TurpsterVision: Multiboxing, Recruit a Friend Style
by Mark Turpin 
Jul 15th 2009 at 11:00AM
We can't believe it either – Turpster has been let loose on WoW.com to bring you videos from in and around the World of Warcraft! You've heard him on the WoW Insider Show, and now see him on TurpsterVision right here on WoW.com.
Multiboxing has long been at the center of a heated debate within the WoW community. Some say that it is cheating; others say that it is just against the spirit of the game, all I know is, I absolutely love it!
I started my journey nearly 90 days ago where I added three new accounts with Blizzard's 'Recruit a Friend' scheme. I set myself the goal of being able to have a level 60(+) of every class in the game. For some of you out there I am sure that you've already achieved this feat during the past 4 and a half years of Warcraft – I know of one person who has gone FAR further than just one of each class. I've always focused all of my attention on my main, gathering achievements, pets, mounts, mats, gold, gear, well you get the picture – and I ended up forgetting the joys of alts. So with too much time on my hands, a few extra copies of WoW and some cool bits of software (more on this below) I jumped into Azeroth with a new mission; to destroy everything!
My set up is as follows:
2 x 20" Monitors
1 x Mac Pro
1 x Windows 7 Release Candidate
1 x Octopus (The multiboxing software not the new expansion's Hero Class)
1 x Logitech G9 Mouse & G15 Keyboard
WoW isn't the most intensive game on your graphics card and system resources when you don't want it to be, you don't need a super computer to take on more than one WoW client running at once.
If you have more than one processor core available to you then you can set up different 'processor affinity masks' which is basically a posh way of telling your PC to which of the WoW clients will use which processor core. There will be more in-depth info on how to set this up on next week's video and post.
Managing the keystrokes between your accounts is the most important task for any multiboxing setup, without it you wont even come close to reaching the potential power that comes with a well coordinated team of <insert class name here>. As I have said before, I use a program called Octopus, but there are many different types of solutions out there depending on your setup.
If you want to play on a PC, there is, of course, Octopus, but an alternative option is the very popular Keyclone that has a very friendly GUI and built in maximizer, which will help keep all of your windows nice and organized.
If you've got more than one PC at your disposal then you'll need to pick up a KMV switch or a program like HotkeyNet. This is obviously more expensive but it is how the old school multiboxers did it.
For Mac, there is CloneKeys which is a slightly more basic than Keyclone (but just as functional for anyone who is starting out) but with no built in maximizer you'll have to take care of your own windows placement.
The second most important tool in the multiboxer's arsenal is the awesome WoW add-on suite Jamba. Jamba assists you in some of the more menial elements of the game, such as all of your characters getting on the right flight path and picking up and handing in the correct quests. I find it invaluable in preserving my sanity; a one button group invite, automatic /follow after combat, sending warnings to the master account whenever someone breaks follow or is attacked. Just one of these features would make it a great add-on to have, but having all makes it a must in my opinion.
Lastly the use of in-game macros makes one shotting mobs possible from level 1 onwards. For my characters I choose one account to act as the 'Master' account and the others act as 'Slaves' to the 'Master' account. For each of the slaves I have the same button layout as the master but with /assist MASTER'S NAME before each of the spells in a /cast macro. These allow me to just target the mob on the master's account and then press the key binding causing all of the characters to jump into action hitting the mob's weak spot for massive damage.
So this video should serve as a little taste into the world of multiboxing. If it is something you think you would be interested in, then tune in next week and take a look at the full guide. And if you aren't interested in multiboxing, or even go as far as to say that you hate the idea of multiboxing, then tune in too since I'll be pointing out all the weak points and how to take them down!
Filed under: Features, Guides, TurpsterVision
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Rugus Jul 15th 2009 11:07AM
o_O
Now that's real WoW addiction, my friend.
Falcon6 Jul 15th 2009 11:47AM
Nah, that's not exactly so much addiction as it is clever use of a game mechanic.
Hell, the fact that he's /doing/ RaF means he doesn't want to go through leveling 1-80 on all those characters.XP
My friend's been doing RaF with just two characters. For those who don't know how that works, that basically means /I'm/ the one helping him through instances.
Rugus Jul 15th 2009 4:21PM
Addiction means you are happy to pay more than one account per month...
