Those of you with multiple accounts - "Non helm MultiCrew players now provide an additional single power distribution pip"

[NeilF]

Those of you with multiple accounts - "Non helm MultiCrew players now provide an additional single power distribution pip"

Are you able to comment on how easy it is to use/abuse this? eg: Giving your main ship one or two more pips by your secondary accounts just sitting there in multi-crew doing nothing but earning free CRs?

EDIT: As pointed out it's unlikely that many people will have multiple accounts with access to beta, but is anyone able to comment more generally on how easy/hard it is to run two CMDRs in ED at the same time? ie: Can you do it on just one PC? Or do you have to do it at least on different users on one PC, or indeed different PCs?




UPDATE - Suggestion (solution?) by Garry.Brain

So the PiP for this character is only active when the turret is active ( i.e. player has control of the turret ) = One less weapon for 1 PiP ( reward is like Wings , you must get a hit on the ship ).

2nd Player PiP is only active when the ship is launched and active.

This way you could at least overcome some of it possibly!!!

So the suggestion is:-
- if the gunner is not assigned a turret (and/or alternatively not in their gunner view), his pip is not active.
- if the SLF is not flying, his pip is not active.

In this way, idle/unused CMDRs in those positions would not add extra pips!

ps: Why should the SLF fighter pilot/position even get an extra pip for the ship at all?



UPDATE - Multi Account Running
It has been confirmed it's easy to run multiple accounts even on a single PC simply my copying and pasting the launcher folder.



OUTSTANDING QUESTIONS
No Turrets - I assume a gunner can sit in a ship even if there's no weapons for them to even use? And this still gives the ship an extra pip?
Pip Value - If you have extra multi-crew pips are these the same value as standard pips, or is your energy now split over 7/8 pips instead of 6. To test? Fire weapons till out of charge, and then see time to fully recharge WEP with two standard pips vs time to fully recharge WEP with one normal + 1 multi-crew pip. I suspect they will be the same. ie: The additional multi-crew pips are just addition free power.

 

[Wolf Starslayer]

Sneaky way to encourage the buying of 2nd accounts I think. Seems very exploitable.

 

[shadragon]

No system is safe from exploitation. Ever.

 

[Wolf Starslayer]

I just hope there is a indicator to show the ship is MC'd, I don't mind a fight but if the other guy has a magical extra pip or two in the same ship as me that's moving very close to pay-to-win imo and without a indicator would probably encourage me to move away from open.

 

[NeilF]

I just hope there is a indicator to show the ship is MC'd, I don't mind a fight but if the other guy has a magical extra pip or two in the same ship as me that's moving very close to pay-to-win imo and without a indicator would probably encourage me to move away from open.

Well, consider if you have a 4-0-2 setup for power when under fire... Another CMDR in the same situation could have 4-0-3 or 4-0-4... 50 to 100% more weapon power!


So the question is, how viable/easy is this to achieve? So I'm hoping can try and feedback!

 

[Ian Phillips]

How many people will have two accounts that have beta access?

 

[Darth Krayt]

Multi crew is disabled in the current beta.

 

[Truesilver]

How many people will have two accounts that have beta access?

Multi crew is disabled in the current beta.

^^Two immediate problems.

Having said all that, if it makes it into the main game, how is it an exploit?

A multi-crewed ship can't be winged. Presumably we'll be able to see that (e.g.) an FAS is multi-crewed and know that it will have 7 pips not 6 pips.

Nobody could be more critical of how RNGineering etc has already unbalanced PvP than I am ... and yes this is hardly desirable ... but I just don't see what's unfair about it. How is it unfair to me if one guy plus his buddy attack me with their FAS, or one guy plus his sock account attack me with their FAS? Why is the former fair but the latter unfair?

If anything, I think people should be allowed to pay creds for NPC crew (and extra pips) and be done with it.

____________________

EDIT: Since I posted as above it has been pointed out in this thread by Cmdr Automechanical that the issue in question is ripe for abuse in wing fights. Basically wings in combat in normal space could anchor in big ships who then cheese in sock accounts to add 2 pips to their big ships. I accept that this would be game-breaking and completely exploitative. Any advantage of that kind is capable of turning a wing fight ... in this case in the wrong direction.

 

[Moritasgus]

The logistics are mind boggling, i'm not sure if you have to select a role before you get the pip or if you get one for just being in the ship.
Regardless, 3 PC's all running horizons ED at the same time is just the hardware and software requirement.
Then add the fact that if you need to select a role before you get the pip you are sacrificing some kind of firepower either in guns or fighter support which will be sat idle.
I'm happy for people to spend that much on trying to 'win' an unwinnable computer game, all donations on extra game accounts welcome to help fund the ongoing development.

 

[Spiridon]

There's no way you can counter that.

If you say "don't let two Elites run from the same IP", all the people with brothers, sons, wives (good ones) will lynch you. Rightfully.

 

[Truesilver]

The logistics are mind boggling, i'm not sure if you have to select a role before you get the pip or if you get one for just being in the ship.
Regardless, 3 PC's all running horizons ED at the same time is just the hardware and software requirement.
Then add the fact that if you need to select a role before you get the pip you are sacrificing some kind of firepower either in guns or fighter support which will be sat idle.
I'm happy for people to spend that much on trying to 'win' an unwinnable computer game, all donations on extra game accounts welcome to help fund the ongoing development.

Dunno myself but as I understand it with a decent PC you can just log your two or three accounts in, run the socks in minimised windows and job done. Doesn't sound too onerous if you're going to be playing for a few hours.

