Can I do 5 Different Classes effectively?

[Malgor]

Right now I have:

80 Protection Paladin with a 5k gear score.
80 Arcane Mage with a 5k gear score.
80 Survival Hunter with a 4.7k gear score.

I 3 box these just for daily quests x25 to triple the money made from dailies, but that's where it stops.

My goal was to do the 4 shaman with my paladin to 5 box my own heroics with the random dungeon finder. However sadly I got bored with that and left my shaman all at about level 50. I did level 1 to 60 with a warrior, but that's where they sit.

I have leveled four other toons/classes to 72 now, but not sure if I should keep taking them up to 80. They are a Death Knight, Priest, Druid and Rogue.

So I was thinking about going Paladin (tank), Priest (heals), Mage (Ranged DPS), Hunter (Ranged DPS), and Druid (Boomkin). My challenge will be trying to get them all do do their special abilities when they come up.

Is anyone else using a mixed group? What success have you had doing a mixed group? Should I ditch one of the toons in this make up and level up a shaman? Or 4?

My friend in EQ2 swears by ISboxer where he 6 boxes 6 different toons in his groups. So I was thinking about going that route.

Any suggestions? Or helpful ideas?

Thanks,

Malgor

[Velassra]

Yes, easily w/ practice. Gonna have to read abit to get started.

[Deevext]

One major thing that you should keep in mind is - Everquest 2 allows you to have macros that cast more spells in each macro where-about wow will only allow you to cast one (not regarding click) - this means less stress cross class. Also, Everquest 2 has by FAR less proc's per class than World of Warcraft does. I honestly can only think of perhaps 1 or 2 proc's in Everquest.

Any ranged class is dps spammable with the right macros, but only with pratice can you get that single player skill-level as firing of things when they are ready or you get a proc. And at the moment Blizzard dosn't allow you to get notifications about when something procs - that was removed a bit back.

However, I did just read someone had a work-around it in one of the other threats.

[Malgor]

Okay I've read quite a bit on here, most people use the 1 Tank, 1 Healer and 3x something else so it's easy to spam the DPS.

I was thinking with this set up I could get the best world of buffs (Paladin, Mage, Druid, Priest) as well as try and get fairly high DPS. Some instances are simple and some require a lot of work, which I know makes it more of a challenge.

I'll keep reading - I'm a ways off from getting those last few toons to 80 and will get plenty of practice running normal runs to get them a bit geared up.

Thanks for the quick responses.

[Mosg2]

With concurrently running /click macros you can run 5x different classes easily and get near-optimal DPS out of them.

[Malgor]

I have Keyclone / Jamba.

Do more people use Keyclone or do they use ISBoxer?

[Deevext]

keyclone vs. Jamba is like sparking up a PC vs. MAC thread.

I think that Keyclone will be the far easiest to setup and run if you want something that will do the job quickly and with little questions asked. But from what I have been hearing and reading latly it seems to me that ISBoxer offers far more in-depth abilities to the user for high-end boxing.

Whilst on this topic - does anyone know if it is possible in keyclone to make the window in focus the leader and follow- and focus- on that window? I know this is possible with the correct coding in ISBoxer, but anyone have a work-around for Keyclone?

[thefunk]

You mean keyclone vs isboxer.

And the answer is yes to the second question. Basically set your window swapping keys to also include a change focus macro so the toons point and follow the new focus. This take a small amount of time to set up.

Ask ualaa for isboxer tips and advice, personally I love it bit depends on what you want. Keyclone is great and does the job. Just not as fancy as innerspace but simpler.

[Mosg2]

I swapped from Keyclone to ISBoxer about 7 months ago and I haven't looked back. Yes, it takes 5x longer to learn all the details but quick-setup is similar.

[thefunk]

To op. I'm running pally shammy Druid mage lock and it's a lot of fun. Struggling to get strong output from Druid and lock, so I now have a tree and working on lock dps. Be prepared to spend a lot of time learning the class as you can't use the same spells. (ironically lock was my second raid toon solo before I boxed, can't get the clicker right yet).

To deev. Thought I'd explain my last keyclone setup. Basically f1 to f5 were window swapping keys in keyclone. I created 5 Wow macros per toon which had eg /focus toon1 for f1, /focus toon2 for f2 and so on. Then made some reachable key like shift f the follow key and had /follow focus as a macro. All spells start with /assist focus. Hope this helps.

