I've been wondering... to do this, do you have to have more than one account or can you play both toons for the same 12 bucks a month?
And if you do have to have two accounts doesn't that mean that you have to build toons in both places? Doesn't that get confusing?
...Now, where did I build that Necro...
Seems like that would take a lot more forethought in terms of who you wanted to duo with whom...
Since I only have one computer, it's kind of a moot point... I just wondered.
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A question for all you 2 boxersFollow
First, yes you do have to have more then one account to duel box. If I recall, it is one charecter per server per account active at one time. Maybe it is one period, never really played any other server.
Second, yes? You have to build them in both places? Not really catching that one. I think you mean level them seperatly. If you do yes. It an be confusing but most people who can do a good duel box have the mental ability to control two chars at the same time. I had my warrior in a group right side of Poi entrance, my shammy on the left. No one said anyhthing in either group the two hours I was there. (Duel box champ :) )
Thrid, just a comment. Having one computer does not mean you can not duel box. While I highly reccomend not grouping or fighting while doing this, provided your computer is beefed up, you can run two EQ clients at the same time windowed fairly well.
The new PC I built about a month ago can do this thankfully as the lap top I used to use does not support DX9. This comes in handy when trading to a bazaar muel or something. Such as I have my enchanter make certain tradeskill items then trade them to my trade skiller on other account. Still not easy but do able.
Second, yes? You have to build them in both places? Not really catching that one. I think you mean level them seperatly. If you do yes. It an be confusing but most people who can do a good duel box have the mental ability to control two chars at the same time. I had my warrior in a group right side of Poi entrance, my shammy on the left. No one said anyhthing in either group the two hours I was there. (Duel box champ :) )
Thrid, just a comment. Having one computer does not mean you can not duel box. While I highly reccomend not grouping or fighting while doing this, provided your computer is beefed up, you can run two EQ clients at the same time windowed fairly well.
The new PC I built about a month ago can do this thankfully as the lap top I used to use does not support DX9. This comes in handy when trading to a bazaar muel or something. Such as I have my enchanter make certain tradeskill items then trade them to my trade skiller on other account. Still not easy but do able.
OldBlueDragon wrote:
I've been wondering... to do this, do you have to have more than one account or can you play both toons for the same 12 bucks a month?
yes..
OldBlueDragon wrote:
And if you do have to have two accounts doesn't that mean that you have to build toons in both places? Doesn't that get confusing?
yup have to build both toons, and to me its not confusing as im used to running multiple toons anyways. get tired of one, go play an other, etc.
OldBlueDragon wrote:
Seems like that would take a lot more forethought in terms of who you wanted to duo with whom...
nah, not really. you can use 2boxing for PL, or for grouping. ive done both. have used my nec to PL a wiz, mage, cleric, sk, and have also grouped my bard with my wiz, my sk with my cleric, my wiz with my warrior, etc. thus its nice to have 16 toons to pick from on 1 server.
OldBlueDragon wrote:
Since I only have one computer, it's kind of a moot point... I just wondered.
nope. EQW is your friend, or is that still fubar after the last big patch. one of the active players will have to answere that question.
base system specs you will want to 2box with 1 computer:
1G CPU
1G ram
128M or better vid card
7200rpm HD SCSI is best, but most dont have that so sATA will work better still yet then ATA100.
the #1 thing with 2boxing on 1 computer is the vid card power. not enough power with the vid card and it will be extreemly choppy and laggy.
ram is the #2 thing to help cut back on the lag and choppy (low frame rate).
CPU is lowest as ive seen high powered vid card with 1G ram running on an 800Mhz CPU and still have very good performance due to their vid card and ram.
I actually 3-box. I have 2 computers and 3 account. I run 2 accounts on one computer and a third on my lower-end computer. All 3 are on the same server or I wouldn't bother.
If you use EQ Windows and have a desktop rez of 1024x768(or higher) and keep both at settings of 640x480, you really shouldn't have any problems. You can switch between windows very easily. Also, it's a good idea to turn the sound off on one EQ as the sound is a major resource hog and with both characters in the same place it can be redundant.
If you use EQ Windows and have a desktop rez of 1024x768(or higher) and keep both at settings of 640x480, you really shouldn't have any problems. You can switch between windows very easily. Also, it's a good idea to turn the sound off on one EQ as the sound is a major resource hog and with both characters in the same place it can be redundant.
Scholar
31 posts
been following this topic - can I get a link for EQW...
