Back when I used to four box in 2001 to 2009 this setup would have been far superior to my four keyboards and four mice setup on a corner desk. I no longer have the eye or brain power to box a bunch of toons. I can barely stand 30 mins burning lesson on just one character every couple of days. Regardless, it was cool to see how you box many toons with technology.
Hey brother, I'm a 50yo disabled Marine who's going blind and working hard at getting to the finish line with my smoking. You're never too old or broke for EQ; manual boxing is a great way to maintain situational awareness and stay sharp without going down dark alleys like an arthritic Batman looking to get his ass kicked. If you've got a REAL life filled with friends and family, yeah, screw Everquest; it's been doing fine for 25 years, it'll get by. But if you're like me, don't count yourself down and out.
Have you considered USB synchronization device? This would allow you to broadcast keyboard and mouse and its not against the rules because its hardware device not third party software.
Thank you for explaining all of this, appreciate it. But how do you get joy-to-key to work across 4 computers? I understand Joy-to-key and the autofire options, just not how to get it across 4 computers.
That's done in combination with something like Multiplicity, Synergy, or Input Director. I think there are USB Sync devices too or something that someone had mentioned.
Looks like a functioning setup. Agree shaman and tank is mains, dps is set and dialed in. Too bad bard and enchanter not more scripted. I like it. So still easentially 6 boxing qith a couple clones going. How to you handle chain heals? Not sure if that was mentioned when you eventially add clerics. 7:337:33
Chain heals auto fired or spam keys, I've also done social keys that would say cast heals with pauses between, when I do CH rotations that's still a viable option too, but I usually set my USB Controllers to autofire the heal button every 10 seconds and then what I do is say start 1 complete heal, then 5 seconds in start the 2nd, or if I use a third cleric I'll do it as close to 3.33 seconds as I can. I make sure it's landing and hitting before I pull.
Found a mouse macro that I like, so far I've only tested it out on a mage group. I need to tweak the setup because right now if I click on a guard I'm going to have a bad time
I used to think this way when it came to boxing. Then a friend quit and gave me his two accounts, one cleric and one chanter, each with epic. This was during original Luclin. My main was a paladin and he was able, barely, to solo some undead areas. Fortunately he was also a great group tank and had no problems getting groups. But once I had access to a cleric and chanter, a whole new game opened up. Now I could go around completing quests that normally require a group without wasting time assembling random folks to go to some area where exp or loot sucked. The key to playing three computers at the same time was to figure out a way to focus on one while having the others do something via some simple keystroke. Boxing with zero macros of any kind was not easy. All we had back then was key binds. With practice it was doable, but frenetic and exhausting. With the built in macro system, it became a lot easier, but still challenging. You still could only focus on one toon at a time, and just like spell cooldown timers, it takes a second or two to get you bearings when switching focus from one computer to another. Ultimately, with practice, it was doable and also fun. It’s a whole new sensation beating a group boss mob with a well coordinated box attack. It’s not like letting a merc sit there healing, you have to actually do stuff. Long ago I purchased two lifetime accounts as I found it much more enjoyable two boxing than single playing a toon. Then I purchased a third lifetime account 7:40 7:40 a year later when it became available again and started 3 boxing. I wish I would have purchased a fourth lifetime account as I now 4 box exclusively and pay a yearly subscription on the 4th account. I used macro quest for a while but it felt like cheating. Now I only use the built in macros. Yore still playing EQ just at another level.
Ok, lets get one thing straight here. Saying MQ isnt officially supported on TLP's is wrong. There is a long standing unofficial agreement of certain releases by certain teams, not to enable its use till later on in the TLP's life, however, there are versions of MQ that run just fine today. Every time you say this i just want to slap you because you dont know what you are talking about. Not only that, there are at least 4 other programs out there similar in nature to MQ, that run on top of the client. As long as the majority of EQ operates client side MQ will exist and be compatible.
My apologies good sir, didn't mean to offend your professional botting experiences, feel free to name drop programs or working versions of MQ in case there's other people watching that wish it still worked.
Hey Thomas, I have just started my first 6 box for the Teek server. I want to run a Bard but I have mever played one before. Have you thought about showing us your hotbuttons on a Bard?
The only things I have are assist for melee and then several melody buttons, one for battle one for travel etc it’s just a social key /melody 1,2,3,4 or up to 4 songs and their respective slots that you want to play
And if you want to use a clicky in the macro, using /stopsong is very useful, stops you from getting stuck. like /pause 5, /stopsong /pause 30, /useitem Rapier of Somber Notes /melody 1,2,3,4,6,7,8. I think I have /stopsong on all my macros on my bard box, makes it more smooth to change between one melody and another. You can get more advanced if you like, and use /xtar for mezzing etc, depends on how much you want to actually switch screens.
Back when I used to four box in 2001 to 2009 this setup would have been far superior to my four keyboards and four mice setup on a corner desk.
I no longer have the eye or brain power to box a bunch of toons. I can barely stand 30 mins burning lesson on just one character every couple of days. Regardless, it was cool to see how you box many toons with technology.
