To the GMs: Turnaround on IP exemptions

[cmdrrickhunter]

So first off, I'll say that my IP exemption was handled fast enough for my needs. I needed to prepare for an EQ LAN party, got my request in well ahead of the day I needed the exemption, and the GMs could turn it around in a timely manner.

That being said, I'd like to see a relaxation of the IP-exemption rules.

I've seen a lot of posts and folks talkinc in ooc where people are saying "man, this game is great... but I can't wait until I don't have to switch off on the computer with my Wife, because of the multi-boxing rules."

I understand the desire to kill multi-boxers as violently as possible, but at the same time, I feel a missed marketing opportunity. The IP exemption rules alienate new couples, making them less likely to play the game together. From the forums, we see lots of people who are willing to be patient with you guys, as you respond to the petition, but I'm almost positive that for every patient couple, there's at some that aren't bothering to make accounts because the one who played EQ in the past can't convince their S/O to play along until the IP exemption is granted.

I'd say by level 5 (or maybe level 8), its clear and obvious how awesome the work you've put into this game is, but we're talking about couples who haven't even finished the character creation screen yet, much less started leveling... that's a very fickle time when it comes to exploring a free game.

I don't know the technical side, but what about setting things up so that you can fill out a form for an IP exemption, and it is immediately granted temporarily, until a GM can follow through with the petition process as normal. Those accounts of people abusing this feature could lose their rights to the temporary IP exemption (forcing them into the current path). How much damage can a multiboxer do in 1-2 weeks before you revoke their IP exemption (using whatever rules you currently have in place for this).

Switching from a "petition, then grant" to a "automatically grant, then verify" pattern would, in my opinion, have a significant effect on the marketability of your server to those who played the game solo when they were younger but now have significant others. I think it should do very well in regards to "gains to the game" vs "man hours."