Steam sale = second account

[spam]

Elite dangerous deluxe addition is on sale on Steam for $8.74 (US). I added a second Steam account and bought copy so I could have another Commander to do things like move fuel around on my FC when my main is too far away.

Here is what I learned about the process:

• You need a second email account for the second ED account.
  
• The ED launcher will actually run without Steam. Once you set up your second ED account, you can just login using your Frontier credentials.
  
• Switching Steam accounts is easy, but you cannot switch while ED is running, even if you close the ED launcher.
  
• Steam does not play well with Virtualization (did not fully explore how to get it to work).
  
• You can run both accounts from the same install directory, but making a second copy of the ED launcher (in the install directory), and you will only be able to run one account at a time.
  
• To run both accounts at the same time (should you enjoy pain), you can make a full copy the install directory, launch your main account from steam, and the second account from the second install directory.

Here is what I ended up doing for maximum flexibility:

• Set up second Steam account
  
• Bought Elite Dangerous deluxe edition at amazing price.
  
  • It updated by reinstalling the entire game, not sure how to avoid this, but it had no negative impact other than long wait.
    
  • Note - when switching back to main account it also requires an update, but hitting the button appears to do nothing but clear the game for play
    
• Copied entire ED directory to use with second account.
  
• Made shortcut to the launcher in copied directory and renamed it for Alt
  
• Logged in and checked remember box

The only limitation with this setup is that the ED launcher has to be closed before launching the second application. Basically one account is run from steam and the other is run directly from the ED launcher.

What did not work for me

• I was not able to get a second steam account running in a virtual machine.
  
• I was unable to get both accounts running at the same time using the same install directory with or without virtualization. In these cases the best I could get is for the launcher to successfully log in but never actually launch the second copy of the game.

Note - this does not mean it is impossible, just that I couldn't quickly figure it out and tried something else.

Special thanks to @Sighman for hints dropped in previous thread that inspired me to give this a try.

Side note - starting out with a second account and actually understanding what I'm doing is fun in it's own right.

Edit: Heh, thanks for the steam points, I'm glad to have entertained you.

[Mark Skarr]

I mean . . . Steam Decks exist.

[spam]

Originally posted by Mark Skarr:

I mean . . . Steam Decks exist.

Yes, I have one. Don't like playing ED on it though.

[MasterPent]

Thanks, after 7 years you convinced me to get second account with that easy explain.

Yes Sighman big help over the years!

Cheers Mate, Merry Christmas!

[Dead Baron]

Kinda sucks you need to buy another account instead of just making another profile ingame. I'm way out in the black and sometimes want to come back for some Odyssey PVE battles, but don't want to fly all the way back.

Weird comparison, but wish it was like Eve Online, where you can choose a different character the moment you launch the game

[EverySingleTime]

I have a 2nd account dedicated to exploring, which is somewhere out in the black. Haven't logged into it in 4yrs, and have no idea the email/username. lmao

[spam]

Found instructions for a sophisticated system, I'm going to keep it simple for now, but for the adventurous: https://forums.frontier.co.uk/threads/multiple-accounts-made-easier-on-pc-using-elitedalt-bat.607379/

Starting a new character was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. No longer sure if the 2nd account will just be a fuel transfer zombie anymore.

Originally posted by EverySingleTime:

I have a 2nd account dedicated to exploring, which is somewhere out in the black. Haven't logged into it in 4yrs, and have no idea the email/username. lmao

Ouch, lost and forgotten.

[Sighman]

Originally posted by Dead Baron:

Kinda sucks you need to buy another account instead of just making another profile ingame. I'm way out in the black and sometimes want to come back for some Odyssey PVE battles, but don't want to fly all the way back.

Weird comparison, but wish it was like Eve Online, where you can choose a different character the moment you launch the game

Each account involves storing data on their servers.

They're not the only MMO which limits accounts to 1 per copy of the game.

[Sighman]

PS I have 6 accounts, and 3 of those were bought at full price. I do enjoy bootstrapping a new cmdr with no outside help.

The latest 2 I just took to a High ground CZ in my flight suit with the default pistol. Get hits on enemy troops, fight as long as it lasts pocket about 8-12 million for each. Enough to buy and equip a DBX for all the bubble stuff I need to do from that point on.

[SirGusto]

Idk, I get maybe you got a character on the other side of the galaxy for exploration, and you want to do other things near the bubble. But I don't get why you'd run so many characters when all that work could make 1 character with everything you could possibly need. I mean engineering alone would be a nightmare split among what the 6 accounts the person above me has. As a single account holder, I have corvette, cutter, conda, and all the other great ships fully engineered. Over 8 billion credits. No fleet carrier yet as I take breaks and don't want the reoccurring maintenance. Until recently increased, I had a full storage of engineered parts for any ship I care to mix and match weapons, or internals. Any other account I make, can't use any of that stuff. A fresh start would be my only reason, but then that's time I'm not doing something to improve my main, so?

[Harriet]

Originally posted by SirGusto:

Idk, I get maybe you got a character on the other side of the galaxy for exploration, and you want to do other things near the bubble. But I don't get why you'd run so many characters when all that work could make 1 character with everything you could possibly need.

I already have everyhing I need on my main, so instead of adding *another* 30 years of upkeep to that carrier I started using my alts for AX instead.

Now my five alts all have fleet carriers too, with 7-20 years of upkeep on each.

Originally posted by SirGusto:

I mean engineering alone would be a nightmare split among what the 6 accounts the person above me has. As a single account holder, I have corvette, cutter, conda, and all the other great ships fully engineered.

Engineering isn't necessary. I have 2 alts which have only unlocked 2 engineers each, and they made 14 billion credits each fighting thargoids in mostly-unengineered ships.

Originally posted by SirGusto:

No fleet carrier yet as I take breaks and don't want the reoccurring maintenance. Until recently increased, I had a full storage of engineered parts for any ship I care to mix and match weapons, or internals. Any other account I make, can't use any of that stuff. A fresh start would be my only reason, but then that's time I'm not doing something to improve my main, so?

Once your main is maxed out completely, with 60 billion credits, over 80 fully engineered ships, 15 G5 suits and two dozen G5 hand weapons and a fleet carrier, alts will make sense.

I'm currently cycling between 4 alts, finishing the weekly powerplay missions on each one. When that's done I'll switch back to the main and do some mining in my home system.

And before anyone says I must be playing 16 hours a day ... I play Elite maybe 4 hours a night, sometimes a little more. With the number of hours I have in the game I'm very efficient.

[spam]

Originally posted by Sighman:

PS I have 6 accounts, and 3 of those were bought at full price. I do enjoy bootstrapping a new cmdr with no outside help.

The latest 2 I just took to a High ground CZ in my flight suit with the default pistol. Get hits on enemy troops, fight as long as it lasts pocket about 8-12 million for each. Enough to buy and equip a DBX for all the bubble stuff I need to do from that point on.

I still suck at Odyssey content (but getting better), and bootstrapped with the old-fashioned tagging wanted targets with my sidewinder in Res sites, then bought Artemis suit & upgraded Sidewinder, & did exo-biology, used funds to buy and upgrade a DBX, and went on from there.

My first thought when I saw the Sidewinder in the hangar was, where's the rest of the ship? Also, an upgraded Sidewinder has acceptable range, but it's fuel tank is too small and anxiety inducing.

Edit:
Sigh- Also just now realizing that adding Outfitting and Shipyard doubles the maintenance cost of FC. Can afford it for 20+ years with current funds, but still...