Why hardware boxing always also is software boxing

[schmonz]

.. because on the switch, there also runs a software which distributes the key- and mousepushes to all outputs attached. In the end, blizzard could argument like this and still ban you.

I think multiboxing in WoW is over.

[Swaggasauruz]

I think if they were concerned with hardware multiboxing they would have mentioned it specifically.

Also, there are hardware solutions that don't simply rely on a switch distributing outputs to multiple computers via software replicating input. Before another user on these forums posted a link to a cheap switch my solution was going to be creating a makeshift keyboard on a breadboard each key would be wired to an input pin on several different Arduino microcontrollers. The Arduinos act as a keyboard and sends the keypress to the computer. This is how a normal keyboard works - a microcontroller processes the signal from the button(s) you press and send it to a computer. With 1 keypad you can control as many outputs as you want without any software replication - the replication occurs at a physical level where a voltage is sent to multiple chips with 1 keypress.

[MadMilitia]

I think if they were concerned with hardware multiboxing they would have mentioned it specifically.

Don't fall for that.

Once upon a time the /follow removal was for battlegrounds only, seeing multiboxing in BG was the problem.

Then came the /follow removal in ALL PvP content, with some midway adjustment to allow it in rated PvP.

They will leave the door open as wide as possible to trick you into thinking it's fine. This weasel way of saying they're fine with you spending money but not fine with your playstyle and they will likely end it 5-10 years later.

That's not good enough.

[Swaggasauruz]

My point was that at this time hardware multiboxing is not prohibited and it's such an obvious replacement for software broadcasting that if they currently have an issue with it it would have been mentioned.

Sure, this may change over time but none of us can predict the future so it's not helpful to speculate.

[Peri Helion]

@Swaggasauruz - your solution is what I would call a true hardware solution. It is mechanical and electrical. Hell, I would try it not because I want to multi-box still, but because it sounds like an awesome "Frankenstein's Monster" kind of project.

@schmonz - I think you are correct. We may think of a switch as a hardware only solution, but it is really just moving the software off of the PC to the external box. It still contains some programming and instruction sets to multiplex the signals. I have no idea if Blizz can detect it or not, but I think they would consider it a violation.

I am no expert, these are just my thoughts.

[MadMilitia]

Of course they won't be able to detect it from software but they don't need to.

A simple GM observation of your characters all following at once, or interacting at once with an object is all they need to see.

And that will also go for rotations. I guess it's worth seeing to be sure for yourself but yeah.

[Swaggasauruz]

Of course they won't be able to detect it from software but they don't need to.

A simple GM observation of your characters all following at once, or interacting at once with an object is all they need to see.

And that will also go for rotations. I guess it's worth seeing to be sure for yourself but yeah.

Simulated keystrokes from software broadcasting are in fact different from HID keystrokes in many cases. Also if they see 5 accounts logged in on your device/ip/5 characters in a party pressing keys at exact same time/etc they have the ability via Warden to scan active processes on the computer. It would not be difficult for them to detect any of the well known multiboxing software running on the PC.

[Kayley]

As far as I understand it's not possible for Blizzard to differentiate between a keyboard sending an input or a switch sending an input from a keyboard - both events just look like a keypress from an HID.

Depends on what you use QT. Some switches just emulate, some switches passthrough a generic 'keyboard' which is meh.. and the bestest passthrough evveerrryyytthhiiinnngggggg (which is what you want).

Also if they see 5 accounts logged in on your device/ip/5 characters in a party pressing keys at exact same time/etc they have the ability via Warden to scan active processes on the computer.

Warden doesn't work like that lol

[Spyro]

A simple GM observation of your characters all following at once

That shouldn't be enough coz following can be implemented by addons.

But I agree that you can be banned if the wrong GM checks you or if their AI systems flag you (even if you aren't breaking the ToS), in fact, I was banned myself when boxing was legal without doing anything against the ToS. This also happened to several boxers, including "the famous" Furyswipes.

At this point I'm even scared to log 4 chars (with no software) to boost them in SM (which I need to beacuse I have to boost the 2 classes that I'm gonna play in TBC on my main account).

[Andreauk]

That shouldn't be enough coz following can be implemented by addons.

I do worry about addons like EMA that can allow mounting at the same time and the auto follow.

I myself will use a 2 seater then manually put my char onto the mount. I feel any auto follow addon is a very grey area right now.