Dual-Boxing 101

[Killo]

So recently I just obtained my brother's account and I'm trying to finish his Dragoon with my Red mage. I have trouble a lot with engaging the target and always being on top of WS, Jump, Meditate, etc. Since I focus mainly on the Red mage since I'm 50% of the time main cure.
I play on Windower so I'm always hoping between the two screens!

I know dual boxing isn't a good idea to start with... but!
Is there any tips I could use?

[Pirian]

bot. No seriously though it takes some getting use to in order to tab between windows efficiently. When I pl I usually make person specific macros so I can just tab, hit control 1/2/3/4/5 etc. and tab back quickly. Just takes some getting use to but then it's just as easy as regular play.

[Notouchy]

Biggest tip i can give is. Spell Cast Scripts for Haste/Refresh. and macro cure. and u could easily focus DRG and just hit like CTRL 3 for a cure3 and CTRL 4 for cure 4. im not the best dualboxer and didnt use spell cast scripts n such but, know a few ppl who have and it allows them to focus less on the mage.

[Kouu]

When I dualbox it's usually melee + mage. In the cage of the mage, I leave that window on top in a smaller window, and the melee in the back on full screen. My Recast window is set up on the far right side, so I can see both my TP accumulate (on both screens) and both characters' Recast windows, while leaving the Yarnball window on the mage visible on the left side of the small screen.

It might not be what everyone does, but it's worked for me. =x

What I used to do a while back with app was to set up OnEvents for the mage, and never look at the window. For example, me saying "Cure5" made the mage Cure V me, Haste made it Haste me, Slow made it Slow the nearest enemy. It worked beautifully, but I can't justify forking out for wiz since I don't want to spend more money on the game. lol

Edit: Important to note I use Spellcast .xml's on both characters.

[Killo]

Biggest tip i can give is. Spell Cast Scripts for Haste/Refresh. and macro cure. and u could easily focus DRG and just hit like CTRL 3 for a cure3 and CTRL 4 for cure 4. im not the best dualboxer and didnt use spell cast scripts n such but, know a few ppl who have and it allows them to focus less on the mage.

I use Spell cast and it does help a lot. My main trouble is when I'm main cure and stuck with a bad tank like a Nin that can't keep hate! ><
With PLD it's easier but still a pain.

[chiyio]

So recently I just obtained my brother's account and I'm trying to finish his Dragoon with my Red mage. I have trouble a lot with engaging the target and always being on top of WS, Jump, Meditate, etc. Since I focus mainly on the Red mage since I'm 50% of the time main cure.
I play on Windower so I'm always hoping between the two screens!

I know dual boxing isn't a good idea to start with... but!
Is there any tips I could use?

Far from a good idea, it's the BEST idea ever. Get 2 computers/monitors/controllers. you'll never go back. like two supporting beams in a house, 2 boxing is MUCH better then 1 alone

It's trivial to drive 1 melee and 1 support char at the same time once you get used to it. You'll never go back and wonder why you ever bothered playing 1 char at a time.

make a /follow "main char name" macro on new char as your first tip to get you started.

really, you want two keyboards, so you can hit macros on both at the same time.

Generally, you can just focus on macros on the support char while you control another normally.

eventually, you'll forget the main and alt concept all together, it's just all your chars

kind of like people used to be with main and alt jobs back in 2004-05, now it all blends together.

[Notouchy]

Cant do much about crapp NINs unfortunately >.> it just happens all too often these days. Just keep practing and ull do great.

