Strategy - How do you actually run all this stuff?

[B_I_G__D_A_D_D_Y]

So you're a real nub and you're trying to get all the pieces to play together? In an effort to guide you I'm detailing the mechanical processes I'm using to get everything up and running. I'm not talking about configuring INI files, that's covered already, I'm talking about the concrete steps to get things loaded and working together.

Now I'm just coming through the newbie stage and there might be things I haven't discovered or that I'm doing wrong. So take this "guide" with a big dose of skepticism!

I'm going to assume you're multiboxing and are already using ISBoxer to control your army. I'm also going to assume you've used ISBoxer long enough to be comfortable with keybinding and keyrepeater. Finally, I'm going to assume your EQ, ISBoxer, and Redguides installations are all working correctly on their own and that you start them all in Administrator mode!

Quick Summary:

1. Load programs and characters.
2. Use pre-defined in-game social buttons.
3. Start KissAssist in tank-mode first.
4. Move the group to where you want to camp.
5. Use the /camphere command on all characters.
6. Restart KissAssist on the puller to get him pulling.
7. Proceed merrily on your way.

In Depth:

So here are the steps I take in the order I do them:
1. Run the EQ Patcher to check for base EQ updates. Then X out of the patcher.
2. Run the Redguides Update to check for Redguides Very Vanilla updates.
3. Run Redguides Very Vanila MQ2.
4. Run ISBoxer and Start my Character Set loading. (I usually load one character all the way into the game first before loading all the other alternates simultaneously. This is a holdover from the days when map files would get corrupted by loading multiple characters at the same time!)
5. Gather my characters in a "safe" zone away from other players. (I try to keep 3 characters left behind at the old safe area so they can lay down a campfire and make it easy to congregate again!)

Note) Have an EQ social button on all assist characters made with the commands:
/pause 5, /tar MyTank
/mac kissassist

Note) On my tank I use the button defined as:
/pause 5, /tar Me
/mac kissassist tank

Note) That I start the tank in tank mode and NOT PullerTank! This has ramifications so that when I first execute the macro for kissassist my puller won't immediately run out and pull mobs however if there are already mobs in camp he will engage them. But if you camped your characters under double invis they should stay invis while you get your group formed.

Note) I put the EQ social buttons that are going to start the KissAssist macro all on the same hotbar page and button so I can use ISBoxer's key repeater to start them all at one time.

Note) I could simplify my procedures by using a dedicated ISBoxer keybind instead of using the keyrepeater function in ISBoxer, however I haven't got that far yet!

Note) I configure my KissAssist ini files so that my assisting characters all start with ChaseOn=1 and ReturnToCamp=0. Upon loading they will follow the tank immediately in case I need to move the group.

6. Using ISBoxer's keyrepeater I mash the social to begin KissAssist on all my characters. I wait a few seconds and then return the characters to whatever hotbar page they normally use under ISBoxer. (I use Page 8 on Hotbar 1 as my default for all ISBoxer specific socials.)

7. While ISBoxer keyrepeater is still energized I type /afk "talk to MyTank". Then I stop keyrepeater.

8. On my tank I type /afk to revert back to normal.

9. On my tank I mash a pre-defined EQ social button that sends invites to my other characters.

Note) At this point if my characters were double invis'd they will all just be standing there. Since AcceptInvitesOn=1 on all characters my group formed itself when I sent the invites. If any character wasn't invis and got aggro on a mob my tank should have turned immediately to engage it and kill it. If my characters were NOT invis'd when KissAssist started they should have begun firing off their defined buffs. Or once the mobs in camp were dead then my characters would begin to buff.

10. On my tank I set MA, MT, Puller, and Master Looter to MyTank.

Note) At this point I can mash the keybind for double invis and my army is ready to follow the tank wherever I need to move. This is due to the ChaseOn and ReturnToCamp settings above.

11. If I need to buff and the area is safe I'll drop invis on all the characters and they will begin buffing immediately.

