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EVE New Citizens Q&A

 
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What constitutes as Buddy-Program abuse?
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Saga Icafelt
Viziam
Amarr Empire
#1 - 2013-05-17 18:20:56 UTC
I'm thinking of making an Alt within the next three months.

Because I started with a Buddy program, I'm thinking of giving "myself" a buddy request, and subscribing on the alt.
To me it just makes sense because rather than simply making a new alt account, I'd end up with 7 more days and a PLEX, or some other perks you get.(my friend chose to get four ships instead of a PLEX)

What concerns me is that I've found people getting penalties with buddy system imposed on themselves.

The word 'abuse' can be stretched to mean pretty much anything. To some point of view, what I'm about to do might also be considered as an abuse since "I" am getting all the benefits.

So, what's the fine line that differentiates abuse and utilizing game mechanics?

Am I worrying over naught?
Vimsy Vortis
Shoulda Checked Local
Break-A-Wish Foundation
#2 - 2013-05-17 18:59:27 UTC
That's a pretty normal use of the buddy program. And I don't think CCP is going to be upset with you for subscribing an extra account.

J'Poll
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#3 - 2013-05-17 19:23:20 UTC  |  Edited by: J'Poll
Saga Icafelt wrote:
I'm thinking of making an Alt within the next three months.

Because I started with a Buddy program, I'm thinking of giving "myself" a buddy request, and subscribing on the alt.
To me it just makes sense because rather than simply making a new alt account, I'd end up with 7 more days and a PLEX, or some other perks you get.(my friend chose to get four ships instead of a PLEX)

What concerns me is that I've found people getting penalties with buddy system imposed on themselves.

The word 'abuse' can be stretched to mean pretty much anything. To some point of view, what I'm about to do might also be considered as an abuse since "I" am getting all the benefits.

So, what's the fine line that differentiates abuse and utilizing game mechanics?

Am I worrying over naught?


No..


Abusing is sending endless invites to yourself to just create trial alts to do stuff like ganking miners.
As that can be classed under the same violation as biomassing a character after you received bad sec status etc.
But instead of biomassing, they just don't sub the account and create a new one.

Personal channel: Crazy Dutch Guy

Help channel: Help chat - Reloaded

Public roams channels: RvB Ganked / Redemption Road / Spectre Fleet / Bombers bar / The Content Club
Ovv Topik
Pator Tech School
Minmatar Republic
#4 - 2013-05-17 20:21:11 UTC
Yea what you propose is fine. The more accounts you have in EvE the more revenue for CCP.

Also, usually with the 21 days (As long as you don't sub straight away of course), they'll send you a special offer email, like 3 months for 2 or free in game stuff.

Remember though it's going to cost you 2 plex to move it onto your main account if thats what u intend.

In that case you'd be better off using the new 2x training on one account thats coming with Odyssey.

"Nicknack, I'm in a shoe in space, on my computer, in my house, with a cup of coffee, in't that something." - Fly Safe PopPaddi. o7

Celeste Taylor
Ruby Dynasty
#5 - 2013-05-17 20:31:04 UTC
Ovv Topik wrote:
Remember though it's going to cost you 2 plex to move it onto your main account if thats what u intend.

In that case you'd be better off using the new 2x training on one account thats coming with Odyssey.


The "power of two" used to be a good way to get a 6 month trained alt on your main for a total of 5 PLEX, but CCP looks like they will go forward with the 1 PLEX for 1 month of dual character training plan which is almost as good of a deal and far more flexible.
Saga Icafelt
Viziam
Amarr Empire
#6 - 2013-05-17 21:42:01 UTC
J'Poll wrote:

Abusing is sending endless invites to yourself to just create trial alts to do stuff like ganking miners.
As that can be classed under the same violation as biomassing a character after you received bad sec status etc.
But instead of biomassing, they just don't sub the account and create a new one.



can you please elaborate on biomassing and etc.?

I think what I'm doing is safe(given the answers posted) but I'm still curious as what constitutes as abuse.
Saga Icafelt
Viziam
Amarr Empire
#7 - 2013-05-18 00:29:47 UTC
Ovv Topik wrote:

Remember though it's going to cost you 2 plex to move it onto your main account if thats what u intend.




Why would I want to do this?
J'Poll
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#8 - 2013-05-18 10:37:40 UTC
Saga Icafelt wrote:
Ovv Topik wrote:

Remember though it's going to cost you 2 plex to move it onto your main account if thats what u intend.




Why would I want to do this?


Because some people temporary take a 2nd account. Train up an alt for a certain duty and then move it to their other account (and thus can stop paying for the 2nd account). This works when both your main and alt don't have to be logged in at the same time.

Personal channel: Crazy Dutch Guy

Help channel: Help chat - Reloaded

Public roams channels: RvB Ganked / Redemption Road / Spectre Fleet / Bombers bar / The Content Club
J'Poll
School of Applied Knowledge
Caldari State
#9 - 2013-05-18 10:40:05 UTC  |  Edited by: J'Poll
Saga Icafelt wrote:
J'Poll wrote:

Abusing is sending endless invites to yourself to just create trial alts to do stuff like ganking miners.
As that can be classed under the same violation as biomassing a character after you received bad sec status etc.
But instead of biomassing, they just don't sub the account and create a new one.



can you please elaborate on biomassing and etc.?

I think what I'm doing is safe(given the answers posted) but I'm still curious as what constitutes as abuse.



The tactic that is an exploit is creating an alt, go suicide ganking with it (and thus lowering your sec status) then when it reaches a point where you are shot at in high-sec you biomass the character and create new one to do it all over.

So you are doing things and are evading any consequences that are linked to it.

The biggest problem with this tactic...it's very hard to proof by others that someone is doing it.

Personal channel: Crazy Dutch Guy

Help channel: Help chat - Reloaded

Public roams channels: RvB Ganked / Redemption Road / Spectre Fleet / Bombers bar / The Content Club
Mara Rinn
Cosmic Goo Convertor
#10 - 2013-05-19 08:47:35 UTC
Saga Icafelt wrote:
So, what's the fine line that differentiates abuse and utilizing game mechanics?

Am I worrying over naught?


The fine line is rather arbitrary from the player perspective. I don't expect CCP to ever release "rules" about how they evaluate abuse versus legitimate use. It is safe to say that creating multiple accounts for yourself that you intend to keep subscribed for normal gameplay purposes is perfectly fine. It is also safe to say that creating alt accounts with the intention of abandoning them after having extracted maximal utility to your own purposes, such as suicide ganking, standings gains, etc is abuse of the system.

I have a number of accounts that I created for myself though the Buddy Invite system. This use of the Buddy Invite system appears to be quite common: many of the people using my invites appear to be setting up trading, hauling and cyno alt accounts.

Day 0 Advice for New Players