple instances of a game running from the same PC,
I take it that each PC has its own identifier..
so limiting game instances from the same PC should be fairly easy for coders.

Jockey79 · Jan 20, 2018

Smykes said:
Propose a solution??

With my limited tech knowledge and previous experience with games that do not allow multiple instances of a game running from the same PC,
I take it that each PC has its own identifier..
so limiting game instances from the same PC should be fairly easy for coders.

Finally some clarity; so it is people who run more than one copy of the game on a single computer that is your issue.

While I still have no issue with this myself, do you even have any idea on what a person would have to spend on their PC to run just 2 copies of the game at the same time?
Because we are not talking about a £700 PC from PC World, I can assure you of that.

And if someone wants to build a PC that can run up to 4 copies of Elite: Dangerous at the same time, firstly I want to see some photos of that PC and secondly that thing will cost more than my car.
So i highly doubt that multiboxing is as much of an issue as you seem to think it is. I bet there is maybe a dozen people at most who have PCs that could do it.

(And using Power Play as a yard stick to "measure" the problem is also a daft idea as PP is broken anyway.)

The more important problem with PP is module tourism, that is way more wide spread and damaging to the actual game play.
As you have people jumping factions every few weeks to get new ship parts. It throws off what people need to do for the real benefit of the faction.
Then you've got 5th column folks to deal with as well.

Gibbon · Jan 20, 2018

Smykes said:
Now you are splitting hairs..

How about if you came across a player in PvP multiboxing with Tanks/ Healers/ DPS ships all multiboxing and ganked you?

Not unless you know an octopus that can play

Mouse · Jan 21, 2018

Smykes said:
You want specifics instead of generalising Multiboxing ?.. ok.

I refer to the past few weeks preparations and expansions of systems to Aisling Duval space.

It was only this morning that I found out that players were using multi-accounts and multiboxing to deliver mass quantities of materials.

For those of us that do not have the hardware or physical skills or inclination to match this "gameplay" it is a clear disadvantage...

I have played 100's of games over the last 30 years and every online game seemed to eventually succumb to this abhorrent practise.

There were a few games producers that actively denied the ability to do so.. one PC, one account, one game instance.. and I daresay there are a few today.

One player and his/her skills with the tools given ingame.

I do not know whether consoles are capable of multiboxing, I have never owned one.

I put it to Fdev to step up and implement the denial of multiple copies of this game to be running simultaneously from the same IP address.

I've had it happen to me (the system I called home) But you claim proof.. has someone said they did this? If not what is your proof?

S3B4ST13N · Jan 21, 2018

Jockey79 said:
While I still have no issue with this myself, do you even have any idea on what a person would have to spend on their PC to run just 2 copies of the game at the same time?
Because we are not talking about a £700 PC from PC World, I can assure you of that.

About £1,000.

Intel Core i5 @ 3.30GHz (Skylake) - £164.99
16.0GB DDR4 2133Mhz - £254.99
Samsung 850EVO 250GB - £97.99
GeForce 1080 - £478.99
Total: £996.96

Just tried multi-boxing on my two accounts.

A message window* appears if you try to run multiple-instances of the Launcher at the same time.
* Only one copy of the Elite Dangerous Launcher can run at a time.

Once passed this, both games loaded up without issues.
Normal in-station FPS is around 70.
Multi-boxing, both games were running at around 50FPS.

This is with every setting cranked to the max (including SS which was at 2.0).

A few graphics tweaks here and there (probably just need to lower SS TBH) and a thousand-Pound rig can multi-box.

Asp Explorer · Jan 21, 2018

I hope you multihomed that box, and set appropriate conditions

Monk · Jan 21, 2018

I don't understand the motivation to do it in the first place. Seems like too much effort to gain an edge in a fantasy universe with zero impact on anything tangible.

Honestly, seeing it happen doesn't upset me about the game I'm playing. Rather, I just find it pathetic and move on.

Jockey79 · Jan 21, 2018

NuttiKrust said:
About £1,000.

Intel Core i5 @ 3.30GHz (Skylake) - £164.99
16.0GB DDR4 2133Mhz - £254.99
Samsung 850EVO 250GB - £97.99
GeForce 1080 - £478.99
Total: £996.96

Just tried multi-boxing on my two accounts.

A message window* appears if you try to run multiple-instances of the Launcher at the same time.
* Only one copy of the Elite Dangerous Launcher can run at a time.

Once passed this, both games loaded up without issues.
Normal in-station FPS is around 70.
Multi-boxing, both games were running at around 50FPS.