I once Trio Boxed Dynamis Beauc on 3 diff comps. BLU/NIN(in tank PT pre WHM Cure SS for Diamonhide/Some DD) WHM/BLM(only healed myself with hast on me then PLD(also me) didnt /ta DDs like i normally would have) PLD/WAR(Main assist)

Was a huge pain because no script/spell cast and lack of PLD macro's as it was a last minute descision that i would be trio boxing 3rd on PLD instead of BRD because out main PLD couldnt log on ; ;. But was an interesting experience. Not for the faint of heart >.>

[Killo]

Far from a good idea, it's the BEST idea ever. Get 2 computers/monitors/controllers. you'll never go back. like two supporting beams in a house, 2 boxing is MUCH better then 1 alone

Don't want to buy another computer just to dual box! ;;

[chiyio]

Don't want to buy another computer just to dual box! ;;

you just need something SUPER ghetto to run a second char on, low resolution is fine. a VERY old computer runs ffxi at low res. all you really need is the second keyboard, so you can hit macros on one char without moving your focus from who's getting hit.

really, once you try the dual setup, you'll never go back. I've as much as 5 boxed before just fine, but I wouldn't want to do even 2 chars without 2 systems. (assuming I want to actually get something accomplished)

most of the time, you only need to worry about 2 chars really, rest will have longer term issues you can be clicking between windows for. Like a brd you only need to worry about when songs wear, or a rdm for haste/refresh.

but for anything where you need to actually pay attention, you will need to be able to hit macros on your other hand without killing window focus. With just one system you'll turn into one of those people everybody in the linkshell groans about when they hear you say you can also bring char X to "help"

If you want to 2 box for real, 2 systems. You can switch windows on one, but it won't be same.

[Killo]

Don't want to buy another computer just to dual box! ;;

Edit: Don't have the room too!
Mainly I'm asking to dual box on one computer.

[chiyio]

Edit: Don't have the room too!
Mainly I'm asking to dual box on one computer.

ok ok, I give. basically, make specialized macros so you can hit them fast from memory while switching char windows. Having one window smaller than the other like suggested is a good tip.

windower plugins will definitely be your friend here. also, learn how to /follow while being invis/sneak, it's MUCH more annoying with two+ chars. Also, in whitegate, at least on my server, /follow works for shit you will have to manually drive both chars out of zone.

For xp/merits, all you really have to worry about is your cure/haste macros while your DD char auto attacks and spam WS when you see their tp hit 100.

[fishstix]

There are some programs to where you can dualbox without switching windows, MSjans was one of them but has been discontinued. Basically, it'd allow you to bind macros to keys and specifically choose which instanced window it goes to.

If you're up for learning how to do some scripting, the autoexec plugin on the windower.net site can help. You can make scripts that'll receive premade commands through tell. It's sorta like onevent. On the drg, you can make a specialized script to ws when you receive a tell "ws" from your rdm, and then make a tell macro on your rdm char. You can basically remote control the drg through tell macros depending on how you script it, but it'll take time. Spellcast can probably do it easier, but you can also script your char to ws when you go over 100% tp.

Otherwise, just learn to dualbox better, make perfect macros and know where they are so you're not fumbling around. Yarnball and recast plugings are really helpful for rdm. Maybe change your resolution of the window so you can see both windows easier. If you're serious about it and if at all possible later, I'd recommend what chiyio said for a second system. I used my computer and then a laptop so I can mash macros on both keyboards at once, usually I don't even have to watch the second screen.

[BahamutRicker]

I dual box 2 accounts on one PC. I prefer to use my xbox controller over the keyboard. I was getting frustrated with loosing target everytime I alt+tabbed, plus it was slow. What I did was use a program called AutoHotKey and made a script that would switch between the windows when I pressed in the right analogue stick.

This has made it much easier for me to dual box things, a click of the button and my window is changed.

I would be happy to post the script if anybody is interested.

[test123]

Two PC's, Two keyboards

[revelat10n]

Multisend is awesome. You can use it to easily send commands to another character on the same computer or over a network. If you use a controller, FFXI Switch Monitor is handy to tab between FFXI screens with the push of a button. I found both in the approved programs section on the Windower forums.

[lesiu]

I dual box 2 accounts on one PC. I prefer to use my xbox controller over the keyboard. I was getting frustrated with loosing target everytime I alt+tabbed, plus it was slow. What I did was use a program called AutoHotKey and made a script that would switch between the windows when I pressed in the right analogue stick.

