Dual Boxing (2) is it fun?

[Spiderz]

I've followed multiboxing for a while now, it seems like so much fun to me. So I've started to save up to buy a rig of my own, I plan on using a software solution because it will best fit into my budget. Probably build the beefiest computer I can and just buy 2 22' monitors 4 on one and main on one. Really wish I could go hardware, but just seems like it would cost way too much. The monthly fee itself isn't a problem, it's the inital cost.

But anyways for now though I've been playing around with dual boxing, just two characters so that when I take the plunge into four I'll be ready with some knowlage of macros etc.

My question is, is only playing two characters popular, and can it be as fun as running five? Are there any differences in the set up and does it have its own unique problems? Pretty much anything anyone can add about their experiences with just running teo characters is what I'd want to hear about.

Thanks for any responses, and I will be sure to post images and a bunch of other goodies when I have me setup going.



-Spiderz

[Ken]

Hell yes! I'd either 2-box or 5-box.
Why? Because of the added content that you can solo:
Dualboxing allows a steady DPS+healer or tank+healer setup(so pick some hybrid classes that you can dual-spec later), which allows you to solo things like Molten Core at level 80. You can solo many group quests and probably quite a few instances. You get to fulfill 2 different roles of the 3 available ones (dps/tank/heal).
5-boxing is the next step up. It allows you to solo heroics without many issues. This can be done with 4-boxing too, but just not as smoothly. In my opinion, 2-box is a bigger step up from soloing than 5-boxing is from 4/3/2-boxing.

[Orshok]

I have 6 accounts on a pvp server : 5 for my allies team and 1 for a horde account (killing the allies which annoyed me in some way).

Time going by, I dislike multibox pvp. I prefer to do instances with pug or guild than by myself. And I dislike questing with 5 guys out. I dont like to draw attention and hate being camped.
After a few months, I know what I like : dual-boxing for questing where I have 4 or 5 duos. I have only one trio : pala healer + 2 arcanes-iae mages.
I still keep 6 accounts as I can form new duos very easily with a lot of versatility. And I might try a 5 druid team to see if it is powerful. I like the 5 druids idea simply because I can prowl outside when questing.

But, yes, on the whole, I prefer dual boxing to 5 boxing. Very easy to play 2 different classes and you can exploit all talents of both classes.

[Orshok]

to complete my last post : if you can macro for 2, you can macro for 5.

My favorite duos :
1) BM hunter + Elem shaman : strongest duo in my view, very easy to play,
2) combat rogue + equi Druid
3) affli warlock + disc priest
4) unholy DK + holy priest
5) and my trio : holy pala + 2 iae mages.

[nasaRed]

My fav duos:

MM Hunter & Holy Priest

(Did try BM Hunter & Holy Priest but wasn't having any problems keeping the pet's (tank) health up and never got near pulling aggro off it with the Hunter so now trying MM for a bit more DPS (and fun :) )). Cleared my first instance (The Deadmines) at level 24 with this team and now at level 26 have also completed SFK & WC. Althugh slightly high level for running the instances it's fun and you get the occasional nice drop to keep the gear progressing : )

2 x Fire Mages

Loads of fun ... mobs just don't get a chance to get near you (if pulling carefully)!

- nasaRed

[Chranny]

DK + DK, all the way. :p

[Leon]

Elemental Shaman x2 is great for both PvE and PvP

my Twin mages Own PvE but sadly get Owned in PvP

[Kang]

2-boxing is lots of fun. I roll with a few combinations:

1) 2 affliction locs - they have no trouble siphoning enough life to stay alive and the VW takes most of the hurt.
2) classic prot warrior and holy priest - tank and spank most content; the priest does minimal work. Lot's of up time with this combo.
3) 2 druids - similar to #2, but instead of a straight healer you can get great dps into the mix by spec the second druid a boomkin.
4) 2 pallies - awesome survivability, great dps, great all around.

[Andromni]

I have had 2 accounts for some time but never got around to Dual-Boxing them.

@Orshok: I am about to start DBing and wanted to know more about your experience with the Hunter/Shaman setup you spoke of above.

Currently my hunter is my main and is survival, decked out in the gear. My shaman is 78 and has been leveling along nicely, but is in level 70 epics or leveling blues.

I also have an 80 mage gatherer tied to the same account as my shaman. And a 72 Druid tied to the Hunter's account... either of those 2 useful for some good combinations?

