I'm Buying In!

[trainwr3ck]

After lurking for a month or so on this forum, and after wiping in a pug in WoW in an easy instance, I've decided that if you want something done right, you gotta do it yourself!

So I'm buying in. This multi-boxing thing looks like it would be fun and challenging. I plan to buy three more computers next month and I already have two desktops. I've decided on five WoW characters and I'll be forming a traditional party: warrior, paladin, priest, mage and a hunter. It won't have the awesome punch of four mages or three warlocks like I've seen some of you do, but I figure it will be a challenge. I've also been trying this multi-box program out and I've been rather impressed with how easy to setup it was.

What I'm wondering is if any of you multi-box veterans have any advice for me as I am getting started? I figure I'm as clever as the next guy, but there's no need to invent the wheel if someone else already has a round thing and an axle, you know?

[Xzin]

I may be a bit biased - but thats a LOT of micromanagement. You might find yourself overwhelmed - even after a lot of practice. My suggestion is to keep it a bit simpler - perhaps the holy trinity - healer, tank dps dps dps?

Also - get solid hardware - I suggest Vetra's - they are not cheap but they just work. The software may work for you but YMMV. Put thought into what you want to do BEFORE you buy anything - it will save a lot of hassle later on.

Above all else - have fun with it. Just don't expect it to be easy at first. It takes a lot of practice.

Oh, lastly. Put your monitors together. The closer the better.

[trainwr3ck]

Thanks. I was hoping you would reply because it was your crazy 4 mage 1 priest vids that I became intrigued by this whole concept.

I've played all those classes I listed to 60 and beyond so I know them fairly well. I don't think it'll be easy but I've planned their specs carefully and I think I've nailed down their roles pretty well. I figure the paladin will be pivotal since he has a ranged taunt, can easily hold multiple mobs via consecrate, and he can heal and rez as needed. Hunters are a good form of ranged dps that require little interaction thanks to autoshot and the pet can serve as a halfway decent offtank. I'm more worried about managing the other classes though. I think some clever scripting will help some, particularly well thought out castsequence macros.

It could be my idea sucks though, but I'll give it a shot. If all else fails, I know how well four mages and a priest work out so, yeah. :D

[Zaylek]

I would have to agree with Xzin. I think micromanaging that many different classes will be overwhelming.

I'm currently 5-boxing a pally, priest, 3 mages. I know the learning curve I went through, and i can't imagine how I'd control/manage the classes you have selected. I'm sure it can be done, but it would come at a cost. I also wanted to have classes that would be multi-boxable in pvp type situations, and for that you want lots-o-dps, aoe, and as little micromanaging as possible. My original plan was for 4 mages and a priest, but for the BC instances, a tank really is needed. When i get to 70 I already have a high lvl caster to throw in the group for pvp to replace the priest.

Why have a warrior and a pally? If the pally will be tanking, he won't be healing. He'll be using his mana to hold agro. In my group, my priest is MORE than sufficient for heals. I'm leveling primarily in instances, and even in the tougher boss fights, my priest rarely uses even half her mana. My personal opinion is its difficult to control more than 1 melee type toon at a time. The mages and priest are awesome ranged classes that you can just park and nuke.

As far as controls, I think the vetra stuff is pretty cool, but I wanted to use a USB keyboard. I'm currently using the Logitech G15 in combination with a modified version of multibox. The G15 gives me those extra keys on the side. I use them for things like setting the focus for each individual mage/priest before a fight. Then each mage has a macro to sheep their focus, that same button on the priest is shackle.

I modified the multibox code to allow switching between screens via hotkey. I then assigned a set of G15 keys for switching between screens. My LCD's are arranged in a 3x2 array, similar to Ellay's. The G15 G-keys are arranged in the same 3x2 array which makes switching fairly easy. I also have another keyboard setup with a KVM switch in case I have troubles different computers, i can just switch over and fix things if multibox isn't running.

[Xzin]

I would have to agree with Xzin. I think micromanaging that many different classes will be overwhelming.

I don't think it to be impossible but it's not gonna be easy. YMMV. Not something I would pvp with.


As far as controls, I think the vetra stuff is pretty cool, but I wanted to use a USB keyboard. I'm currently using the Logitech G15 in combination with a modified version of multibox. The G15 gives me those extra keys on the side. I use them for things like setting the focus for each individual mage/priest before a fight. Then each mage has a macro to sheep their focus, that same button on the priest is shackle.

Can you not use a usb to ps/2 with the G15? Most likely not... but X-keys offer similar functionality and you can get a usb lcd screen too.

[shockbeta]

The way I feel is that you're either using one software or another. With multibox you're able to use usb and the G15 you already have. This gives you macros and everything else. Or you can go get the verta gear, then get a software program that does the macros for you. I personally think the G15 is much easier to use with macros then any software will be for the pure fact you have dedicated keys to assign the macros. You don't assign them to a key that then becomes unavailable with a regular keyboard. Each scenario above uses software.. whether it's multibox or x-keys. With that said if you have a G15 and want to use it go with multibox, if you don't have a G15 and feel like shelling out the dough for verta go that route.