Was going to post but KerikDaven said exactly what I was going to say! ~ I 2 box on 1 PC and occasionally 3 box with a 2nd PC (have 3 accounts)
As EQ Windows is not an approved Sony product it would be inappropriate to put a link to their site here
As EQ Windows is not an approved Sony product it would be inappropriate to put a link to their site here
"I started out with nothin' and I still got most of it left" - Seasick Steve
Quote:
As EQ Windows is not an approved Sony product it would be inappropriate to put a link to their site here
Whew, thanks for the warning, I was just about to post one.
yeah EQW is not supported by SoE, but is not a violation of the EULA and is ok to use.
even some of the TSR from SoE and other admins from there have said it is ok to use, but they will not give tech support for it.
Edited, Wed Apr 21 21:27:31 2004 by Singdall
even some of the TSR from SoE and other admins from there have said it is ok to use, but they will not give tech support for it.
Edited, Wed Apr 21 21:27:31 2004 by Singdall
Myself I also do 2 boxing. I have 2 accounts and 2 computers. I just setup a third account and going to run the third one on my laptop. Probably a healer. Never tryed three boxing so will take awhile to get the hang of it. Want to try the LDoN dungeons. Just have to make sure the toons are all on the same server.
I use to use the second account mostly for healing and leveling up my other toons.
I use to use the second account mostly for healing and leveling up my other toons.
You can post EQW links on the allakhazam sites to your hearts content since they are officially sanctioned as of about 30 patches ago when sony realized that the EQW people had much more of a clue theen they themselves did as far as how to do it.
EQW is working ok after the DX9 stuff went in. It took them about 24 hours to rush out a new build that worked.
If you do use it you are playing the characters sequentially rather than proper 2-boxing which has both played simultaneously. With judicious use of hotkeys you can still be very effective. My experience is that you don't want two "active" characters at once. A healer and a melee works fine. Trying to play two characters which require continuous input would be very difficult Eg a warrior and rogue. Swapping back and forth to taunt/kick and then backstab would be very wearing.
There is a risk of getting confused and more than once I have attacked with the cleric and left the SK standing. It helps if you arrange the UI for each to have obvious differences. It also helps if you take care to use common hotkeys between characters and put special abilities out of the normal key range - eg don't put the SK's HT button where the cleric has Bash.
If you do use it you are playing the characters sequentially rather than proper 2-boxing which has both played simultaneously. With judicious use of hotkeys you can still be very effective. My experience is that you don't want two "active" characters at once. A healer and a melee works fine. Trying to play two characters which require continuous input would be very difficult Eg a warrior and rogue. Swapping back and forth to taunt/kick and then backstab would be very wearing.
There is a risk of getting confused and more than once I have attacked with the cleric and left the SK standing. It helps if you arrange the UI for each to have obvious differences. It also helps if you take care to use common hotkeys between characters and put special abilities out of the normal key range - eg don't put the SK's HT button where the cleric has Bash.
Wherever I go - there I am.
Cobra101 wrote:
It also helps if you take care to use common hotkeys between characters and put special abilities out of the normal key range - eg don't put the SK's HT button where the cleric has Bash.
Hehe, even with genuine 2 boxing this can be an issue (at least, for those of my limited learning capacity
) all my casters have hotbutton 2 as sit/stand. Which makes it very easy when switching from cleric to druid to chanter. However Iluien's no. 2 hotbutton is his "incoming" message for pulling. You know how the "boy who cried wolf" story goes I suppose. After having hit the incoming message a few times too many while serving as general melee for our gang, I now fear that next time a real add hits the group the guys are just going to give a bit of a snigger and leave me to tank it. With my luck it will probably be some Diaku elite or something.
Edit. ROFL! Stupid language filter, try sly giggle?
Edited, Thu Apr 22 03:19:18 2004 by Iluien
If you are going to truely 2-box on separate machines...yes do need two separate accounts and 2 media packs. You can transfer characters between accounts for $50, for up to 2 characters at a crack. SOE is pretty good at turnaround on the character transfer requests, and I moved 2 of my characters from one account to another on the same server in just one day.
