Policy Update for Input Broadcasting - May 2021

[StingraY]

https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wo...ay-2021/956610

On November 3, 2020, we posted an update to our policy for input broadcasting software, and soon thereafter, we began taking action against accounts found to be using third party software to automatically mirror keystrokes to multiple game clients. We find that, like full automation of play, multiple-account mirroring disturbs the gameplay experience for the vast majority of players who control a single account at a time.
We will now additionally prohibit the use of all software and hardware mechanisms to mirror commands to multiple World of Warcraft accounts at the same time, or to automate or streamline multi-boxing in any way. Players found to be in violation of this policy are subject to account actions. These actions can include warnings, account suspensions and, if necessary, permanent closure of the player’s World of Warcraft account(s), as activities which effectively replicate automated gameplay are contrary to the terms and conditions of the Blizzard End-User License Agreement (EULA).
We urge all players to cease using any means of mirroring gameplay across multiple WoW accounts immediately, in order to maintain uninterrupted access to World of Warcraft.

Damn. RIP.

[Moorea]

So here is my take for WOB:

News flash 5/5/2021, it seems Blizzard wants to "prohibit the use of all software and hardware mechanisms [...that..] streamline multi-boxing in any way."

so I have to recommend to discontinue using the _RR.exe version of wob for World of Warcraft, and probably exit WOB after windows placement and before playing

Editorial comment: it's very sad we can't have some fun doing dungeons somewhat efficiently anymore in World of Warcraft and worse for our fellow hardware multiboxers

[nodoze]

Heads up that it looks like all forms of input broadcasting, whether based on hardware or software, is now against the Terms of Service (ToS) and actionable...

Source: https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wo...ay-2021/956613

Body: From: Kaivax - Community Manager

On November 3, 2020, we posted an update to our policy for input broadcasting software, and soon thereafter, we began taking action against accounts found to be using third party software to automatically mirror keystrokes to multiple game clients. We find that, like full automation of play, multiple-account mirroring disturbs the gameplay experience for the vast majority of players who control a single account at a time.


We will now additionally prohibit the use of all software and hardware mechanisms to mirror commands to multiple World of Warcraft accounts at the same time, or to automate or streamline multi-boxing in any way. Players found to be in violation of this policy are subject to account actions. These actions can include warnings, account suspensions and, if necessary, permanent closure of the player’s World of Warcraft account(s), as activities which effectively replicate automated gameplay are contrary to the terms and conditions of the Blizzard End-User License Agreement (EULA).


We urge all players to cease using any means of mirroring gameplay across multiple WoW accounts immediately, in order to maintain uninterrupted access to World of Warcraft.

[Wubsie]

the use of all software and hardware mechanisms to mirror commands to multiple World of Warcraft accounts at the same time, or to automate or streamline multi-boxing in any way.

This is such a vague line, especially in the end that this, in my opinion is a definitive end to WoW Multiboxing. A second physical PC with a separate mouse and keyboard and monitor would technically fall under this definition.

I am not as saddened by this change as I am irritated that they waited half a year in to the expansion to implement this, after people have already spent their money on the expansion purchases. Now, I can't say that it was done with malicious intent, but more likely it's simply the incompetence regarding the matter and they've realized that their initial rule change did absolutely nothing to solve the issues they were experiencing, something we were saying would be the case less than a day after it was announced.

I knew there was a risk that this would happen, which is why I went with VERY budget builds and have some contingency for them. Still, a shame that it's all drawing to an end.

[bpkdasbaum]

Fun fact: The support article was updated 2 days ago with the new info. BUT STILL SAYS that multiboxing is allowed.

https://eu.battle.net/support/en/article/24258

"Multiboxing, or playing multiple World of Warcraft accounts at once, is not a violation of our End User License Agreement. Please note, however, that use of all software or hardware mechanisms used to mirror commands to multiple World of Warcraft accounts at the same time, or to automate or streamline multiboxing in any way may result in account penalties.
For more information on our stance about input broadcasting software, see our official news post."

https://us.forums.blizzard.com/en/wo...ay-2021/956610

On November 3, 2020, we posted an update to our policy for input broadcasting software, and soon thereafter, we began taking action against accounts found to be using third party software to automatically mirror keystrokes to multiple game clients. We find that, like full automation of play, multiple-account mirroring disturbs the gameplay experience for the vast majority of players who control a single account at a time.