12. If my intial entry point into the world is my safe spot I'll drop a campfire here. Then proceed to move to my fighting location.

13. Once I arrive at the spot I want to park the group I once again use ISBoxer's keyrepeat function to send the command /camphere to all my group members. This causes all of them to stop chasing the tank and go into ReturnToCamp mode. Again if they are double invis'd they will just sit there happily forever.

Note) At this point I'm where I need to be and my group is buffed and ready to fight.

14. On my tank I target myself and type /mac kissassist PullerTank and I'm off to the races!

15. If I need to stop pulling for a bit I type /backoff on the tank. I wait for my assist characters to stop buffing and then I mash the ISBoxer double invis button. (Typing /backoff again will start my pulling again!)

16. If things are going a bit wonky or I want to change INI settings I will use ISBoxer's keyrepeater to mash another social created on each character:
/endmac
/endmac
/endmac
/endmac
/endmac

17. Using Notepad++ I will load or reload the latest version of the KissAssist_server_character.ini files. After making any changes or edits I save them all and use ISBoxer keyrepeater again to load up KissAssist. (If you are editing INI files manually beware you have the potential to overwrite changes made using live commands while in-game.)

Note) Remember, when you re-load KissAssist your characters will be chasing the MT and your MT will be strictly tanking and not pulling. You'll need to /camphere and reload KissAssist in PullerTank mode to get things underway again!

18. If things get really goofy with a character I type /unload on that character or use ISBoxer keyrepeater to do all characters.

19. If you've unloaded as per step 18, I've found you can get Very Vanila running again by using the taskbar icon and right-clicking and using the option to "Refresh Injections".

So there you have it. I'm writing this within 4 days of starting to use RVV MQ2 and KissAssist and while it's fresh in my memory how difficult it was to conceptualize how the bits and pieces work together. I have to give thanks to the community that has put this product and website together. I've had more fun the last 4 days than I don't know when actually playing EQ and learning how to truly automate my box army!

 

[william12]

I just use the profile loader in mq2 tray icon. Never found a need for isboxer if you want to move windows around just use autosizer.

 

[B_I_G__D_A_D_D_Y]

I just use the profile loader in mq2 tray icon. Never found a need for isboxer if you want to move windows around just use autosizer.

I started using WinEQ2 back when the EQ client was incapable of windowed operation. I paid for it even. Then when ISBoxer came along it was sort of a logical progression to get into multiboxing and it was LEGAL! I'm guessing there others like me who avoided MQ2 until RVV had begun to make it seem legitimate.

Almar's Guides convinced me to give it a try so I plopped my $80 down and here I am.

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Comic sans causes AIDS.

On your tank:

/bcg //multiline ; /target id ${Me.ID}; /mac Kissassist assist MyTank 99
/multiline ; /target id ${Me.ID} /mac Kissassist pullertank; /timed 40 /backoff

18 steps reduced to a single keypress or click.

Thanks for this but it's beyond my level of expertise at this time. I'm sure I'll get there eventually though!

 

[deltree]

A couple other hotkeys to speed things up for you.

/bcaa //camp desktop        <- camps everyone out as long as they are connected to eqbc(I assume you are on all your toons). This also stops all macros as a bonus!

/bcaa //endmac                 <- self explanatory.

I just recently stopped using ISboxer for swapping windows due to every time I crashed and had to reload a client, it would screw up the res on some of the other clients. profile loader from mq2 works well. You can do almost everything with mq2 that can be done with ISBoxer on a basic level for eq. There was also an EQBC guide a while back that was super handy with hotkey ideas. EQBCS is your friend! =]

 

[vivviv]

At OP, thanks for sharing.

