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This article provides an introduction to the set up, technical requirements and benefits of running multiple accounts in EVE Online. This is not a step by step technical guide but a simple overview to give you an insight if you are thinking of setting up multiple accounts.

One simple rule of thumb is to spend a good deal of time on your first character before creating a second account. Your original 'main' is likely going to be the guardian of your secondary 'main' for quite some time until your new character develops the training and equipment skills to be a full 'partner'.

Certainly you should not rush into setting up another account and while there are many benefits there are also implications on cost and other drawbacks you should be aware of - its not all a bed of roses but it can be fun!

Definitions

Firstly let us define and explain some terms:

Metagaming

Wikipedia defines "metagaming" as a broad term usually used to define any strategy, action or method used in a game which transcends a prescribed ruleset, uses external factors to affect the game, or goes beyond the supposed limits or environment set by the game. In simple terms, using out-of-game information, or resources, to affect one's in-game decisions.

There can be no doubt that Dual Boxing qualifies as Metagaming as it seriously impacts the levels of performance, the decisions you make and the future training paths of the multiple characters you have at your disposal.

Dual Boxing

This term refers to using multiple clients to play instances of your favourite game. This can be done on a single PC with each client running in its own window, or perhaps with dual monitors. On low specification PC's it may require the graphics settings be reduced for each client. More usually it is done by using multiple PC's allowing the graphics to run at full capabilities. Running two PC's with dual clients will allow Quad Boxing using four monitors or two client windows on each machine..

In EVE Online each client will require its own account so Dual Boxing is two accounts - Quad Boxing is four accounts. Believe it not but a considerable amount of players Dual Box and there is a sizable amount of Quad or Triple Boxing players out there.

Power of Two

This is a term coined by CCP to encourage EVE Online players to operate multiple accounts. There are regular promotional deals advertised which provide discount on the purchase of seperate accounts so if you plan to Dual Box in the near future then keep an eye out for the promotions. Be patient and wait for the deal as it is a considerable saving. CCP recognise the demand for this and have even released a patch to ensure the game is optimised for dual account players.

Operation

So what are the specifics or operating multiple accounts?

For the purposes of this article I will concetrate on Dual Boxing and the operational requirements involved. I personally Quad Box and run four accounts but the requirements for Dual, Triple or Quad Boxing (or even more) are generally the same with only technical differences and related costs of course.

Accounts

To setup multiple accounts in EVE Online is as easy as purchasing one account. It is exactly the same process but you need to register a different user name and password for each account. Your real world name, email address and payment details remain the same but you are registering different user login details.

Go to EVE Online - Purchase New Account and complete the registration process as you would as a first time user. Or if there is a Power of Two promotion running then register using this process. You can of course register a new Trial Account using the Buddy Program in EVE and get the twentyone days free play before you fully sign up - this also benefits your main with a 30 day credit. You can then subscribe the new trial account to the full account immediately and get the 21 days credited to your new account. As you probably intend to interact between the accounts you want the benefit of transferring ISK etc between your accounts to give your new alts a boost from the word go and you can't do this on a Trial Account. Plus if you have got this far you have probably decided to take the plunge anyway.

All new accounts have a three day wait until you can retrieve API keys or post to the forums and on trial accounts there are a few other restrictions but most won't interfere with your game play too much and after the 21 day trial you will have full access.

Note: You cannot set up a Trial Account on a PC with an existing game installation however you can install and setup the trial on a seperate PC. You can sign up for the trial and then proceed immediately to purchase the full subscription even if you have a single PC with the game already installed - you won't need to download the trial.

Technical Requirements

Single PC - dual clients

It is quite possible to operate two clients (copies) of EVE Online on a single PC and thus operate two accounts. Its not entirely satisfactory on a low spec machine as you would likely have to reduce the graphics settings to an almost unacceptable degree however it is possible. Unless your PC is archaic this won't be an issue and most modern machines with a half decent spec will run two clients at reasonable graphic settings and sound enabled with no problems

There is no need to have two installations of the game software on a dual box setup using a single PC. Any updates or patches to the installed game software is done to a single installation. All you are doing is running two copies of the software simultaneously. The directory structure of the software will seperate the settings for each client and character profiles so on your next startup all settings should be retained.

Simply start an instance of EVE Online and run in windowed mode. Start a new instance of the game and again set to windowed mode. To access the graphic settings to set windowed mode then click on the 'settings' button prior to login. Alternatively you can login then press 'ESC' to access the settings panel.

Now you have two copies running but the minimum resolution in windowed mode means unless you have two monitors or a large widescreen monitor then you can only see one window at a time.

