Why do people Dual Box?
By
BlueBattler,
Posted on: 2010-02-01 22:10 in Archetypes and Powers General Discussion
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Actually, I believe this is considered "botting," which is against the EULA. Many accounts have been banned by NCsoft for doing such things. Heck, I know people that have had suspensions for using the G15 keyboards to set up auto-binds for alts that followed them around on maps.|
Originally Posted by Humility
Because we can.
With proper software to broadcast keystrokes to both machines, as well as let you scroll your mouse between monitors... anyone who is well practiced at it can be extremely effective. As someone with 5 kids, I rarely get dedicated time to group. So when my sons aren't playing I can fire up their account and wreak havok with an unstoppable [dps AT] backed by my own personal [buff/heal AT]. Very handy. |
Back to the topic, I dual box (sometimes triple box) because it gives me freedom to do more than is expected of me. I've dual boxed tanks for tauntiing and aggro during Hami Raids. I've dualboxed healers and buffers for SF/TF's because we were low on teams... there are many reasons to dual box.
If you do come across a dual boxer in normal missions, and they're bad, you've most likely found a player looking for eaxy XP to level up an alt on a second account.
Just two nights ago I was on a team where we got the "Master of the Imperious Task Force" badge and there was someone dual boxing because we didn't have enough players. Not all dual boxers are bad. In fact, I don't know one person who is bad at it.
pohsyb: so of all people you must be most excited about the veats
Arachnos Commander: actually, I am
pohsyb: I mean you kinda were one already anyways ^_^
Arachnos Commander:
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What he describes is not botting... it basically let's him use one keyboard for two machines instead of two. He is essentially controlling two toons at the same time, the secondary one is not functioning if he doesn't tell it to. There is no automation involved.|
Originally Posted by Commander
Actually, I believe this is considered "botting," which is against the EULA. Many accounts have been banned by NCsoft for doing such things. Heck, I know people that have had suspensions for using the G15 keyboards to set up auto-binds for alts that followed them around on maps.
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Also, at the risk of sounding like I'm saying "it's only wrong if you get caught" NCsoft would have no way to tell he's doing that assuming it's being done properly... two machines both getting commands from a keyboard... there's nothing screwing with the coding and nothing is automated, so how would they even know?
The G15 scenario you describe on the other hand automates gameplay for the secondary toon... and I agree, that is botting.
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 understand tranfering things from character to character, and maybe even that you jsut want to own 2 accounts, or more at a time.I can understand all that.
I guess this makes the first question Void, so im going to ask a diffrent one.
Why do you still Dual Box to get past the first 20 levels of a character, to get over there endurance hump, when theres speed runs that can allow you to Solo and hit level 20 in a shorter time frame?
Answer that one.
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Since the first question has been voided:| Why do you still Dual Box to get past the first 20 levels of a character, to get over there endurance hump, when theres speed runs that can allow you to Solo and hit level 20 in a shorter time frame? |
Dual boxing isn't always about power leveling. Sure, I'm sure a majority of players do, but it's not always about getting to 50 the fastest.
Scenario 1: You're not really someone that likes to PUG, seeing as sometimes it can take up to an hour (depending on time of day and server) to get a full team to run mission arcs. You have a storyarc that deals with fighting an Elite Boss or Archvillain, even when solo (like many of the level 40+ villainside arcs.) It's much easier to log into a second account and play both to kill the boss, rather than hope to find a team to help.
Scenario 2: You're about to run a task force, or strike force, and there isn't enough people to fill the TF/SF requirements. (LRSF, STF) You dual box to fill the spots. Even better, you can actually play the second account at the same time as your first.
Scenario 3: Killing two birds with one stone. There are many missions that offer badges upon completion, that the badges unlock content and even non-xp rewards. I have over 60 alts that I regularly play, but the idea of running the same mission over and over and over just to unlock a zone or costume can be too time consuming. (ie, Cimemora) Dual boxing these mission often reward all players the same extra content bonuses.
pohsyb: so of all people you must be most excited about the veats
Arachnos Commander: actually, I am
pohsyb: I mean you kinda were one already anyways ^_^
Arachnos Commander:
About a year ago I added a second account. I did it for a couple of reasons.
1. I had nearly filled up all my slots and I didn't have the heart to delete some toons that I had had for years even though I'd probably never play them.
2. I had some toons that I liked the concept of, but they didn't solo very well. And I tend to solo A LOT. (Not adverse to teaming but during the week I have a limited amount of time to play, and I don't want to spend that time building/finding a team.)
