Totally new to multi-boxing in WoW - Two computers, two accounts, what do I do!

[mixvio]

Hi everyone, brand new here.

I've been throwing around an idea for a while of getting a second account in WoW and tossing over my level 70s to help with leveling up my lower characters. I figured more that having a 70 follow me around while I was in Hillsbrad might be a bit of a deterrent to the ganking but then I thought I could probably utilize that to help me level faster as well.

Anyway today I took the plunge and registered a second account and bumped the 70 over and about 15 minutes later got ready to play convinced I would kick ass and get my other character up to 70 in twenty seconds. I hadn't researched anything about it but figured it couldn't be hard at all.

Needless to say I can't express how quickly both characters died.

So anyway I started looking into how this works, and I'm so way brand new to it that I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed. I was hoping if I lay out what I have and what I'm hoping for someone might be able to piece together a path for me to go down towards getting this working.

Basically, I have two computers, and I've got two accounts registered. Everyone I knew in WoW who multiboxes said I should run two accounts on the same system but that's really not a route I want to go down unless I have to.

My main system is an Intel Core 2 Duo 6700 at 2.66 GHz with 2 gigs of RAM and dual-Nvidia 7950 GTXs in SLI with 512 of RAM each, using XP Professional. So clearly it eats WoW for breakfast.

My secondary system is an Intel Core 2 Duo T8100 at 2.10 GHz with 3 gigs of RAM and a single Nvidia 9500M GS with 512 of RAM, also using XP Pro. It's not as powerful as the main one but still respectable.

Both are total systems with their own monitors and keyboards etc etc, they're complete computers.

Now regarding hardware solutions, I'm probably not inclined to use anything right now that I am going to need to walk out and buy something additional for. And on both hardware and software solutions, whatever I implement is something that I can also turn off easily and turn the computer back to "normal." I use both systems as complete ones, so anything that is difficult to switch off so they both work again like discreet machines isn't going to interest me.

Beyond that, I'm really lost on how to actually play WoW in a multi-box setup. I'm not really interested in doing it in PvP (that much thinking makes my head hurt) but it would be helpful to get through quests twice as quickly. Is it just macroing, or addons, or what? There's a lot of information but it's a little daunting. :D

Anyway thanks for the help, I really appreciate it!

[Naysayer]

Well, try the stickies and wikies. Those poor lonely begginers guides could use a friend they're so lonely.

[Gomotron]

Others have so much more experience doing the multi-boxing thing, but I've tried doing it a lot of different ways ever since the 1999 EQ days... so here's my outlook on things.

The main thing to do is map out your strategy for pulls and killing. If you are PL'ing your new account, you have to make sure that you damage the mob you are attacking to grey it out for your level 70 character. There are also some classes that are just more efficient at PL'ing other classes, most noticeably the healing classes (at least when doing mob grinding for XP).

So, for instance, when fighting melee mobs, you have to select your target, damage it in some way, then keep on auto-attack (or whatever) then using a macro start an attack with your level 70. For instance, a macro that does:

/assist Noob
/cast DamagingSpellOfChoice

tied to a hotkey on your main keyboard (preferrably a single keystroke, like number 0 or = on the main hotbar).

Obviously, things change if your level 70 is a melee or Hunter.

Plan out what to do in the case of multiple pulls. Your level 70 may have to take out one or two of the adds just so you don't die. Also, if you are grinding mobs for XP, I suggest sticking to yellow mobs as they will be the safest to pull and still survive if more than the expected number come. If you are doing mostly quests, you'll need to group up with your level 70 and hammer mobs for quest drops and kills, then go back to grinding with the noob character to level up skills. You can also do instance quests for good XP grouped with the level 70.

Hope that helps. And I probably got something wrong.

Pmortal (and W-Zmortal)
Bronzebeard

[mixvio]

Well, try the stickies and wikies. Those poor lonely begginers guides could use a friend their so lonely.Well like I said, I went through a bunch of them, I didn't see anything too specific to what I was interested in doing, and it's a lot of information. I was hoping someone might have a more specific suggestion on how I should set this up per my setup above.

[Naysayer]

Well, try the stickies and wikies. Those poor lonely begginers guides could use a friend their so lonely.Well like I said, I went through a bunch of them, I didn't see anything too specific to what I was interested in doing, and it's a lot of information. I was hoping someone might have a more specific suggestion on how I should set this up per my setup above.Well, people spent a lot of time on those guides and they pretty much answer any question a new boxer could have if they just bothered to read them. If you're expecting them to rewrite a guide for you just for your new thread, you're not going to have much luck. Getting the first team up and running is just the beginning. There's people who've been boxing for years who redo their macros and streamline their game still today. Multiboxing might seem like it is, but it's not for the lazy.

The info is there already. Everything you're asking. Just got to go read it.

