RAF account linking options

It's been awhile since I've multi-boxed so the RAF system is new to me. I've looked over the wiki and I have a few questions.

What I plan on doing is leveling 4 new accounts and it appears that boosting them would be the fastest way to do it. I also would like free levels on my main account. From the wiki the Chain Linking option seems like the most applicable:

"2. Chain linking
X>A
A>B
B>C
C>D
Pros: Mounts on your first 4 accounts. You can use your main to boost. Main account gets mount. Levels are able to be granted to main."

So I'm guessing this works like this: Main account (X) doesn't give the bonus to A but also doesn't prevent B from giving the bonus. If this is true couldn't you do two chains starting with your main account (X)?

Proposed Multi-Chain linking
X>A
A>B

X>C
C>D

If everything works like I think it should, I would be able to use my lvl 80 on account X to group with A, B, C, and D to boost in instances and still get 60 free levels on account X.

Anyone see a problem with this?

I've also seen that some changes were made to boosting with the latest patch. Was the only change the distance you can be away from your main?

Yes your X>A>B and X>C>D would both work at the same time since the A>B and C>D links would keep the mobs non-grey to a good chain at all times. The downside I see to this is if you want to level multiple teams. Your X,A,C accounts would be the only ones getting free levels. The normal chain would get you 4 (X,A,B, and C) accounts getting levels from a 5box team.

The chain also will change how many granted levels your main account would get per 5box 60 team. The normal chain gets 55 levels for the main account where your double chain would get 90. The difference is the total amount of granted levels across all your accounts. A normal chain gets 55+52+45+30 = 182 levels across all accounts per 5box 60 team. Your double chain would get 90 for you main, A&C would get 30 each, and B&D would get 0 for 90+60 = 150 total levels.

So it really boils down to if you want more help creating more teams, or if you want more free levels on your main account. You are however boxing, so I would assume having more characters of different classes available would be a good thing, suggest going with the normal chain.

The question is, how many sets of alts are you going to boost.
And where would you like the granted levels.

To get 3x exp's, we need all of these to be true:
a) Accounts are directly RAF linked, and are grouped together.
b) Toons are +/- 4 levels of each other.
c) Toons are both level 59 or lower.
d) Mobs are not grey to either toon.

If you were to link:
X -- A -- B
X -- C -- D
And X were a level 80, while ABCD were level 10's.
The X -- A and X -- C links do not provide RAF.
But the A -- B and C -- D do, so they get RAF.
Conversely, X -- A, X -- B, X -- C, and X -- D, are out of luck.

A further consideration is granted levels.
For every even level gained, a toon later in the chain can grant one free level to the preceding account.
This is limited to 30 levels maximum at 60th.
And to granting to toons lower then yourself (ie highest boost is giving 60th to a 59th level).
It is important to note, you remain the same percentage into the level, so you could be 96% into 3rd and receive 57 granted levels and be 96% into 60th (ding 61st on exploration exp's enroute to Hellfire).

Granted levels cascade.
Take for example:
X -- A -- B
X boosts A+B to 60th.
A gives 30 levels to X, B gives 30 levels to A.
A now had a level 30, which can give another 15 levels to X.

However, you can only grant to a toon who is lower then you.... so for every link in the chain, you need to boost (x2) toons to take full advantage of this.
For example:
X -- A -- B
Boosting two toons on A, gives A the ability to grant 60/2 + 60/2 = 30 + 30 = 60 levels... and B can do the same to A.
It is in your best interests to concentrate granted levels into single toons, for the subsequent granting of levels based on levels received.
A received 60/2 + 60/2 = a full 60th from B, but can only cascade 30 additional levels to X.
A is one link removed from X, so one link x2 = two toons boosted for maximum gain.
B is two links removed from X, so two links x2 = four toons boosted, for the cascade levels to equal a full toon on X.

You have a lot of options on linking.
X -- A -- B
X -- C -- D
(This has the most granted levels on X, assuming you boost 4 or 8 toons, but B/D don't receive any granted levels).

X -- A -- B -- C -- D
(This is the most total granted levels, and an even number of teams is ideal. Either 2/4/8/16, depending on how well you'd like levels to cascade -- note 10 toons per account max; D receives no granted levels).

X -- A -- B
......A -- C -- D
(This will have most of the granted levels end up on A, with no granted levels on B/D.)

Amazing information guys. It is very much appreciated.

It hadn't dawned on my the granted levels would count towards granting another account. I was thinking I'd just be able to pass on 30 from each of the linked accounts.

My current plan is to do the full chain and boost 4 of the accounts to 60. Then start a new party and level them up to 10.9 together. Then start the level granting at the end of the chain on to the 10.9's (always doing the lower level grants first). Here's how it should end up:

X > A > B > C > D

X - mains + 60.9 (with 15 levels left over)
A - 60 + 60.9 (with 10 levels left over)
B - 60 + 60.9
C - 60 + 40.9
D - 60 + 10.9