Short answer, its incredibly easy. Start an instance of the client. Log in. Repeat until your computer sprouts an arm picks up something heavy and starts hitting you while screaming "ENOUGH" through the speakers.
If you are running full screen just use alt-tab to switch, if you are running windowed just switch active windows.
You will also probably want to change your shortcut to something like the following
"C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\CohUpdater.exe" -maxinactivefps 4
the switch minimizes the strain idle clients put on your pc.
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Thanks but I'm familiar with how to do it as I assumed it would work the same as it does on WoW what I'm not familiar with is how to set up autohotkey with it and whether or not it will even work well with CoX or if I need to use another program.
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Originally Posted by Another_Fan
Short answer, its incredibly easy. Start an instance of the client. Log in. Repeat until your computer sprouts an arm picks up something heavy and starts hitting you while screaming "ENOUGH" through the speakers.
If you are running full screen just use alt-tab to switch, if you are running windowed just switch active windows. You will also probably want to change your shortcut to something like the following "C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\CohUpdater.exe" -maxinactivefps 4 the switch minimizes the strain idle clients put on your pc. |
Global @radubadu
Usually playing one of the following toons blueside on Virtue:
Cadler 50 WP/SS tanker
Radubadu 46 Fire/Fire blaster
Hell Runner 35 Fire/Fire brute
I can't really help you with your primary question, which seems to be how to automate the second account. The scripting system in CoH is intentionally set up to make creating a bot effectively impossible.
When I dual boxed, the second account was either a passive lowbie just getting leveled up, or a character with mostly passive powers. For example:
I have 2 extra accounts and for a while I triple boxed with 3 controllers: my Fire/Kin, a Fire/Force Field, and another Fire/Kin. The FF bubble was a passive anti-mez protection that allowed me to fight groups that normally would be problematic because they could stun/sleep/hold. With the 3 controllers we had 3 x Hotfeet and eventually 9 imps. I just set the other 2 controllers to auto-follow. Worked fine, although I don't have a high tolerance for farming so it was something I could only stomach doing occasionally.
A critical key to multiboxing performance is the maxinactivefps command. Don't set it to zero or characters won't be able to move when their game client loses focus. I typically set it to 5 via a slash command, /maxinactivefps 5.
Freedom: Blazing Larb, Fiery Fulcrum, Sardan Reborn, Arctic-Frenzy, Wasabi Sam, Mr Smashtastic.
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Setting maxinactivefps to 0 doesn't make the frame stop, it disables the command and lets it render as many frames the rest of your options and system specs allow it to. You are thinking of the other command people used to suggest, stopinactivedisplay, which would sometimes prevent the background characters from doing what you designed them for and/or eventually disconnecting from the server.|
Originally Posted by Sardan
A critical key to multiboxing performance is the maxinactivefps command. Don't set it to zero or characters won't be able to move when their game client loses focus. I typically set it to 5 via a slash command, /maxinactivefps 5.
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I agree that setting maxinactivefps to a low number is a great help on performance, but if you are using fullscreen and can't even see the other window at all, there is no reason not to bring it right down to 1 or 2 and maximize the effect.
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Oh true. I stand corrected, thanks.
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Originally Posted by Master-Blade
Setting maxinactivefps to 0 doesn't make the frame stop, it disables the command and lets it render as many frames the rest of your options and system specs allow it to. You are thinking of the other command people used to suggest, stopinactivedisplay, which would sometimes prevent the background characters from doing what you designed them for and/or eventually disconnecting from the server.
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Freedom: Blazing Larb, Fiery Fulcrum, Sardan Reborn, Arctic-Frenzy, Wasabi Sam, Mr Smashtastic.
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Let me clarify what autohotkey is/does.|
Originally Posted by Sardan
I can't really help you with your primary question, which seems to be how to automate the second account. The scripting system in CoH is intentionally set up to make creating a bot effectively impossible.
When I dual boxed, the second account was either a passive lowbie just getting leveled up, or a character with mostly passive powers. For example: I have 2 extra accounts and for a while I triple boxed with 3 controllers: my Fire/Kin, a Fire/Force Field, and another Fire/Kin. The FF bubble was a passive anti-mez protection that allowed me to fight groups that normally would be problematic because they could stun/sleep/hold. With the 3 controllers we had 3 x Hotfeet and eventually 9 imps. I just set the other 2 controllers to auto-follow. Worked fine, although I don't have a high tolerance for farming so it was something I could only stomach doing occasionally. A critical key to multiboxing performance is the maxinactivefps command. Don't set it to zero or characters won't be able to move when their game client loses focus. I typically set it to 5 via a slash command, /maxinactivefps 5. |
It does not automate gameplay.