This has made it much easier for me to dual box things, a click of the button and my window is changed.

I would be happy to post the script if anybody is interested.

was looking my whole FF life for something like this

Jast ~Ramuh

[BahamutRicker]

was looking my whole FF life for something like this

Jast ~Ramuh

Ok, first of all you will need to download AutoHotKey and install it. I am unable to post an url but it is easy to find.

Here is the script, paste it into notepad, change the character names to yours, and then save it with a .ahk extension.

; Run every line
Critical

; Avoid warning dialogue about over-hits
#MaxHotkeysPerInterval 50000
#HotkeyInterval 1

#WinActivateForce

; Switch active window between Ricker and Scowie
Joy10::
{
  IfWinActive Scowie ahk_class FFXiClass
  {
   If WinExist("Ricker ahk_class FFXiClass")
   { 
     WinActivate
   }
  }
  else
  {
   If WinExist("Scowie ahk_class FFXiClass")
    WinActivate
  }
 return
}

; follow
Joy5::
{
  IfWinActive Scowie ahk_class FFXiClass
  {
   SendInput {ctrl down}
   sleep 100
   SendInput z
   sleep 100
   SendInput {ctrl up}
  }
  else
  {
   SendInput {ctrl down}
   sleep 100
   SendInput x
   sleep 100
   SendInput {ctrl up}
  }
 return
}

I also have another button on my joypad follow the other character, just remove the last part of the script if you dont want this. If you do then you need to create some windower binds also, I had to add these 2 lines to my windower init.txt file;

bind ^z input /follow Ricker
bind ^x input /follow Scowie

Joy10 on my joypad is the right analogue stick, Joy5 is the little black button below the main buttons (xbox pad). If you want different buttons you can find out your button numbers by testing your joypad in control panel.

These buttons will still perform there normal function in FFXI if you have them configured to anything, you may need to make them do nothing.

[Shamaya]

a lolbot can help automate a pl greatly, but surely isn't necessary. scripts can help too, but are likewise not necessary. i've seen both at work, but my preference is using 2 comps and having my fingers on two keyboards. my friend prefers one keyboard and a g15 keyboard.

I often do 1 computer, 2 accounts though, and it can get annoying.
^---here's my advice for this:

PL: alt1-6 macros: /ma "Cure III" (player name)
and then of course macros for essentials like stoneskin, convert, refresh, etc
and a 2nd macro set alt1-6: /ma "Cure IV" (player name)
and the same macros for other slots

I do this with every party I'm pl'ing. It's very annoying to set the macros at the beginning of every pt, and change them when we get new members or when someone dc's, etc. that becomes tedious. but once it's done, it makes pl'ing a breeze. helps sooooo much. so if you're not doing it i highly recommend it.

for your DD job, I'd recommend a /ta <bt> macro. even if I'm not dual boxing, even after 5+ years, I've always had this. another good one you can make is a "/ta <bt>, /wait 1, /a <t>" or a "/assist (player name), /wait 1, /a <t>" macro. If you don't have this, this will further cut down your micro-management a lot. this is about all the advice I have for you. can't really get much better than this. you could always make a script to send yourself a tell 'x seconds' after using an ability, to remind you to do it again. but the recast windower plugin should be enough. of course, if you don't have that, get it

[Elondir]

What lvl are you exping at? If you're soloing with a dual boxed PL, then fight gobbie pets and you'll be fine all the way to 75. Silly to do it on normal mobs when you can do pets.

If you're in a pt it becomes more tricky, and PLs lose their value as you get higher levels, where they're not-so-untouchable by the mobs you're fighting.

All this gibberish about scripts and 2nd PCs is not necessary, 1 good PC can run 4 accounts easily without gimping graphics (I often have to play 3-4 accounts at once), and I don't use scripts - practice helps though.

Keep in mind you're never going to match the performance of having each character played by a human.

[Baelorn]

PL Assist is all you need. Don't listen to the amateurs

PL Assist v1.26 - Windower