I need to get something off my chest.
I play several characters in Warcraft at once.
Ah, that's better.
I have five accounts and play either three or five characters at the same time.
Like anyone doing this, I get my fair share of grief for it.
"You're botting" and "cheat" are a couple of the more miss-informed messages I get.
In a way I sort of understand.
Sort of.
If you are out minding your own business, it seems a little harsh if your farming or XP grinding is suddenly interrupted by either; A good solid 5 on 1 ganking or...
Seeing the area you are farming stripped of nodes like wheat fields during a locust storm.
If you feel upset if this happens then you need to understand the by which Blizzard control the game.
They do it on an account by account basis.
Now that's an important distinction.
They don't do it "character by character" or even "player by player".
Each account.
Even if it's the twentieth account you own, is equal in importance.
So my fifth account is treated just the same as someone who only has one account.
And why not? I pay 5x as much.
So Blizzard does not differentiate between times when 5 individual players walk up to you and gank you, and when I, controlling 5 characters together do the same.
The difference being that the 5 individuals would probably be a little better.
It's quite a bit harder to co-ordinate 5 characters at once.
You might well feel aggrieved when a multi boxer kills you, but Blizzard do not differentiate.
It was 5 separate accounts, regardless of who owned them.
There is of course the common accusation of "botting".
And this needs to be cleared up.
Multi boxing is not botting.
Every action that all 5 characters perform is initiated by a key press or other in game action by the controlling player.
Generally speaking most multi boxers use macros.
Again these are perfectly acceptable.
The simple macro language is put in the game by the developers who fully support its use (though never actually endorse any particular macro itself).
If you read Blizzards own macro guide, you will note the tone of surprise they have that more players don't use this simple and well integrated system.
A feeling I share.
So, Blizzard has said they do not have an issue with multi boxing, and believe me they have been asked many times.
Often by angry players who have just had their appendages handed to them on a plate after some form of PvP activity.
In fact it's rumoured that the 11 million live Warcraft accounts are owned by 9.
8 million players.
Multi accounting by a single player is a lot more common that most think.
Multi boxers may make up close to 10% of the population of Warcraft, and the figure is certainly growing.
Personally, the reason I moved to this play style was to increase my in-game challenge.
Controlling one player was no longer occupying me and involving me very much.
I would be watching a film, listening to music, playing poker, and still finishing my Heroics without breaking a sweat.
The game is a lot easier now than it was 5 years ago.
If I had to play one character at a time, then I would probably quit and find something more involving to do.
Your best bet to get multiboxing reduced? Ask Blizzard to increase the depth of the game for single player.
I doubt they will.
If the trend with Warcraft continues it'll be a first person shooter in another five years (like everything else).
So that's multiboxing in a nutshell, for more information follow my links below.