Old multi-boxer wishing to learn new tricks!

[Malgor]

Here is my current set up.

http://www.malgor.org/images/computer_set_up.jpg

I have been playing MMO's since the beginning of EverQuest and used to multi-box four accounts at once in that game, which was very simple because the game was somewhat less complicated compared to WoW due to the fact that back in the day, most of your experience was received from grinding away at killing things.



Now I mostly 3-box my 80 Paladin, Mage, Hunter combo, but have wanted to get a 5th account and computer and do the four Shaman one Death Knight combo up to level 80 as well.



But, for now, I plan on just learning to 3-box and 4-box by using one keyboard instead of the four I currently use.



I finally ordered a KVM switch, but even though I've been reading on these forums for awhile now and finally decided to post, I'm not sure it's going to do what I think it might do, so I have a few questions.



1. Once I get the KVM switch going, I know I can use the "switches" to turn the one keyboard so that it controls any one of the four computers. I'm hoping it also will (and this is what I don't know) allow me to use the one keyboard to control all four computers with one button. Meaning if I push the "1" button for what I have that spell/ability set for will it simultaneously push the "1" button on all four computers?



2. Also I know the KVM switch also allows me to hook my mice up to it as well. Will clicking my mouse button then simultaneously click the left/right mouse on all four computers?



3. The KVM switch I ordered also allows me to hook all the computers up to one monitor, I don't really want to do this so don't plan to use that feature - unless it's required. Will it be required for the KVM to work properly?



4. Lastly if this works correctly I know I've seen in other people's set-up pictures on here an alternate key-pad type device that has a LOT of buttons on it that works in conjunction with your keyboard to add a spot to program in a ton more hotkeys. Yet I never saw a name for it - what would one of those be called?



Thanks in advance for any advice and helping teach this old dog some new tricks.



Malgor

-EQ Druid from opening day of Prexus - Later my main became Malta/dwarf/priest.

-Now on Lightbringer Horde side and Malygos Alliance side.

[Eveso]

I know nothing about KVM's but I can answer number four!

X-Keys is what you are looking for.
http://xkeys.com/xkeys.php

Good luck!

[Ogloo]

Well i do not know about using multiple computers to multibox so i cannot answer those questions, but I know about the keyboards.. What I use is the logitech G15, with 18 keys, that have 3 modes so really 54 keys, These can be programed to whatever keystrock, BUT DO NOT put any lag times like wait .5 sec then cast (if u have like different classes that have spells with different cast times), this can/will get you banned.. But its a safe product if you are not stupid about it.. Another product the Zboard, (many different styles, one like the G15 keyboard, and one just a separate thing to add keys.. USB plugged in).. Same thing as WoW even makes some of the Zboards, if you use them incoreclty it can get you banned even though wow makes them lol... Hear are some pics

Zboard
http://twinkinfo.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/g13.gif"

Logitech G15
http://www.lannerscafe.com/img/g15.jpg

[Malgor]

Thanks Eveso and Ogloo, those are what I'm looking for.

Now I just need a KVM user to chime in. :S

[aboron]

1. Once I get the KVM switch going, I know I can use the "switches" to turn the one keyboard so that it controls any one of the four computers. I'm hoping it also will (and this is what I don't know) allow me to use the one keyboard to control all four computers with one button. Meaning if I push the "1" button for what I have that spell/ability set for will it simultaneously push the "1" button on all four computers?

A standard vanilla kvm will not send a single key to multiple computers, but there are special kvms which can do this. One of the local favs is made by Vetra.



2. Also I know the KVM switch also allows me to hook my mice up to it as well. Will clicking my mouse button then simultaneously click the left/right mouse on all four computers?

Also not a standard kvm function, the normal kvm lets you switch a single mouse and keyboard to control a single computer from the group of attached computers. However, there are specialized hardware units like this: http://www.vetra.com/845Ukmtext.html ('http://www.vetra.com/845Ukmtext.html')
which are able to send keyboard and mouse to all computers at once. This is a much more expensive solution than using software (which can cost as little as $0), but there are other benefits including the ability to claim 100% immunity to "3rd party software" issues and the extra cpu power of running 5 entire computers (although software solutions can handle multiple PCs also).

[matexoza]

lol imo id just cut out all the hardware trash takes to much work and go for a software setup keyclone will work will all 4 systems just use that iv never used 4 systems with it but from what i know it will handle all the systems u want to use with it
hardware boxing takes to much setup y make a simple job hard?

[Malgor]

Thanks aboron and matexoza -

I didn't realize that keyclone would work to make it so that I can make mulitple PCs work off of one keyboard. I thought it just made it so you could open several instances of WoW on one computer and and have single key strokes control all the active WoW instances that were open.

I'll be checking into that as well to see how it works after I get my KVM switch here and see what all it does.

[Ualaa]

The new G15... is not worthwhile.
If you can find the original G15, it rocks.
The G13, is like the old G15, minus the LCD screen - which is almost never used in wow.

