[WAR] Software Broadcasting Script

[Lokked]

Hello all. As promised, my findings on using software to multibox WAR:

I used AutoHotkey (AHK) and HotkeyNet (HKN) to successfully broadcast keystrokes to WAR. AutoHotkey has a very undesirable disadvantage, so I won't bother posting a script with it. Its only use is to reliably rename the WAR windows, for use in HKN. I have a few options for those wishing to tinker with my findings to get the optimum.

Please note the following examples are to run 3 instances of WAR (as much as most computers these days could handle, I suspect). You will have to be intuitive to remove script should you choose to 2-box.

You start by creating an AHK script file in your HKN directory, naming it whatever you like (maybe making a shortcut from the desktop to it). This is to be run once all your WAR games are launched. The script:

WinGet, warid, List, Warhammer: Age of Reckoning`, Copyright 2001-2008 Electronic Arts`, Inc.
WinSetTitle, ahk_id %warid1%,,war1
WinSetTitle, ahk_id %warid2%,,war2
WinSetTitle, ahk_id %warid3%,,war3

Run, HotkeyNet.exe
ExitApp

Now, create a HKN file, named anythingyoulike.txt, containing one of the examples:

<Hotkey 1>
<TargetWin war2>
<SetActiveWin>
<SendFocusWin>
<Key 1>
<TargetWin war3>
<SetActiveWin>
<SendFocusWin>
<Key 1>
<TargetWin war1>
<SetActiveWin>
<SendFocusWin>
<Key 1>

This is the most reliable script, and fairly fast.

<hotkey 1>
<sendpc local>
<SendWinX war1>
<Key 1>
<SendWinX war2>
<Wait 20>
<Key 1>
<SendWinX war3>
<Wait 20>
<Key 1>

The function used to send input here is under testing. This script is the fastest, but causes very odd graphical anomolies for a couple milliseconds while the keys are being processed. I'm sure it can be worked out in the future.

<Hotkey [>
<SetActiveWindowTracking on>

<Hotkey ]>
<SetActiveWindowTracking off>

<Hotkey 1>
<SaveMousePos>
<TargetWin war2>
<MoveMouse 100 100>
<SendFocusWin>
<Wait 100>
<Key 1>
<Wait 30>
<TargetWin war3>
<MoveMouse 100 100>
<SendFocusWin>
<Wait 100>
<Key 1>
<Wait 30>
<TargetWin war1>
<RestoreMousePos>
<SendFocusWin>
<Wait 100>
<Key 1>

The worst by far, but interesting none the less. I would not recommend using this script, as it is slow and unreliable. If you wish to try it, first press [ to make it so that whatever window is under the mouse is the active window. You will need to press ] to disable this function prior to cancelling the script, as it is a windows setting and remains on/off until changed, regardless of whether or not HKN is running.



With all of these scripts, it involves switching to each WAR window running to make it active, before injecting the keystroke. This can be slow on some on some systems, but I didn't experience much of a problem with it. It is similar to boxing EQ2 or AoC with HKN. You will run into annoyance if you try to play with minimized WARs. You really need screen space to have each WAR window up and running the whole time. If you can manage this (for EX. I have 2 monitors) you will be fine.

A limitation is that you will be unable to move or turn your alts using the movement keys, period. You will have to rely on /follow to orient your alts. Luckily, as stated below, character facing is not necessary. The game will do it automatically.

All in all, I would have to agree with Slats in another post that Multiboxing WAR is probably not going to be much good.

I would like to point out, however, that you do not need to be facing your opponent to cast spells. Some effects use a Cone-AoE, and in these cases, pressing C will cause your character to swing around to face his enemy target (only works on enemies). You are able to have a friendly target and an enemy target at the same time.

**ADDED

For those interested, here is the working AHK Script. The reason I do not recommend AHK is that it is extremely slow when broadcasting. When broadcasting to just a single WAR window, there is enough time to press 2 non-hotkeyed keystrokes before the AHK keystroke is registerred. I figure it to be about a 600ms delay. That's like adding 600ms Lag permanently to your application. I'm not sure if broadcasting to multiple windows would multiply this lag, or if it would just add a flat 600ms no matter how many WARs were being broadcasted though. I didn't bother testing AHK past sending keystrokes through to a single WAR window.

