Boxing setup

[Wrinkly]

What are you guys all doing for a boxing setup? Running 6 toons on one system, or using multiple systems? If just one, how do you get through busy zones without losing your toons (I'm assuming autofollow is what everyone uses).

I was just reading the other thread on boxing and it sounds like some people are running 2 groups on their own, it sounds insane. I know there's some programs out there like ISBoxer or something...maybe I need to look into that? For now I'm trying to setup a workstation and have a laptop beside it for each of us (there's 3) so we don't have lag issues and can quickly access the keyboards on each system.

Let me in on your best boxing secrets, feel free to include macro keys, video optimization, "keeping your head down in busy zones", etc....

thanks!!

[Shaitan]

First stop, EQPlayNice.

[Deadspirit]

On larger encounters I box 5 - 3 on the desktop and 2 on laptop.

Biggest secret is not using characters that aren't relevant to a fight and focusing on the most important tasks. On trash fights and clearing I only use 3 characters unless I have a pull station set up. If your leveling/AA you will be more efficient/effective if you leave distractions at the zone in. Chances are you will kill something faster at its spawn than pulling it to your group, killing, and running back to pull more.

I have found that autofollow does not work for me when I follow a toon on the same computer. I stay away from it.

Using third party programs isn't my bag - I know it works fine for some people but I stay away from it. There is an interesting program that allows you to use the same mouse/keyboard on two computers as if it were another monitor but I havent dabbled with it.

Macros:
Rogue - 2 main macros: Auto Backstab (/doability, /wait x4 & text reminder) and Discipline Macros. You can do similar with Monk/flying kick or even warrior/taunt/kick
My Bot Spawn macro invites my characters.
Assist macro is essential (with autoattack off on assist)
No macro on Ranger - Assist, Autofire and pop epic clicky.

If I had to do anything differently I would have made a mage to run around and coh pre-orb.

Check out this thread if you havent

DS.

[Micah]

There is an interesting program that allows you to use the same mouse/keyboard on two computers as if it were another monitor but I havent dabbled with it.

I use InputDirector ( http://www.inputdirector.com/ ) to work, play EQ and other games and it works very well. I have used Synergy in the past but ID seems to work better for EQ. It allows you to run multiple computers with one single KB and mouse, so clicking on different toons across computers is very easy.

~Micah

[Wrinkly]

@Micah - the issue I've always run into with remote control programs is when you run 3d, they seem to buckle at the knees and the video is too slow or unusable on the remote display. So this app works for you does it? Very cool!

[Micah]

The only problem I have with InputDirector is while clicking on system#2 sometimes it clicks on the active window on system#1 (click-through??). This becomes a problem if I am tanking, switch to system#2 to click a hotkey to heal, and system#1 tank changes targets! I avoid that by changing focus to a different window before i switch systems.

I've tried other software "KVMs" but had way more problems with EQ than with ID.

~Micah

[Wrinkly]

Oookeydokey. I thought Inputdirector provided the desktop on my screen, like a KVM would, or remote desktop may be a better example. But this is not the case! For my particular setup, I'm either looking to run multiple instances of EQ windowed on a single system...for which EQPlaynice might actually be a decent solution if it works the way it looks like it does, or to find a fully functional remote control application.

If memory serves correctly, I do believe server 2008 r2 offers 3d support now with its remote desktop services...hmmm.

[Wrinkly]

And we have a winner!!

From http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2008/en/us/rds-remotefx.aspx

With RemoteFX, a key virtualization technology in Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1, Microsoft is taking the remote desktop experience to the next level: A single, virtualized graphics processing unit (GPU) on the Remote Desktop Virtualization Host can be used to create a rich, local-like Windows 7 desktop experience for multiple remote users; hardware-assisted graphics acceleration with RemoteFX enables a full-fidelity virtual desktop experience including support for 3D applications, portable graphics content such as Silverlight and Flash, and Windows Aero.

I needed a reason to setup a new lab system with my Technet subscription. This looks like a really good one! Anyone have any experience with it?

EDIT: I'm probably pushing the average gamer's tech savvyness with this post I'm thinking...anyhow I've got a lot of the prerequisites setup at work already so I'll just add RDS to it and test it out with EQ, and let you know.

[Micah]

Technet > MSDN, that is all

[Bomb]

Same place as eqplaynice (and eqplaynice is integrated into it) but I find WinEQ2 much better than the normal windows eq supplies.

Allows you to setup keybinds to windows for swapping to them etc.