When 2-boxing on separate machines you have a choice of either using 2 monitors (along with 2 keyboards and 2 mice), or setting up a KVM between the two machines and toggling. Although the later is the cheaper route make sure you spend descent enough cash to get a good KVM. I have a Linksys automatic KVM that switches between consoles when the hotkey is pressed (scroll-lock twice). This seemed like a good idea at the time, but the KVM is rather buggy and when the hotkey is pressed the console doesn't always switch. This can get real annoying when 2-boxing a cleric and warrior and you need that quick heal. The damn KVM locks and you can't switch consoles. In short I think I may pick up a manualy switched KVM, where you have to hit the buttons on the front of it to switch consoles.
IMHO - two-boxing works best when you play a character class that doesn't constantly need "clicky-combat or clicky-casting." Charater classes that perform a function and then sit down for a while are great for 2 boxing. Clerics work very well in this function (just make sure that damn KVM switches when you need it to or else you'll die) along with most caster classes. Although you can have a "clicky combat" class for one of your accounts (monks, warriors, occasionally knights) you most likely will find it difficult doing combat with 2 of these when using a KVM. In this circumastance your much better with 2 keyboards and 2 monitors, and setting up combat/spell sequences using programmed hotkeys.
When 2-boxing on separate machines you have a choice of either using 2 monitors (along with 2 keyboards and 2 mice), or setting up a KVM between the two machines and toggling. Although the later is the cheaper route make sure you spend descent enough cash to get a good KVM. I have a Linksys automatic KVM that switches between consoles when the hotkey is pressed (scroll-lock twice). This seemed like a good idea at the time, but the KVM is rather buggy and when the hotkey is pressed the console doesn't always switch. This can get real annoying when 2-boxing a cleric and warrior and you need that quick heal. The damn KVM locks and you can't switch consoles. In short I think I may pick up a manualy switched KVM, where you have to hit the buttons on the front of it to switch consoles.
IMHO - two-boxing works best when you play a character class that doesn't constantly need "clicky-combat or clicky-casting." Charater classes that perform a function and then sit down for a while are great for 2 boxing. Clerics work very well in this function (just make sure that damn KVM switches when you need it to or else you'll die) along with most caster classes. Although you can have a "clicky combat" class for one of your accounts (monks, warriors, occasionally knights) you most likely will find it difficult doing combat with 2 of these when using a KVM. In this circumastance your much better with 2 keyboards and 2 monitors, and setting up combat/spell sequences using programmed hotkeys.
I tried it with a switch box and one monitor - too laggy for me, that split second can make a difference. Finally got a flat screen monitor that fits nicely on my desk and use two screens at once.
If I'm 3-boxing I run two on my fast machine via EQW and one on the slower system.
If I'm 3-boxing I run two on my fast machine via EQW and one on the slower system.
In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act.
I 2-box the standard way - with 2 boxes, desktop and laptop next to each other, one in each hand. These days I normally just do it to take both my ranger and cleric to raids. Though there was the one time I was still in an Adventure with my necro, while running to and raiding with my ranger. I don't have any special hotbuttons or macros for 'boxing. What sucks though is my necro and cleric (on one account) have their Assist button in a different place than my ranger! Arrgh.
publiusvarus wrote:
we all know liberals are well adjusted american citizens who only want what's best for society. While conservatives are evil money grubbing scum who only want to sh*t on the little man and rob the world of its resources.
I 2 box on two computers with 2 accounts, found this to be an easy way to play. The advantages far outweigh the additional costs (buy evolutions and then add the rest of the upgrades from there), especially if you like to solo since you can now have customized 2 person groups. Shifting items between accounts is not as important now as it was prior to the shared bank.
I would echo two key points mentioned above:
1. 2 boxing works best when you have one character (healer, caster) in a support role and another tanking. Example is when my pally is grouped with my clc in Rathe against HGs, Pally draws the HG into combat and the clc casts occasional comp heals or nukes. When you need a spell, you just leave your pally on auto attack and reach over to cast and then back to pally (remember to root or HG will beat on clc). I do not 2 box with my chanter and would not try 2 boxing in a LDON setting for example - some classes take too much constant attention to 2 box (bards come to mind) IMHO. 2 boxing is great until you get adds and are trying to 2 things at once.
2. If you are going to 2 box, you need to think a little about which account will have which characters. If your plan is to add the 2nd account to help out characters on first account (i.e. a cleric on the 2nd account sure would be nice to heal your warrior on the first), think about what combinations you want now and make sure they are paired up. One mistake I made was ending up with 2 pallys (dwf & frog) on first account and 2 clcs (hi elf and dwf) on 2nd account - would have been better to have 1 each on the separate accounts and I dont want to pay to transfer.
