Dual Clienting: Read

[Wiz]

At one time, when the server population as 20 or less at peaks, dual clienting was a must. We allowed it, but forbid tri clienting for balance reasons.

Nowadays, while we're not exactly a live server, we do have a lot of people. I have not decided to forbid it or anything, but I am possibly considering it, for a number of resons. I'm tossing up this poll. Please vote, and use this thread to discuss it forth and back. No flames or personal attacks.

 

[Nuralia]

We really don't need to DC anymore. We have more than enough people, and too often do I see people just duoing with their 2 characters rather than grouping and going to some of the many underused zones.

 

[darkyth]

If they want to put twice the effort in, then why not? It's not like it is going to drastically change the server.

I say just put it on a flat line basis like anything. If it is getting abused, then have it looked into, otherwise let them dual.

I mean, 10 people dual clienting. (Idiots: 10x2=20) and then they take out something they shouldn't be able to. Well, that is a hard decision to take into consideration, because.. they all put twice the effort in, but I think everyone should stay true to their own character.

I'd say let them dual, as long as they aren't abusing it.

 

[Foonie]

This would kill any chance of PL'ing a char on my own. It would also make my other chars totally pointless.

 

[Zhak Morris]

plain and simple, if it's removed, i probably won't play.

my reasons are because gotw raids are 50% 2 boxed, and i can progress my character a ton further 2 boxing..

it's as simple as that in my eyes

 

[Darwin]

Most of the times I DC cause I don't have a group. I prefer playing Darwin in a group situation more than I do Jord, and prefer just using him in a group. I usually DC out of lack of groups.

 

[Fjodor]

I basicly allways dual client, allways did on live and allways will on WR, if DC gets removed then I will prolly stop playing, and for just fighting on my own it's BS, I ALLWAYS invite anyone to my groups, I prefere to fight in full groups than just duoing.

 

[Wiz]

Alright, these are the reasons we'd have to remove dual clienting:

- It is unbalancing in terms of groups, having additional healers sitting outside the group (who if mained, would most certainly not be content with that) and provide lesser risk for the same reward.

- It is unbalancing in the terms of items meant to enchance soloing, and since having a second account costs nothing at all (like it does on live) it renders things such as regeneration items useless, because every melee can have a little buff bot sitting on the side.

- It promotes solitude by making everyone completely self-sufficent, and demotes active effort for groups.

- It makes it simpler for a single person to acquire equipment and kill mobs that would normally be beyond their scope (for example, the blood stalker).

 

[Dujek]

I wouldn't agree with removing it, simply because while we do have a lot of people, that doesn't necessarily mean a group. Differences in time-zones and general playtimes can sometimes mean that the only way a person can actually level up is to play with him/herself. Also, while there are a lot of people on nowadays, it's still easy to find yourself the odd one out, or that the one group that's around your level is full, already has your class, doesn't like you, etc.

Also remember that the vast majority of clerics on the server only exist because people DC them with a melee. What does a cleric do if s/he can't get a group? Other healing classes can perform just as well up to a certain level, and would probably be prefered for the other buffs they can provide. What does a warrior do if s/he can't find a healer? Other tanks can be more preferable than a warrior in group situations. Freedom to be self-reliant is always a good thing, taking away DCing takes away that freedom, to a certain extent... and if you make people choose between characters, they'll go for the melee the majority of the time. I know there were a few selective situations there, but you get my general drift.

I would agree with removing it because of the reasons Wiz has above. Though removing DCing might not have those effects. In fact, it might have the inverse, might decrease server population so much so that DCing is needed again for people to level up.

There are negatives and positives. I really don't know where I stand, to be honest, but it's definately something that needs to be discussed in detail.

 

[mwh]

Well, I think if you had said it from the start thats one thing, but I got up(in a group) my enchanter to 59 along with my paladin now, and while I dont enjoy DCing all the time, I like to do it when certain encounters require a enchanter, or if one is needed for a raid. Now to change it now would mean I basically wasted all that time leveling him up. If FORCED to pick, Id play my paladin, so whats the point of my enchanter? Nothing, and we just blew abunch of xp on a guy Ill never play, when according to server rules when I started it was allowed.

 

[Lucrezia]

I don't see a problem with DCing in regards to in-game things -- if they're DCing two 60 whatevers, then they put in the effort to get them that far (presumably) and the effort to play them. Which is what people have been saying here.

I would say no to DCing just for server stability issues. Less people = less strain on the server = less lag, I imagine.

 

[kathgar]

While I am undecided on the issue I have a few thoughts.

