Using a proxy server with WoW

• sp00n · 11/04/06, 8:19 AM

Hi there.
I know that none of you is able to speak in Blizzard's name or can give me a 100% legal statement, but maybe somebody has tried something similar already and may give me an answer how Blizzard's policy is concerning that issue.

I'll just quote my email to support@blizzard.com here. Unfortunately as a European user, they were not able, or did not want to give a useful response.
First it was "please contact EU support", then after my "what if I was American" question they answered that the technical support is not responsible for compliance of the EULA.
After that, I asked a GM on my server, and he sent me to the technical support, which, of course, does not work on weekends.

Anyway, this is the email. Quite self-explanatory I hope:

Proxy Server, Question about EULA compliance

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

as You might or might not know, the European, especially the German Servers (realm pool 3) of World of Warcraft are currently suffering from a severe impact on their latency. To my knowledge, which has been confirmed by various postings and traceroutes in the official forums, and also by myself, the problem lies within the peering between the hoster for the European servers, Telia, and the Deutsche Telekom, the former monopolist and still by far largest IP provider within Germany.

Now, I do not want to discuss this problem, since it is already known to Blizzard (Europe) and I don't feel like making another "whine" email. Instead I want to discuss, or rather ask about the "legality" of a possible solution on the client's side; some sort of workaround.

On a server, which is connected to the internet via a line that does NOT use the backbone of Deutsche Telekom (and therefore circumvents the resulting peering problems) there is installed a Socks Proxy Server.
Now using a program like SocksCap, one can connect to this server and therefore World of Warcraft uses the server's connection instead of the bad one of Deutsche Telekom.

My question is, since Blizzard's EULA seems to be quite strict about using 3rd party programs, is it allowed to use such a program that makes a direct connection to a proxy server and from there on, World of Warcraft connects to its server?
There are no game files altered, nor is it an unfair advantage like cheating (well, unless you consider having a ping of under 500ms as cheating of course).

I am aware that such a procedure could open possible security risks if it is not done correctly. But that is not the issue (since it will be made absolutely correct). I am only concerned about the authorization from your side, to eliminate the fear of an account ban.

Best regards and thanks in advance,

Greybone · 11/04/06, 8:35 AM

This is just a change in your routing, and has very little to do with altering the game, the way I see it.

Revenj · 11/04/06, 8:39 AM

I used FreeCap, SocksCap, and all those other programs. No problem. I dont think this falls under Blizzard's care even. If anyone, you should contact your ISP for permission.
We were faced with a similar situation (dumb monopolistic ISP) and had to resort to FreeCap for several months. Worked like a charm. Some of us still continue to use it.

SquattingCow · 11/04/06, 10:31 AM

You can also try VPNing through someone who uses a different ISP to you and lives reletively close.

Richiewolk · 11/04/06, 2:04 PM

Sockscap is a good solution, one a bunch of people used to use in D2 to get around the stupid things blizzard did.

But it's still a "3rd party program", so they can ban you at any time if they choose. One would hope that they don't, but it's within their rights.

Arko · 11/04/06, 9:55 PM

You can transport ip pakets over other network protocols, that is the very foundation of the internet. Nobody in the world can play World of Warcraft without doing it. If Blizzard objects to your specific idea I cannot see where they could ever draw a line between allowed and forbidden routing mechanisms.

♦ Maniq · 11/04/06, 10:28 PM

Originally Posted by Richiewolk

Sockscap is a good solution, one a bunch of people used to use in D2 to get around the stupid things blizzard did.

But it's still a "3rd party program", so they can ban you at any time if they choose. One would hope that they don't, but it's within their rights.

A 3rd party program is Windows.
A 3rd party program is IM.
A 3rd party program is Firefox.

You will be fine to use a proxy, it is how you route your packets, blizzard will not know, nor care about this.

One thing to be very wary of is, Blizzard have been known to ban people via IP address and account, so if someone else who uses this proxy as well gets a ban, then you're at risk as well. Just be mindful of that.

♦ Kurisu · 11/04/06, 10:46 PM

Well the main issue is that they do regional blocking (Euro plays with Euro - NA/AU plays NA/AU) and thats probably why they are acting the way they are.

EDIT: as for the proxy server thing I dont think they would have an issue with it but they probably wont answer since they might think (if i am reading this correctly it would be the proper assumption) that your a US playing EU version but /shrug : /. If so using the proxy may not be something they want to tell you openly.

koaschten · 11/05/06, 12:06 AM

using sockscap / your-freedom.net for over a year... the only problem i ever had was a slow your-freedom service ;)

Miaxi · 11/05/06, 12:20 AM

Telia has causes routing troubles as long as I used the Internet. SocksCaps works wonders.