One plus of a 2nd account is that you now have 16 toons possible and a place to pass on those nice items that your main outgrows.
I would echo two key points mentioned above:
1. 2 boxing works best when you have one character (healer, caster) in a support role and another tanking. Example is when my pally is grouped with my clc in Rathe against HGs, Pally draws the HG into combat and the clc casts occasional comp heals or nukes. When you need a spell, you just leave your pally on auto attack and reach over to cast and then back to pally (remember to root or HG will beat on clc). I do not 2 box with my chanter and would not try 2 boxing in a LDON setting for example - some classes take too much constant attention to 2 box (bards come to mind) IMHO. 2 boxing is great until you get adds and are trying to 2 things at once.
2. If you are going to 2 box, you need to think a little about which account will have which characters. If your plan is to add the 2nd account to help out characters on first account (i.e. a cleric on the 2nd account sure would be nice to heal your warrior on the first), think about what combinations you want now and make sure they are paired up. One mistake I made was ending up with 2 pallys (dwf & frog) on first account and 2 clcs (hi elf and dwf) on 2nd account - would have been better to have 1 each on the separate accounts and I dont want to pay to transfer.
One plus of a 2nd account is that you now have 16 toons possible and a place to pass on those nice items that your main outgrows.
With EQPLAYNICE and EQWindows I actually play 3 accts on one system hehe. Sad but true. I do this usually if I really want exp and cannot find a group. I'll box my 65 pal with 65 cleric and my friends 65 necro for slows/damage.
Haven't died yet 8)
The easiest way to not get confused on which character you are driving is to use 3rd person chase camera view.
Haven't died yet 8)
The easiest way to not get confused on which character you are driving is to use 3rd person chase camera view.
The EQwindows site has been down for several days now, hopefully it will be back up soon. It works well for the current code in production, but recent changes to Test server have changed that again. Need another EQwindows update once the new EQ front end is finished.
Jarlo wrote:
With EQPLAYNICE and EQWindows I actually play 3 accts on one system hehe. Sad but true. I do this usually if I really want exp and cannot find a group. I'll box my 65 pal with 65 cleric and my friends 65 necro for slows/damage.
Haven't died yet 8)
The easiest way to not get confused on which character you are driving is to use 3rd person chase camera view.
Haven't died yet 8)
The easiest way to not get confused on which character you are driving is to use 3rd person chase camera view.
yes with a strong vid card i could swap back and forth fast enough to never see any lag between alt+tabing and could still out zone most players. then again my system was very beefy and still is. could use a vid card upgrade, but that will be next.
P4 2.4G 800Mhz FSB
Asus P4P800 Delux MB
1G pc3200 kingston RAM
ATI 9500 128M vid card
SEAGATE sATA 80G HD
makes a huge differance on that system vs my older one.
AMD 1.2G Athlon
Epox MB
1G pc133 ram
Maxtor 7200rpm ATA100 HD
save vid card.
even with the slower computer the only time i had any real problems 2boxing with EQW was in PoK, and Bazarr. otherwise my zone times were under 30sec, and the alt+tab time was fast enough to not notice a differance.
on my 3rd system it was HUGE differance and unplayable with a crappy vid card.
AMD 800 Athlon
ECI all in one (this was also a HUGE problem. hate cheep MB)
1G pc2100 ram
GeForce 2 Ti 400 32M vid
IBM 7200rpm HD (very old though, one of the first 7200rpm drives to come out so was ATA66)
with that vid card EQW was not able to play 2box, but could semi handle 1 account in windowed mode. same system with GFx 5200 256M vid card was able to run EQW 2box with very little lag. still there as the GPU on that vid card, and the FSB on that pos MB are both slow.
never had to use EQPlaynice as i used Memturbo to clean up my RAM. i would never run 2 instances of EQ in any way without either EQPlaynice, or Memturbo. you MUST have 1 of them, if not both to play EQ with 2 instances without crashing your system or dropping below useable amounts of ram.
EQ has a HUGE memory leak, that SoE refuses to acknowledge. the sooner they do, the sooner the game will have far fewer crashes then it does now.
1 post
Can anyone please send me the most recent version of EQW
ocsnownwake@yahoo.com
Edited, Thu Apr 29 13:06:56 2004 by ocsnownwake
ocsnownwake@yahoo.com
Edited, Thu Apr 29 13:06:56 2004 by ocsnownwake
And after they send it to you, maybe you coyuld send it to me? :)
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