The old G15 has 3 banks of 18 keys each, basically 54 mappable hotkeys or macro's.
The new G15 has 3 banks of 6 keys each, which is 18 mappable G-Keys.
The G13 is missing the LCD screen, but has 3 banks of 18 keys, 54 same as the original G15.

If I was getting another Logitech keyboard, or needed to replace my G15, it would be G13 in a heartbeat.

[Malgor]

Thanks, Ualaa - I was actually looking at the G13 as well.



I have since Downloaded Keyclone on 3 of my four computers and registered it.



There are many problems I encountered while setting up my hotkeys. Using the IP connection feature through Keyclone was laggy at times and my follow command seems to at times confuse the two bots I have following me. At random times they'll run off in opposite directions. When I first signed in also I noticed that as I signed in with each new machine, after connecting to keyclone first, it typed my login / password into the say window on the first/second machines that were up and running. I noticed before I broadcast them in Stormwind (I hope!) and stopped them from blurting out that information, and then disconnected and went back into keyclone and disabled all the number and alpahbet keys on all three machines. I'm wondering if that is what causes my toons to randomly run in different directions when I am having them follow while using WASD for manuevering. That makes sense now that I'm typing it. I'll have to enable those keys.



The other thing that kept happening is that everytime I hit any key on my main keyboard it would minimize my WoW window on the other two computers. I am wondering if I have to run them all in windowed mode or something else to prevent this. I'll have to do some more searches and reading here on the forums.



Thanks so far from everyone it's been good information!



Malgor 8|

[Ozbert]

The new G15... is not worthwhile.
If you can find the original G15, it rocks.
The G13, is like the old G15, minus the LCD screen - which is almost never used in wow.

The old G15 has 3 banks of 18 keys each, basically 54 mappable hotkeys or macro's.
The new G15 has 3 banks of 6 keys each, which is 18 mappable G-Keys.
The G13 is missing the LCD screen, but has 3 banks of 18 keys, 54 same as the original G15.

If I was getting another Logitech keyboard, or needed to replace my G15, it would be G13 in a heartbeat.I think you mean G11, not G13.

G11 is a full keyboard with 18 G-keys on the left.

G13 is a gameboard for one handed use.

[Malgor]

You are right Ozbert. I do mean the G11 - I had to go back to my newegg account and see what I have saved in my wish list.



I've been also experimenting for the past couple hours and gave up trying to get my three level 80s to do this on three different computers using the IP link in keyclone. On my main computer I opened two instances of WoW and keyclone and made two level 1 warlocks. I did some basic macros (follow, assist, /cast) and I found it extremely easy.

Now I just need to finish building my new Quad Core or i7 computer and I should be able to open all four accounts on one computer. The hard part is getting rid of my old habits with using three computers/keyboards/mice and converting everything to macros and one keyboard. I'll keep experimenting - I'm very encouraged at the moment though.

I'm going to experiment with 4 shaman next.

[Ogloo]

Yep 1 computer is becoming more and more popular as the RAM, and CPU and just about everything is becoming so cheap u can build a computer that will run 4-5 wows just perfect even in BG's for like 1,300. As you can tell the /follow /assist is very easy like you said, and for me now its become as natural as playing one player just with 4 times the damage lol.

[Ogloo]

Whenever you get ur i7 worked out post ur specs! id love to see them

[Malgor]

Will do Ogloo - I may have to go with a Quad-Core trying not to spend more then 1500 right now but we'll see!

[Jheusse]

I recently build a quad core with 8 GB of RAM, new PSU, new HD, using 64 bit Windows 7 RC1, re-using graphics card and case, for a little over 600. Should be able to build a machine plenty strong for multiboxing up to 5 if you wanted with the budget you're shooting for.

As far as configuring keyclone to run multiple toons on multiple computers, reach out to Rob, (username keyclone here on D-B) he's always been phenomenal in terms of support of folks getting started with his software.

If you don't want to get the expensive KVM, I could see a case where you have all your comps linked through keyclone for broadcasting and use your vanilla KVM to swap among toons if you wanted to do solo things.

Reach out to Rob, he's great that way.

Several other software solutions available that can network your multiple computers, I'm just less familiar with them.

[Sychosys]

Just to chime in, I have found it significantly easier to run 5 accounts on one system than try to branch them out across a few systems. This ended up working well for me cause regardless of how I was going to do it I really do only have One mouse here, hehe. I have a set up similiar to the previous poster (Quad 2GB RAM Win7 64Bit) that when I bought it all new was a handul of thousands and is now probably only worth about $2000 if I am lucky. Your budget should easily be able to get you a pretty nice system, especially with the price drops in RAM as of let.

I think I have a fairly basic setup for multiboxing right now, and while I will go into it in more detail on the Wiki page I am working on, I have 5 accounts, 6 WoW installations (The original and then 5 copies) and keyclone. I used to use other software to deal with the windowed clients (maximizer) and the multiple systems (synergy), but it gave me some very undesireable errors, especially with the mouse. The more I am expanding into using just keyclone the easier my life is becoming. The last thing I set up was the PIP functionality. Only thing I wish it could do is enable some addons that I dont have installed on my alts :)