Hi Milletians,
We are announcing in advance that the security for Mabinogi will soon be improved to strengthen the detection and prevention of third-party programs and multi-client use. We recognize there may be some beneficial aspects that client modifications can offer to improve a player’s game experience, although most functionalities are against the intentions of the game and impose unfair capabilities and barriers to players who don’t modify their files. There are also risks that come with modifying the game client and data for the player and the game.
Mabinogi has been steadily improving the playability of the game, adding commonly requested features that were previously mod-only, as well as other features that have improved the stability and performance of the game.
While it is important for us to continue to improve the in-game experience, we believe that at this present juncture, we need to further improve the security measures within the game to prevent security vulnerabilities and create a safer Mabinogi.
[h3]Blocking Multi-Client and Third-Party Programs[/h3]
Multi-client use has not been allowed in Mabinogi and it is not possible to run multiple clients through normal means. However, there are many players who have been logging in on multiple clients through unauthorized methods, bypassing the game system to play on multiple accounts at one time. In order to provide a better game experience, we are enhancing the game’s security so that it is no longer possible to bypass the restriction. In the future, if you run two or more game clients on the same device, any instances of the client beyond the first will be automatically shut down.
Other security improvements made to the game client and account system will terminate the use of third-party programs and launchers along with it. This notice is being posted early so that you can take care to play on a clean game client before the blocking measures begin to take effect. While special mods and third-party launchers may offer small gameplay tweaks or improve the game’s performance for some, there are more risky parts of client modifications that aren’t good for the game’s overall security. This must be addressed to prevent forms of illicit or fraudulent activity, egregious activities, game exploits, hacking, and other types of abuse. There are also cases in which third-party programs can alter the game’s intention too greatly in ways that are considered exploitative and unfair, such as changes to skill cooldowns, skill usage ranges, or skill uptime. Players found abusing the game while using these types of game modifications will be subject to sanctions.
Further information about which actions are considered violations is outlined in the
Terms of Service agreement that has been agreed to when creating a Nexon account.
[h3]Addressing the
Caravan Joe Problem[/h3]
Multi-client use is impacting many aspects of the game. In particular, it creates an environment that feels like a gatekeeper to many players of all types. It is not a fair experience to those wanting to play and grow their character when there is such an imbalance between players who are playing multiple accounts and those who are not. The area that has experienced the most significant impact of multi-client use is the supply of gold and rewards. If we take a look at the current dungeon play experience, for example, we have individuals that play and receive one reward chest, while those using multiple clients will receive the reward chest from each of the controlled characters. Milletians who focus on playing with one client are bound to feel like they are at a disadvantage, which we are deeply sorry for.
"The Many Cousins of Caravan Joe"
Let's take a look at two different players, Cowenna and Caravan Joe. Both players are looking to receive a Broken Magic Essence (BME) from the Alby Advanced Hard Mode (AAHM) dungeon, and have been farming a while in hopes of getting it.
Each time Cowenna plays, she does a few runs through AAHM. Sometimes by herself, sometimes she invites her friends- Rowan, Eochaid, and Loiscneach. For a successful clear she opens a single chest and takes the loot, as do her friends. One player gets one key to open one chest, or four players get four keys to open four chests.
Each time Caravan Joe plays, he does a few runs as well. He also plays by himself, but with a twist - he invites his cousins, all three of them also named Caravan Joe. For a successful clear each Joe opens a single chest and takes the loot, but after this, each Joe then trades their drops to a single Joe. One player gets four keys to open four chests.
In this scenario, Caravan Joe is four times more likely than Cowenna to receive a Broken Magic Essence. Due to this imbalance, it has been difficult to move forward with Drop Rate increases without accounting for how Caravan Joe and his cousins, aka multi-clienting, would create further imbalances. Cowenna is still doing her AAHM runs hoping to get her BME, but feels that it's unfair that Caravan Joe is getting more drops per run.
In other words, this imbalance is not a sustainable way for players to gain resources and this must be addressed to ensure that reward opportunities are available to all players in the game.
[h3]Increasing Dungeon Drop Rates and Improving the Reward Experience[/h3]
A significant change that will be made to Mabinogi will be the addition of
improved drop rates to dungeons and missions. This will allow players to play dungeons with more opportunities towards their reward goals.
A major impact of this change will be the leveling-out of imbalances that inevitably became the norm due to multi-client use, and the creation of a better experience for those hoping to receive materials and other rewards from their dungeon runs. The drop rates of rewards from major dungeons and missions will be increased significantly to the same level that Mabinogi Korea has right now. We will increase the drop rates of many rewards, with our primary focus being–but not limited to–core high-level rewards such as crafting materials and Enchant Scrolls. For some dungeons, the Dungeon Re:Fine system will be applied with the increase of drop rates.
We will share a detailed list of the dungeons and rewards affected by this change in a later announcement. Please look forward to the improved dungeon drop rates coming soon, with detailed information regarding the changes provided in the patch notes as usual!
Another part of the game affected by multi-client use is the in-game events. Several players have been participating in events using multiple clients to get multiple rewards. Therefore, the reality of multi-client use was factored in when the Development team determined the coin shop prices for items in event shops. Oftentimes, there is also the need to pick and choose which rewards to spend coins on versus obtaining all rewards from the shop. This aspect is where players would feel that playing on an alternate account was required in order to earn the rewards, which we want to improve. There are certain events that allow all rewards to be obtained, and the aspect of choice is an integral element of game freedom, so this will still be a factor seen in events. However, to improve the experience after the multi-client block, we will adjust the event shop’s reward prices so that you can get enough rewards by solo playing, without using multi-clients.
[h3]Further Improving your Fantasy Life[/h3]
Even with the many improvements that have been made to Mabinogi in recent years, we recognize that there are still options that many players have requested that may be missing from the game. In addition to these changes mentioned above, we will continue to actively improve the elements that burdened the experience and made multi-client use feel like a significant improvement to the game experience.
We sincerely apologize for allowing the multi-client behavior to impact the game as much as it has and hope these changes will begin to change the experience for the better. We appreciate your understanding as we enter this next chapter of Mabinogi. As this is a very important step for the future, we will do our best to ensure the long-term growth and stable service of the game, rather than focusing on the short-term visible result, such as the number of concurrent players in the game.
Thank you for your continued support, and please look forward to more details about upcoming updates to the game. We will continue to work hard so that Mabinogi can continue to grow steadily for a long time.
Milletians, we also recommend following the tips below to ensure that you are playing on a clean client:
- Please ensure that you are launching Mabinogi through the Nexon Launcher or Steam Launcher.
- Please delete any unofficial files that may be saved in the game installation folder.
- After removing any precarious files, perform a Repair Installation if using the Nexon Launcher, or Verify the Integrity of the Game Files if using the Steam Launcher.
- Alternatively, we recommend deleting the entire game installation folder and preparing a full reinstallation of the game to ensure that all files have been directly downloaded from the Nexon Launcher or Steam Launcher.
- As the Nexon Game Security client will be improved and updated, ensure that your antivirus or firewall trusts and allows the Mabinogi client and related files to run. If you encounter any issues, please contact Player Support.
Thank you,
- The Mabinogi Team