This is with every setting cranked to the max (including SS which was at 2.0).

A few graphics tweaks here and there (probably just need to lower SS TBH) and a thousand-Pound rig can multi-box.

And where is my pretty pictures of this said rig?
I did specify I wanted pretty pictures

Also, nice price on the 1080, but that must have been some time back.
Since this Bitcoin currency mining nonsense, scan.co.uk has its lowest 1080 at £600 and the best 1080Ti at £900
So building a new PC now for multiboxing is going to cost more than that.

And sitting in the station getting 70 FPS on an i5 is one thing, but did you try using those ships in real flight / play.
Not sure you'd hold 70 while trying to fly both. Also that being said, how easy would it be to actually fly both?
Do the controls work both all the time, or only the active window? (oh are you keeping both side by side, or minimising one the your not using and swapping windows?)

Could you honestly see any advantage to doing that on 1 PC or would multiple PCs get better results?

S3B4ST13N · Jan 21, 2018

Jockey79 said:
And where is my pretty pictures of this said rig?
I did specify I wanted pretty pictures

Rig:

Motherboard	ASUS H170 Pro Gaming
RAM	16GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4 2133 Mhz
CPU	Intel i5 6600 Skylake (3.3Ghz)
Cooling	Corsair H55, Corsair AF120, Corsair SP120, 2 x NZXT 140mm Front extractor fans (for now)
SSD's	Samsung 850 EVO 250GB, 840 EVO 120GB, 750 EVO 500GB
HDD	Western Digital 1TB
Case	NZXT S340 (looking to update to the S340 Elite)

Peripherals:

Keyboard	RedDragon Indra (this thing is awesome for the price)
Mouse	Func MS-3-R2 ( one of the few big mice for fella's with big hands )
Speakers	5.1 Logitech Z506 (note the center speaker mounted on the screen )
Joystick/Throttle	Saitek X52
Screen 1	Samsung SyncMaster SA350 21.5 inch
Screen 2	DELL SE2717H 27" (planning on getting a second this year to replace the Samsung)
Co-Pilot	Chewie (squeeze him and he speaks!)

Jockey79 said:
Also, nice price on the 1080, but that must have been some time back.
Since this Bitcoin currency mining nonsense, scan.co.uk has its lowest 1080 at £600 and the best 1080Ti at £900
So building a new PC now for multiboxing is going to cost more than that.

I got the prices off NewEgg UK as they are today:
The 1080: LINK
The 1080Ti they got for £631.99: LINK

I got the Galax GeForce GTX 1080 EXOC-SNPR in April last year for around the same price.

Jockey79 said:
And sitting in the station getting 70 FPS on an i5 is one thing, but did you try using those ships in real flight / play.
Not sure you'd hold 70 while trying to fly both.

Absolutely, at this point though I just wanted to see if I could get into both games and see what the performance was like. A solid 50FPS in station running two instances of ED tells me that it shouldn't have a problem with the usual stuff. Planetary landings might take it's toll though. Only one way to find out; but that requires research and setting things up I'm couldn't be bothered to do, lol.

Jockey79 said:
Also that being said, how easy would it be to actually fly both?
Do the controls work both all the time, or only the active window? (oh are you keeping both side by side, or minimising one the your not using and swapping windows?)

The controls do not work at the same time; there's likely software that needs to be run to map your inputs somehow.

Jockey79 said:
Could you honestly see any advantage to doing that on 1 PC or would multiple PCs get better results?

In a game like WoW, I can see the advantage.
In ED? It would be kind of pointless. How do you undock multiple ships at the same time (docking is easy thanks to DC)?

Personally, I don't see what benefit multi-boxing could possibly bring.

Sylveria · Jan 21, 2018

NuttiKrust said:
Co-Pilot Chewie (squeeze him and he speaks!)

Nice clean setup

Repped for the stuffed Chewie alone.

S3B4ST13N · Jan 21, 2018

Sylveria said:
Nice clean setup Repped for the stuffed Chewie alone.

Thanks.

Almost clean .. got too many cables around; want to figure out a way to hide them.

Chewie for life.