I see you are still doing a lot of stuff through isboxer key broadcast etc. My advice is to start reading this EQBC Idiot's Guide https://www.redguides.com/content/136-MQ2EQBC-How-To?page=1

 

[da Man]

@ vivviv if u have used isboxer its easier to do it that way. i still dont use eqbc cant figure it out. just easier for me and probably like him to go thru isboxer

 

[vivviv]

@ vivviv if u have used isboxer its easier to do it that way. i still dont use eqbc cant figure it out. just easier for me and probably like him to go thru isboxer

I am total code noob, but eqbc is easy

 

[joojoobee]

I don't put MQ2 commands into hotbuttons. Color me paranoid. I load all my macros into a Razer mouse configured with the kinds of macros above. Pro-- often used commands are literally at my fingertips. Con-- I realistically have only 12 hotkeys for such.

JJB

 

[jackstraw01]

Basic kissassist is fairly straightforward. I run with 4 hotkeys. Ran 6 toons to 60 using just this.

key 1
/bct chanter //macro kissassist Tank 100 - It will default to assist role if no role given
/bct therest //macro kissassist Tank 95

key 2
/macro kissassist tank <mytoonsname>

key 3
/mqpause - I use this to pause for pulling.


I've been doing quite a bit of moving while playing so I do not always /camphere. Enjoying the game manually on my tank atm so I /mqpause, go grab some stuff and pull to camp, /mqpause and let it rock.

Here is the camp key though.

key 4
/camphere
/bca //camphere
/bcaa //stick off
/bcaa //campradius 100 - can lower this for tight camps


key 5
/bcaa //endmacro





As others have said, the EQBC commands are fairly straight forward:

/bccmd connect - connect to running server

/bccmd connect 127.0.0.1 2112 - connect to server running on 127.0.0.1

/bct isogimp //g hey guys, isogimp! - have isogimp give his group his status

/bca //macro kissassist isogimp 95 - have all on eqbc server (except driving toon) kick off kissassist

/bcaa //g we be big boi playas - have all toons (including the driver) give their status in group

/bccmd channels jack straw so gimp - have toon join channels jack, straw, so, gimp - can be edited in the MQ2EQBC.ini

/bct jack //macro ownface - have all toons in the jack channel run the ownface macro


Running:

The EQBC server typically runs on 127.0.0.1 2112. When using EQBCS version 1 you can run it directly from the Macroquest icon or from the executable itself. Can start as a service or standalone. I use standalone. Can run EQBCS2.exe or EQBCS-eqmule.exe by running the executable. Have verified that EQBCS2.exe works fine.


Detailed Guide:
https://www.redguides.com/community/threads/24760-MQ2EQBC


Sample MQ2EQBC.ini


[server.Gimp]
Server=127.0.0.1
Port=2112
[server.Sauce]
Server=127.0.0.1
Port=2112

[Gimp]
Channels=ban, hammer, eye, am, coming
[sauce]
Channels=heal, buffs, suxor

 

[da Man]

the isboxer once set up, works fluidly. its easier than learning another system. different strokes for different folks i dont afk play so isboxer is great, keeps my toons lined up where i want em along with its fancy key system

 

[eqmule]

Hot buttons are ONLY saved locally. No reason whatsoever to be paranoid about them.

 

[da Man]

i did not say its easier to learn, i said once u learn it its easier to use than learning another system. which i choose not to do. i use it better than i would eqbs. i have zero problems using it and use it quite well in fact. the broadcasting is quite easy to set up like 1 button when loading it fluidly hits my number 1 hotbutton every time with my exact ui between all clients. since i used it to box b4 i ever knew this existed its a system im comfortable with, it all boils down to muscle memory. i know my number 1 hotbutton does x on all clients its that simple for me. oh and melee works great with it, 2 zerkers are very easy to macro up. my battles are pull whatever is in line of sight hit the number 1 button on my mouse now then number 2 if i need it, boom end of fight. sorry u dont get this experience with it, i do. i can easily hit my buttons on my screen easier than typing a command into a chat system and sending it out and its reactional and somewhat faster this way for me. 1 button follow, 1 button assist, then if needed 1 button to dps, end of fight.

 

[B_I_G__D_A_D_D_Y]

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2 other things I've learned...