[zenga]

Since my first team is geared out from heroics (pally + 4x shammy) and i'm raiding with 1 shammy, i made a mixed team:
- leading with shammy (and having later 5 shammies at 80 for pvp)
- dk dps
- druid tank
- priest healer
- lock

The idea was to be able to swap toons back and forth in my main team, depending how i feel and the encounter. However i got really bored with it. Mainly the big tauren druid worked on my nerves, could never see the orcs, & belfs when running around. This might sound very weird, but this is the main reason why i put this team 'on hold'.

But i really enjoyed the dk & priest. So i swapped the lock & druid for 2 more dks. Currently i'm questing in outland, cleared ramparts and having a blast. I'm leading with the shammy, and have 3x a deathgrip on different keys that automatically assist the leader. The priest his healing is amazing, and if needed i can heal with the shammy as well. The dps & survivability with this team is amazing. And my plan is to keep playing it at 80 without a real dedicated tank. 3 plate's that can take a beating should be enough.

[Malgor]

Would anyone suggest that I swap my priest out to do DPS and make my druid the healer?

[zenga]

A tree makes some encounters where you have to dance a lot way easier.

[Ualaa]

For PvE play, almost any composition can work, especially if you have a tank type and sufficient healing (be it a dedicated healer or 3x DPS that can heal from their DPS form).

The only time 5x different classes might struggle a bit, will be in pvp. That said, they'll probably still be decent, especially in world pvp and battlegrounds, but be noticeably sub-par in arena.

Keyclone is $20 one-time, and is good forever. IS Boxer is $36/year, and much more flexible in what you can do. The initial wizard set up for IS Boxer is much stronger, only really lacking repeater regions for heals. You'll box just fine with KC as your only solution, but ISBoxer gets you automatic FTL, instant pip swaps between toons, accurate mouse broadcasting, clickable buttons as hotkeys, dynamic formations etc.

[Coltimar]

Would anyone suggest that I swap my priest out to do DPS and make my druid the healer?

I definitely would. I didn't like using a healer with my group and I tried three different times. Shaman and Druid healing is much better suited to my style. I don't to sweat mana (although it seems this will change for everyone in Cata) and I like my healers to be mobile.

I recommend a Destro warlock for DPS. I use my priest at my DPS and druid has a healer but I think I would prefer a elemental shaman instead of him.

[Bloodcloud]

Keyclone is $20 one-time, and is good forever. IS Boxer is $36/year, HotKeyNet - free :)

Just to mention a 3rd option. I am perfectly happy with HKN.

I run a mixed group with:
-DK-Tank,
-Holy priest
-Destro Lock (+ imp shadowbolt for dam buff)
-Elem Shammy
-Arcane Mage

with no problems. Max buff group including drums of the wild and drums of kings :)

[lacitpo]

Would anyone suggest that I swap my priest out to do DPS and make my druid the healer?

Yes. Your group comp is pretty similar to what I'm running with some minor role changes and I am having a lot of success. Currently all lvl 76 and working towards 80.

Paladin tank
Druid heals
Priest, Warlock, Shaman as DPS

Works very well and I get pretty optimal DPS out of all of my guys.

[Tehmuffinman]

I have a full 80 Pally/Druid/Mage/Priest/Shaman team and LOVE IT. (see sig)

I just started a new Pally/Mage/Lock/Lock/Priest team too. =)

Mixed teams FTW!

[botboxer]

I enjoy mixed teams when I am dung grinding. I am working on some pvp options, ie shammies etc but nothing worth mentioning yet...

[Slats]

I am running:

Paladin, Resto Shaman, Ele Shamn, Arcane Mage, Destro Warlock.

I have an 80 Druid and a 70 Priest. I'm thinking of swapping out a Shaman for either the priest or druid to be a healer.

Sounds like quite a few of you recommend Druid. I would then have the option of Druid DPS/Shaman Healer or Druid Healer/Shaman DPS.

Having trouble deciding. Basically my ultimate goal is having different dispel mechanics and CC available in Cataclysm - plus I like the challenge of mixed classes and love the concept of having Portals and Summons for the new massive world of Azeroth.

Can anyone offer any advice on Druid vs Priest vs Shaman?

[Ualaa]

From a WotLK point of view, I'd go with the Shammy DPS and the Druid Healer.

Totems, especially Totem of Wrath is pretty huge... and you already have the 13% spell power buff from the warlock.
And then you don't have to worry about the Eclipse proc at all.
And a Druid/Priest seem to be the best boxing healers, especially on mobile encounters.

However in Cataclysm... the choice is not so clear cut, at least imo.
The Eclipse system will be changing to something where we cast so many of one and then so many of the other, which will be easier to manage.
Not sure if offensive magic or poison will be the better extra dispel, but I believe they otherwise overlap.
I do like the Earth Shield quite a bit, but Wild Growth is extremely nice too.