WinGet, gameid, List, ahk_class WARWIN
#UseHook
SetKeyDelay, 50

~1::
#IfWinActive, ahk_Class WARWIN
{
WinActivate ahk_id %gameid2%
SendInput 1
WinActivate ahk_id %gameid3%
SendInput 1
WinActivate ahk_id %gameid1%
Return
}

The reason it is slow is due to the Keyboard Hook, necessary for AHK's SendInput command to direct input to the correct control of WAR. I have no idea why normal SendInput fails to work. I just know that installing the Keyboard Hook works. The hook is quite memory intensive. I don't know if it is just written inefficiently, but I'm sure it's the cause of the slow response. If anyone can figure out a WinAPI function in AHK with which we can avoid using the hook, it would be very helpful.

[Shadoghast]

Glad to see that someone got it working. I couldn't get it to work reliably without sizable pauses, so I've resorted to hardware via 1 IR keyboard with 2 receivers and smaller secondary keyboards into each of the 2 PCs.

I sure wish Keyclone would work......<hint hint>

[omega81]

I've resorted to hardware via 1 IR keyboard with 2 receivers and smaller secondary keyboards into each of the 2 PCs.

I sure wish Keyclone would work......<hint hint>

I'm also running the same setup 1 IR, 3 Recievers and 2ndary keyboards (so I don't have to worry about Mythic thinking im macroig or anything else like that till we get an official word from them on software sending keys to WAR).

[Roceh]

The main issues i found while trying to box in WAR was that the follow distance is to long and also kinda laggy, and they dont run to be right on top of you when you stop. So that if you want an offensive team of characters you will either have run a bit further ahread with your main to get them all in range, or bring the following characters forward upto your main with a seperate walk forward key. Also the long follow makes characters very hard to guide around the envionment, unless its completly barren as they are always getting stuck on corners and such.

Also i found that boxing more than one character on a PC is not practical as WAR breaks /follow when the active window changes, or to be more specific when focus returns to the window i was finding that follow was breaking as well. So if you want to multi-box then its looking like 1 PC per character.

Also there is no /cast facility in the macro system so you will not be able to do a /assist MyMainChar /cast myspell kind of macro hence you will always be hitting an extra key when your main changes target to get the other chars to switch there target to the mains target.

[Lokked]

Follow does not break when the window loses or gains focus. It has to do with combat. I've done sorcs for a total of 3 hours over the last few days and didn't find the follow system that unmanageable.

There are other aspects of WAR that make it currently not multiboxer friendly, as outlined in another post. However, /follow seems to work fine for me.

[Morganti]

I have 3 computers that I'm going to 3 box WAR on, hopefully using keyclone. Have you guys seen or heard of any keyclone testing in WAR yet?

[Roceh]

I'll try again in OB, i did wonder if it was just the spell casting breaking follow, an instant heal in this case. But i also clicked between the windows and that also broke follow.

[Lokked]

Keyclone does not work at all currently with WAR, nor with DAoC or AoC.

Technical answer is that Keyclone uses the Windows command Send/PostMessage, which is not accepted by WAR as Input. Even if the window is in focus, it will not accept Send/PostMessage injection.

Thankfully, you may use many other programs if you don't mind manually setting up your hotkeys. For most, it simply involves copy and pasting.

Using HKN, here is an examply Hotkey that you could copy which will Hotkey 3 networked computers:

<Hotkey 1>
<SendPC Local>
<SendWin "Warhammer: Age of Reckoning, Copyright 2001-2008 Electronic Arts, Inc.">
<Key 1>
<SendPC 192.168.0.2> //change to IP to whatever you have your networked comps set up as, and delete this remark
<SendWin "Warhammer: Age of Reckoning, Copyright 2001-2008 Electronic Arts, Inc.">
<Key 1>
<SendPC 192.168.0.3> //change to IP to whatever you have your networked comps set up as, and delete this remark
<SendWin "Warhammer: Age of Reckoning, Copyright 2001-2008 Electronic Arts, Inc.">
<Key 1>

[Morganti]

I'll most likely just use Multibox instead of AHK if keyclone is a wash. I used MB before I used keyclone and also used it in DAoC where it worked fine.

[Lokked]

Yes, I have never used Multibox before, but have heard positive reviews when it has been used to box networked computers.

Just an FYI, the above script was for HotkeyNet (HKN), rather then AutoHotkey.

Good Luck! As I've said in other threads, WAR is worth holding off on boxing. You will miss out on the amazing Melee classes if you Multibox! (Disciple of Khaine is a new concept to melee gameplay!)