Ben Jul 15th 2009 5:42PM
There are many *far* more expensive hobbies to have than getting chuckles from walking around one -hotting mobs with your group's coordinated attacks.
Rugus Jul 16th 2009 4:45AM
> There are many *far* more expensive hobbies
Sure, there is always something better to do in life, that's not the point. My 1st comment was about *addiction* to WoW. That's all. It's not better or worst than any other *addiction* (sports, smoking, etc).
craig Jul 15th 2009 11:08AM
I've tried M/Bing a few times on 2 macbook pros, lvling a shaman alt thru vanilla wow is allot faster hands down. I run a 80 dk as my main and shaman on autofollow mostly. But man is it neat seeing multi boxers running amok in bg's.
Mailia Jul 15th 2009 11:09AM
Am I the only one who thinks that Turpster made a latin geek very angry?
lauriehavelock Jul 16th 2009 7:25AM
I'M FUMING. GRRR.
silverUK Jul 15th 2009 11:11AM
Siiiiiickkkkk haha always listen to the pod casts, going to do this with 2 hunters in BG's man, shit will be cash!
Wither Jul 15th 2009 11:13AM
In before the ToS police and the ensuing lengthy, dull discussion of the definition of automation.
Also in before all the jaded players who have been one shotted by a multi-boxing shaman team in PvP.
Nick S Jul 15th 2009 11:42AM
5 coordinated Shamans insta-gibbing you was a lot scarier before 2 independent toons who barely know how to play could do the same thing.
Everybody Jul 15th 2009 11:17AM
So, are you multiboxing with multiple characters of the same class? What class/es have you tried this with? It seems much easier to do this with 3/4 casters than 3/4 melee.
Mark Turpin Jul 15th 2009 11:20AM
I have kept to the same class for simplicity. Ranged classes are far, far easier than melee due to the fact that all of the characters roll around on /follow and would be outside melee range for the most part etc. So ranged just means it is far less problematic for this style of multiboxing.
~T
Nick S Jul 15th 2009 11:44AM
Turp my recommendation for melee classes is to roll up (account # -1) of melee and powerlevel them through instance grinding with an 80. It's hilariously fast.
Brian Jul 15th 2009 12:14PM
@Turp
If your doing 4 melee just pull past the mob on the main, then spin around and your followers are behind the mob facing him but in melee range. I usually do a melee and a healing class, I've never multi boxed with more than 2 characters.
AlmtyBob Jul 15th 2009 4:53PM
Just wanted to point out Octopus is fantastic for a TWO PC setup, not just a single one. There's absolutely no physical KVM required. With Ocotopus setup as server on the main PC and client on the slave PC both monitors appear to belong to the same PC. Mouse off the side of one PC's monitor and the mouse seamlessly appears on the second monitor. No need for a second keyboard or mouse for anything.
By the way, the best part of multi-boxing, IMHO, is dailies. There are many, many dailies that take the same time with 2-3 players/accounts as it does with one. Pulling in a thousand gold in a couple hours per day is very nice.
Other than for the cheap PvP reasons I don't see the point in rolling around with more than one of any particular class at a time. It's so much fun leveling two completely separate classes together. I'm currently doing warrior/mage, DK/lock, and Pally/Hunter.
rich.krzem Jul 15th 2009 11:18AM
hey check out http://www.justin.tv/multiboxing/old
Guy doing 1 priest 4 hunters, he made the software an was once co-woner of Wowhead.com
Mark Turpin Jul 15th 2009 11:23AM
Yeah, Tim has done an awesome job, his software makes multiboxing very simple to set up, unfortunately you also have to pay for it, if you want to see it in action then check out the link, Mike also did a write up on it:
http://www.wow.com/2009/06/26/multiboxing-tv-lets-you-watch-multiboxing-as-it-happens/
Bri Jul 15th 2009 11:30AM
Octopus works over multiple computers, you don't need additional software or hardware.
xvkarbear Jul 15th 2009 11:32AM
I've heard multiboxers say that, in the end, it doesn't really cost that much to muiltibox and that in the end you almost break even (Turpster even said it on a podcast). Can Turpster (either here or in the next multibox post) explain that?
Even if you're just running wow vanilla - you still need to buy it. which is $20 USD. Then $45 USD for three months on the new account, plus the $30 USD for the two months + free month referral on the main account. That's just shy of $100 USD.
That doesn't seem like breaking even to me..