It basically through the UI on your pc allows for a keystroke to be applied to more than one application. As I've not done this on CoX I'll explain it in WoW terms.
Running around with two mages, you set one on follow. You set all of their powers to the same bindings so when you hit 1 for fireball both mages cast it.
Those that consider that botting will argue that the second account is then automated because you're using third party software... the same effect can be achieved using two pcs, one wireless keyboard and two receivers for it, using two keyboards or simply hitting 1 > alt+tab > 1 > alt+tab. It's the same fucntion it just let's you do it more efficiently.
However, if a mod cares to tell me that this is in fact considered automation then I will not consider it further, I did it in WoW after calling and emailing customer support and contacting several GMs who all told me it is not a violation of WoW's EULA. If that's not the case here then I simply won't do it.
Even if that's the case I have no problem doing it without the "slave" toon doing anything other than following which leads to my question about the /maxinactivefps command. Do I only want to do that on the secondary account?
Global @radubadu
Usually playing one of the following toons blueside on Virtue:
Cadler 50 WP/SS tanker
Radubadu 46 Fire/Fire blaster
Hell Runner 35 Fire/Fire brute
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From their web site:|
Originally Posted by Radubadu
Thanks but I'm familiar with how to do it as I assumed it would work the same as it does on WoW what I'm not familiar with is how to set up autohotkey with it and whether or not it will even work well with CoX or if I need to use another program.
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| Automate almost anything by sending keystrokes and mouse clicks. You can write a mouse or keyboard macro by hand or use the macro recorder. |
Paragon City Search And Rescue
The Mentor Project
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It's probably best to use it on EVERY instance you have running, cause you'll eventually be on the second screen at one point or another to either trade, sell, or even just logging off and on, which will increase performance for those transactions as well. The command only slows things down when you are NOT using it, so you wont have to worry about what it'll do to you main screen. |
Originally Posted by Radubadu
...which leads to my question about the /maxinactivefps command. Do I only want to do that on the secondary account?
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Personally, I also added the command to a second startup shortcut so it's always active when the client starts:
"C:\Program Files\City of Heroes\CityOfHeroes.exe" -project coh -maxinactivefps 1
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Yeah, I would ask. Never having used the program, I'm not sure if it's rule-breaking or not.|
Originally Posted by Radubadu
However, if a mod cares to tell me that this is in fact considered automation then I will not consider it further, I did it in WoW after calling and emailing customer support and contacting several GMs who all told me it is not a violation of WoW's EULA. If that's not the case here then I simply won't do it.
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| Even if that's the case I have no problem doing it without the "slave" toon doing anything other than following which leads to my question about the /maxinactivefps command. Do I only want to do that on the secondary account? |
Paragon City Search And Rescue
The Mentor Project
It sounds like you've got a pretty good idea of how to accomplish it already. Honestly, while I've used two accounts for trading inventory and the like, I've never dual boxed because the increase in foes that resulted was greater than the increase in capability running two characters. But I didn't have the autohotkey setup you're talking about. As with previous posters, I assumed you would have a passive ally set on follow, who would either autofire a heal power (Control-click on an icon to set it on autofire, but only one power can be so set) or have a PBAoE toggle like Dispersion Bubble to protect me.
What you may be wanting to know is how to "assist" targeting, which is simply to target you ally, so whatever attacks you fire are fired at that ally's (the character you're actually playing) target. Ally boosts would work the same way. It would then depend on how you arranged your powers in your trays, making sure similar powers were in similar places for both ATs.
Honestly, though, I don't think there's any real advantage to it in CoH. ATs in this game are usually more soloable than in other MMORPGs like WoW. And you can set your difficulty to spawn foes for a team of two or three even if you are alone, so you don't need to "pad" your team for that, either. I wouldn't say you shouldn't do it if you enjoy it, but I don't really think it'll buy you as much as it did in WoW.
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I think it's a matter of perspective... I don't see a problem with it, Blizz didn't, but NCSoft might and if so then I won't use it I'll just have the secondary toon inactive or I'll alt tab between apps as necessary. My next question is... who specifically can I ask?
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Originally Posted by Ironblade
Yeah, I would ask. Never having used the program, I'm not sure if it's rule-breaking or not.
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Global @radubadu
Usually playing one of the following toons blueside on Virtue:
Cadler 50 WP/SS tanker
Radubadu 46 Fire/Fire blaster
Hell Runner 35 Fire/Fire brute
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I'd either PM Niv or Ocho, or ask via the support site.
