Advantages of Using PiP & Focus Switching (Looting/PVP)

[wougoose]

I've been doing some testing with some trials to get my setup fine tuned before starting my hunters back up and found some really great advantages to using keyclone's PiP functionality: Looting and PVP. I Have also mentioned the disadvantages in the following post. I'm looking for some creative ideas people have at tackling those disadvantages

What does this require?

• All clients on one machine
• keyclone
• Focus targeting/assisting
• Same class makeup (All shamans / All hunters / etc) to give you the flexibility of changing mains easily

The reason I feel this setup is advantageous is due to being able to switch your main almost instantaneously. With one key press, you can switch screens AND change focus at the same time, creating a new main. You don't have to move your eyes to another smaller screen to the right or left of your normal viewing area, which can really make a difference when it comes to efficiency. I will now explain the major benefits with regards to looting and PVP:

Looting:

Collection quests are a pain because you have to actually loot on your alts. I don't know about you, but I feel it to be more work than it is worth the majority of the time. However, with the method of switching the screen and main via PiP and focus, you can seamlessly change to the next character once your main is full up on items and continue looting on your new main. Once the next character is full, you can immediately switch to the next.

PVP:

In arenas, smart teams will inevitably figure out who your main is and focus fire or cc that character first, giving you the disadvantage. However, with this seamless main switching, they will have a much more difficult time figuring out who the main is. Yes they can watch the following...but at least they can't immediately figure it out based on character name.

Most boxers are using focus switching to switch mains if the main dies. Now along with the change of focus, you get the added benefit of still looking on your primary screen.

How did I set it up?

I currently have a 4x Hunter group, so I can use one key with all of the modifiers(none/shift/alt/ctrl) to specify the character.

I set it up by doing the following:

1. Create a focus macro similar to the following:

   /focus [target=toon1,nomod]; [target=toon2,mod:shift];[target=toon3,mod:ctrl];[target=toon4,mod:alt]

2. Bind a key to that macro (I'm currently using the Home key)
3. Bind each region's PiP shortcut in keyclone to those 4 bindings (Home, Shift+Home, Ctrl+Home, Alt+Home)

Now you can enjoy the seamless switching. When I want to change mains, a quick key press will switch screens and focus and I can immediately hit the follow key, giving me a complete change in less than a second. All of my macros are set up to assist the current focus.

Current issues with this method:

• Small bug with keyclone where you can't use the alt key in a PiP hotkey. Rob is working on fixing this.
• Moving formations - Can't think of a way to dynamically change moving formations based on who the main is. I suppose if you flare out in an equal square it would be fine, but more advanced formations will need some work. Any ideas on this?
• PiP switching performance - My machine switches very quickly, but others may find it to be too slow for their pvp needs if they are running a slower machine. I'd imagine a Quad Core + 8800gt or better will be smooth as silk. (note: I'm only running a Quad Core + 7800GTX)

I'm looking for valuable feedback if anyone has any. If you see any other big benefits or have any ideas, please let me know. I'm sure the community would appreciate it!

[Rew017]

me likey. I have been using 4 seperate keys as my focus change and alt+tab between windows when I change focus. I hadn't explored the pip functionality in keyclone, but I will be using it from now on. I'll probably still leave it as 4 seperate keys as I find it easier than 1 button with mods. (G15 gaming, I have the keys to spare. granted, i sometimes use g buttons as mod-clicks anyways, but you get the point)

[wougoose]

me likey. I have been using 4 seperate keys as my focus change and alt+tab between windows when I change focus. I hadn't explored the pip functionality in keyclone, but I will be using it from now on. I'll probably still leave it as 4 seperate keys as I find it easier than 1 button with mods. (G15 gaming, I have the keys to spare. granted, i sometimes use g buttons as mod-clicks anyways, but you get the point)

Yeah, I just chose to use 1 key with mods because of my limited keys and macros. Either way works great

[Skuggomann]

GREAT writupp man, im so gona tet this out!

[hankplayswow]

Thanks for this post. Previously I have been using two montiors, with 4 clients on one and my main on the other monitor. Having to focus on those little screens during gathering quests is actually quite anonying, I'm looking forward to setting up PiP. Thanks for bringing it to my attention

[Maz]

I'm using a similar setup to this but I'm using target instead of focus. I'm saving focus in case I can come up with a use for it later.

My macro looks the same but uses /target in place of /focus.

My offensive spell cast macros look like this:

/cast [target=targettarget,harm][target=target,harm] Lightning Bolt

My healing spell cast macros look like this:

/cast [target=targettargettarget,help][target=targettarget,help][target=target,help][target=player] Healing Wave

[Nifter]

Sweet, I didn't even think about the modifiers. I previously had them all bound to CTRL+(F1-F5).

Question: Can the modifier key be only shift, alt, ctrl? Is there a way to make a different key a modifier, for instance F1? so CTRL could remain my macro button, but I would use F1-F5 as modifiers?


EDIT:
Inside the blizzard macro. mod=shift/alt/ctrl. I was asking if it was possible to do mod=F1, or something similar. After checking the macro portion on wowwiki, inapparently it isn't possible.

Does this mean that the method of PiP switching mentioned in the OP is impossible with 5 toons? Since there are only 4 modifier keys?

[keyclone]

huh? F1 as a modifier? i'm confused ?(

[Rew017]

Does this mean that the method of PiP switching mentioned in the OP is impossible with 5 toons? Since there are only 4 modifier keys?

That is correct. You can only switch 4 characters using 1 button. However, it might make sense to use 1 button as your main, and then your 4 alts on the button next to it.

[Kaynin]

hmm, having some issues with PiP myself at the moment, busy with work tho will post about it in the right forum later. xP