This won't be a popular suggestion. I'm not even sure if it is a necessary suggestion. But I do feel it is necessary to thoroughly discuss the issue of multi abuse. I have tried to bring this up before, but the discussion did not go very far. I suggest that Spiral Knights should adopt a multi abuse policy.

My interpretation is that the mist energy system is meant to create an equal right to experience game content among all players. While the amount of gameplay that a single player can access is extendable by obtaining and using crystal energy, using extra mist energy by creating multiple free accounts is not allowed. It has been confirmed that paying for and playing multiple accounts is allowed. What, then, should the limits, if any, be on what is considered responsible multi use?

There are three primary activities that I consider multi abuse in this game: crafting multis, multiboxing, and, most recently, accessory "duping."

The first one is simple and probably the most pervasive. A player converts his or her account to paid status and creates a free multi which is used to 2* items for free and 3* items at a discount. Purchasing upgrade slots primarily with mist energy also falls within this category. THe goods obtained by these multis are then sold on the AH and the profits get sent back to the main account. This allows the main account to amass more wealth faster rate than it would be able to without the use of the multi's mist energy. A possible counterargument is that the player is providing a desired good or service to the player economy. I disagree because the transactions between main and multi do not respect the market prices for materials or crystal energy, creating unfair competition for players who don't multi abuse.

I only have a vague idea of how multiboxing actually works. I believe the most simple method is to log on with 2-4 accounts, bring them all into the clockworks and solo the levels with only the main account while the others are left to die. The multis then send their loot to the main account and possibly forfeit their heat if the main account is crafting high-star equipment. This method, like crafting multis, allows a main account to amass wealth much faster but it also enables it to progress equipment at a higher rate than a single account that spends the same amount of mist energy. The GMs have directly addressed the issue of technical multiboxing but the scenario I described does not require technical means. Multiboxers may argue that it's difficult to tell the difference between 1 multiboxer and 3 generous friends. Common sense indicates that 3 generous friends would eventually stop being generous or stop being friends.

I definitely consider the final one multi abuse, but I don't have hard evidence that it can be executed without explicitly violating the current ToS in other ways. The idea is to use multis to obtain one-per-account promotional items (like the pumpkin bomb bandolier), bind them to a low-star equipment of the player's choice, then unbind that equipment and trade it to the main account. While unbinding and trading equipment with promotional accessories is allowed, obtaining more than one promotional item per player is probably not intended. This behaviour is probably difficult to detect and combat without punishing all players in some way (permanently binding equipment with exclusive accessories comes to mind). I'm only mentioning it as another example of multi abuse.

I know it's hard to quantify the damage multi abuse causes to the playerbase and to the game itself. I also understand that the technical implementation and enforcement of anti-multi abuse rules may be difficult. I still think, however, it is important to codify what is and isn't allowed sooner rather than later so that players can break bad habits and build better ones.