Newcomer / Intro Second Account via Steam - How to?

[Lord Maniac]

Hello, fellow commanders.

I read some posts about having a second account, and i would like to know how this could be done via Steam.
Is there something like a "Best Practice" for adding a second account in Steam?

Many thanks in Advance

 

[Para Handy]

You can change your logged-in user in Steam - I have two Steam user accounts but only one runs Elite Dangerous - the other one has an old copy of Elite Dangerous so I can (and do) run it from a direct installation which I also use for another account. So I don't know how two Steam accounts share Elite Dangerous installations - do they need seperate installs, do you have to log-out machine, etc etc?

It would be good to know for future reference when you find out.

Good luck

 

[[VR] Orodruin]

I do not think you can make two accounts via Steam unless you have two Steam accounts. It would probably require two installations of the game.
However, you can use the same installation twice just with different logins. D2EA did a video on this late last year:

 

[Lord Maniac]

So, just to recap:

1. Buy a second Version of the Game from Frontier
2. Duplicate the Launcher, logging in with the second account.

Sounds easy enough.
I read somewhere, that besides COntroller Config and Graphical Settings, also stuff like "Visited Systems" are kept while changing the Accounts
in the Same Installation folder. Is this true?

 

[Ashnak]

So, just to recap:

1. Buy a second Version of the Game from Frontier
2. Duplicate the Launcher, logging in with the second account.

Sounds easy enough.
I read somewhere, that besides COntroller Config and Graphical Settings, also stuff like "Visited Systems" are kept while changing the Accounts
in the Same Installation folder. Is this true?

You'll need one email address per account (not a big issue thanks to auntie Google, but you'll have to think of it), and if you want to log into FD any time you switch your CMDR, you don't actually need that second launcher. But it does make things more comfortable - especially when you put a link to each of the launchers onto the desktop.

Visited systems: I don't think so. I have two "visisted systems" caches. One was last accessed yesterday (when Azzie Elbub was kicking the space ), the other last Friday (when Ashnak finally made it to Salomé's Reach). Apart from the first couple of words ("Visited Stars"), the files don't contain any plaintext, though.

 

[Lord Maniac]

Ah ok, thanks for explaining
One Last Question: Whe using VR, i start ED from SteamVR.
How would i do this with second, "renamed" Launcher?

I just tried to buy the game from the Frontier Store - sadly, this is linked to steam, so i am only able to buy this on steam.
Is this even possible, since i own the game already?

 

[Ashnak]

I also play in VR via SteamVR (and WMR, on a Reverb). Usually, I just activate the headset (which starts WMR), then start the game from the Launcher (which activates SteamVR). Sometimes (more often if I first start the game and then activate the headset), I'll need to restart either WMR or the PC to get everything in line again.

To your second point: You'll need to create a new FD account (with that second email address). Each FD account can only have one game. I would suggest (@Para Handy - does that work?) you try first to start the game installation you already have from the (Frontier) Launcher instead of using Steam. If that works, you should be able to use the dual launcher setup.

If everything else fails, there's also a failsafe method - that would, however, require double the space on your boot drive, and make switching between the two accounts a bit more awkward: set up another Windows user on your machine. That other user could then have a completely independent installation of ED. Downside is that you'll need twice the HD space, and twice the time to download the game updates.

 

[Ashnak]

Oh - and just remembered: you'll have to go in via https://www.frontierstore.net/ - https://elitedangerous.com/ only links to Steam

 

[Para Handy]

......... I would suggest (@Para Handy - does that work?) you try first to start the game installation you already have from the (Frontier) Launcher instead of using Steam. If that works, you should be able to use the dual launcher setup.
............

For purchases on Steam since April 2019 you can only use the "Steam Login" - not use the direct copied launcher. How that works for multiple recent (post-April 2019) Steam accounts I do not know, I have an old Steam account that I use the direct launcher from a Frontier installation but my more recent Steam sale purchase needs to log in via that Steam account - trying to use the other method results in the validation loop or the "buy to proceed" issue.

(That doesn't read very clearly, sorry, need more coffee. )

 

[Lord Maniac]

Hm, it´s on sale now at Humble Bundle - would this work too?
Setting up a new account with a new mail address and maybe a seperate installation?