Jockey79 · Jan 21, 2018

NuttiKrust said:
Rig:

Motherboard ASUS H170 Pro Gaming
RAM 16GB Crucial Ballistix DDR4 2133 Mhz
CPU Intel i5 6600 Skylake (3.3Ghz)
Cooling Corsair H55, Corsair AF120, Corsair SP120, 2 x NZXT 140mm Front extractor fans (for now)
SSD's Samsung 850 EVO 250GB, 840 EVO 120GB, 750 EVO 500GB
HDD Western Digital 1TB
Case NZXT S340 (looking to update to the S340 Elite)

Peripherals:

Keyboard RedDragon Indra (this thing is awesome for the price)
Mouse Func MS-3-R2 ( one of the few big mice for fella's with big hands )
Speakers 5.1 Logitech Z506 (note the center speaker mounted on the screen )
Joystick/Throttle Saitek X52
Screen 1 Samsung SyncMaster SA350 21.5 inch
Screen 2 DELL SE2717H 27" (planning on getting a second this year to replace the Samsung)
Co-Pilot Chewie (squeeze him and he speaks!)

https://i.imgur.com/Zo5Mttv.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/emNsvX2.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/eYKQn9b.jpg

I got the prices off NewEgg UK as they are today:
The 1080: LINK
The 1080Ti they got for £631.99: LINK

I got the Galax GeForce GTX 1080 EXOC-SNPR in April last year for around the same price.

Absolutely, at this point though I just wanted to see if I could get into both games and see what the performance was like. A solid 50FPS in station running two instances of ED tells me that it shouldn't have a problem with the usual stuff. Planetary landings might take it's toll though. Only one way to find out; but that requires research and setting things up I'm couldn't be bothered to do, lol.

The controls do not work at the same time; there's likely software that needs to be run to map your inputs somehow.

In a game like WoW, I can see the advantage.
In ED? It would be kind of pointless. How do you undock multiple ships at the same time (docking is easy thanks to DC)?

Personally, I don't see what benefit multi-boxing could possibly bring.

Great set up. Love being nosy at other folks gaming set ups

Only thing missing is a VR headset, you thinking of getting one?
(if not (or as well), I have the Tobii Eye X and love it, highly recommend it and it's not just for Elite either - its great in loads of games)

Thanks for going to the trouble to test this and give feedback. I couldn't see a reason for anyone to multibox on one PC and I doubt many have the room to squeeze a line of PCs together.
So I think this whole multibox issue is just someone being paranoid in my opinion.

seko · Jan 21, 2018

Excuse my ignorance, but what is multi-boxing ?

Sylveria · Jan 21, 2018

seko said:
Excuse my ignorance, but what is multi-boxing ?

Running multiple game clients (accounts) on the same machine. In essence, being able to control more than one spaceship at a time on the same machine.

S3B4ST13N · Jan 21, 2018

Jockey79 said:
Great set up. Love being nosy at other folks gaming set ups
Only thing missing is a VR headset, you thinking of getting one?
(if not (or as well), I have the Tobii Eye X and love it, highly recommend it and it's not just for Elite either - its great in loads of games)

Thanks for going to the trouble to test this and give feedback. I couldn't see a reason for anyone to multibox on one PC and I doubt many have the room to squeeze a line of PCs together.
So I think this whole multibox issue is just someone being paranoid in my opinion.

Thanks.

I bought an EDTracker; but I don't use headphones so it's kind of pointless - and I don't want to wear a cap every time I play, not in this heat anyway.

I had a look at a VR headset, it's double the monthly payment I make on my mortgage; so I'd either need to find a great deal, or just wait for it to be cheaper. I could stuff it onto my Credit Card if I wanted to, or I could take it on credit (which means I'm repaying it for a year at just over 20% interest).
I haven't decided yet if it's worth it.

-

I believe OP is making a fuss over a non-issue as the impact a multi-boxer has on his experience is negligible.

Jockey79 · Jan 21, 2018

NuttiKrust said:
I bought an EDTracker; but I don't use headphones so it's kind of pointless - and I don't want to wear a cap every time I play, not in this heat anyway.

You want to look at a Tobii Eye X then, nothing to wear as it scans your eyes.

https://tobiigaming.com/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8pBCoEROTUc (ObsidianAnt doing a promo for Tobii)

NuttiKrust said:
I had a look at a VR headset, it's double the monthly payment I make on my mortgage; so I'd either need to find a great deal, or just wait for it to be cheaper. I could stuff it onto my Credit Card if I wanted to, or I could take it on credit (which means I'm repaying it for a year at just over 20% interest).
I haven't decided yet if it's worth it.

I got to borrow an Oculus Rift for a few weeks and it was amazing. I didn't want to give it back.
I was looking at Scan.co.uk as they have it for £400 and can pay over time, but I'm skint atm so that plan is on hold.

NuttiKrust said:
I believe OP is making a fuss over a non-issue as the impact a multi-boxer has on his experience is negligible.

Agreed. Thanks for again for checking.
It's always nice to have someone confirm things like this.