I think what concerns people is that you're not actually giving up any firepower or anything else by doing this (relative to playing on your own), just gaining one or two pips.

That said, I repeat that I don't understand how it's fair if you have people in the chairs but unfair if you have socks.

 

[Erimus Kamzel]

Worrying about players earning easy credits is meaningless in a game where there's been 2 years of massive income generating mechanics, and literally no money sinks to match. Not to mention the non-existent economy. Surely everyone is a billionaire by now? That horse bolted a long time ago. And PvPers shouldn't worry - they'll get to nail two commanders for the price of one. And maybe combat loggers will think twice if they have to faff on reloading two commanders and setting up multicrew again every time they pull the plug

But seriously, I don't see an issue with multiple account holders gaining some benefits. They backed the game and its on-going development with their real world money by buying extra accounts, why not give them some perks? An extra pip is the least they should get imho.

As an explorer I hoped multicrewed exploration ships would get some benefit, like an extra few % on jump range (by having a crewmate act as an experienced navigator/engineer or something), or maybe an increase in nav panel detection range, 2000 LS instead of 1000 ? Pips to weapons and shields does little for ships rigged out for exploration.

 

[JRok]

The whole extra pips idea is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. I guess the extra peeps have little fusion generator backpacks to boost the power distributor... sorry... but it's dumb.

 

[NeilF]

Multi crew is disabled in the current beta.

Oh is that why I wasted 5-10 minutes trying to use it and failed? Great!

- - - Updated - - -

The logistics are mind boggling, i'm not sure if you have to select a role before you get the pip or if you get one for just being in the ship.
Regardless, 3 PC's all running horizons ED at the same time is just the hardware and software requirement.
Then add the fact that if you need to select a role before you get the pip you are sacrificing some kind of firepower either in guns or fighter support which will be sat idle.
I'm happy for people to spend that much on trying to 'win' an unwinnable computer game, all donations on extra game accounts welcome to help fund the ongoing development.

I don't pretend to know how easy/hard it is to run multiple accounts. And I'd prefer not to guess like you seem to be?

It may well be hard... Or it may well be easy?

Let's wait for some first hand feedback...

- - - Updated - - -

But seriously, I don't see an issue with multiple account holders gaining some benefits. They backed the game and its on-going development with their real world money by buying extra accounts, why not give them some perks? An extra pip is the least they should get imho.

Credits is the least of the worries... It's the fact people might be gaining significant combat advantages quite literally for nothing? Why not just offer £15 in the shop then for a constant extra pip? Or a special deal of £25 for two pips?

As an explorer I hoped multicrewed exploration ships would get some benefit, like an extra few % on jump range (by having a crewmate act as an experienced navigator/engineer or something), or maybe an increase in nav panel detection range, 2000 LS instead of 1000 ? Pips to weapons and shields does little for ships rigged out for exploration.

Why would a holographic butt on a seat add to a ship's jump range? I'd like it to add 10% more cargo space to my trading ship then per butt cheak? And another 5% if the hologram has a beard too! But sarcasm aside, for exploration benefits why not add perks/mechanics to Wings (first)? Which take far more dedication than simply pressing a button and appearing in someone spare seat?

And as regards gaining a pip, the external view gunner is already gaining the perk of chaff invulnerability I believe... Adding an extra pip that could then be exploited by people with second account etc?

Far be it from me to suggest maybe, just maybe, the game experience and mechanics (fun) should surely be reward enough for multi-crew... *sigh*

Anyway, I'd like to hear from someone on how hard/easy this is...

 

[NeilF]

The whole extra pips idea is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. I guess the extra peeps have little fusion generator backpacks to boost the power distributor... sorry... but it's dumb.

It just rings of The Engineers again - "This sounds cool"... Done! Without any real thought processes of where it can lead... or what it means elsewhere in the game.

 

[Lobstris]

The extra pip thing is just... meh. Yes! Of course your ship magically becomes physically more capable as you add players.

 

[NeilF]

Presumably we'll be able to see that (e.g.) an FAS is multi-crewed and know that it will have 7 pips not 6 pips.

Let's put that into perspective?

In a defensive pip config of 4-0-2, someone else, having a second account doing nothing on their ship, can have 4-0-3. 50% more weapon energy? That sounds pretty darn nice to me!

- - - Updated - - -

The extra pip thing is just... meh. Yes! Of course your ship magically becomes physically more capable as you add players.

Why not just project you own holoself into your spare seat(s) - sitting there doing nothing - and gain your ship 1-2 pips?

 

[vrseven]

How many people will have two accounts that have beta access?

 

[Kaybe]

Seriously? You actually expect many people to buy a second Horizons enabled account for a single distributor pip and the inability to wing up with other ships? If such players exist, they are already using botting software to fly a second ship in a wing.

 

[Truesilver]

Let's put that into perspective?

In a defensive pip config of 4-0-2, someone else, having a second account doing nothing on their ship, can have 4-0-3. 50% more weapon energy? That sounds pretty darn nice to me!

Completely agree, if we have a three-seat ship, with 4-0-4 pips, fighting a guy on his own with 4-0-2 pips, the advantage will in most cases be overwhelming.

But a wing of 3 v a lone guy is also usually overwhelming.

I don't understand what difference it makes whether the multi-crew ship is staffed by three paying players or one paying player and his two credit cards.

What's the difference, from the point of view of the lone guy?