I don't join teams when I'm dual boxing-- unless it's my friends who know that I'm dual boxing. I have run two Task Forces while dual boxing-- I duoed Positron with a friend and just Friday I ran the Statesman TF while dual boxing.
I did not dual box Statesman TF by choice; I did it because we couldn't get a final teammate to run the darn thing. We pulled it off in 3 and half hours. (I would NEVER try a Masters while dual boxing as my secondary toon died a lot because I was concentrating on my primary toon.)
My COX Fanfiction:
Blue's Assembled Story Links
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There's a fun side, to me thats bigger than the powerlevelling side.|
Originally Posted by Fire_Minded
I can understand tranfering things from character to character, and maybe even that you jsut want to own 2 accounts, or more at a time.I can understand all that.
I guess this makes the first question Void, so im going to ask a diffrent one. Why do you still Dual Box to get past the first 20 levels of a character, to get over there endurance hump, when theres speed runs that can allow you to Solo and hit level 20 in a shorter time frame? Answer that one. |
Dual boxing adds an extra level of complexity to the game. Instead of choosing between, say, 5 characters to play, I choose from 5 on one account and 5 on the other, which is 25 different combinations per story arc or session.
Recently, for example, I played two Masterminds together. I'd done this back when they were level 10 or so, and they're now late 20's, so the experience was a completely new one - trying to control 14 characters at once in an open area map full of Longbow (the Defeat Aurora Borealis mission).
I've also played my Nin/Poison mastermind with a Grav/Elec Dominator for backup. Both at the squishier end of their archetype, and very challenging. Also completely different from the last time I played them together because I'd picked up Wormhole, and could drop spawned groups of minions into the waiting Ninjas.
Other times I hop on a Brute and /Traps Corrupter and just cream everything in sight without comples tactics. Even this changes over time, I expect Trip Mine will add something to this combination.
You could argue that you get this playing pick up groups too, and you'd be right. Sometimes you get on a PUG and the combination of powers sparks off a different playstyle from the usual rush everything and kill them approach. But dual boxing lets me see the powerset interaction from both sides and go at my own pace.
Out of interest, can you explain why you play this game, Fire_Minded?
I know many people that dual boxed, and for a short while (on a trial) I dual "boxed". I also remember running a Statesman Task Force once where our tank was also tanking another task force at the same time (which 'caused the entire team to crack up when he told us), and he was doing a damn good job at it.
I didn't use two computers, but played two characters on one. I didn't spend a lot of time practicing, but in only a short while I was able to fairly adequately alt-tab between the two and keep them both busy fighting (mind you, making one a support character helps a LOT), and I'm sure if I actually invested the money in it, I'd be able to do it to a level that you wouldn't really notice I was on two accounts at once. Generally when I'm playing the game, I'm alt-tabbing out all the time anyways, so instead of going to read some random article on the Internet, I could be activating one power and queuing a second, and then switching to the other to do the same. It'd require more focus than I generally give CoH... but generally CoH doesn't require all that much focus (it's not that hard of a game!).
At least in my experience, most of the people playing multiple accounts at the same time do a fairly good job at it. Although on the other hand, the one person I've run into that used 4-5 accounts at once resulted in the worst ever KHTF I've been on (I could have duo'ed it easier with one of the other people on the team set for 8), but that's really been the exception, not the rule.
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Originally Posted by ShadowNate
;_; ?!?! What the heck is wrong with you, my god, I have never been so confused in my life!
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Originally Posted by Lucky666
I do it cause I know how much it bothers the OP.
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Originally Posted by Lucky
You tell him 666 >.<
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I have two accounts. At first it was a mere convenience: being able to transfer inf between characters and do SG invites. I also used to use an extra account to pad a team so we got larger spawns.
However, it wasn't long before I started playing them together. I found it easier to run my laptop next to my PC and run both characters at the same time. It is quite the challenge. Try keeping two brutes at full fury sometime. It's pretty intense, as you wind up memorizing attack chains and you're just alternating between screens to navigate and target.
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When I dual box to PL a new character I get at least one purple drop before the character is 25. My 50 also gets lots of vanguard merits, badges and much more influence than any low level soloing can achieve.|
Originally Posted by Fire_Minded
Why do you still Dual Box to get past the first 20 levels of a character, to get over there endurance hump, when theres speed runs that can allow you to Solo and hit level 20 in a shorter time frame?
