Newcomer / Intro Terms Of Use, Code Of Conduct, etc.

[Cmdr Sharky]

I'm trying to find any rules that cover things like combat logging and multiple account use. Any idea where I might find them?

Neither of these say anything about them:

Elite Dangerous EULA and Terms of Use - Frontier Store

The Frontier Developments Online Store is the exclusive online retailer for products made and licensed by Frontier Developments plc

www.frontierstore.net

Frontier Code of Conduct - Frontier Developments plc.

The Code of Conduct will apply to all users of Frontier Development's products and/or services and are designed to provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere for all users.

www.frontier.co.uk

Apparently this text covers it:

3.c (c) use cheats, automation software, hacks, mods, or any other unauthorized software designed to modify or defeat the purpose or experience of the Game
4.1 You may not use the Game or any Online Features in any unlawful manner, for any unlawful purpose, or in any manner inconsistent with this EULA, or act fraudulently or maliciously, including but not limited to hacking into, inserting malicious code (including viruses or harmful data) into the Game, any Online Features or any operating system

So the only thing that I think that they could complain about is the use of a third party launcher to run two copies of the games at once, although you can still do that if you have bought it on two platforms e.g. Steam and Epic.

 

[Fnord Velkor]

....


So the only thing that I think that they could complain about is the use of a third party launcher to run two copies of the games at once, although you can still do that if you have bought it on two platforms e.g. Steam and Epic.

I have quite frequently run two commanders at the same time - not on the same PC (though some people have) - there is nothing against you running as many commanders at a time as you wish, they are all separate accounts.

 

[Fixitman]

So the only thing that I think that they could complain about is the use of a third party launcher to run two copies of the games at once, although you can still do that if you have bought it on two platforms e.g. Steam and Epic.

Third party launchers don't inject code into the game, or modify it in any way. All they do is launch the game, so they fall well within the rules.

It was announced awhile back that combat logging is not allowed. I believe it was on these forums.

There's no game-changing benefit to multi-boxing ED. Many of us do so on a limited basis. More logins = better numbers, so I doubt they care.

 

[Jack Winter]

Third party launchers don't inject code into the game, or modify it in any way. All they do is launch the game, so they fall well within the rules.

It was announced awhile back that combat logging is not allowed. I believe it was on these forums.

There's no game-changing benefit to multi-boxing ED. Many of us do so on a limited basis. More logins = better numbers, so I doubt they care.

AFAIK, logging out from combat using the menus is allowed, but not killing the network connection.

Multi crewing with an alt does give another PIP to apply to either systems, thrusters, or weapons.

My take is that most anything is allowed as long as you're not using it to get an unfair advantage in PvP combat.

 

[Ashnak]

AFAIK, logging out from combat using the menus is allowed, but not killing the network connection.

Multi crewing with an alt does give another PIP to apply to either systems, thrusters, or weapons.

My take is that most anything is allowed as long as you're not using it to get an unfair advantage in PvP combat.

Now we're getting into the standard discussion (there are a few dozen threads already over in DD...). so please clarify what you understand as "combat logging".

On the one hand, there's the ganker definition: you log out while I was trying to, preparing to or simply thinking about killing you.
Then there's FD's definition: intentionally terminating the server connection at your end outside of the game

The first one is easily recorded, but essentially meaningless. The second is technically a violation of the TOS (see above), but practically impossible to prove ("intentional"). And discussig individual cases of TOS violation (whatever kind) is strongly discouraged on this forum (I hope this post is general enough to be tolerated).

So, you can discuss CL all you want (as long as you don't mention names, see the forum's "naming and shaming" rules), but you won't achieve anything. On either side.

Multi crewing with an alt seems to be tolerated, for what it's worth.

As for PvP - in, let me call it "improvised" PvP, you need to eat what's on the table. If you don't like the behaviour of a specific person, you can block them. If you don't like PvP at all, there are private groups (multiple, though Mobious is probably still the most prominent) that prohibit PvP - or you can play in Solo mode. In organised PvP, the above issues don't exist or are regulated internally. If you get into a PvP event without invitation and successfully misbehave, you really should be applauded.

And I'm afraid this thread will now be relegated to the currently running "Hotel California" thread as soon as a mod sniffs it out.

 

[Fixitman]

AFAIK, logging out from combat using the menus is allowed, but not killing the network connection.

I've always thought combat logging was defined as "pulling the plug" so to speak. Logging out via the game's menu is obviously allowed. It still results in a rebuy screen

 

[Ian Doncaster]

There's also

4.4 You may not use the Game or any Online Features in a manner that could damage, disable, impair, overburden or compromise our systems or security or interfere with the experience of other users of the Game or any Online Feature.

and the catch-all

[3 you are not permitted to] e) use any robot, spider, scraper, or other automated or manual means to access the Game or any Online Features or copy any content or information from the Game or any Online Features;

if you're looking for reasons why the EULA might forbid something, as those two between them are broad enough to cover anything and everything you might possibly do or want to do, whether it's legitimate or not.

And

12.6 This EULA constitutes the entire agreement between Frontier and you with respect to the license and use of the Game and the Online Features and supersedes all prior or contemporaneous understandings.

means that even if someone from Frontier has previously said a particular thing is okay, or even actively encouraged it, that doesn't mean it's still okay today. This includes

12.4 If we fail to insist that you perform any of your obligations under this EULA, or if we do not enforce our rights against you, or if we delay in doing so, that will not mean that we have waived our rights against you and will not mean that you do not have to comply with those obligations.

a note that just because they haven't banned you for it yet doesn't mean they can't in future.

In summary:
- the EULA is worded broadly enough that they can ban you for anything they want, and a whole bunch of things that they wouldn't actually want to ban you for besides
- you will rarely get any confirmation from Frontier that something is okay to do (and it wouldn't, per 12.4 and 12.6, stop them changing their mind without notice anyway if you did)
- the purpose of the document is an overlong way of saying "you only have the rights the law says you absolutely must have, everything else is at our absolute discretion"

In practice, of course, they want people to play the game, so they're not going to ban you for taking a screenshot or fighting in a war or jumping your Fleet Carrier, even though those come under the literal wording of the EULA as things which are forbidden. Generally bans and sanctions have been for "you cannot possibly have genuinely thought that was legitimate" incidents that you wouldn't need to read the EULA to tell might attract Frontier's attention.