Question - A bit overwhelmed by 6-boxing, should I drop down to a 3-box or soldier onwards?

[treadstone]

I've been playing for a while now on a 6-box using MQ and RGMercs (SK, SHM, BRD, BST, MAG, ROG). It's definitely cool to have a full group helping me out, but it also feels like I'm getting bogged down in minutae constantly, tweaking the settings on 6 different characters and managing their inventories and quest progression. I also feel like the sheer number of characters I'm controlling is unwieldy, constantly getting in the way of clicks or blocking the camera, and I also sometimes feel very conspicuous driving these six characters around - like I'm drawing attention to myself.

I'm considering trimming down to a 3box or maybe a 4box. I did experiment with a 3 box briefly before I ramped up to the full six, and it just felt cozier to me, more manageable - just a few guys running around killing stuff, instead of a six-man army thundering down tunnels and passageways.

I'm fairly new to EQ and my plan is to explore all the expansions and their content in chronological order, from the original launch content all the way to the latest stuff.

If I downsize to a 3 or 4box (definitely with SK, SHM, and BRD - the fourth would probably be the BST), will I still be able to do all the group content in the game or will I run into problems with harder, more recent missions/named mobs? Or do you think I should press on with the full team of 6, and would regret it if I downsized?

Thanks!

 

[WyldFyre]

sk shm bard can do most anything in the game, you wont regret it by downsizing, less clicks less interactions ect. then you can also run two mercs. or invite "cool" people you know on your server. Pl up scrub silvers ect.

 

[Algar]

Tweaking eventually (mostly) goes away, and you can get better at managing inventories, trading and questing from one driver. getting in the way of clicks sounds like your toons may be too close to you?
There will always be more work involved with 6 toons on inventory/gear/etc. There are some tasks that don't lend themselves well to automating.

You can always add a couple back later if you want, levels are just that, and until you start doing content in the level 100+ range, there isn't any real permanent benefit those extra toons will be missing out on.

Only you can decide of course... but I think your entire premise may have some flaws anyway, as you will be so overpowered and outlevel so much content that what you are describing will have you mindlessly slaughtering grays in no time flat.

 

[ImGreg]

This is one of the reasons I personally run CWTN plugins. No need and not much desire to "tweak" because default stuff just works. I drive tanks and that's about it other than gear management and that can be quickly done with a good google sheets. As for things like progression and inventory - progression use the tools available o be more efficient like /dg /status queststep coolquest1 and inventory management is really pretty easy - autoloot configuration and patch day while mq is down. I'm currently running 6 but normally I do a crew of 42 on live. It's all about good movement hotkeys, using tools like grind and /status and good external templates for things like gear, progression step(s) , achievements for evolves ext. I say press on, develop good habits around tracking progress and make some real smart hotkeys for movement and basic group control. Have fun !

 

[reedreddington]

4 Box is totally fine. SK SHM BRD and a pet class is legit. I run a NEC instead of a BST, but to each their own.

 

[dobey1]

I just run around with my sk/shm/bard and once I get in a position where i need to kill some shit for a while I campfire my dps in from the guild hall and let them cook, when I am done, dps anchors back to guild hall to wait till needed again.

Also you can get the DPS leveled and aa's then turn them ftp, and get them a set of FTP gear. Just bring them out when its time to grind.

 

[Scharnhorst]

I was on a similar boat, ended up with an SK, BRD and CLE (+3 dps mercs). With this setup I have been able to complete all missions and corresponding achievements up to SoR, including evolving items. This is with Rgmercs too, so not much maintenance required

So I'd say you will be fine, just keep up with gear and AAs.

 

[Wlaten]

Have the SK/Shm/Brd as your core and add/take out what ever you want to make you feel comfortable with

You can always have the addition of Mercs

 

[arcreactorkc]

It's all relative. I have my main 6 box group that is nearing max level and the tedium has gone away, the biggest issue is just gear management for them but that is part of it.

I have a few 3 box groups I play here and there just to try different combinations and I enjoy them just as well, sometimes more but part of that is my nostalgia for the earlier game and I like to run my toons through old content instead of rushing to current expac content.

 

[Darkwynd3]

I have about 40 130’s across multiple accounts. Gear management is like a second job. Spreadsheets and a powershell script that collates /outputfile inventory files into said spreadsheet are a godsend.

