Dual boxing 2x mage - questions: specs, tactics.

[parallax]

Hey guys, I finished dual boxing my 2x warlocks to 60 and now I'm on to 2x mage to 60.. however, warlocks I've discovered are a lot easier to dual box because of the pets and the multiple dots.. its just not as fast, it seems, with mages.. or maybe I'm doing something wrong. I dunno, I'll describe what I'm doing now:

Currently both are frost specced, and my usual routine is to frostbolt mobs down one by one.. that seems slow and inefficient to me, but on the other hand they die pretty fast and usually without ever reaching me. I tried AoE with blizzard, but so far I haven't been able to find a group of mobs sufficiently close together to justify its use. Or do you have to gather them up yourself? Kinda hard to cast blizzard on both chars, too.. I gotta click the area to cast at, then switch to other toon and do the same thing.

So, questions. First, specs. Am I right to spec both frost? Seems like frost is for control, good if you're dual boxing mage and you get adds. On the other hand, it's pretty slow going just blasting down one mob at a time. I usually have to drink every 5-7 mobs, as well.. there goes 20-25 sec.

Second, tactics. Is it possible to AoE effectively with 2x mages? From what I've read, the main thing is there's no way to clone mouse clicks and mouse movement across the WoW clients. There was a utility mentioned in the forums here that claimed to be able to do that, but a GM clarified that it was most likely against the EULA (automation) and thus, bannable.

In a nutshell: I'd like to hear suggestions on specs (both frost? one fire, one frost? etc etc.) and the tactics to use with the spec recommended. Thanks, I appreciate any help you can give me. :thumbup:

P.S. - this is my first time playing the mage class, so I've got that strike against me too. Keep that in mind. :whistling:

[Zal]

Spec one frost and the other fire. Eventually if you get the Improved scorch and winter's chill talents your crit chance will go up a ton for more dmg.

[parallax]

I've searched around for a couple threads on this question of mage dual boxing and specs, and there have been many different opinions thrown around..

What you are proposing (1 frost, 1 fire) has been referred to as alternately a Good Idea because of the different debuffs that can be achieved with 2 different specs, but also a Bad Idea because of the differences in mana usage and cooldown times.. so I'm not really sure what to believe. I'd like to get more opinions on different specs, but if none materialize I guess I will have to play around with specs to see what works.

[wendalf]

Personally I would go with 2 fire for leveling and then maybe switch to frost later if that is what you want them specced in the end.

You get 2 pyroblasts to open an encounter. You will always have the 2 debuffs ticking from the Pyro or Fireball. You also have the chance for the crit debuff, once you have that talent, which makes mobs die VERY fast.

[elsegundo]

you can go any spec. mobs die fast with two mages. but yes, its hard to AoE and its nothing like playing a warlock.

[Prybar]

Actually I am currently leveling two mages on Andorhal, Wær, and Pæce. I am leveling frost.. Dunno why. Just am. I get great crit bonus' and dont use much mana. (both lvl 38 so far) In two levels they will have ice barrier and I think that will rock for survivability. If you have any specific questions add me on x-fire. (X-fire username : Prybar)