 

[Para Handy]

Hm, it´s on sale now at Humble Bundle - would this work too?
Setting up a new account with a new mail address and maybe a seperate installation?

Beware that some people buying codes from resellers have installation / verification issues with Frontier (even if it goes through OK on Steam) - it can take a support ticket to get it authorised / verified by Frontier. There are occasional posts about this in the PC sub-forum on here. However, if you do have to go through the hassle of a support ticket at least you will have got the game at a bargain price. Plus of course, it could work seamlessly instead.

 

[Lord Maniac]

Dang, i really thought it would be easier creating a second account.
I still don´t get the method (rather than a seperate Frontiers-Account) what exactly verifies the second Elite Account.
sigh If only you could create more than one commander

 

[Para Handy]

.... what exactly verifies the second Elite Account.
..........

When the launcher logs-in to Frontier's servers that has to check that the launcher has a valid copy of the game - if your Frontier account for that is trying to link to a Steam account which Frontier doesn't recognise as having bought the game - it rejects it - that is where the discounted codes for Steam versions are (occasionally) falling over and support has to manually authorise that account as being a valid game.

Terrible fudge but hey - that's what happens when you try to shoehorn a stand-alone game into the "Steam world". The Planet series all seem to work better at this as they were built to be run via Steam.

 

[Lord Maniac]

So to recap this whole thing:
1. I Create a new Account at Frontiers Homepage, using a new E-Mail Address.
2. I either buy a copy of the game at frontiers store OR buy it at Humble Bundle for much less monies (but with the risk of having to contact the Frontiers Support-Team)
3. I Install said purchase somewhere else on my PC.
4. I start THIS Version with my new Account credentials.
5. I am happy with my second account.

Is this a realistic scenario, or is there something i forgot, that would shatter this dream?

Again, regards and thanks for the patience

 

[Para Handy]

So to recap this whole thing:
1. I Create a new Account at Frontiers Homepage, using a new E-Mail Address.
2. I either buy a copy of the game at frontiers store OR buy it at Humble Bundle for much less monies (but with the risk of having to contact the Frontiers Support-Team)
3. I Install said purchase somewhere else on my PC.
4. I start THIS Version with my new Account credentials.
5. I am happy with my second account.

Is this a realistic scenario, or is there something i forgot, that would shatter this dream?

Again, regards and thanks for the patience

Is your existing account one bought on Steam and if so was it bought after April 2019?

 

[Lord Maniac]

My existing Account was bought (on steam) in January 2018

 

[Para Handy]

My existing Account was bought (on steam) in January 2018

OK - in that case you can run that from the launcher without running Steam. So if you buy direct from Frontier you can run both accounts from one installation of the game on your computer - just by copying and renaming the EDLaunch.exe file (the launcher) - everything else stays the same. That is how I run my old Steam version, the newer one has to be run via Steam.

So that is one option - the other of course is the create a new Steam account and buy the cut-price offer and hope it validates with no issues. As I say I have no experience of running two Steam accounts of ED through Steam - have you thought of asking in the Steam forums if there are any drawbacks?

 

[Lord Maniac]

Ah fiddlesticks...
The Humble Bundle Option requires steam
And the Frontiers Store is... REALLY expensive.

Looks like i have to stay with only one account.

 

[Para Handy]

Ah fiddlesticks...
The Humble Bundle Option requires steam
And the Frontiers Store is... REALLY expensive.

Looks like i have to stay with only one account.

Here's a thought - make a new Steam account - get the humblebundle install it in that account - see how you get on, at most it will result in 3 days wait for support to validate / authorise the code but good chance it will work straight away.

 

[Lord Maniac]

I just read that - according to the Frontier FAQ - the only valid (and in this case probably supported) way to do this,
is to grab the copy from the Frontiers store and use the Launcher without steam.
So, the only way is to spend 50€ instead of 15€ (atm)


I would actually like to support Frontier with my money, on the other hand, money is something i myself need desperately...

But at last the methods are clear now, a second steam account WOULD be a way...

Anyway, thanks for pointing out all available options, yo guys have been a great help!