Multiboxing should be banned in World of Warcraft. At least that’s what Cortyn from MeinMMO thinks, explaining what is so annoying about multi-account players.
In recent months and years, I’ve occasionally written about multiboxers in World of Warcraft. Mostly rather neutrally, reporting and explaining, rarely with a firm opinion. I wanted to change that now – because multiboxing in World of Warcraft annoys me greatly. The more I think about it, the more I wonder how such a thing is still allowed.
What is multiboxing anyway? Multiboxing is the simultaneous playing of multiple characters in an MMORPG – at the same time. A multiboxer pays for several game accounts and has the game opened multiple times on one (or more) computers. With various software and the use of macros, it’s now possible to control all characters simultaneously.
This way, tasks can be accomplished that actually require a group. In games like World of Warcraft, multiboxing can be quite rewarding in certain areas. For example, resources and desirable materials can be farmed more quickly, and large amounts of in-game gold can be earned.
The Problems of Multiboxing
Multiboxing brings a whole range of problems for me. Some of them only gnaw at my understanding of fairness and rewards; others have actual impacts on a realm’s economy or are a real nuisance in PvP.
Influence on the Economy
I find the power that well-organized multiboxers have over certain resources particularly drastic. This is noticeable when it comes to herbs. If a player picks herbs with 10 druids at the same time, they despawn immediately, and other players can no longer obtain any.
If 2-3 multiboxers coordinate, they can effectively paralyze the entire economy around a resource. This is particularly drastic when certain resources only occur in a single area, like Zin’anthide. These plants only grow in Nazjatar but are needed for all major potions in alchemy. On “my” realms, you can generally only farm these herbs at night – or you have to simply make use of the multiboxers’ supply.
In Shadowlands, this problem is likely to resurface. There are many herbs that only grow in one area each. While the areas are generally larger than Nazjatar, the problem itself still exists.
Advantages in Open World PvP
Another problem is multiboxers in open PvP.
Especially during the air drops in Battle for Azeroth, this was always a nuisance. You think the nice PvP box is as good as captured – boom, 10 birds drop from the sky, transform into moonkins, and let lunar strikes rain down until I can see Elune herself with my eyes closed.
Yes, I know. Of course, one could say, “Oh, Cortyn – 10 other players could have taken you out too” and that is certainly true. Nevertheless, it’s pretty devastating for my ego and sense of justice. When I get rolled over, I’d prefer it to be because other players teamed up and defeated me. If there was some form of social interaction or cooperation behind it, I find that completely acceptable. But if it’s just one player throwing 130 euros at the problem every month, it makes me unhappy.
I enjoy losing to better players or a group of players – but not to someone who wins because they have money.
More Mounts and Prestige Rewards
A final point, which may be a bit weaker, relates to the many prestige rewards that exist in WoW. I take great pride in my collection of pets, toys, and mounts. I have “worked hard” for them, and especially some of the rare mounts that drop from rare mobs were a trial (Yes, I’m talking about you, Rustfeather!). The satisfaction of having the mount is all the greater.
However, that pride and joy fade a little when I see multiboxers running around with the same mount. Because even here they have a clear advantage. They can farm the same mount with multiple characters simultaneously.
Anyone who kills a rare mob with 10 characters simultaneously will get the mount approximately 10 times faster. Once unlocked on one of the 10 characters, the mount is then available for the entire account – that is, for all characters. The account-wide collection makes this possible.
Why is Nothing Being Done About Multiboxing?
It’s not entirely correct to say that “nothing” is being done about multiboxing. Over the years, the rules for multiboxing have changed significantly. In closed PvP situations (battlegrounds or arenas), it is no longer allowed.
On the other hand, there are also systems that favor multiboxing – such as the “cap” on characters that can farm a herb simultaneously or the account-wide collection.
I do not believe that players should have this advantage just because they have the necessary money in real life. It bothers me that the option even exists and is tolerated. I would wish that multiboxing would be clearly prohibited and finally become a thing of the past. Because in a game like World of Warcraft that has matured for so long, which has always tried to promote fairness, I find it absurd that it is still allowed after 15 years.
I believe that multiboxing should have been banned a long time ago. I can understand that multiboxers enjoy it and achieve somewhat impressive feats that are usually meant for groups of players. However, the disadvantages outweigh the benefits for me. The joy of cool videos is overshadowed by the ten druids in the sky controlling the auction house or swooping down on me in open PvP. And they can do this because they simply invest more money into the game and the hardware.
That’s not fair.
Finally, I want to say that I have nothing against multiboxers in principle. Many of them are quite nice, and not every one of them is a cackling auction house mogul trying to conquer the realm. Nevertheless, I believe that the concept of “more money means more yield in the game” should not exist in a modern MMORPG.
What do you think?