[elsegundo]

I have had 2 accounts for some time but never got around to Dual-Boxing them.

@Orshok: I am about to start DBing and wanted to know more about your experience with the Hunter/Shaman setup you spoke of above.

Currently my hunter is my main and is survival, decked out in the gear. My shaman is 78 and has been leveling along nicely, but is in level 70 epics or leveling blues.

I also have an 80 mage gatherer tied to the same account as my shaman. And a 72 Druid tied to the Hunter's account... either of those 2 useful for some good combinations?

so you'll be able to do the following:
Hunter/Mage
Hunter/Shama
Druid/Mage
Druid/Shaman....


ok great. but what's your goal/purpose?

[Andromni]

so you'll be able to do the following:
Hunter/Mage
Hunter/Shama
Druid/Mage
Druid/Shaman....
ok great. but what's your goal/purpose? More just looking for fun combos. Mostly I run dailies or farm items to play the AH. I raid my hunter 3-4 times a week through current EG content... so I am more looking for a new thing to do. I figure I can start with dual-box farming and dailies and once I have the swing of it, head to Wintergrasp and try some mild PVP there.

[elsegundo]

ah then i would keep the hunter away from anyone with a casting bar. as must hunters skills are pretty instant.
the shaman and mage would be a good fit for the druid, thats if you play moobkins.
the shaman would work well with your druid and maybe hunter with totems support dps/heal.
i would lead with either the hunter or druid.

but this is just my preference. yea get them to 80 WG would be fun. dailies would not only be easier to do, but two will get credit for one person's work, usually.
i'd also start a team or two just to test out how two characters would work. i personally like two warlocks and pally+hybrid anything. also, dont forget to try two dk's. hehe. have fun.

[Andromni]

I'm also looking at how the rotations come together.

For Surv, I look at the priority rotation, keeping an eye out for Lock and Load.

With the Shaman, I typically spam Flame Shock, Lava Burst, Lightning Bolt x 2 (refreshing shields and weapons as needed)



I find myself intimidated on how to get 2 different classes to sync up on their rotations.

[Andromni]

ah then i would keep the hunter away from anyone with a casting bar. as must hunters skills are pretty instant.
the shaman and mage would be a good fit for the druid, thats if you play moobkins.
the shaman would work well with your druid and maybe hunter with totems support dps/heal.
i would lead with either the hunter or druid.

but this is just my preference. yea get them to 80 WG would be fun. dailies would not only be easier to do, but two will get credit for one person's work, usually.
i'd also start a team or two just to test out how two characters would work. i personally like two warlocks and pally+hybrid anything. also, dont forget to try two dk's. hehe. have fun.
I was thinking that level 60-70 instances could be done with my hunter as BM using a tank pet and having the Shaman be a healer/dps.

[elsegundo]

for your shaman follower, i'd start off with just a castsequence macro to do just that. then work out the kinks later, leaving some buttons open for your shammy to use when you do decide that one or two abilities should have its own buttons.

edit: at level 80, does your hunter really need a helping dps'er in, say, ramps or UB?
in the case of duo-ing an instance. yea, just have the shaman heal. as long as your pet holds aggro, both characters dont really even have to move.

[Andromni]

for your shaman follower, i'd start off with just a castsequence macro to do just that. then work out the kinks later, leaving some buttons open for your shammy to use when you do decide that one or two abilities should have its own buttons.

edit: at level 80, does your hunter really need a helping dps'er in, say, ramps or UB?
in the case of duo-ing an instance. yea, just have the shaman heal. as long as your pet holds aggro, both characters dont really even have to move.



Would this mean that I would bind the castsequence macro on the shaman to many bindings that are duplicated on the hunter?

For instance:

Keybind Hunter | Shaman
Shift + 1 = Kill Shot | castsequence macro
shift + 2 = Explosive Shot | castsequence macro
Shift + 3 = Multi-shot | castsequence macro
etc...


My guess is I'll need heal macros for the Pet and Hunter also, but those should be seperate.

I also think I need to finally go get a G13 keypad. I have the old G15 keyboard, but i still mouseclick things in the game and it sounds like I need to start using keystrokes to dual-box.

