Question - Do you group with others when using KA?

[Shadowraze737]

Just curious what you guys do. This is meant to be more of a poll really. Or feel free to share any good/bad experiences.

I only box 4 toons, so I have 2 empty slots in my group that I usually fill with mercs if I'm alone. Lately a few guildies have been lfg for the new expansion stuff, and I remember what it's like to be lfg for hours as a toon that can't solo anything, so I let them tag along when I'm hunting named.

I play my tank manually, 2 melee toons and a priest are on KA. I always get slightly paranoid in a regular group after I invite people, thinking of ways to ease any suspicion - "Oh uh, well my macro is /assist me, /face, /attack on... uh..." but nobody seems to really question anything in depth. I kinda thought two melee toons sticking at the same time would raise an eyebrow, but the worst that has happened is someone asked if I used ISBoxer once. I lied and said yes. They didn't really ask anything else about it after.

I can box all of the NOS missions with my crew, but I don't think I'll ever take anyone extra along for that. I feel like it might be a little more obvious when using that much movement etc. Not comfortable taking that risk yet.

Do you guys take any guildies along when boxing with KA? Or already running a full 6 man crew? Or just tell people no?

 

[naamloseeen]

I only play with other MQ users. We sometimes combine forces in different ways to take out missions (or, like right now, most don't have full crews of 6 for NoS, so we group up to make 6).

Otherwise, it's a hard pass to grouping with anyone that isn't an MQ user.

I often feel bad for solo players just trying to get shit done and would love to help them, but the few anti-bot activists have ruined it for everyone. I just don't feel like I can really trust anyone that isn't in the club.

 

[Shadowraze737]

I only play with other MQ users. We sometimes combine forces in different ways to take out missions (or, like right now, most don't have full crews of 6 for NoS, so we group up to make 6).

How do you figure out who else is an MQ user without giving yourself away?

 

[Nihkasilma]

How do you figure out who else is an MQ user without giving yourself away?

The guy running past you with 5 other toons stuck on him and bunched up? lol

 

[naamloseeen]

How do you figure out who else is an MQ user without giving yourself away?

I know them outside of Everquest. I don't know how you would bring it up in game.

The guy running past you with 5 other toons stuck on him and bunched up? lol

Lol. Honestly, if I see 6 real players in a group, I assume they are a box team using MQ. I imagine that our virtual MAs give each other a single, knowing nod before moving our groups on, never to see each other again. (Until I run into the same dude the next night at the same /grind.)

 

[Shadowraze737]

The guy running past you with 5 other toons stuck on him and bunched up? lol

Oh but they all use "ISBoxer"
So you'll never know for sure!

 

[Psy]

I run 6 but am happy to drop a toon to help a guildie that only plays one toon. We have several in our guild that do not use MQ and it's hard for them to complete content. In fact, I just helped one finish off merc/part quests last night.

I know, prolly not smart since you never really know if they will report you, but I only do it with folks referred into our guild from other reliable guildies for what that's worth.

I'd like to think they would appreciate the help and not report anything since they did benefit from MQ, if they knew it was being used, but you never really know.

I guess the risk is worth it to be able to help someone or I wouldn't do it.

 

[Redfrog]

No, never play with anyone, my playtime dictates odd times and lengths to play, got kids.

 

[an_image]

Just curious what you guys do. This is meant to be more of a poll really. Or feel free to share any good/bad experiences.

I only box 4 toons, so I have 2 empty slots in my group that I usually fill with mercs if I'm alone. Lately a few guildies have been lfg for the new expansion stuff, and I remember what it's like to be lfg for hours as a toon that can't solo anything, so I let them tag along when I'm hunting named.

I play my tank manually, 2 melee toons and a priest are on KA. I always get slightly paranoid in a regular group after I invite people, thinking of ways to ease any suspicion - "Oh uh, well my macro is /assist me, /face, /attack on... uh..." but nobody seems to really question anything in depth. I kinda thought two melee toons sticking at the same time would raise an eyebrow, but the worst that has happened is someone asked if I used ISBoxer once. I lied and said yes. They didn't really ask anything else about it after.

I can box all of the NOS missions with my crew, but I don't think I'll ever take anyone extra along for that. I feel like it might be a little more obvious when using that much movement etc. Not comfortable taking that risk yet.

Do you guys take any guildies along when boxing with KA? Or already running a full 6 man crew? Or just tell people no?

Trust no one, trusting people will get you banned or suspended. Agree with post below any well coordinated 6 man team is using 3rd Party stuff.