Most modern graphic cards are capable of operating two monitors and as prices for decent monitors are reasonably low this is probably the best option. Now with two monitors you can have both copies of the client running full screen and using the mouse to control both - not at the same time unfortunately.

Running Full Screen is faster than running in windowed mode. So, if you don't have two monitors then you can Alt-Tab between the two accounts and have each running as best it can. Depending on what your activities are this may be quite satisfactory. Mining in a safe area or buying/selling/trading/fitting etc but not entirely satisfactory or advisable when you are in the middle of a dog fight with some rats...

Dual PC - single clients

If you have a spare PC rig lying about or the funds to invest in an additional PC and monitor for gaming then this gives you the full graphics capability if both PC's are of a reasonable spec. In this case you would have seperate installations of the game software on each machine. Both machines need to access the internet and most network vendors supply hubs with multiple connectors - (at least in the UK). Its also possible to purchase a mini-hub with four or eight way connections to allow multiple machines to use a single network connection.

Quad Boxing - dual clients

I Quad box with four accounts and the setup I use consists of two PC's, four monitors and a single network connection split to the two machines using a four way mini-hub. Details of the PC spec are below.

Each machine has its own game installation running two clients (copies) in windowed mode. I use two 19" plus two 17" wide monitors at 1440x900 window mode. The graphics cards I have installed are the Nvidia 9500GT which offer a VGA output and DVI output allowing two monitors to run concurrently. I can't set the display to be 'over and under' and control between each pair of screens using the mouse is in a horizontal sweep. The clients one/two are on the same horizontal plane and clients three/four are above one/two and again in the same horizontal plane. It takes a little getting used to as the mouse passes between screens but it is quite satisfactory for me.

I can't offer a minimum technical specification for the PC's needed to run two clients simultaneously but I imagine most modern PC's are capable anyway with perhaps a reduction in graphic capabilities if problems occur. However I can give you specifications of the machines I have and you can use this as a comparison.

My PC Specifications

This setup allows me to run two windowed clients on two PC's at full graphics and sound with no discernable lag or unwanted side affects.

Operating system: Windows 7 Professional. I did use Windows XP but this caused no end of issues with the Nvidia card so the arrival of Windows 7 has been a godsend - highly recommended.

Processor: AMD Phenom 9650 Quad Core in each machine

Motherboard: ECS GeForce 7050M in both machines

Memory: Dual DDR2 - 3GByte in both machines

Graphics: Nvidia GeForce 9500GT - 1 at 1Gbyte and 1 at 500Mbytes onboard memory. The machine with the 1 Gbyte card also runs Firefox, Thunderbird, Excel and other applications concurrently with EVE and gives no issues. I've had a dozen Firefox tabs open plus a YouTube video running in the browser and suffered no crashes or lag of any kind. I haven't tried the same with the 500Mbyte card so I couldn't say if this would be an issue.

Monitor: Two HannsG 19" using DVI plus two HannsG 17" monitors using VGA output from the Nvidia graphics card. Windowed mode with resolution set to 1440x900 on each screen.

Hard Drives: Each machine has a Western Digital 1 TByte SATAII drive

Sound: Onboard Realtek ALC662 6-channel audio sound from each motherboard. I'm not a great fan of the game sounds and most times its switched off. I need the facility for Ventrilo and have no issues when this is enabled. I use a seperate hi-fi for music.

Network: Onboard Broadcom AC131 10/100 network connector on each motherboard with a seperate four way mini-hub (NetVin) to split the connection from a BT Home Hub.

Power Supplies: 1 x 500 watt - 1 x 450 watt.

As you can see from this there is nothing 'exotic' in the specifications of my setup and in fact some of the kit is seriously outdated and almost obsolete. The motherboards are probably three years old since manufacture and the graphics cards have been greatly improved and superceded since their introduction some 18 months/2 years ago. The AMD quad core processor has helped spread the load and Windows 7 seems to have made a tremendous difference to 'loading' on the system.

Probably the most overlooked item in upgrading any kit is the power supply so if you are having issues with intermittent crashes or where the PC just switches off with no warning its perhaps an indication your power supply is working too hard and its own protection circuits are cutting out.

Benefits

The benefits of running multiple accounts are many and varied and the numbers of players who invest in the hardware required is a testament to the returns they receive.

Training

We will all remember our first encounters with EVE Online and the mysterious world that Training opens up. No doubt many will have plunged in and begun a training regime without giving it much thought but the majority will quickly have realised that training correctly is a crucial element in the development of an alt. Then they found the incredibly useful tool EVE Mon which provides an outstanding resource to monitor and plan out a training scheme.