Answer that one. |
I recently created a bots/traps MM and a dark/SR stalker on one account, and a necro/dark MM and plant/psi dom on the other. Each MM is level pacted with the non-MM on the other account. I play the necro/dark while having the bots/traps on follow, with pets set to aggressive. This allows me to level 4 characters while actively playing the only one that I consider to be fun in the low levels. This combination is a lot of fun, and it might finally allow me to get a villain higher than level 16.
I've created more than 70 alts in my 39 months of subscription. I've seen pretty much everything that low level CoH has to offer. When I opened my second account about a month ago, I was considering closing my original account until GR was released. The second account has however given me at least another six months of stuff to do. Between base building, fun powerset interactions (grav/empathy + electric/devices is next on my list), and farming that is now more about the progression of the low level character, I actually feel excited about CoH.
I'm pretty sure i've teamed with someone who was dual boxing a few times. and i didn't see any difference compared to other teams. there may have been a few team wipes, but i've had far worse team wipes of a team with 100% concentration per player.
but if they are someone that can't dual box well then i don't see a point in it. why don't they just create a leveling pact between the chars and alternate which one they paly?
I quadbox when I solo and I find that 4 accounts is about the right amount to keep me interested in soloing content. Usually the teams are not that optimal, but when I go against hard content I try to have a tank, a damage dealer, a troller and a defender.
I occassionally six-box to try out broken combinations such as 6 thugs/storm MMs and 6 fire/rads with imps.
When I play normally I almost always dual-box or if I am in a PUG where they tell me not to do it (I always inform), I usually do trading with the second account when things are slow (waiting for people to get to missions etc). I fancy that I can dual-box as well as most people can singlebox. It is actually quite relaxing to dualbox compared to quadboxing :-)
When I dualbox I have only one computer with two windows, the secondary toon on follow and I keep the attack chains going just by switching between windows and hitting keys, no software used. When there are three or more toons I have a secondary computer and keyboard and use that as well, although efficiency drop enormously on the 4th toon (which is then usually just a defender on follow)
I find playing just one toon no fun at all at this point, unless it is a scrapper or a 50 firekin and I am watching a documentary or a MMA event (i.e. something you can follow a lot by just listening to it, wouldn't work with a movie) at the same time
I think I might be affected by having once played 18 tables of online poker at the same time regularly.
I dual box to farm myself.
i dual box to farm with myself. There are times when I can dual box and play both toons at about 80% effectiveness, especially if one is a tank or buffer. Most of the people I team with know I am dual boxing or I will announce it. Some times when I host farms, I just door sit my second toon and if people have a problem with it, then they don't have to stay on my team.
to each his/ her own I guess
Im starting to see the pattern of why people dual box.
Its to complicate the game, or make it harder to play.I can probably think of 100 diffrent things more challenging and harder then complicating something.
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What? You came to THAT conclusion? |
Originally Posted by Fire_Minded
Im starting to see the pattern of why people dual box.
Its to complicate the game, or make it harder to play.I can probably think of 100 diffrent things more challenging and harder then complicating something. |
I think it is the opposite. I dual box to make it LESS COMPLICATED to transfer loot between toons. I dual box to make it LESS COMPLICATED to get accolades on several toons. I dual box to make it LESS COMPLICATED to run long TFs in big zones or with no movement. I dual box to make it LESS COMPLICATED to PL my own toons.
I went three years playing this game without dual boxing. The game is much LESS COMPLICATED since I started.
Never argue with stupid people. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
@vanda1 and @nakoa2
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I agree with you. I've become 1 rich **** with alot of alts since dual boxing. I only use it for solo purposes tho. I hardly team with it unless its globals that are dualing also. It has made alot in game less complicated. I actually run 3. |
Originally Posted by PuceNonagon
What? You came to THAT conclusion?
I think it is the opposite. I dual box to make it LESS COMPLICATED to transfer loot between toons. I dual box to make it LESS COMPLICATED to get accolades on several toons. I dual box to make it LESS COMPLICATED to run long TFs in big zones or with no movement. I dual box to make it LESS COMPLICATED to PL my own toons. I went three years playing this game without dual boxing. The game is much LESS COMPLICATED since I started. |
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I've been on many. Sounds like you just team with bad players. | I have never been on a team that had a player Dual Boxing, and NOT had a team wipe |
It is possible to dual box and do it well. I've seen quite a few do so. It's impressive when you see someone dual boxing a pair of scrappers effectively.
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Originally Posted by Dechs Kaison See, it's gems like these that make me check Claws' post history every once in a while to make sure I haven't missed anything good lately. |
Cause I'm lazy and I don't have friends
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To be honest, that is probably part of my motivation to multi-box as well :-)|
Originally Posted by Iggy_Kamakaze
Cause I'm lazy and I don't have friends
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Yesterday, I played just one toon for several hours. There might he hope for me.