-- Don't set the rebuff timer to an artificially small number unless you want your buffers casting when they don't really need to. It seems the KissAssist_Buffs.ini file takes a few seconds to be updated by each client. So if you see your buffers casting group buffs on different members it means the macro hasn't had a chance to update the buffs file. I'm using CheckBuffsTimer=45 successfully.

-- Don't leave "holes" in your list of actions. Renumber and adjust the count parameter whenever you change things. I was having buffs completely ignored until I adjusted all the INI files to remove the NULL spots and then renumbered and set the appropriate max count. I suspect I'll do this for all the major sections soon just to eliminate it as a source of wonkiness.

--

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Yet more Newbie goodness...

Many sections of this board and these guides mention MQ2EQBC. Yet I couldn't find any concise or SIMPLE explanation how to get it running in the first place. Maybe this will help the next newbie.

1. In your KA INI files set the line EQBCOn=1.

2. When you installed Redguides Very Vanilla in the first place it should have placed an icon called EQBC Server on your Windows Desktop. This icon points to ...\MQ2\Release\EQBCS.exe. As I'm writing this in early June, 2018 the program is version 1.0.0.1. Run this program one time and you'll you'll see a small window appear. Assuming you are multiboxing on one single computer enter the IP Address 127.0.0.1 and leave the Port address set to 2112. Now click the button called Standalone. You'll see an old-fashioned console Window appear with some vague text that should indicate it started successfully. NOTE! You'll have to run this "server" manually every time want to play your toons.

3. ONE TIME ONLY! With MQ2 running! On your various EQ sessions you'll need to enter the following commands...

a. /bccmd connect 127.0.0.1 2112
b. /bccmd set autoconnect on

4. Your MQ2 Window should have giving you messages that your various toons have connected to the server.

5. Test your connection by sending the following command) /bct ToonName //sit

6. Now all those /bc commands you see in various guides should be workable.

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More goodness!

From this thread - https://www.redguides.com/community/threads/24683-High-CPU-usage?highlight=cpu+strategy

I learned about the free program Process Lasso! It's great stuff because it helps tame those other processes on your PC that can cause lag. In my case I learned that Google Chrome is very ill-mannered.

Download from https://bitsum.com/

Deal with a nag screen at startup and the program is free...

The ONLY configuration change I made was to run the Process Lasso main screen, then I right-clicked on eqgame.exe(32), and then I clicked on Priority Class > Always > Above Normal.

Now my EQ game threads get a little bit higher priority. Also NOTE that whatever CPU strategy you are using in ISBoxer is still used even under Process Lasso.

I have an AMD FX-6300 6-core CPU, 16GB of RAM, and a R9-270 video card. I'm boxing 6 characters. However I've used ISBoxer to leave core 0 unused and available for all the other processes my PC needs to run including the web browser and text editor. With this strategy my main character shares 5/6 cores while any of the other characters shares 3/6 cores. Along with Process Lasso this is working incredibly well.

Character - Cores - Framerate(fore) - Framerate(back)
-------------------
1 - 1,2,3,4,5 - 44 - 36
2 - 2,3 - 42 - 32
3 - 3,4 - 42 - 32
4 - 4,5 - 42 - 32
5 - 1,5 - 42 - 32
6 - 1,2 - 42 - 32

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OK, you have a bunch of characters and you've turned on Conditionals. Wow, how many INI files do you have to maintain? And if you edit the main INI file will the changes automatically be reflected in the Conditional INI file? There was also several references in these forums that you could combine both INI files into ONE! But how was it done? I never did find an explanation how to combine them!

So here's what worked for me...

1) EXIT the game in an orderly manner. Save any INI files you have open in an editor.

2) CREATE a new sub-directory under your ...\MQ2\Macros folder and call it something like KABackup

3) COPY all your INI files to the new folder KABackup so in case you screw things up you have an easy way to recover!

4) EDIT your main KA INI files and set ConditionsOn=2

5) START all your toons and be sure to start KissAssist! At this point all your conditions should be moved into your main KA INI files!