[mixvio]

Well, try the stickies and wikies. Those poor lonely begginers guides could use a friend their so lonely.Well like I said, I went through a bunch of them, I didn't see anything too specific to what I was interested in doing, and it's a lot of information. I was hoping someone might have a more specific suggestion on how I should set this up per my setup above.Well, people spent a lot of time on those guides and they pretty much answer any question a new boxer could have if they just bothered to read them. If you're expecting them to rewrite a guide for you just for your new thread, you're not going to have much luck. Getting the first team up and running is just the beginning. There's people who've been boxing for years who redo their macros and streamline there game still today. Multiboxing might seem like it is, but it's not for the lazy.

The info is there already. Everything you're asking. Just got to go read it.No I wouldn't expect that. But like I said, twice now, I did read them. They didn't answer my questions. :p

[Naysayer]

Well, try the stickies and wikies. Those poor lonely begginers guides could use a friend their so lonely.Well like I said, I went through a bunch of them, I didn't see anything too specific to what I was interested in doing, and it's a lot of information. I was hoping someone might have a more specific suggestion on how I should set this up per my setup above.Well, people spent a lot of time on those guides and they pretty much answer any question a new boxer could have if they just bothered to read them. If you're expecting them to rewrite a guide for you just for your new thread, you're not going to have much luck. Getting the first team up and running is just the beginning. There's people who've been boxing for years who redo their macros and streamline there game still today. Multiboxing might seem like it is, but it's not for the lazy.

The info is there already. Everything you're asking. Just got to go read it.No I wouldn't expect that. But like I said, twice now, I did read them. They didn't answer my questions. :pWell, there's your problem right there. Fix your reading and your multiboxing will come along very well I'm sure.

Seriously, you're telling us that you've read the guides and the stickies and you still can't figure out how to start out? Either you're lying or you're just not cut out for multiboxing.

[mixvio]

Every guide I read dealt with doing multiboxing on one system using multiple clients, which as I said, was not what I want to do at all. I looked at several guides here and on other sites and anything that touched on using it across different machines was talked about in a very high level way, with no real explanations or guides.

For example, though Keyclone's own website says you can use it across different machines, I can't get past connecting them, and when I run WoW on two computers the clone doesn't respond. I can't find any guide or explanation on how to use it on anything that isn't just using the same system, which (again), isn't my preferred choice.

If I wanted to run two accounts on the same computer, then I'm all set. I don't though, and if I'm missing some explanation that you seem to have on how to do this, my apologies, but wouldn't it be simpler to direct me on which specific posts I overlooked instead of being unwelcoming and frankly antagonistic?

[Naysayer]

Every guide I read dealt with doing multiboxing on one system using multiple clients, which as I said, was not what I want to do at all. I looked at several guides here and on other sites and anything that touched on using it across different machines was talked about in a very high level way, with no real explanations or guides.

For example, though Keyclone's own website says you can use it across different machines, I can't get past connecting them, and when I run WoW on two computers the clone doesn't respond. I can't find any guide or explanation on how to use it on anything that isn't just using the same system, which (again), isn't my preferred choice.

If I wanted to run two accounts on the same computer, then I'm all set. I don't though, and if I'm missing some explanation that you seem to have on how to do this, my apologies, but wouldn't it be simpler to direct me on which specific posts I overlooked instead of being unwelcoming and frankly antagonistic?Try looking into software that will pass keystrokes through your modem from one pc to the other.

Look, took me a few minutes.
Kavoom - Software "KVM" / Synergy Alternative ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=8719')

Wiki
http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/Software

Keyclone, look at the very bottom of the page.
http://www.solidice.com/keyclone/tutorial/index.html

This stuff was so easy to find, I'm not liking you very much anymore.

[mixvio]

You missed where I said I was already fiddling with Keyclone.

At any rate I figured out how to get it working across my network, but thanks for the effort. If anyone else is interested in answering my question I'd appreciate it, I don't want to inconvenience you any more egregiously though.

[Naysayer]

At any rate I figured out how to get it working across my network, but thanks for the effort.
Sweet.

Good to hear. :thumbup:

[Tasty]

My suggestion? Put both wows on the first comp and put tv/movies on the second comp :P

[Naysayer]

My suggestion? Put both wows on the first comp and put tv/movies on the second comp :PSomeone sticky this suggestion and put it in the wiki please!

[Otlecs]

It's hard to see what question you're actually asking. I guess it comes down to this:

Now regarding hardware solutions, I'm probably not inclined to use anything right now that I am going to need to walk out and buy something additional for. And on both hardware and software solutions, whatever I implement is something that I can also turn off easily and turn the computer back to "normal." I use both systems as complete ones, so anything that is difficult to switch off so they both work again like discreet machines isn't going to interest me.