I've been leveling a lot lately, trying to get to 60 (~3 yellows left now) and I have often found myself not able to find a group. Even when I did find a group, there was usually someone DCing in it. I would personally perfer not to be grouped with anyone DCing. All too often you have to wait for one of them to log on, or someone dies because they are on the other character instead of the healer. That being said, many of the groups I have been in would not have been possible without the person DCing and we could not find someone to take the place of one of the DCs if we had wanted to, thus I am not sure the server population is large enough to support no DCs. Just an issue I thought I would express.

 

[malichi007]

I would be devistated if 2 boxing wasnt allowed. At this point, I finally, after 3 years, have gotten my wife to play EQ with me because WR is such a totally different and enjoyable experience than live eq ever was. I know it doesnt mean much, but to have her sitting next to me in a GoTW raid smiling because she did her first cheal chain as a cleric makes me happy cause I know shes as hooked as me now. Along with that cleric she loves her enchanter. Together we make a great team. Taking away that ability now would definitely make it more difficult to have her log on as much as she does now. Groups are already hard enough to come by at this point anyhow. Nuff said on that personal note...

I think dual clienting should stay because it does promote ascension in levels and abilities especially when the regular groupage with others isnt available because of time zone/guilds/classes/ who all/ etc...

If it comes down to it I would pay a usage fee ( Or something like that) to be able to dual client to help with the onset of server issues. I would do whatever it took to hook that up and keep myself and my wife next to me while we drop mobs like bad habbits.
WR is the best server hands down. A lot of changes since I have been here have made me wince in pain. All of them so far have been bearable though. If we took away dual clienting I dont know if I would stay being forced to keep one class and one character. Would be hard though this server rocks more than any other.
Sorry such a long post! Hope I did this right!

Just a voice in the wind...
Marek 52nd wizard
Gragonis 50th warrior

 

[DoctorGonzo]

I like dual clienting.

I did it on Everquest Live.

I tri-cliented my two characters and a friends cleric regularly.

I like solutude and having a one man army at times.

I like to group with others as well, but I don't like sitting around for 2 hours looking for a group.

 

[Tinarto]

I *would* dualclient if I didn't have a RL friend that was pretty much always available to group with

 

[gloworm]

Bad idea removing it, I think all the points brought up by Wiz could be done with a friend instead of yourself. And then it's going to bring up a big problem with tracking people down that are doing it. You can mule a high level friend into PLing you, or getting you nice items, etc. Yes there is less chance of it but it would only make those the elite in doing so.

I think big changes like this should not be made, I like server stablilty only like improvements.

Although I can completely see your worry on it Wiz, but maybe make it a courtesy situation in the peak hours and late at night have it not so much an issue?

 

[Ligghtning]

And I quote millions of small children all over the world:
"You can't change the rules in the middle of the game!"

Such a big change like this would totally throw off the server balance. It would turn away people that cannot find groups when no one else is on to group with! And not everyone is like me and starts an alt whenever you can't find a group. DCing is also a great way to get a little xp here and there when you have limited pockets of time in your schedule.

I used to DC to get my level my cleric up as a mage for lack of clerics on the server. DCing is a vital part of responding to the lack of a certain class on the server and gives it more balace, as far as healing classes go.

Now I just DC my many alts and for the occasional transfer.

Would you rather DC a cleric with a melee and get s/he up real fast or xp grind for hours on end to level he/she up.

 

[DoctorGonzo]

I like the idea of an honor system. Now that I've gotten some friends and my brother to play, I don't HAVE to have both of my characters running, provided my friends are online. I wouldn't have a problem logging my monk off during peak times...if I was ever online during those times

 

[zodium]

I would consider retiring as a player if DCing was removed. I'd argue 25% of our raid force is DCed, and at least 50% of our clerics are. We'd be back to killing Arena Master or something like that.

DCing also provides some of the only non-raid playing I do.

No go, no way.

 

[thomaslund]

Hello all

Jsut thought i would add my oppinion

I have recently joined the Valhall guild and that actually makes it a lot easier to get a group. But still there are times when the groups are full. also when i come home from work there is often about 20 ppl on the server. Most of them high level. So generally who are the low level warrior supposed to level up with?
When you get to lev 50 or preferably 60 then you have an easier time getting a group.
Most of the ppl in the game are concentrated in a few zones such as DN, Warrens and First ruins. To be able to have freedom of movement and to do what you actually think is FUN (yup thats why we are all here) then i would prefer to 2box. I boxed my shammy and bst together. I too would consider quitting without dual boxing.
In WR there seems to be lacking some classes often. So I was considering making more characters once my bst and shammy hit 60. Without dual boxing that would take quite a while. I sure wouldnt want to solo a chanter up to the point where grouping really becomes an option.

Try doing a /w 60 all and 80 % of the server will show. Finding a group at low levels are hard. Finding a full one virtually impossible.

just my 2 cents.

Miakot Level 55 Beastlord (Valhall)
Mujufu Level 49 Shammy