6) DELETE your conditional INI files so you don't get confused later! (You made a backup copy right?)

BINGO, now you can edit one single file for each of your characters. Conditions are still optional, just leave the keyword TRUE in any condition which you want to ignore. Although now it's relatively easy to change something using the conditional statement. For example, when I'm dungeon crawling I don't want my characters to be Levitated. I open the caster character INI file and find the buff for Perfected Levitation and set it to false, then restart KA on that character and he'll quit casting Levi!

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So now you've been hunting and killing and accumulating lotsaloot! It's time to sell it in the bazaar! I'm going to assume you already have one or more bazaar mules and you are entirely familiar with the manual process of using the bazaar. But let's say you're ready to start over and automate things!

1) Download bazaar2.mac from https://www.redguides.com/community...mac-4-1-Updated-01-19-2018-Maintained-by-Chat

2) Move the macro you downloaded to your ...\MQ2\Release\Macros folder.

3) Log your trader in and move it away from a tradeskill stand. Load it up from shared bank or your main but don't start trader yet.

4) Delete your existing bazaar prices. (The price file is in your Everquest folder and will be in the format of BZR_Toon_Server.ini. Just delete the file because EQ will recreate it when you run trader again.) But all your prices will be gone which is what we want!

5) Create 2 new hotkey socials on your trader. One will be /mac bazaar2 and the other will be /end.

6) Click on the button to start the macro (/mac bazaar2). (The macro will find all your gear unpriced and proceed to set it all to 5000pp.)

7) When all your prices have defaulted to 5k hit the /end button to stop the macro.

8) Camp the vendor toon so the price file is unlocked.

9) Go back to the Everquest folder and delete the price file again. (Upon the initial run the macro created it's settings file on the fly and now you can go back and change the default minimum price. I made mine 100k instead of 5k.)

10) Edit the file ...\MQ2\Release\Macros\bazaarsettings.ini and adjust the line for InitialPrice. While you are in there, also add the names of all your other mules to the ExcludeList at the top of the file. You don't want to get into a pricing war with your own mules! Finally you may want to adjust the UpdateInterval to something like 10 minutes unless you're trading stock options on the NYSE!

11) Load up the bazaar toon and run the macro again! Now it will set your prices to 100k instead of 5k. Once that is done, it will immediately update prices based on other vendors it finds.

12 Now you can just walk away from the toon or you can go offline secure in the knowledge that as of this instant you have the best prices in the Bazaar!

 

[da Man]

ok tried the eqbc stuff, does not work for me, did it exactly. gets stuck at something loading, nothing ever goes farther

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readthread <> starting is where it stops

 

[Akatora]

i open the eqbcs application, if you see your character name join the server its running and you can use the commands in EQBC try /bcaa //sit to verify if it works if all your characters sit it is working

 

[B_I_G__D_A_D_D_Y]

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Just a tip...

I found that having one EQ game window dedicated to displaying what the other boxes in my set were casting is invaluable for fine-tuning my character INI files!

1) Select in-game EQ Options > Chat > Select category: Spells > PC Spells = Group Only or Show

2) Create a new chat window, right-click on header, Window = Uncheck the option 'Esc' to Close!

3) Right-click new window header, Rename Window > Others Spells.

4) Right-click Others Spells window header, Filters > Spells > Others!

I realize EQBC could probably do this to my MQ window but this is nice to have whenever you're boxing just to see what crazy stuff you've misconfigured!

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Yet another Noob mistake...

It wasn't obvious to me that I had to make some specific changes in MQ2Posse.ini after turning that feature on in the AFKTools section of KA!

Don't be that person! Follow these guides to finish setting up MQ2Posse, your Army will thank you for it!

https://www.redguides.com/community/threads/25075-MQ2Posse

and

https://www.redguides.com/community...ing-up-MQ2Posse?highlight=mq2posse+kissassist

 

[B_I_G__D_A_D_D_Y]

LOL, just loaded this for the first time since the web site changes and does it look TERRIBLE in Red-Dark mode!!!