I was pretty adept at manually boxing by alt tabbing prior to this … but that’s only sustainable for short bursts of time before your wrists get fucked up even with macro keyboards

I do feel bad for people who solo or molo…but i’ve kearned through time that their envy will invariably lead to them ratting you out…

 

[knave23]

"Oh uh, well my macro is /assist me, /face, /attack on... uh..."

isn't /face an MQ command? lol

 

[Overtimer]

About everyone that I see is boxing, lol. If there are any real groups I don't see it where I am at.

On a different note. I just finished Master of Night of Shadows.
I wish I could find others like me to be able to group with, and do raids. It is getting very lonely.

 

[Shadowraze737]

isn't /face an MQ command? lol

Glad I didn't spill the beans on that, then! lol

 

[Rippsaw]

The guy running past you with 5 other toons stuck on him and bunched up? lol

Autofollow works the same. Not necessarily a MQ user. Who am I kidding. Lol

 

[Myysterio]

Just curious what you guys do. This is meant to be more of a poll really. Or feel free to share any good/bad experiences.

I only box 4 toons, so I have 2 empty slots in my group that I usually fill with mercs if I'm alone. Lately a few guildies have been lfg for the new expansion stuff, and I remember what it's like to be lfg for hours as a toon that can't solo anything, so I let them tag along when I'm hunting named.

I play my tank manually, 2 melee toons and a priest are on KA. I always get slightly paranoid in a regular group after I invite people, thinking of ways to ease any suspicion - "Oh uh, well my macro is /assist me, /face, /attack on... uh..." but nobody seems to really question anything in depth. I kinda thought two melee toons sticking at the same time would raise an eyebrow, but the worst that has happened is someone asked if I used ISBoxer once. I lied and said yes. They didn't really ask anything else about it after.

I can box all of the NOS missions with my crew, but I don't think I'll ever take anyone extra along for that. I feel like it might be a little more obvious when using that much movement etc. Not comfortable taking that risk yet.

Do you guys take any guildies along when boxing with KA? Or already running a full 6 man crew? Or just tell people no?

I only use MQ with friends/guild members. We have a fairly devisive server and trusting people is a bit important. A key component is mutual self destruction :P

 

[Many_Whelps]

I have in the past, yes. But most were friends that knew what was up and gave no fucks that I used MQ. I have the reputation of being "really good" at EQ, so most people in my orbit just assume I'm legit because there's nothing that gives me away directly. I can also play all of my characters at a high level individually without MQ, which adds to the mystique that I'm just "that good." I used to box 5 chars for several years with only ISB and could do all group content. I've been adding guild mates to my groups for a long time so it doesn't seem sus to anyone not in the know. The one thing I'd advise, don't allow your automation to sit/stand in between mob kills. That is a big give away to anyone watching your group live. Probably moreso than the autofollow, since there exists an in-game autofollow function (although someone who knows what to look for can spot the difference between MQ /afollow and EQ /follow).

 

[goatmaster]

I grouped with a real life friend in the past, and that actually led him to become an mq user lol.
These days, I won't group with anybody. I run a team of six and do things on my schedule.

 

[eqsubi15]

When I invite a random person to the group, I tend to turn down some of the automation I normally go with to try and not make it too obvious. My guild doesn't really mind me using MQ though since most all members have reaped the benefits of mission TA's and other achievements and raid kills from my MQing

 

[Silverspaceman]

Used to pretty freely help solo players grab xp in my group. These days, having seen DBC/DPG on a crusade against us, I just leave people to LFG. It doesn't take long until I no longer see their names pop up in general chat because EQ is still a social game at its heart, but doesn't have the population, even if we were ALL just playing one account, to sustain the game as they would like us to play it.

Heck, if I had to log in and spend an hour trying to find or put together a group to XP for a bit before someone has to bail...well I wouldn't be playing that game anyway.

I'll still group with guildies or friends. Ultimately, if I were banned, I have 250 games between Steam and GOG that I need to work through and that'll be that for EQ. Haven't been suspended or banned yet (knock on wood), so there's some combination of luck, not being too crazy camping the latest and greatest mobs all ady, and not doing anything on their precious progression servers at play there, I suspect.

 

[B_I_G__D_A_D_D_Y]

I only use MQ follow tools when alone, otherwise I use in-game /follow command. Or better yet, I will simply group Call of the Hero whenever I can.

Otherwise, I rarely group with anyone, but when I do, I only play 2 chars max and 1 of them will be pure DPS. It's rather easy to claim ISBoxer is running the DPS with the occasional alt-tab to buff and such.

There is nothing to be gained by people suspecting you're cheating even if you're helping them accomplish some goal. Better to let them think you're just an outstanding boxer. It helps to periodically play the alt-tab way just to keep a bit of skill.