About the recent HKN ban...

[veyronzero]

Greetings, about the recent ban, what I was told was that it happened for the use of "Bots" or third-party automation programs, and since I started Multiboxing in WoW (for a year and a half) the program that I used is HotKeyNet . When I tried to appeal, they answered was that the program I was using was an unauthorized program (which is any program that allows automation of a character) and that I can be penalized for using a program that allows automation even if I'm not using this option. They also told me that although Multibox is allowed, programs for this purpose are not supported by them and that whenever they are used, you are at risk.

2 days later, the ban was revoked, alleging that after a further review, the evidence considered for this action was determined to be an error. In addition to sharing this experience to try to shed some light on this matter, I also wanted to ask because if you notice that the HKN does have those peculiarities for automation (although not for characters specifically as far as I could see), according to you, what multibox-software have only the keystroke broadcast feature? since according to BLIZZ's words. these would be the authorized programs or which programs have been approved by BLIZZ in the past?

[MiRai]

All third-party programs used to multibox are "unauthorized" because Blizzard doesn't make them or have any control what goes into them. They tell everyone the same thing: If you use unauthorized programs to play, you put your account(s) at additional risk.

It's as simple as that.

[Tin]

Many new keyboards has a built-in macro system = third-party program.

I can make a loop marco on it which is not allowed = automation. So it is the actions the player do, not the use of 3rd party programs itself.

[Andreauk]

I noticed over at the lazy macros site many of them tell people what to set the macro to loop at - I don't touch that aspect.. what's wrong with just doing it manually?

[jak3676]

I wish Blizzard was more descriptive and clear in their legal documents. But I understand that these things are written to be purposely vague as the implementation and technical means available are constantly changing, and Blizzard wants to be able to change their own interpretation of these rules as they seem fit.


Here's Blizzards own explanation


Blizzard's End User License Agreement: https://www.blizzard.com/en-us/legal



1. C. ii. Cheating: Create, use, offer, promote, advertise, make available and/or distribute the following or assist therein:


1. cheats; i.e. methods not expressly authorized by Blizzard, influencing and/or facilitating the gameplay, including exploits of any in-game bugs, and thereby granting you and/or any other user an advantage over other players not using such methods;


2. bots; i.e. any code and/or software, not expressly authorized by Blizzard, that allows the automated control of a Game, or any other feature of the Platform, e.g. the automated control of a character in a Game;


3. hacks; i.e. accessing or modifying the software of the Platform in any manner not expressly authorized by Blizzard; and/or


4. any code and/or software, not expressly authorized by Blizzard, that can be used in connection with the Platform and/or any component or feature thereof which changes and/or facilitates the gameplay or other functionality;



The other section of the EULA that people occasionally get caught up on is Account registration/sharing.


1. A. ii. 1. Your account(s) must use your real name, address, phone number etc - don't create multiple accounts under different names. If the name on the account isn't yours, then you've violated the EULA.


1. A. ii. 2. You cannot share the account of the login information. The only exception provided (1. A. v.) is for your minor children. So if you let your buddy log into your account for whatever reason, then you've violated the EULA.


Blizzard's In-Game Code of Conduct: https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/42673



Cheating
You are responsible for how you and your account are represented in the game world. Cheating in any fashion will result in immediate action. Using third-party programs to automate any facet of the game, exploiting bugs, or engaging in any activity that grants an unfair advantage is considered cheating.


Exploiting other players is an equally serious offense. Scamming, account sharing, win-trading, and anything else that may degrade the gaming experience for other players will receive harsh penalties.



Blizzard's Anti-cheating Agreement: https://www.blizzard.com/en-us/legal/cd5930c0-2784-420c-a23d-1e0d6ff8599b/anti-cheating-agreement




Using third-party programs to automate any facet of the game, exploiting bugs, or engaging in any activity that grants an unfair advantage is considered cheating.



Is Third Party Software Allowed? https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/13078
Answer: Maybe - just don't violate the Anti-Cheating agreement. Blizzard's stance is that they will not publicly approve or endorse any 3rd party software.


Is Multiboxing Okay? https://us.battle.net/support/en/article/11704
Answer: Yes!


As all this pertains to what is allowed vs prohibited 3rd party software, I'd summarize it all by saying, "No Automation". Most of our detailed understanding of Blizz's definition of automation has come from blue posts collected over the years here: http://www.dual-boxing.com/threads/46453-Blues-on-Boxing. This is where you see the mantra that many of us here repeat that one button press = one in-game action per character and that you cannot include any logic or delays; that one in-game action can only be something possible via the base macro system for an individual character.

[Spyro]

Greetings, about the recent ban, what I was told was that it happened for the use of "Bots" or third-party automation programs, and since I started Multiboxing in WoW (for a year and a half) the program that I used is HotKeyNet
On April serveral boxers where banned using IsBoxer (azboxer, me and a couple of other guys). azboxer and me were banned at the same time on the same day, in the morning.

Sometimes you get false flagged and banned while boxing, I don't exactly know why or how, maybe it's an automatic AI system (machine learning).

In my case it took them 11 days to unban.

[sync00]

I noticed over at the lazy macros site many of them tell people what to set the macro to loop at - I don't touch that aspect.. what's wrong with just doing it manually?
Some GSE macro creators sim the results and find that spamming the macro really quickly produces the best result. I don't imagine most people can continuously spam one key 30 times a second without help from software.

[Andreauk]

I use them manually and the dps I get is just fine.

I have had my account for 13 years - there is no way I'm going to automate anything.

[sync00]

If you have a priority sequence macro and the first 4 spells are on cooldown or are otherwise uncastable at that moment, you have to press the macro 15 times before you cast a spell. That is a lot of key presses to cast one spell.

[edit] I think I misinterpreted how it works. It would take 5 key presses.

[Tin]

If you have a priority sequence macro and the first 4 spells are on cooldown or are otherwise uncastable at that moment, you have to press the macro 15 times before you cast a spell. That is a lot of key presses to cast one spell.

[edit] I think I misinterpreted how it works. It would take 5 key presses.

Not how it`s working and a good GSE marco will not lockup.

It sims like you have spells on key 1, 2, 3, 4 - If 1, 2, 3 are on cooldown it jumps to key 4

[muldorante]

Same thing happened to me... Banned them unbanned three days later... 7 years multiboxing with the same hotkeynet setup.

It's getting harder to identify who is multiboxing and who is botting with that many standstill instant respawn spots, the bots rarely gets reported because they are "hidden" in the open world farming like the Nazmir spot phased for the aliiance, in the other way are the multiboxers, doing quests, walking in the city, crafting etc and are reported in mass from the players...

I reported many bots and they're still there farming because I can't flag them for a review, Blizzard needs to adjust they report and punishment system, or more and more inoccent multiboxers will get banned unfairly.