[elsegundo]

no. problem with your castsequence like that is that each one is independent. your castsequence for Shift+1 will be different from your castsequence from Shift+2, even if they're exactly the same. pressing Shift+1 will activate the castsequence and begin the first shaman attack. pressing shift +2 will activate the castsequence and begin the shaman's first attack... again.

do this:

Keybind Hunter | Shaman
Shift + 1 = Kill Shot | totem1
shift + 2 = Explosive Shot | totem2
Shift + 3 = Multi-shot |
Shift + 4 = /startattack | castsequence macro



or something like that. and yea, keystrokes is really important.

[Vmpwraith]

I started out like you dual boxing then decided to add a third and now I five box and am looking to get more accounts and another computer so I can 10 Box.

Dual boxing is also great fun and it's nice being able to run content thats a little difficult for one player but is easy for two. I still level a shaman warlock combo together and they have great synergy and hella killing power.

Enjoy the adiction.

[Andromni]

I see your point, but its application may be tough.

Survival hunter is a very conditional rotation... uses a priority system and you click which ever is available in the highest priority.

For Instance, I use the following priority:

1. Kill Shot (only available during the last 20% of the mob and has a CD)
2. Explosive Shot (has varried CD because of Lock'n'Load)
3. Aimed Shot / Mult-shit (10 sec CD)
4. Serpent Sting (21 sec rotation, no CD)
5. Steady Shot

Autoshot happens between everything else...

Typically... open with a Steady and enter the priority. Shoot off the Explosive and have 6 secs.... Shoot the Multi/Aimed and have 10 secs there... shot the Serpent to get it moving and then a Steady again... by then Explosive is back so fire it, then a Steady as all other are on CDs but then Aimed/multi is back now so fire it... then I get luck and Proc a Lock'n'load... I'll fire another Steady unless my Explosive shot is ready and i shoot it, fire a Steady shot, explosive right again, then if Multi/aimed is ready shot that again (else another steady) then fire Mutli again to put it back into it's 6 sec timer.... (guess i am trying to show It's a very conditional rotation).

Given I plan to lead with my hunter... I am trying to figure out how I weave my shaman into the mix.... should be interesting... Given how much I go through the rotation I may not want to put any totems on these keys, less the serpent sting... I could see a fire dps totem there... Given the way the rotation works I could see Explosive shot being a Fire Shock and since I try to shoot off multi or aimed right after it I could put lava burst on those keys...

[elsegundo]

my god man thats complicated. and yea, it would be awesome if the clicks you make will go to one macro for the shaman.

in which case i'll have to go through some digging. but if you can click a button to have it send that command to another macro, then that should work. i'll have to see. basically pressing any of the buttons for the shaman will have the command pointing to another macro. and all the buttons will point to the same macro so you'll never be out of order. hopefully someone beats me to it. lol





alternatively, you can scroll up = drop totems; scroll down = castsequence. =]
or... you can do /castrandom for all the buttons.

[Orshok]

I'm just playing a BM hunter-elem shaman where the rotation is easy and they are only level 70. I wouldn't like to SV trap dance. Its not the conditional procs which would worry me but the dance (well, I read somewhere you need to trapdance for SV but maybe it's not true).

I don't use simultaneous keybinds except one "crap" button when Im on CAC : triggers at the same time explosive trap and the "explosive" totem, whatever the name.

I don't like castsequence macros be it on solo or duo. I like to control the actions individually. I have only 1 castsequence macro for the most 4 used totems. Dont' know the english names.

With the key modifiers, I use about 60 different keybinds but 95 % of the time, I just use 10 of those keys. I almost don't use mouse clicks.

For questing, the hunter is just applying serpent sting, and autoshot, maybe one arcane and maybe some volley for aoe. The shaman and the pet are doing most of the dps. Quite relaxing and always full of mana.
I tried an instance with 3 guildies. It went quite ok and here of course, I had to piano a bit more, arcane-steady-teady rotation to increase the hunter dps, use the procs and so on.

[Souca]

my god man thats complicated. and yea, it would be awesome if the clicks you make will go to one macro for the shaman.

in which case i'll have to go through some digging. but if you can click a button to have it send that command to another macro, then that should work. i'll have to see. basically pressing any of the buttons for the shaman will have the command pointing to another macro. and all the buttons will point to the same macro so you'll never be out of order. hopefully someone beats me to it. lol





alternatively, you can scroll up = drop totems; scroll down = castsequence. =]
or... you can do /castrandom for all the buttons.You can handle this in two ways. Assuming the hunter is using keys 1-5.