When I started playing I picked up a second copy for my wife thinking it would be something fun we could do together and get her more comfortable with computers. Unfortunately, it was a failed experiment and to this day she still insists on myself our one our children to look things up for her on the net.
However, I did take advantage of the second account by dual boxing. I was able to run both very well at the same time (two KBs, mice, and monitors) and had several people convinces they were run by two different people. It happened to help one was a Rad-Bubbler. Today I rarely dual box as one or both of my kids is typically playing alongside with me.
CatMan - some form on every server
Always here, there, and there again.
I have 3 accounts, so I can two box or three box. I do it for several reasons:
1) Power-leveling to Stamina and to level 25 IOs.
2) Theme/Concept. For example, I have some husband/wife teams, brother/sister teams, or some all trapper teams or maybe an all Alien team. I like playing them together.
3) Support. Its nice sometimes to make it easier, or to fill the gaps. Its nice to 2-box a /SR scrapper with a /FF controller or the like, so that I can hit the softcap early on the scrapper.
4) Experimentation. Sometimes you've played Fire Melee to level 50 the long/legit/team-y way, and you've played Dark Armor to 40, and you just want to see how Fire/Dark is after it matures. So, you dual-box your Rad/Fire Blaster with your Earth/FF Controller from level 22-50 (because you PLed to Stamina on both). Simply pick up recall friend on the blaster and drop a door-sitting scrapper on the 3rd account. By the time you play the Blaster/Controller up to level 50, the Scrapper will be fully mature. Or you can stop at Stamina/22 if you want to get max playtime on the alt. Then you can slot the character up and play the character up to 50 from there.
5) To Crush The Game. Sometimes its just fun to make a trio of Necro/Storm Masterminds, or three Fire/FF controllers or something for capped defenses, and just run havok. I've got a friend who can 6-box, and he will 6-box task forces on his own, including the ITF, using all defender/controller/blaster teams (they can leverage all their powers while flying), simply for the fun of crushing it.
By the way, one really good way to make a dual or triple box combo is to build teams whose second and third character get 80% of their effectiveness or more simply from being there. I love Control/FF builds or Control/Rad builds for this purpose. If you've got a Fire/FF with Fire Imps, Hot Feet, Dispersion Bubble, Maneuvers, Tactics, Assault and Hover on auto, or preferably two of them, then you are getting 80% of their value just by having them follow you. Put something like Char or Fire Cages on auto if you want. Then go to town with your driving character while the others follow. With 3 computers and 3 keyboards all out on the same desk, when you need to throw in an extra Flashfire or Cinders or Fireball or Char, reach up and tap a key on an adjacent keyboard or numpad.
Good times!
Of course, I'll say that when I team with real-life friends or do task forces with people on my server's badge channel, I adjust accordingly. I may one, two or three box with friends still, but with "strangers" I will only drive one character.
Lewis
Random AT Generation!
"I remember... the Alamo." -- Pee-wee Herman
"Oh don't worry. I always leave things to the last moment." -- The Doctor
"Telescopes are time machines." -- Carl Sagan
I used to dual-box rather extensively, mostly having my Empathy/Dark defender at my beck and/or call when one of my regular heroes got waaaaaay in over her head (i.e. geting two carnie bosses within proximity of one another on a scrapper >_> That remains my most embarassing beatdown 
)
Sometimes it's just fun to turn a blaster into a goddess of pain and destruction too. But FWIW I never, ever teamed while DBing because I'd much, much rather have a human player backing me up in that situation, than to be splitting my focus and probably getting everyone else killed
Edit to add:
Also, being Empathy/Dark made it easy to set up a system where the 'fender was on auto-follow with Tentacles on autocast (Ctrl+click, not "botted" type autocast).
I learned how to position both characters to maximize control/damage from TT while keeping their attention on the main character.
I also vividly remember some pretty epic AE battles with my BS/SD scrapper and 'fender duo before the former was even out of TOs yet. Running Hope taught me just how skeery Emp buffs can be
I like dual boxing but only do it with teams with my friends (and even then I make sure it's ok) I get enjoyment out of creating fun combos and making new characters.
I recently was allowed to dual box while doing the Synapse TF, I did fairly well, much better than I thought I would. It's not something I would do regularly but if there was an open spot I might ask the whole team if I could have the 2nd account tag along for the merits.
Member of the Hyperion Force