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Originally Posted by Radubadu
I think it's a matter of perspective... I don't see a problem with it, Blizz didn't, but NCSoft might and if so then I won't use it I'll just have the secondary toon inactive or I'll alt tab between apps as necessary. My next question is... who specifically can I ask?
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Orc&Pie No.53230 There is an orc, and somehow, he got a pie. And you are hungry.
www.repeat-offenders.net
Negaduck: I see you found the crumb. I knew you'd never notice the huge flag.
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Just in case you're not familiar with their full names: Niviene and theOcho.
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Originally Posted by Rajani Isa
I'd either PM Niv or Ocho, or ask via the support site.
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Freedom: Blazing Larb, Fiery Fulcrum, Sardan Reborn, Arctic-Frenzy, Wasabi Sam, Mr Smashtastic.
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Thank you, I had found them though |
Originally Posted by Sardan
Just in case you're not familiar with their full names: Niviene and theOcho.
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I sent a message to both, if I remember to I'll post the response for any that are curious.
Global @radubadu
Usually playing one of the following toons blueside on Virtue:
Cadler 50 WP/SS tanker
Radubadu 46 Fire/Fire blaster
Hell Runner 35 Fire/Fire brute
I've played multiple instances of City of Heroes on the same computer many times. I don't want to put any NCSoft employees on the spot so I'm going to say things with a little less certainty than I truly possess.
I assume that there are NCSoft Employees aware that I've played multiple instances of City of Heroes at the same time on the same computer. I've posted pictures like this before on these forums: Really big picture
I'm going to assume that as long as you are manually pressing the keys to cause your character to take actions than you are alright. Using follow and autofire is fine as well.
Using an outside program to send keystrokes to City of Heroes does not seem possible. I have tried many times and several programs and none worked. Here is a copy/paste of what someone else said about the topic from another forum from a long time ago:
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I downloaded one program that I can't remember the name of that could send the same keystroke to multiple windows on a computer screen. For example: I could run notepad 3 times on my computer. If I typed "Smurphy is awesome" in one notepad it would appear on all 3 simultaneously. I tried to use this program with City of Heroes. I was able to use the program successfully while typing into the chatbox. If I wanted to type "1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Go Start Hello awesome" to a specific global channel I could do so, on all instances of City of heroes, at the same time. However, if I wasn't on the chatbox and I pressed the "1" key, to execute the first power on my Power Tray only the window I had selected would work. The other windows would ignore it. Click to the chatbox on all CoH windows and I could type the #1 simultaneously in all 3 again.|
Basically the only way you could pull it off with (XXX) is to have one machine per CoH client. There's some kind of "hidden characters" that go into every keystroke or click in CoH. Sometimes you can see this if you're zoning and alt-tab to another window, and come back to find your main has yelled "HELP!" 23 times or typed a weird ASCII string. These hidden characters could be found by someone who likes diving into lots and lots of code, but I don't know anything about that. The hidden keystrokes only work if the CoH window is in the foreground. I even tried Mousemachine once (it's just a mouse click emulator) but it would only work on those windows that were in the foreground. CoH put this feature in to prevent botting, but did it in a way that screws over multiboxers who are trying to use the same computer for multiple instances. |
Seems like the only thing you could do with such a program is make some really awesome emote dance routines.
*EDIT*
Nothing prevents you from manually clicking between windows and executing powers in each window manually. I described how I can play 5 Masterminds, 3 Arachnos Soldiers, or 2 Empathy Defenders in this fashion. Those are three different teams... not all 10 at the same time. I described on these forums how with the Masterminds I'd put the other 4 on follow and the pets on attack and just play the first one. I described how I'd autofire powers on 2 of my Soldiers and have them follow the first one. Then I'd execute my attack chain by pressing the #1 key on Soldier #1, click #2-press #1, click #3 press #1, click #1 press #2, click #2 press #2, click #3 press #2 etc. etc. I could execute the attack chain seamlessly on all 3 characters. I also described how I could play 2 Empathy Defenders at full power simultaneously but it gave me a headache, required lots of focus, and didn't let me sit back and enjoy the carnage. These actions, at the time and I assume now, were all a-ok.
I know some take advantage of the ability to do this, I'm just wondering how it works. I used to have two accounts when I played WoW and used auto hotkey. I want to try it with CoH just to see what it's like.
Also, how easy/difficult is it to use different ATs. In WoW I had it set up so that I could play two different classes (though it was harder than two mages or whatever).
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated.
Global @radubadu
Usually playing one of the following toons blueside on Virtue:
Cadler 50 WP/SS tanker
Radubadu 46 Fire/Fire blaster
Hell Runner 35 Fire/Fire brute