The primary benefit of multiple characters occurs once everyone is level 50 and melees are impossible to level without assistance. We've not even nearly reached that point yet. Therefore I see minimal benefit to a rule change. I echo the above sentiment: "Don't fix what isn't broken." By extension, I fully support multi-boxing once this server reaches a point where it becomes necessary. Far from being at that point yet, P1999 is still growing in population.
Most of the arguments in support seem rather short-sighted,''I want to play a group-oriented class, but still solo all the time!' or some variant therof. EQ in its current form provides plenty of options (Druid, Mage, Necromancer, etc) for people who want to predominantly solo. Groups are not hard to find if you put forth more effort than sitting halfheartedly on LFG. Requesting multi-boxing for the mere convenience of it, absent any real need, amounts to little better than wanting to have your cake and eat it too. Granted, I don't blame the folks who enjoy it--I do sympathize--but all the same, it doesn't make for a very compelling argument either.
I admit I'm gradually becoming biased against the pro-boxing crowd as a whole, due to their fundamental dishonesty dating back to this project's beta when they swore up and down that we'd have 40 or 50 people at most. Such doesn't help their cause.
In the interest of fairness, I'll state that my opinions, such as they are, are those of someone who dislikes operating multiple characters and wouldn't do it even with a rule change. I don't see 2-boxing as something that harms anyone at an individual level, nor do people who enjoy it bother me (although their arguments are growing tiring). However, I do see some negatives at the serverwide level which, as yet, are not overshadowed by the advantages of this gameplay method. That may change in the future.
EDIT: The existence of a poll seems rather pointless; I consider the outcome a foregone conclusion. A great many people within this community are so....obsessed with multiboxing, so mindlessly hateful of it, that they'll stop at no lengths to demonize and oppose it. I, personally, have even been accused of multi-boxing (what a laugh!) for no better reason than I'm a middle age adult with a wife who also likes EQ. I figure it's something of a witch-hunt mentality. I oppose such extremism and give it no weight. As such, my opinion could be considered centrist with a bias towards maintaining the status quo until such a time as change becomes necessary.
Danth
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