1. Bind keys 1-5 on the shammy to the same bar location. You always be using the same button and thus the same sequence.

2. Make a macro that does a click to another button that is the sequence. Place click macro in buttons 1-5.

Depending on the button count, you might be better off using two sets of keys for the hunter and the shammy. Maybe the normal 1-5 for the hunter and the numpad for the shammy. This lets you control the characters independently when you want and its not too bad to hit both keys in the time of a gcd. You can also use the F1-F5 for shammy as well. I used to use only mouse button binds for my prot pally and gave 1-5 to my shaman.

Lots of keys on a keyboard ;)

- Souca -

[Kel]

I've tried 5 boxing (toons in sig) and have to say it was fun and challenging to try and manage a mixed team through DM (the only instance I tried, took some work, but cleared it in the end), if I had the money to pay for the sub I would keep levelling them.

I have two regular accounts, so have tried a few dual-boxing set ups. Most of my earlier set ups had one character as the 'main' and the other set up to follow which I think is something I want to avoid if I can. I'm levelling 2 shaman at the moment and either one can lead the team, I'm finding this much more practical as when it comes to quest hand-ins or looting things I don't have to worry about ending up with the right toon up front.

I've tried druid + hunter, druid + paladin and mage + druid, the pala wasn't doing a whole lot, but I was oly questing and she was prot spec, so not great for soloing anyway, druid and hunter worked ok, but I found it easier to lead on the hunter (for pet control and traps) and there's not much synergy going on there. Druid and mage seemed to work well but stuff tended to die before the druid got around to attacking (big gear disparity). Also tried warrior and warlock, but they didn't match up together very well (I didn't try that hard though).

I think depending on what you want to try dual-boxing can work very well. My little mages (left) were very good at killing quickly and I even managed to take them on an instance run (though it was early on in my DB days and my CC wasn't working very well, so I was a bit of a liability), problem is that dps isn't generally a highly sort after role and you might have trouble getting people to let you take both on a run. Currently levelling two shaman together, I love the way their buffs work together and I'm thinking that at 80 I may be able to take one on runs as a dps and the other as healer, still thinking about how to organise this, but a hybrid set up gives greater flexibility than two pure dps. I've also got two druids at 70 which I levelled seperately but will probably dual boomkin up to 80, I think that will be a lot of fun.

If it's going to take a while to get the funds to get going with a 5 box then I'd definately recommend 2 toons (as you should be able to run them on a lower spec machine), you can use them to gather mats etc for your eventual 5 box group and also it gives you some experience working with macros and whichever MB programme you are going to use.

[shaeman]

3. Aimed Shot / Mult-shit (10 sec CD)

I'm steering clear of hunters from now on.
I have no wish for my character to be covered in excrement.

[Kang]

Lots of keys on a keyboard ;)

Yup. There's no rule saying you have to use the same keys for both toons. Bind your shammy spells to the keypad. Make a couple of macros to help manage the repetitive stuff (totem macro, dps cast macro) and you'll be golden.

[Ellay]

It's how I first started in WoW :)

[mikekim]

I started by running two accounts (moved my pally onto a new account) and dual boxed with two pc's, keyboards and mice. Pally leading and my Lock on /follow & dotting where appropraite. found this site and discovered keyclone and then moved to 5 boxing.. I now have 6 acitve accounts

[Moorea]

I have 5 man teams but for instance now I dual 1 ret pally and 1 rogue... lotsa dps and having my rogue stealthed and shadowstepping + ambush makes for fun PVP encounters when ppl think they can take on my "lone" pally

[AtroxCasus]

I tried dual boxing after seeing Keyclones 5 mage video. Running 2 shammies and having a blast, but then when I wanted to expand, I didn't want to pay for expansions, so I brought in 2 mages. I found that with the exception of having to track 2 more followers and make sure they face the right direction, it was no harder to run than 2. So with regards to your question, as people have already said, if you get to feel you have mastered dual boxing 2 toons, 5 would be cake.



Beware the addiction though. Oh, and beware the times you'll log in only your main raid toon or something to run dailies, and try to hit your MBing "heal" key when he gets in trouble. Not that I did it, I mean I heard it, er, read it here....yeah that's it, I read that someone did that.

[Agent 0013]

I am new to Dualboxing, but i must say it is a new, fun, and exciting challenge. My first duo was 2 fire mages, and it is great to kill most mobs before they get to you. I would recomend it to anyone who is able to do it. If all else, try it for 20 levels on a trial account for free.