So you will have been through this initial learning curve and you understand the necessity for a structured training plan and this is what you will apply to your new alt. However now you have the added bonus that your main probably does most of what you need for PVP and perhaps now you could do with an alt that gives you better processing returns or has better trading skills.You have the luxury of planning a new 'main' with the skills that will complement and boost those already achieved by your original main.

Remember also that each account has three alts so in effect you now have two mains and four alts to do with what you will. Perhaps have one permanantly set up in a Jita station just to monitor prices..

As with all training regimes you need a plan so you have to think very carefully about what you objectives are. Is it perhaps to own a POS? Then by using EVE Mon you can see what skills your main and alt need to undertake to reach the required level. But you need to go deeper and plan not only in being able to setup and own the POS but also the skills needed to successfully defend, resupply and equip the POS.

Whatever you decide to do training is an essential part in the short term and long term developments of your characters. Even with your original main giving you a boost it is essential you have an objective that you are working towards. Set out a defined objective and research the skills and training path you need to take. Undoubtedly you will change this over time and you may even abandon the path for a very short term objective but overall you need to aim towards a target otherwise you will soon feel 'lost'.

Missioning

Even at a simple level using multiple accounts gives direct benefits to running missions. If you run missions at all you will understand that 'time is money' and the quicker you can complete a mission, tidy up the salvage and return for a new mission, the quicker your ISK rises and your standings.

Appreciate the fact you can now form your own 'fleet' and your new alt will be able to join your main on missions. If your main is rated to accept missions at level 3 or 4 with some NPC Corp then your new alt can share the mission and gain the same increase in standings, plus you can share the Loyalty Points and kill bonuses the mission rewards provide. This can really boost your new alt's NPC standings in a relatively short period of time.

Imagine you have completed a lucrative mission and now have a substantial amount of salvage to collect. Instead of now having to return to station and refit you can have your alt already fitted out and waiting on the sidelines to come in and 'hoover' up the salvage. The alt needs to be in the same 'grid' as your main to pick up the kill bonuses which may not always be desirable until you have done the training and have the skills to fit the right equipment. Sometimes it may be better to leave the alt sitting at a warp gate and ready to warp in when your main has killed everything in sight.. As your new alt's skills improve and the equipment abilities improve you will soon be using both characters simultaneously to pop rats and reducing the mission time in half..

Tactics and Strategy

All aspects of PVE and PVP depend on a certain level of strategy and tactics to be successful. Now you have the ability to use your new alt to provide much needed backup. Imagine having a serious DPS main with a tanking backup giving EWAR support. With suitable training you can have both characters boosting each other with equipment fit and adapt for various aspects of game play.

Mining and Hauling

Put simply having the dual account allows you to mine twice as fast , haul twice as much and reduce the time for any given purpose in half. It can help allay your fears when mining that some ne'r do well is gonna come along and jet can your hard mined ores. Now you can have a main with drones sitting 'shotgun' while your alt chews up asteroids and does the hauling.

 

Drawbacks

The one consideration that outweighs all others when thinking of running multiple accounts is of course the COST!

Besides having two or more subscriptions to pay for you more than likely will have to invest in new or upgraded hardware. If you are thinking of mulit-boxing then I advise you take a serious look at the costs involved before you start.

There is no real world pay back with this unless you get to the point where your accounts are generating enough ISK where you can pay your subscriptions with PLEX. You are more likely to be doing this simply because you can and for the fun of it.

Some activities are better suited to using multiple accounts than others. Mining probably tops the list and works extremely well. Tackling PVE/PVP needs a lot more equipment and PVP especially depends on your skill levels and the kind of PVP you're trying to do.

Appreciate that it is difficult to control two or more characters simultaneously so while you are dividing your attention between two (four for me) screens and trying to target, orbit, launch drones, webbify, fire weapons and more at multiple targets these same targets are solely focused on one of YOU! with nothing to distract them.

Time is a major factor and you will have no doubt spent an extraordinary amount of time in training your fist main and you will continue to do so. Now you have to devote as much time and attention to planning your new mains future development. Again you are having to divide your attentions and if time is a factor in your RL world then something is bound to suffer. No lecture intended but if something has to suffer then it shouldn't be your RL friends and family. Better to make long term plans on the development of your new character, even if it means both your mains are going to take longer to train towards that common objective.

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So there we have it. I hope this article has been an informative introduction to the world of multiple accounts and dual boxing.

If I have helped you decide to plunge in and take on a new account then I hope to see the both of you ingame - give me a wave.. :)

 

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