 

[Redmonkey]

Go with the three box. You can change the guys out when you feel like playing another. I am most comfortable doing that and using mercs to fill things out. Then when you do need a full 6/12/etc for raids or whatever you will be more comfortable knowing what each one does better.

 

[dewey2461]

Do whatever makes you comfortable.

Based on your description you'd don't really enjoy running a full group.

Try scaling back and seeing where your limits are. If you can't get what you want done with 3, add another one back into the mix.

The biggest issue you may run into is just having to redo content you've already done because you want to get the team all caught up to the same point.

With that said: You want to put time into understanding your tools. The more you know, the easier it is to box.

 

[Naturesong]

When I started with mq I did just that. Was on live so ran 2 toons, enc and war, plus 2 mercs: clr and dps.
From there I added one more toon at a time as I learnt each class and how to coordinate the toons and manage them as a group.
It takes a while, but I found it much easier to add characters one by one as I got more comfortable.
Note: I was using kissassist at the time, so had to write all the configs for each class - great learning experience btw.

By the time DayBreak decided they didn't want my money and suggested I should play on an emu server I was regularly running 12 toons.

 

[rfmeier]

I also started with two toons and kept adding more once I got comfortable with KissAssist configs. Once you get the hang of it, you will be leveling your group so fast your main issue will be managing spells and AAs because they come in so fast. Have fun!

 

[Tim2051]

You do you. It should start and end with that and how you enjoy the game the most.

As you scale in characters, initial setup becomes more crucial. Whether using KA, cwtn, etc… learn the commands you use the most and how to broadcast them to the group accordingly.

Examples: setting a camp by hitting one button instead of alt tabbing. Sic has a ton of hotkeys that he links in his sig that is helpful for some of those. Learning to click a door on all 6 toons with 1 button, or broadcasting how to use items or AA’s at once vs alt tabbing.

All of that takes a time investment on the front end. But then it’s repeatable and scalable and efficient.

Then search your specific pain points on these forums for solutions that people have already solved.

/give to have all toons give the same items to an npc so that you can do 6 quest turn ins at once for example.

Or there are several inventory tools folks use.

Don’t want to do this? Or struggling? Or don’t have the time? I refer you back to line number 1. You do you, whether it’s 1 toon or 54.

 

[RYN227]

I can understand this sentiment. When I played live I was always self conscious about running a whole group around and felt like everyone knew I was MQ'ing. Getting around was a pain because I'd send everyone individually and take extra measures to look less conspicuous. Pain in the ass really. For XP, I mainly hid in instances which got the job done but it wasn't much fun to only do instanced content. I had a 3 box group that I loved, I was nowhere near as powerful as some of my other groups but it made me feel like I had more freedom in the game as its reasonable for two casters to be following a tank with some mercs around. That 3 box group got to see more content and travel more freely.

Its all about comfort and risk tolerance I guess. Now that I am on emu servers where MQ is the accepted norm, I don't worry about these things.

 

[edsarto]

If your not having fun then downsize. Using most the suff here (Kiss, RG or CWTN makes the moving and fighting stuff simple). Inventory management will be a job no matter how you look at it. Once the bags are full its time to inventory manage.

 

[Bukktoof]

I have three boxed for years for all the reasons you mention. I run an Sk/Enc/Clr. On the Clr account i also have a bunch of dps to swap in if needed but normally i just run three dps mercs with the core.

edit: I have also never had a suspension or ban ... but i never afk, i never set up a static camp in a busy zone and i dont collect krono or draw attention to myself in other ways thru the bazaar. I say this because i think if you're running large numbers of accounts you are asking for attention.

 

[BobGrabber]

A common technique many here at RG use is to create 3 char groups. Load up 3 mercs. Make as many of those 3 man groups as you want. Tank merc power level until around 80. That should give you a general idea what to mix and match when/if you do decide to go 6 man. Invest a few hours on the front end leveling to enjoy the 6 man experience later.

 

[WyldFyre]

I have about 40 130’s across multiple accounts. Gear management is like a second job. Spreadsheets and a powershell script that collates /outputfile inventory files into said spreadsheet are a godsend.

Okay this sounds great, is there a demo or something of the ilk ?

 

[Darkwynd3]

Okay this sounds great, is there a demo or something of the ilk ?

It's actually a python script - I hadn't run it in awhile. One of my other scripts is powershell and mixed them up when I posted earlier. I can share it via PM, but I don't have any interest in broadly sharing it (and needing to support it).