Dual-Box Newcomer In Want Of Some Guidance

[HeroYing]

Hello friends,

Super late to multiboxing, I never had interest in it before but my friends started classic way before I did and while I am on their server I don't have anyone to level with, so I've been researching this as a fun new way to play. Not new to MMOs or WoW (quit after WotLK), but very new to all of this. I don't want to control a whole party, just duo - I made my 2nd account yesterday, and after I get off work in a few hours I'm going to start fumbling through the setup. I've done enough research to learn through trial and error over time at this point, but I would like to be selfish and ask for individual help before I get started to spend a little less time researching and more time playing.

Technical/software related inquiries:

1) I've found two guides about how to set up HotKeyNet to suit my needs, but it seems like everybody uses the default script of A-Z, 0-9, plus and minus, etc. broadcasting of keys to their slave(s). What I want to do is ONLY broadcast Shift+key and Ctrl+key to my pally slave with skills and macros assigned to those keybinds. My ideal is to keep the regular keybinds (alt+key, regular keypress) I use open to the character (warrior) I'm piloting and have a different set of keybinds unique to the slave for my brain to learn to use so I can have things like BoF, HoJ etc. as like an extention of my toolkit. (I switched to an MMO mouse recently so it's not just shift/ctrl+0 to shift/ctrl+9 but half letters, too)

2) On the topic of HotKeyNet, this is the only software I would really need for a dualbox setup on one PC, right? My understanding is that the additional features of paid software would be more convenient to people who are five-boxing or more.

3) Is EMA-Classic the only real multi-box specific add-on I would "need"? Also, is a guide to set up Jamba good enough to help me set up and understand how to use EMA?

Less important WoW-specific questions:

1) It would be better to pilot warrior over pally, right?
2) Arms 1-60 would be the best warrior spec to level on a pvp server, correct? Especially since /sit enrage seems to have been nerfed.
3) I can't decide on what the best pally spec would be. Ret would be the best for leveling speed on paper, but I can see the benefit of going holy to monopolize dps gear and some tank-swap gear on my warr, and lay down some meaty consecrates to help warrior AoE down small packs.
4) With some practice and skill, would it be possible to tank and heal dungeons with 3 pug dps?

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Thank you in advance for any advice or pointing in right direction. I'm sorry for asking for a bit of spoonfeeding, but it's difficult to find exactly the information I want because there are so many options and not one or several cookie-cutter "correct" ways of multiboxing.

[nodoze]

I use ISBoxer often even when only playing 1 client as it enables advanced game play...

I would never run 2 or more clients with anything else.

I have done Auto-hotkey and HotKeyNet and like them for certain things but would use ISboxer for sure.

[karperkarper]

Before Classic launched I dualboxed (for the first time) on my own server and first tried Hotkeynet for 2 weeks. After that I took the trial from ISBoxer and bought and subscribed to ISBoxer within a day.

[aasi888]

For software related questions:
1) I'm not familiar with HKN myself. In AHK you can do this. Example script (AHK). (https://pastebin.com/r59G8LYY)
2) HKN / AHK are enough. Usually this requires some work on the scripts and more work if you want FTL and Round robins to work too. If you wanna get fancy you can also resize the windows with either AHK or HKN.

Window resize example (AHK):

WinSet, Style, -0xC40000, ahk_id %WowWinId1% ;Removes the border from a window
WinMove, ahk_id %WowWinId1%, , 0,0, 800, 600 ;move to 0,0 and resize to 800x600

[nodoze]

Regarding your actual WoW related questions:

1) It would be better to pilot warrior over pally, right?
- You should really get used to piloting from both perspectives. ISboxer makes it easy to switch back and forth. In the end I usually drive from a lead Warrior as I find it more natural and engaging (I have 3 Warriors and force myself to drive from each periodically as well as from both of my Paladins);

2) Arms 1-60 would be the best warrior spec to level on a pvp server, correct? Especially since /sit enrage seems to have been nerfed.
- Arms with Sweeping Strikes seems to be best for multiboxing Warriors. If you are a single Warrior on a PVE server Fury may be better as you can monopolize the rage. If you are on a PVP server definitely go Arms.

3) I can't decide on what the best pally spec would be. Ret would be the best for leveling speed on paper, but I can see the benefit of going holy to monopolize dps gear and some tank-swap gear on my warr, and lay down some meaty consecrates to help warrior AoE down small packs.
- Almost every Paladin spec should go at least 20 points into Holy up to Illumination which would be something like:
https://classic.wowhead.com/talent-calc/paladin/055031015
From there it is up to you. You can do 5 points into Ret for improved might (though maybe better to just go for Kings) & you can spec into DPS if you want to do that though I personally prefer to save my mana for healing. In the end if you want versatility I recommend the following dual spec for a Paladin that allows good Healing, good Tanking, & decent PVP damage (via Reckoning):
https://classic.wowhead.com/talent-calc/paladin/055031015-053251330201501
The above spec is likely what my brother will use when he queues BattleGrounds solo in PuGs... When we queue together I am hoping he uses his Warrior & personally my Paladin will be focused on Healing and likely go more like:
https://classic.wowhead.com/talent-calc/paladin/05503112521051-05025102023

4) With some practice and skill, would it be possible to tank and heal dungeons with 3 pug dps?
- Yes. Tank and Healer are usually the hardest to pick up and relatively DPS are a dime a dozen but you still have to deal with recruiting and some people may be mad if you have tank and/or healer problems... Personally I prefer having my own 5 man team to not have to recruit anyone plus with my work I can get a call anytime 24x7 and it is best if I can stop everything when needed. I also like it because I like to test various builds and ideas and that takes time and often random people are not patient...

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Also, keep in mind that there is a 7-day trial for ISBoxer (https://www.lavishsoft.com/). I would probably do some research on the playstyle and familiarize yourself with the concepts before starting the trial so you get the most out of it. ;) Worth a thought, anyway.