Beyond that, I'm really lost on how to actually play WoW in a multi-box setup. I'm not really interested in doing it in PvP (that much thinking makes my head hurt) but it would be helpful to get through quests twice as quickly. Is it just macroing, or addons, or what? There's a lot of information but it's a little daunting.
1. You want to use two machines and don't want to go with a hardware solution, so you need to look at the software solutions. There's a whole forum dedicated to those. They all meet your requirements, and Keyclone is a good choice because it has next to no startup time. I see you've already got that going. Good.

2. You don't know how to play WoW as a multiboxer.

Well, that's a bit broad, isn't it? There are huge, long discussions throughout the boards that talk about the speed of levelling / questing (you won't get them all done twice as fast!). There's also a forum dedicated to macros and a tutorial video that walks you through exactly how to create the two most basic macros you'll need to get going.

So start boxing, find problems, use all of the resources that are already available to you (search, wiki, etc) and then come back with a specific question that you want to be answered.

Links for future reference:

Guides (http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/Vyndree%27s_Guide_to_Guides)

Software tools forum (http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Board&boardID=35)

Search facility (http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?form=search)

Wiki (http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki)

Video - how to set up your first group (http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=10756&)

How to ask a question (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375)

[Naysayer]

It's hard to see what question you're actually asking. I guess it comes down to this:


Now regarding hardware solutions, I'm probably not inclined to use anything right now that I am going to need to walk out and buy something additional for. And on both hardware and software solutions, whatever I implement is something that I can also turn off easily and turn the computer back to "normal." I use both systems as complete ones, so anything that is difficult to switch off so they both work again like discreet machines isn't going to interest me.

Beyond that, I'm really lost on how to actually play WoW in a multi-box setup. I'm not really interested in doing it in PvP (that much thinking makes my head hurt) but it would be helpful to get through quests twice as quickly. Is it just macroing, or addons, or what? There's a lot of information but it's a little daunting.
1. You want to use two machines and don't want to go with a hardware solution, so you need to look at the software solutions. There's a whole forum dedicated to those. They all meet your requirements, and Keyclone is a good choice because it has next to no startup time. I see you've already got that going. Good.

2. You don't know how to play WoW as a multiboxer.

Well, that's a bit broad, isn't it? There are huge, long discussions throughout the boards that talk about the speed of levelling / questing (you won't get them all done twice as fast!). There's also a forum dedicated to macros and a tutorial video that walks you through exactly how to create the two most basic macros you'll need to get going.

So start boxing, find problems, use all of the resources that are already available to you (search, wiki, etc) and then come back with a specific question that you want to be answered.

Links for future reference:

Guides ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/Vyndree%27s_Guide_to_Guides')

Software tools forum ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Board&boardID=35')

Search facility ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?form=search')

Wiki ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki')

Video - how to set up your first group ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=Thread&threadID=10756&')

How to ask a question ('http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375')You're way too nice.

[Otlecs]

>You're way too nice.

It was an early-morning post, which is always a good time to catch me. My mood tends to deteriorate throughout the day, tending towards utter misery shortly before I finish in the office.

With a shade over an hour to go, I'm currently passing through my "don't even THINK about asking me a question" phase (in real life as much as on the forums) ;)

[Oswyn]

*pats Otlecs back*

Hmm, I might have to give you a reward for being so helpful.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Every guide I read dealt with doing multiboxing on one system using multiple clients, which as I said, was not what I want to do at all. I looked at several guides here and on other sites and anything that touched on using it across different machines was talked about in a very high level way, with no real explanations or guides.

For example, though Keyclone's own website says you can use it across different machines, I can't get past connecting them, and when I run WoW on two computers the clone doesn't respond. I can't find any guide or explanation on how to use it on anything that isn't just using the same system, which (again), isn't my preferred choice.

If I wanted to run two accounts on the same computer, then I'm all set. I don't though, and if I'm missing some explanation that you seem to have on how to do this, my apologies, but wouldn't it be simpler to direct me on which specific posts I overlooked instead of being unwelcoming and frankly antagonistic?See the Multiboxing 101 link in my sig? It's written for a multiple-PC setup. ;)

[Vyndree]

Beyond that, I'm really lost on how to actually play WoW in a multi-box setup. I'm not really interested in doing it in PvP (that much thinking makes my head hurt) but it would be helpful to get through quests twice as quickly. Is it just macroing, or addons, or what? There's a lot of information but it's a little daunting.

Try this video -- it might help explain things (very simply, mind you) visually. :)

http://vboxing.net/v/index.php?q=node/87

Baby steps first, and once you get the hang of things then check the macro wiki ('http://dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/Macros') for more ideas :) The guides ('http://dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/Guides') section is also invaluable. :)

[ThisIsDrakul]

Try Hotkeynet it is very well suited to multiboxing across 'puters