I personally use a G15 and Multibox. I wouldn't want to lose the functionality of the G15 if there was a way to keep it. I also prefer Multibox over hardware for the fact of modification. Multibox's source is posted so anyone who can code that is willing can open it up and do what they want and make it behave how they want. That opens a lot of opportunities that the hardware will never. Anyways that's my 2 cents on it.

[Kyosakana]

Hi there, and welcome to the club. I multibox a 5man of a Paladin, Shaman, Druid, Mage, Priest, so I'll toss in my 2 cents here. Multiboxing 5 different classes isn't too hard if you set the group up right via specs and macros. Looking at your group, I'd put my money on how difficult/easy you're going to have it based on how the paladin is specced.

Like Xzin said, multiboxing 5 different classes for PvP is probably not the best idea, but if you're more concerned about PvE like I am, you'll be fine. So far I've been able to clear all the 5-mans pre-70 and the only one that has really been an issue AT 70 has been Black Morass, and that is mostly because I need to upgrade my DPSers gear.

[trigemina]

Also - get solid hardware - I suggest Vetra's - they are not cheap but they just work. The software may work for you but YMMV. Put thought into what you want to do BEFORE you buy anything - it will save a lot of hassle later on.

Okay, well I have to agree with this one. I spent about $500.00 building 2 PCs and well... They are barely adequate. I've already had 1 power supply fail after 3 months!

As for the team: I am currently triple-boxing and I find that a Priest/Mage/Warlock work quite well.

[Xzin]

I don't know how BC impacts this but keep in mind that I was able to do every single level 60 5 man dungeon - solo. With only cloth.

Full DM North Tribute Runs, Sub 30 minute baron runs, LBRS, Ony Quest Chain, heck even parts (and some bosses) of UBRS. So while a balanced class will give you more flexibility in PvE, my personal vote is for a PvP group that can also PvE..... but you figure out what you want to do for your play style. With the right setup you COULD certainly do 5 different classes. Just don't expect to be able to multitask all 5 at the same time doing different things. It would be more of a "learn how to approach this encounter" rather than reacting in real time with a few classes.

My read on BC is that tanking and the holy trinity are emphasized more. may or may not get back into WoW - right now I am very busy finishing up my periodic computer reinstalls. Which takes a long time when your setup gets complicated.

[trainwr3ck]

Well, I don't think I was intending to really pvp with them. I think that would be too difficult with this group. Pvp requires quick reaction times and multi-tasking tends to cut down on reaction time. Really what I had in mind was the BC instances. Like others have said, a tank is more necessary there. The rest of the group makeup choices are logical to me since you generally need one tank, one healer, one offtank and/or secondary healer, and two dps classes.

Thinking ahead is going to be the key really. Knowing that I can't micromanage easily means I need to anticipate and plan accordingly. But I plan to set it up so that mostly every thing is done with spammable and well written castsequence macros. For example, Steady Shot, Scorch, Flash Heal and Flash of Light all have 1.5 sec cast times. I wouldn't necessarily put those all on the same button as they do different things. But I don't see this as any different than three or four casters all simultaneously casting shadow bolt or whatever. They'll go off at the same time and even if they do different things the effect is still the same: I hit one button and multiple characters did something at the same time. The biggest challenge I think will be getting the healers' macros right. A mage or hunter running out of mana isn't nearly as big of a deal as a healer running out of mana after all.

[Xzin]

1.5 seconds in theory.... until stuff starts beating on you and you get interrupts - etc.

Again, not saying this is not possible. Just make sure you think it through BEFORE you invest the time needed to make it happen.

Figure out the exact macros, maybe even test on the test center?

I theory crafted 4 warriors 1 shammy would do pretty well. In practice - it sucked. Melee range was a big problem.... I am sure I could have made it work with a lot more practice but it was just not as workable as one might think at first glance.

Plus, they nerfed windfury :)

[trainwr3ck]

I think the theory is mostly sound. Sure there will be interrupts but if it gets to be a problem, there are talents to help with that and the paladin has a whole aura for that purpose. And yeah, I didn't figure lots of melee classes would be a good idea. Too many ways to screw up melee range and character orientation. So I built a group based mostly on range. Healers don't need to be oriented in any particular direction to heal. They just need to be in range. Only the two dps classes and the tanks need to be facing the mob really and since they're starting at range they only need to make sure they are oriented correctly to begin with. Assuming they are facing the general direction of the target, a couple spells even orient the caster to directly face the mob while channeling (Arcane missles, Aimed Shot). For tanking, a lot of mitigation is passive. Armor, dodge, parry, and blocking are all passive ways to avoid damage and are all based on gear and talents. Plus there are spells and abilities like Scorpid Sting and Shield Block that improve a tank's ability to passively mitigate damage.

I'm eager to see if all this theory craft survives the real world test but I guess there's really only one way to find out.