Multiboxing melee classes

[MrHepp]

Aloha,
I have read the theorycrafting threads in this forum and I am very aware of that everyone and his grandma is recommending a prot paladin and four shamans. I believe you, it's probably the easiest and most efficient group. It's probably just me, but I find the idea of playing four characters of the same class (and three with the same spec) a little dull.

First I ran a 3-man group with a prot paladin, a fire mage and an elemental shaman. Fairly standard and nothing new under the multiboxing sun. When they reached level 60 Blizzard launched their Recruit-A-Friend campaign, so I decided to buy two more accounts and level up a bunch of more characters to have a pool to choose from. My intention was first to use the casters for multiboxing and do some solo arena and PvP with the melee characters. But I soon found out that it wasn't harder to multibox melees than casters.

I have cleared all instances up to BRD with this group (they are around level 54 now):
Protection paladin
Feral druid
Combat rogue
Fire mage
Holy priest

And I cleared Hellfire Ramparts the other day with this level 62 group:
Protection paladin (not the same as in the previous group)
Fury warrior
Elemental shaman
Fire mage
Holy paladin

Positioning the melee characters in front of the mobs is pretty simple. I have a key that send a /follow macro to all "melee" WoW windows. After I have pulled the mobs and built up some initial aggro I just press the key and directly follows up with a /startattack macro. My melee alts will come running towards me and as soon as they are within attack range they will hit the mob and automatically stop. I might have to move a little to position the mob in front of them, but usually that's not needed. If the mob runs away or knocks my guys away I just need to repeat the procedure again.

A pure caster group (with a paladin tank) is probably still more efficient, but melee units have their benefits too: When my tank loses aggro to an evil mob it usually makes liver paste of my squishy casters in a couple of seconds. But when the next guy in line is a fury warrior in plate the whole group will stand up until I have returned the aggro.

I'm sure that there are more multiboxers who have tried to run instances with mixed melee and caster groups (or perhaps pure melee groups) but you just have been silent here on the forum. I would love to hear your experiences!

[ElectronDF]

My mixed groups are warrior, priest, hunter, warlock. My pally main goes with them and has no problems. Melee isnt so bad unless you have casters or ranged that will run AWAY from you. Then you have to reposition and try to get them to not run again.

My 5 shammies are melee/resto. I haven't had any problems with them at all until BRD. 5 lvl 52 elites attacking my lvl 56 guys and they run around while ranging/casting on me. The casters also have 2 schools, so you can shock them, but they still cast. I did some of it (to get key) and I don't want to go back.

So melee isn't bad. Moving melee is really bad. Just do what you like, you will have to put up with them for lots of levels, so do something you like. I can't wait for 5 DKs.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

DOGS OF WAR: A Melee Multi-boxing experiement

[Griznah]

My first thought when starting multiboxing was: "I don't wanna do shamans", so I didn't =)
I went 1-60 with 1 palatanka and 4 shadowpriests, it went awesome! But, for more synergy and groupboost venturing into Outlands, I am infact adding a shaman in the mix.
Anyways, just wanted to drop my two cents, and to wish you best of luck!

[MrHepp]

DOGS OF WAR: A Melee Multi-boxing experiement[/url]

Thanks for the interesting link! It seems that I have to level up my forum searching skill

[Tdog]

DOGS OF WAR: A Melee Multi-boxing experiement[/url]

Thanks for the interesting link! It seems that I have to level up my forum searching skill [/quote]Meh don't worry about it I wrote that forever ago. I have so much more experience to update that thread with now but I have no RL time to do it. I'm totally planning on hit it up big time in WOTLK. In the end before I took my current break from WoW I cleared all 70 instances except for Shattered Halls (didn't even try it yet) and even cleared a couple heroics with a partial melee group. I could of cleared more but again RL got in the way not the issues that come with melee multiboxing.

Melee multiboxing is defineitely doable though and I encourage anyone looking for that extra little quirk to give it a try. It will take more time to get down then a pure caster group but (in pve at least) melee groups can perform quite well.