Hey brother, I'm a 50yo disabled Marine who's going blind and working hard at getting to the finish line with my smoking. You're never too old or broke for EQ; manual boxing is a great way to maintain situational awareness and stay sharp without going down dark alleys like an arthritic Batman looking to get his ass kicked.
If you've got a REAL life filled with friends and family, yeah, screw Everquest; it's been doing fine for 25 years, it'll get by. But if you're like me, don't count yourself down and out.
I never understood multiboxing but if someone wants to have that trouble feel free to do it.
Nerd
Have you considered USB synchronization device? This would allow you to broadcast keyboard and mouse and its not against the rules because its hardware device not third party software.
Sounds interesting, got some links or examples?
Thank you for explaining all of this, appreciate it. But how do you get joy-to-key to work across 4 computers? I understand Joy-to-key and the autofire options, just not how to get it across 4 computers.
That's done in combination with something like Multiplicity, Synergy, or Input Director. I think there are USB Sync devices too or something that someone had mentioned.
Hey what do you know its the guy ruining TEEK for me and everyone else!
Haha, who hurt you? I doubt I’m doing much of anything I’m not even level 20 yet
Looks like a functioning setup. Agree shaman and tank is mains, dps is set and dialed in. Too bad bard and enchanter not more scripted. I like it. So still easentially 6 boxing qith a couple clones going. How to you handle chain heals? Not sure if that was mentioned when you eventially add clerics. 7:33 7:33
Chain heals auto fired or spam keys, I've also done social keys that would say cast heals with pauses between, when I do CH rotations that's still a viable option too, but I usually set my USB Controllers to autofire the heal button every 10 seconds and then what I do is say start 1 complete heal, then 5 seconds in start the 2nd, or if I use a third cleric I'll do it as close to 3.33 seconds as I can. I make sure it's landing and hitting before I pull.
Found a mouse macro that I like, so far I've only tested it out on a mage group. I need to tweak the setup because right now if I click on a guard I'm going to have a bad time
lol lots of trial and error.
lol
um at this point you are not playing EQ, you are playing computers
I used to think this way when it came to boxing. Then a friend quit and gave me his two accounts, one cleric and one chanter, each with epic. This was during original Luclin. My main was a paladin and he was able, barely, to solo some undead areas. Fortunately he was also a great group tank and had no problems getting groups.
But once I had access to a cleric and chanter, a whole new game opened up. Now I could go around completing quests that normally require a group without wasting time assembling random folks to go to some area where exp or loot sucked. The key to playing three computers at the same time was to figure out a way to focus on one while having the others do something via some simple keystroke. Boxing with zero macros of any kind was not easy. All we had back then was key binds. With practice it was doable, but frenetic and exhausting.
With the built in macro system, it became a lot easier, but still challenging. You still could only focus on one toon at a time, and just like spell cooldown timers, it takes a second or two to get you bearings when switching focus from one computer to another.
Ultimately, with practice, it was doable and also fun. It’s a whole new sensation beating a group boss mob with a well coordinated box attack. It’s not like letting a merc sit there healing, you have to actually do stuff.
Long ago I purchased two lifetime accounts as I found it much more enjoyable two boxing than single playing a toon. Then I purchased a third lifetime account 7:40 7:40 a year later when it became available again and started 3 boxing. I wish I would have purchased a fourth lifetime account as I now 4 box exclusively and pay a yearly subscription on the 4th account.
I used macro quest for a while but it felt like cheating. Now I only use the built in macros. Yore still playing EQ just at another level.
has the dwp seen this....? which pip lvlv are u on ?
Ok, lets get one thing straight here. Saying MQ isnt officially supported on TLP's is wrong. There is a long standing unofficial agreement of certain releases by certain teams, not to enable its use till later on in the TLP's life, however, there are versions of MQ that run just fine today. Every time you say this i just want to slap you because you dont know what you are talking about. Not only that, there are at least 4 other programs out there similar in nature to MQ, that run on top of the client. As long as the majority of EQ operates client side MQ will exist and be compatible.
My apologies good sir, didn't mean to offend your professional botting experiences, feel free to name drop programs or working versions of MQ in case there's other people watching that wish it still worked.
Your comment reeks of cheeto dust and sadness.
Hey Thomas, I have just started my first 6 box for the Teek server. I want to run a Bard but I have mever played one before. Have you thought about showing us your hotbuttons on a Bard?
The only things I have are assist for melee and then several melody buttons, one for battle one for travel etc it’s just a social key /melody 1,2,3,4 or up to 4 songs and their respective slots that you want to play
And if you want to use a clicky in the macro, using /stopsong is very useful, stops you from getting stuck.
like /pause 5, /stopsong
/pause 30, /useitem Rapier of Somber Notes
/melody 1,2,3,4,6,7,8.
I think I have /stopsong on all my macros on my bard box, makes it more smooth to change between one melody and another.
You can get more advanced if you like, and use /xtar for mezzing etc, depends on how much you want to actually switch screens.
@@Appren2 very awesome