It's not "3rd party", as it has no relation to WoW whatsoever. A 3rd party software would be UOAssist for Ultima Online, because it was developed to work with it or L2Walker for Lineage 2. MSN, Ventrillo, etc., are independent software. In non-software terms, a third party manufacturer would produce no-name tires for your BMW.

mutagen · 11/05/06, 3:25 AM

They're never going to tell you its OK to use a proxy but done correctly they'll never know. Logging in from a second IP from another location might raise flags, but no more so than if you go on vacation and raid with a laptop or just plain up and move. If you're involved in other behavior that may raise flags you might be more careful than usual but if you're squeaky clean I can't see a problem, as the experience of others above suggests.

♦ Maniq · 11/05/06, 4:43 AM

Originally Posted by Kurisu

Well the main issue is that they do regional blocking (Euro plays with Euro - NA/AU plays NA/AU) and thats probably why they are acting the way they are.

Really? I'd beg to differ.

Crystael · 11/05/06, 9:13 AM

I wonder whether this would resolve a problem I'm currently. I'm at University in halls of residence and surprise, surprise, the Uni firewall blocks everything bar the Internet and IM programs. Now I'm no expert with networking/proxy servers/VPNs etc., but I know WoW needs ports 3724, 6112 and 6881-6999 to run. My question is, is it feasible to connect using a program such as your-freedom/freecaps through the port my university firewall has open and then connect to WoW through that program? I apologise for the slight derail, but it's extremely frustrating not being able to log in, despite having a 100Mbit connection running direct to my room.

Rane · 11/05/06, 10:23 AM

I hosted a SocksCap proxy server for a few weeks running when routing was fucked for half our raid. Never had any worries with it, not in-game not anywhere else. I'm on a University network so plenty of bandwidth for it too.

Crystael, don't you have (voluntary) network admins you can talk to or ask? Maybe a helpdesk? I think before setting up an elaborate proxy connection you might as well "just ask" :). I imagine they just closed everything off so they wouldn't lose gigs of bandwidth on idiots using p2p programs or hosting warezdumps. You might be able to make a case for yourself, they could set up an exception on a per-IP basis for example.

danez · 11/05/06, 10:40 AM

Like the above poster has said, a lot of netwerk admins who run your college's packetshaper will be willing to open ports for certain games, I know my friend at UCSD had to have this done to be able to play. It's well worth the few minutes it would take to ask.

Crystael · 11/05/06, 11:17 AM

Heh, it's definitely worth a try; I'd be pretty amazed if at least some of the network admin staff didn't play WoW themselves. I'll drop them a line. No idea how I'd make a case for myself though: "Let me play WoW so I can fail my degree" isn't that compelling :P I'll make it clear that WoW is by no means a bandwidth hog, which as you suggested is almost certainly why the firewall is so savage, the amount of people moaning about X Bittorrent client not working made that pretty clear!

Richiewolk · 11/05/06, 2:47 PM

Originally Posted by Maniq

Originally Posted by Richiewolk

Sockscap is a good solution, one a bunch of people used to use in D2 to get around the stupid things blizzard did.

But it's still a "3rd party program", so they can ban you at any time if they choose. One would hope that they don't, but it's within their rights.

A 3rd party program is Windows.
A 3rd party program is IM.
A 3rd party program is Firefox.

You will be fine to use a proxy, it is how you route your packets, blizzard will not know, nor care about this.

One thing to be very wary of is, Blizzard have been known to ban people via IP address and account, so if someone else who uses this proxy as well gets a ban, then you're at risk as well. Just be mindful of that.

Any 3rd party program can be used as an excuse for banning according to the blizzard TOS. Not saying that they do, but they leave the option there just in case.

• sp00n · 11/07/06, 11:31 AM

Hello xxx

Technical support cannot provide answers to legal questions. Any questions should be directed via mail to:

Blizzard Entertainment
Attn: Legal Department
P.O. Box 18979
Irvine, CA 92623

Be sure to include all of your contact information (name, address, telephone number) so that they can respond back to you.

That was the answer to my question whom to contact if the technical support isn't the right one. Oo

Still no answer from the German support btw.
But, in the forums, a blue poster stated that the use of a proxy itself is not illegal. No words on the programs used to connect to the proxy though.

• sp00n · 11/07/06, 6:04 PM

Wow, didn't believe Blizzard would make it that clear

Wir haben nichts gegen den Workaround.
[...]
Diese Lösung wird von uns nicht unterstützt, wir haben nichts dagegen wenn Ihr Sie nutzt, aber wie können keine Hilfestellung dazu geben.

Es wird aber weiterhin an der eigentlichen Ursache gearbeitet.

http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread....25606&sid=3#18

Translated:
"We have nothing against this workaround."
[...]
"This solution is not supported by us, we have nothing against you using it, but we cannot give any support on this.

We are still working on the underlying problem though."

Btw, why does Blizzard refuse to set up a good, working forum software? There are so many good forums out there and theirs is like crap, most times I cannot even see all of the replies until I reply for myself.