Will Blizzard take a stand on dual-boxing?

[Xzin]

Look guys. Aside from removing /follow (or instead of) they could just make it so damn annoying TO box that nobody wants to. Change the system, don't force people to change to adapt to it. That is all they would have to do. They are already doing some of it - even if it isn't intentional. Dynamic outdoor instances/quests that wreck /follow. Vehicles. DKs. Dungeon content that makes it impossible to progress with a single person at the helm, etc.

I see no compelling reason why Bliz would want to make boxers go away though. But I don't see any evidence they are encouraging boxing either.

[OzPhoenix]

Look guys. Aside from removing /follow (or instead of) they could just make it so damn annoying TO box that nobody wants to. Change the system, don't force people to change to adapt to it. That is all they would have to do. They are already doing some of it - even if it isn't intentional. Dynamic outdoor instances/quests that wreck /follow. Vehicles. DKs. Dungeon content that makes it impossible to progress with a single person at the helm, etc.

I see no compelling reason why Bliz would want to make boxers go away though. But I don't see any evidence they are encouraging boxing either.

I agree, the /follow is the nuclear option. Personally I think Blizzard is never going to actively discourage multiboxing because there's no valid reason to.

That said, Wrath has been I think particularly un-fun to level 5-toon teams in, given the prevalence of collection quests in particular, but that's more I think somewhat poor design than any deliberate decision.

[Bena]

If boxing offered a true advantage over other players then I'm sure Bliz would 'fix' it. The fact is that in PvP a 5man box team can get utterly destroyed by only 2 other players so there goes that theory; in PvE.. who cares if a boxer is doing his own instance runs. The resources that his 5 toons use on the server side are paid for by 5 seperate fees just like 5 separate players. Again boxing is not doing anything that a regular group wouldn't do.

I agree with Bliz when they said that it offers an 'alternative play style'.. nothing more. The only advantage that we have is that we can run an instance whenever we want.. as opposed to lfg for 2h. ok I give them that

Though after reading about the npc helpers in EQ2, and seeing some of the quests in wotlk; I'm not going to be surprised if one day Bliz offers an option to buy yourself an extra account with an npc healer/tank that will follow you..heh

[Xzin]

But I don't see any evidence they are encouraging boxing either.

Only thing that comes to mind is all the multiboxer screenshots on the front page of worldofwarcraft.com.

Yeah but those look pretty and don't say I AM BOXING LEARN HOW TO DO IT HERE. Not sure I see that as compelling evidence that Blizz is actively encouraging boxing.

[Xzin]

The fact is that in PvP a 5man box team can get utterly destroyed by only 2 other players so there goes that theory

I don't think I can think of a SINGLE instance when 2 players beat me. I can think of perhaps a handfull over 50,000+ kills where 2 players managed to one shot ONE of my characters before promptly dying. I am not kidding when I say that there were time I LITERALLY took 10 players and wound up still standing. Those were some FAST AB matches :) A lot has changed of course since the original game but even then..... 2 vs 5, even a boxer... unless they are a terrible one, should not really be a contest. All things equal (gear, levels, etc).

[zanthor]

They wont remove /follow for group members as that would be a nerf to everyone playing the game. And I'v been playing EQ for years without out of group follow so ....

Yep, you played a game based around "Stand here and pull shit to this safe corner" for years multiboxing... as you discovered (I think, you are sorta slow on the uptake at times) in WoW you go to the mobs, not the other way around.

[Bena]

lol.. yes I suck in pvp .. there's a reason I don't do it but the times when a rogue would sap me, warrior would charge in and fear shout me, and both proceed to rip me a new one was quiet a few .

I don't think I can think of a SINGLE instance when 2 players beat me. I can think of perhaps a handfull over 50,000+ kills where 2 players managed to one shot ONE of my characters before promptly dying. I am not kidding when I say that there were time I LITERALLY took 10 players and wound up still standing. Those were some FAST AB matches A lot has changed of course since the original game but even then..... 2 vs 5, even a boxer... unless they are a terrible one, should not really be a contest. All things equal (gear, levels, etc).

[OzPhoenix]

The fact is that in PvP a 5man box team can get utterly destroyed by only 2 other players so there goes that theory

I don't think I can think of a SINGLE instance when 2 players beat me. I can think of perhaps a handfull over 50,000+ kills where 2 players managed to one shot ONE of my characters before promptly dying. I am not kidding when I say that there were time I LITERALLY took 10 players and wound up still standing. Those were some FAST AB matches A lot has changed of course since the original game but even then..... 2 vs 5, even a boxer... unless they are a terrible one, should not really be a contest. All things equal (gear, levels, etc).

This I think reflects at least in part the utter disorganisation of most PvP'ing in WoW.

I've definitely been in situations where I've taken on well more than 5 Alliance, only the smash them all watching with amusement as each one of my 5 Shamans takes a little damage, none taking a lot.

I do however believe that the general point stands, that, all else being equal, a multiboxer will struggle against a coordinated team. That is, 5 people, playing independently, but using (as we do) various assist and other targeting macros to focus fire their opponents down.

We just don't see it in BG's is all, where I've long since stopped taking screenshots showing my 5 guys in the top 5 positions on kills, with no deaths either.

[Basilikos]

They wont remove /follow for group members as that would be a nerf to everyone playing the game. And I'v been playing EQ for years without out of group follow so ....

Yeah, I've thought about that before. Manual movement on alts would be lame, but it would be doable. Many people here already do manual movement in combat.

[Basilikos]

Personally I don't like the fact that anytime Blizzard refers to multi-boxing they always indicate "currently" or "at this time". This leaves the issue open with little repercussion. So, they have taken a stand. However, it's a stand that doesn't offer permanent closure to the issue.

...

In addition, hopefully they have observed the trend in other MMORPGs where on the decline in subscribers there is an increase in multiboxing. So, disallowing it would probably not be a wise business decision.

Blizzard covers anything they say with "currently" and "at this time." They have to. I haven't studied the trends involving MMO populations, but it does make sense that multiboxers would be the ones to keep a game going for another year or two.