We will now additionally prohibit the use of all software and hardware mechanisms to mirror commands to multiple World of Warcraft accounts at the same time, or to automate or streamline multi-boxing in any way. Players found to be in violation of this policy are subject to account actions. These actions can include warnings, account suspensions and, if necessary, permanent closure of the player’s World of Warcraft account(s), as activities which effectively replicate automated gameplay are contrary to the terms and conditions of the Blizzard End-User License Agreement (EULA).
We urge all players to cease using any means of mirroring gameplay across multiple WoW accounts immediately, in order to maintain uninterrupted access to World of Warcraft.

The points are:
- Multiboxing is not a violation of EULA
- use of all software or hardware mechanisms used to mirror commands at the same time
- or to automate or streamline multiboxing in any way
- multiple-account mirroring disturbs the gameplay experience of players who control a single account
- prohibit the use of all software and hardware mechanisms to mirror commands
activities which effectively replicate automated gameplay are contrary to the terms and conditions

Kinda sending mixed signals.

I got multiple takes on that:

They still want ppl to buy multiple wow licenses as you can have up to 8 per Battle.net
You can still login and play on each license individually or set them to follow or click / cast stuff per license
They don't want ppl using software to ease the process (I guess in fear of MB getting an unfair advantage?)
They don't want multibox-bots / stillstanding owl farms (which are then automated via additional programs) / herb farming in retail
They don't want multibox griefing in pvp, say a 10 man group killing single players in the maw

I believe this changes nothing to "normal multiboxers" who are just playing the game by question, doing dungeons, have warlocks for ports in classic etc. This seems more like a crackdown on exploiters/griefers and Blizzard covering their ass because they probably can't discern a real exploiter/griefer from a benign multiboxer

[Atwaa]

I believe this changes nothing to "normal multiboxers" who are just playing the game by question, doing dungeons, have warlocks for ports in classic etc. This seems more like a crackdown on exploiters/griefers and Blizzard covering their ass because they probably can't discern a real exploiter/griefer from a benign multiboxer

It basically kills multi boxing as we know it. I really miss it. That was my favourite way to play wow since 2009 when I discovered that I could have a healer on my wife's laptop while leveling a warrior.

[Lax]

Realistically, they were already banning for the things they are describing in this updated policy.

I warned about this in November. As I said back then, there is zero difference to other players between you using software or hardware broadcasting. There's no way for a player to make that determination. And I would guess that Blizzard (and particularly random GMs) probably cannot make that determination reliably either. Even if they could, the next question is, do you really think it is worth their time and energy to determine that?

Since November, we've seen random people come to our multiboxing chat rooms (about once a week or so) and claim that they got banned "for using X software" (which many other people use on a daily basis with no issue). Then they show their ban email, and it says "Your fellow players reported you for cheating". When pushed on what they're doing, it's almost exclusively "I was 2x4 herbing, and 'only for 4 hours a day!'" and one recently even says he was hardware broadcasting.

Other players do not like to see "multiboxers" doing "2x4 herbing". They will report you, have no clue if you're using software or hardware, and frankly they never cared in the first place.

[Andreauk]

I would like them to consider multiboxer only servers, where the auction house isn't connected to any other realms. Character moves would be disabled to prevent the economy becoming affected.

https://twitter.com/Anna_the_Gamer/s...81789478952961

[valkry]

NOW it's official, Blizz hates multiboxers. Before it was always disguised as being a fight against botters, not anymore lol.

[Mearwen]

Does it still mean we can multibox with open windows and switching between windows and clicking in each of them for any in game action?
No software, no any mirror HW, just clicking. To me it is still an option, isnt it?
There are still addons supporting follow / mounting etc etc, ofc w/o any kind of mirroring / broadcasting keys or whatever