Anyone had experience multiboxing Vanguard?

[Jezebel]

title is pretty self explanatory =) what classes did you box, how did it go, were you able to effectively "solo" high end content? what was your experience in PvP?

i cant remember making much use of the targeting system.. /follow, /assist, etc.. did you find it worked well for boxing?

[Erron]

I am currently Five boxing Vanguard. Only up to level 22 on that group.
Group is set up with Paladin, Cleric, and 3 Sorcerers. I am on a PvE server and have not tried PvP. I've been using Synergy + Hotkey (which has just been pulled from Beta) + G15 keyboard.

The combat in Vanguard doesn't work well with Multiboxing. With the frequency that you have to rely on timing for chains, reactions and rescues a mixed class group can be a real headache. As far as the basic commands, follow, assist, works well. In PvE the hardest thing I've attempted is Lord Tsang's tomb and have found with my five box group we struggle with the end bosses and usually wipe. For the basic mobs leading up to the bosses/elites I think my group can burn thru them with much more efficiency than a pick up group, but lacks the precision of a guild group.

Because of some of those limitations I've really had to adjust my combat style from normal play. Relying on basic attack command rather than unlocked chains can reduce DPS greatly and make aggro management more tedious. Hence the need for a cleric in the group. My original plan was 5 sorcerers, which I stopped at level 15 due to DPS issues with 4 and 5 dot mobs.

With a sixth member in the group from another player, either healer or another tank, my set up works very well. And in fact have been able to complete Lord Tsang's in record time. I prefer another Paladin in the group to off tank and keep things off the sorcerers.

Multiboxing has generally not been accepted on my server, lots of people two box, but with the ill feeling most Vanguard players have towards gold sellers, there is a general assumption that anyone with more than two characters under tow at one time, must be part of that lot. I am sure as I advance up the levels to higher end content I will have to hear it more frequently. Along the way I've been very professional and friendly to all and rarely will invite a pick up player into my group unless they "Get it". I never kill steal or run in front of other groups to avoid conflicts, and when possible aid a group with buffs/rez's/assists.

I don't know how long I will multibox Vanguard, it's losing it's charm for me. Might try a PvP server soon but can imagine the backlash I would get there as I think a five box team could own.

http://crimsonring.com/images/5%20Monitors.JPG

[Bollwerk]

Unfortunate that Vanguard was released before it was ready. I was really looking forward to it.

[Bradster]

I can't help you with your question, but maybe you can help with some of mine :)

I played Vanguard in Beta, even made a video expressing my concerns in pvp. I really wanted the game to succeed. Very detailed graphics, great deal of thought and design with mobs. Baby Mole sharks made me laugh with those baby critters with giant teeth. It truly is a creation with a world that big.

You must have some pretty beefy systems to run that game. I know my 2.6 Core 2 duo with SLI (both core 2 and SLI wasn’t supported at the time) I upgraded to 4g memory just to run smoothly and it still wasn’t that great.

Discounting all the technical problems (because of its early release) I need a game that has good PVP system I enjoy. I find it weird that every SOE game that has PVP allows your opponents to get away with relative ease and no risk. What’s the point of PVP if you or they can just run away? *boggle

Surely a great deal of changes has been made in all this time. Perhaps you might be able to answer a few.

What’s it run like today compared to then? More stable, no more getting stuck?

Experience curve still pretty big?

How’s travel? I heard that they implemented some things to cut down on travel time. I know before on my level 10 horse it would take me a good 45mins to reach a few of my guild mates.

What’s the population like?

Did clerics ever get nerfed? Reason I ask is I played one and I felt they were a little bit too powerful in the dps department. Although as a healer I enjoyed the option I could out DPS my bard friend live, and destroy about anyone in PVP with little effort. :lol: Provided they didn't run away like most could.

[Erron]

I can't help you with your question, but maybe you can help with some of mine :)

Bradster i can give an opinion on some of those questions:

What’s it run like today compared to then? More stable, no more getting stuck?

Improvements have been made (slowly) since launch. There are still many technical issues that cause Crashes to Desktop for some players. The graphics have had another optimization pass since launch and many find the Frame rate to be acceptable in most places. (SLi is still not supported directly in game) Getting stuck has been improved and many of the areas that caused this have been eliminated by the changes made to terrain. Stability is still one of the biggest concerns to the games future growth.


Experience curve still pretty big?

It's a long haul to the top for sure, still. Group XP is more generous and the new Brotherhood systems and rest XP bonus have made it easier to stay up with a group of players and level. Missing content at certain levels slowed progress in Beta and early lauch, most of those have been implemented and there is a clear path of questing to hit level 50 now.

How’s travel? I heard that they implemented some things to cut down on travel time. I know before on my level 10 horse it would take me a good 45mins to reach a few of my guild mates.

Huge improvements here, level 30 mounts are questable now with higher travel speed, boats are readily available from crafters now, the new riftway system and transporters now allow continent jumping and instant travel to key dungeons, and flying mounts are now rentable for the still hard to reach areas. Questable flying mounts are comming this winter, which should end any concerns about how big Telon is.

What’s the population like?

The great server mergers have just been completed and populations are up to much higher levels. The game relaunches this holiday season and should see an influx of additional new players, a Trial system is being worked on, and I understand will be ready for that relaunch. Still hard to get a group in most low and mid level areas. High level content had become easier to group in, although still nowhere near the level it was in Beta. Guilds have become critical to advancing.


Did clerics ever get nerfed? Reason I ask is I played one and I felt they were a little bit too powerful in the dps department. Although as a healer I enjoyed the option I could out DPS my bard friend live, and destroy about anyone in PVP with little effort. :lol: Provided they didn't run away like most could.

Funny Cleric got more powerful with affinities (they can now choose a patron God to follow and unlock specialized abilities geared towards Healing, DPS, or CC.) Fortunately most all the other classes DPS has been improved also.

PvP is still not worth bothering with because of the overpowered classes and the still buggy combat PvP system. Hopefully at some point Sony will see the light and revamp the game for more meaningful PvP, at this time it doesn't look like it will be any time soon.

So overall- I'd have to say this is still not a game for the hardcore gamer with multiboxing in mind. If you love PvP, stable games, and big server populations, this ain't the game fo ryou. If you enjoy the lore, the look and feel of a game, and wonderful enviroment, and the more social aspects of gaming despite technical limitations, this might be worth a try. I have no idea why I still play it - let alone multibox in it.

[Bradster]

My friend and I were toying with the idea of coming back. After the new Re-release. If they offer a free trail i'll check it out again. But SOE has never once fixed PVP in any of their games. Here's hoping :wink: