Question - Returning Player

[R4nsum]

I started playing at release and I would say sometime around Velious I started hearing about MacroQuest as Bards would run around kiting entire zones. I stopped playing in the PoP era and left it there.

Feeling nostalgic and not finding any current games that really draw me in the way EQ did. I am waiting for Final Fantasy Tactics to release on Steam later this year to replay that game. But I really miss playing my OG EQ Monk. The merc is a nice addition to solo some content having a dedicated healer, but seeing as accounts are free I ran up a second account and grabbed an 85 heroic tank and have a healer and caster DPS merc running.

I have been watching Sic’s videos and tutorials and all I can say is wow. Great resources from this guy. I am definitely going to join up and follow the guides to try my hand at MacroQuest and KissAssist.

Brings me to my actual question after that rambling. I run 2 character and 2 mercs, but I watch Sic running a full 6 characters. If I go through setting everything up is it significantly more work or harder to run 6 characters versus 2? Will I need to worry about running more than 2 characters to explore content when I start to get closer to the free content of level 120? I have noticed things seem to be exponentially tougher not linearly tougher as I have used my heroic boost and moved into level 90s content.

 

[Redmonkey]

2 characters with 2 mercs will take you well into 120, I ran that but then added a third around then. Gave me 3 mercs, a healer, a tank and a rogue.

Your big drawback is going to be your level of membership in EQ. If you are a free account then all you can run are apprentice mercs and those are pitiful. If you can only afford one paying account then put a healer merc on that account.

When money is tight most folks will rotate paying for accounts to do auto grant each month for the AA. So what I would do, in your shoes, is make a tank merc and a healer merc on each character so they can switch around and the month Character A is paid then use the healer merc and next month if Character B is paid then use the healer merc on that account and the tank on the free account.

You can get another merc slot in marketplace and should be a sale soon, or you can do a lengthly drawn out quest called Mercenary Recruitment but you need all tradeskills at 300 and there is Achievement: Master of Alaris which is also long.

WB!

 

[Sic]

I started playing at release and I would say sometime around Velious I started hearing about MacroQuest as Bards would run around kiting entire zones. I stopped playing in the PoP era and left it there.

Feeling nostalgic and not finding any current games that really draw me in the way EQ did. I am waiting for Final Fantasy Tactics to release on Steam later this year to replay that game. But I really miss playing my OG EQ Monk. The merc is a nice addition to solo some content having a dedicated healer, but seeing as accounts are free I ran up a second account and grabbed an 85 heroic tank and have a healer and caster DPS merc running.

I have been watching Sic’s videos and tutorials and all I can say is wow. Great resources from this guy. I am definitely going to join up and follow the guides to try my hand at MacroQuest and KissAssist.

Brings me to my actual question after that rambling. I run 2 character and 2 mercs, but I watch Sic running a full 6 characters. If I go through setting everything up is it significantly more work or harder to run 6 characters versus 2? Will I need to worry about running more than 2 characters to explore content when I start to get closer to the free content of level 120? I have noticed things seem to be exponentially tougher not linearly tougher as I have used my heroic boost and moved into level 90s content.

hey dude!

imo, managing your toons is just as important as having automation you can rely on - once you figure out how to manage your team, it becomes so much less of a challenge to expand.

for > me < i mostly dont do anything for my background toons a good majority of the time.

 

[R4nsum]

2 characters with 2 mercs will take you well into 120, I ran that but then added a third around then. Gave me 3 mercs, a healer, a tank and a rogue.

Your big drawback is going to be your level of membership in EQ. If you are a free account then all you can run are apprentice mercs and those are pitiful. If you can only afford one paying account then put a healer merc on that account.

When money is tight most folks will rotate paying for accounts to do auto grant each month for the AA. So what I would do, in your shoes, is make a tank merc and a healer merc on each character so they can switch around and the month Character A is paid then use the healer merc and next month if Character B is paid then use the healer merc on that account and the tank on the free account.

You can get another merc slot in marketplace and should be a sale soon, or you can do a lengthly drawn out quest called Mercenary Recruitment but you need all tradeskills at 300 and there is Achievement: Master of Alaris which is also long.

WB!

I appreciate the points you make for AA progression. I can afford my 2 accounts, but if I added any more they would be the free to play ones. Good to think about rotating the subscription on one of the 2 accounts is brilliant.

 

[R4nsum]

hey dude!

imo, managing your toons is just as important as having automation you can rely on - once you figure out how to manage your team, it becomes so much less of a challenge to expand.

for > me < i mostly dont do anything for my background toons a good majority of the time.

Sounds like a good starting point might be to stick with my 2 guys, Monk and Shadow Knight, with mercs while I get things setup and learn the ropes. Your key bindings and social mappings are impressive and well thought out. The KissAssist library is incredible for a learner like me. You definitely made thinks look pretty easy in your character mobility management video, but I can see how it takes practice to remember or get muscle memory on all the different modes and sending it to the right character if managing more than 1 extra character.

 

[GKD1231]

Welcome back...

On 3 of my accounts, I have a 3 month subscription, and I have staggered them so that one subscription renews every month. It is cheaper than paying monthly subscriptions. My other 2, I just farm the plat to buy Krono ingame to keep them up.

To me, this is cheap entertainment. I spend less per month on EQ than I do going to the movies just once. But that is just me, I dont usually leave my house. LOL

 

[Sic]

Sounds like a good starting point might be to stick with my 2 guys, Monk and Shadow Knight, with mercs while I get things setup and learn the ropes. Your key bindings and social mappings are impressive and well thought out. The KissAssist library is incredible for a learner like me. You definitely made thinks look pretty easy in your character mobility management video, but I can see how it takes practice to remember or get muscle memory on all the different modes and sending it to the right character if managing more than 1 extra character.

keep in mind - many of my videos are either *specifically* utilizing the cwtn class plugins, or, while i was using kissasist, a combination of kissassist and the cwtn class plugins.

kissassist, for example, doesn't have modes or anything like that, that is just the cwtn class plugins.

I'd encourage a few things:
- try out different automations
- - kissassist is the golden standard
- - rgmercs Lua edition is "out of the box" with minimal config/setup and included
- - cwtn plugins are "premium" unless test server
- - modbot, entropy, mq2heals/mq2afnuke, xgen, aq1 bot, muleassist are also out there with varying degree of setup and config

- be patient with yourself
- - there is a lot of information, it takes time to "get your footing"

- dont be shy in asking for help/clarification/direction
- - be prepared to meet folks "at least half way"

- understand the game is likely much different "now adays" than either a: it was or b: how you remember it was
- - there is going to be some "but i thought xyz" or "back in my day xyz"
- - - be open to the things folks are going to tell you that might challenge your preexisting bias/opinions

- the goal is to have fun
- - which means it doesn't matter if other folks ARE right, if you'd prefer to do it your way, and are fine with your struggles/success/failures then do it

- join discord
- - lots of us hang out every day
- - it isn't a place that is for edginess or 1-upsmanship despite some efforts of some folks for it to be that way
- - - RG has plenty of room for "personalities" but no room for "toxic shit"
- - - - we're all "red buddies" here

 

[GKD1231]

Before I started using cwtn plugins, I used QKI - Quicky Kiss It with kissassist. It was great for those quick adjustments without having to go to the ini to change.

Just a thought.

 

[knave23]

as someone also coming back (in my case to live) after a bit of a break, test is free gold membership and I've found starting over to be much easier and smoother than I was afraid it would be.

 

[R4nsum]

keep in mind - many of my videos are either *specifically* utilizing the cwtn class plugins, or, while i was using kissasist, a combination of kissassist and the cwtn class plugins.

kissassist, for example, doesn't have modes or anything like that, that is just the cwtn class plugins.

I'd encourage a few things:
- try out different automations
- - kissassist is the golden standard
- - rgmercs lua edition is "out of the box" with minimal config/setup and included
- - cwtn plugins are "premium" unless test server
- - modbot, entropy, mq2heals/mq2afnuke, xgen, aq1 bot, muleassist are also out there with varying degree of setup and config

- be patient with yourself
- - there is a lot of information, it takes time to "get your footing"

- dont be shy in asking for help/clarification/direction
- - be prepared to meet folks "at least half way"

- understand the game is likely much different "now adays" than either a: it was or b: how you remember it was
- - there is going to be some "but i thought xyz" or "back in my day xyz"
- - - be open to the things folks are going to tell you that might challenge your preexisting bias/opinions

- the goal is to have fun
- - which means it doesn't matter if other folks ARE right, if you'd prefer to do it your way, and are fine with your struggles/success/failures then do it

- join discord
- - lots of us hang out every day
- - it isn't a place that is for edginess or 1-upsmanship despite some efforts of some folks for it to be that way
- - - RG has plenty of room for "personalities" but no room for "toxic shit"
- - - - we're all "red buddies" here

All that information is wonderful and I like the tone. Might have to hop on discord and check it out. I am laid back and pretty quiet for the most part. Won’t get conflict or strife from me.

 

[R4nsum]

as someone also coming back (in my case to live) after a bit of a break, test is free gold membership and I've found starting over to be much easier and smoother than I was afraid it would be.

I had never considered the test servers. But I the idea of accounts always being good there is pretty nice.

 

[Crypl]

I would second the test servers as a good community as well. Very easy to get a lot of best in slot gear through your leveling progression. People test copy it and give it away or you can find it in the Bazaar for 1pp each. And don't fret if you don't have any Plat as people will send you 2mil plat if you OOC for it.

And if you haven't read it or heard it from anyone else don't every run fully automated and afk. I have had accounts banned as has most people here I am sure even when not being afk. I try to stick to zones with no one else in them, or at most like 1 other group. I am always very friendly and vocal in that zone about where I am going and what I am hunting and that if for any reason our paths cross I have a big old Abort button that shuts down all my macros and I will just teleport out or move elsewhere in the zone.

Another possible benefit of Test server as I haven't had an account banned on the Test server. All bans have happened on Live accounts. I don't even ever log into my original, oldest account that house my Test copied Shadow Knight with all of her Raid gear and spells. I started another free account and bought some DBG Marketplace items like Shared experience potions so I can test copy him over every 8 hours and share 50% 4/hour XP potions with the community.

 

[Redmonkey]

I had never considered the test servers. But I the idea of accounts always being good there is pretty nice.

Don't forget your level 2 here. You have enough red cents to buy level 2 from the red cent shop (50 reds per month) and level 2 will give you some tools free.

You can keep up your level 2 by putting red cents on other's posts and posting informative or just cool stores or tips, strategy's etc

And this is what level 2 will also get you

• Very Vanilla, the ultimate multi-boxing utility. Works on official servers & test server.
• Support for any issue you run across.
• The largest macro and Lua collection for EverQuest on the internet.
• Can give "RedCents" to other users
• KissAssist - the quickest and easiest Everquest boxing macro.

User levels

User levels and groups explained.

www.redguides.com

 

[Mugly]

I am a test-only player. There are many benefits to playing on test, but there is a major hiccup when it comes to playing on test with RG. The test server build is significantly down longer than the live server build. This is something you have to accept if you want to play EQ your way on test. Test server pushes out a lot more patches to see how they will work on the live servers, and it breaks the MQ build, and it just can't be updated sometimes for over a week. This is in addition to the monthly two patches. There is nothing RG can do to make that process faster; it is simply "the way". These folks are not full-time employees of a Fortune 500 company, that is, RedGuides. Most are volunteers and are doing this because they, too, are fans and loyal players of the game. Lots of benefits and sometimes lots of headaches. I just wanted to temper expectations if you decide to play on test. One final thing, Test does not have the same amount of Bans or suspensions for using MQ, but it is still a violation of TOS, and they do happen. Just like on live never get totally dependent on any one character of all of your characters. It is not a matter of if your toons will get banned, it's a matter of when, plan accordingly.

 

[R4nsum]

Don't forget your level 2 here. You have enough red cents to buy level 2 from the red cent shop (50 reds per month) and level 2 will give you some tools free.

You can keep up your level 2 by putting red cents on other's posts and posting informative or just cool stores or tips, strategy's etc

And this is what level 2 will also get you

• Very Vanilla, the ultimate multi-boxing utility. Works on official servers & test server.
• Support for any issue you run across.
• The largest macro and Lua collection for EverQuest on the internet.
• Can give "RedCents" to other users
• KissAssist - the quickest and easiest Everquest boxing macro.

User levels

User levels and groups explained.

www.redguides.com

Thanks for that catch. I purchased level 2 for a month. So I can get started in the morning.

 

[Lord Sivion]

What's this "6" character thing all about? 18 or more. At least.

 

[TinyBubbles]

If I go through setting everything up is it significantly more work or harder to run 6 characters versus 2?

Once you get comfortable with whatever automation you decide to use, moving up to 6 accounts goes pretty smoothly and doesn't really add any overhead in-game.

If you decide to give Test server a try, go to your live account(s), log into the toons you want to have on test, and type /testcopy. After you've done that with the account(s) of interest, then change the version (upper left corner) from Live to Test (click on it), you eq will update, and you will then log into the test server. Your copied toons will be there waiting for you. A note of warning, when you /testcopy live to test, if you've played your toon from level (example) level 90 to level 110 and then /testcopy that account again, you will OVERWRITE that toon on test and it will be level 90 again with the AA and gear it had before. I had the resources at the time and changed the name of my Test server toon so that I wouldn't have to worry about copying over him.

On Test server, you can start other free accounts and once you have your toon in game, you can type /testbuff, and it levels you from 1 to 25, with gear and abilities. Just saves a bit of leveling effort.

On Test server, the population is generally low, but the community is awesome. As previously stated, folks will parcel you 2M plat, bags, gear, stuff, TS items, etc. There are a reasonable amount of folks that post stuff up in the bazaar for 1pp. From T1 gear, to the chase loot for each expansion. Not on chase loot, it usually takes 6-9 months after new chase loot comes out that you start to see it consistently on test.

I love test. Its where I do most of my playing. Back in Kunark, I fell in love with buying and trading. I still love the /bazaar on my live server. Enjoy the game how you enjoy it.

 

[Chibz]

Regarding the Test server comments, I will add that you might as well move to 6 accounts/toons since there is no subscription required for Gold (already mentioned above). Plus, CWTN plugins for all your toons are available free also. These plugins will greatly simplify your adjustment to managing 6 toons (no mercs).

 

[RobRenfro]

If you're new back instead of Kiss assist I'd give th RGMERCS Lua a try for ease of use. And Caster Mercs are great but if they nuke heavy they get low on mana. The Rogue Merc doesn't need mana. And when you say tank you might want to consider rerolling an SK for extra offense.

 

[knave23]

Question for you test folks about name changes and /testcopy - does it keep the link between my live toon and the forced upon it name change on test? e.g. if I /testcopy Toon and on test it becomes Toonx, will my next /testcopy overwrite Toonx or become Toony? I assume the former but just thought of it so figured I'd ask

 

[Algar]

Overwrite and if you aren't careful you can screw yourself over.
I've also heard of weird incidents of people deleting the source character, making a new one with the same name, and have it overwriting the old test character of that name.

Some people only ever test copy from a hotkey (or other original fail-safes) so they don't ever accidentally test copy the wrong dude etc.

 

[durango773]

Welcome back! EQ + MQ is still a good game. About the mercs, there is also a dropped item in.. cotf? I forget where, but lets you add a merc slot, Ill look it up when I am at PC and update.

 

[Smartiez]

Question for you test folks about name changes and /testcopy - does it keep the link between my live toon and the forced upon it name change on test? e.g. if I /testcopy Toon and on test it becomes Toonx, will my next /testcopy overwrite Toonx or become Toony? I assume the former but just thought of it so figured I'd ask

buy a name change pot from the store before you /testcopy and change your name on test. That will prevent any toon getting written over by a new /testcopy!

 

[Redfrog]

buy a name change pot from the store before you /testcopy and change your name on test. That will prevent any toon getting written over by a new /testcopy!

I have never played on Test, that I recall, but I love to know about possibilities. So.... is it possible to /testcopy my Tank01, log on Test, do the name change, go back to Live and /testcopy Tank01 again and have 2 supertanks (debatable they are Super since its my guys) on Test?

 

[TinyBubbles]

@Redfrog. yes, if you change Tank01's name to TankSuperTank on test, then you can indeed copy the Live Tank01 to test and keep them both. Thats what i did with my Monk. Copied Over Monk and renamed him Monk01, and then I use the original live monk to do /testcopy when I want something. A friendly note, if you use your loyalty tokens to get Unattuner's, Perfected distiller's, Anchors, etc. Then buy them on live, 1 or 2 of each is all you need, and then /testcopy them over. You can build up a small bundle of items over time. Expand the concept to whatever you want more of on test.

 

[Redfrog]

I have never played on Test, that I recall, but I love to know about possibilities. So.... is it possible to /testcopy my Tank01, log on Test, do the name change, go back to Lie and /testcopy Tank01 again and have 2 supertanks (debatable they are Super since its my guys) on Test?

@Redfrog. yes, if you change Tank01's name to TankSuperTank on test, then you can indeed copy the Live Tank01 to test and keep them both. Thats what i did with my Monk. Copied Over Monk and renamed him Monk01, and then I use the original live monk to do /testcopy when I want something. A friendly note, if you use your loyalty tokens to get Unattuner's, Perfected distiller's, Anchors, etc. Then buy them on live, 1 or 2 of each is all you need, and then /testcopy them over. You can build up a small bundle of items over time. Expand the concept to whatever you want more of on test.

So I would have TankSuperTank and Tank 01, both the same, on same account, but different characters at login , correct?
If I am a dum-dum and get either banned (Cause I will use MQ if I play), I lose the Test account and lose both guys? Since its connected to main 1999 account Live , would that get affected?

 

[Algar]

So I would have TankSuperTank and Tank 01, both the same, on same account, but different characters at login , correct?
If I am a dum-dum and get either banned (Cause I will use MQ if I play), I lose the Test account and lose both guys? Since its connected to main 1999 account Live , would that get affected?

Its the same account. They would all be nuked.

 

[R4nsum]

So I went big. I created 4 more new accounts and started setting up all my logins, profiles and hotkeys on Test.

I have a Shadow Knight, Cleric, Bard, Rogue, Beastlord, and Mage. I can log them all in successfully with my active group profile with just a few clicks (really nice). Based on answers and browsing the forums I was able to enable the CWTN plugins from the PluginManager Window. Crazy amount of options in there.

Next steps based on Sic’s hotkeys is to finish up Auto grouping so I don’t have to do that manually.

Then to try out all the movement stuff. Think not too long until I’m fighting. Yay!!

 

[Redfrog]

Its the same account. They would all be nuked.

D'oh! I figured, but good to be clear on it. Is most stuff tradeable on Test? So I can copy A guy and just trade all his cool clickies and stuffs to some new account? Sounds like plat is a non issue there. What about Neighborhoods and guildhalls/houses?

 

[Algar]

D'oh! I figured, but good to be clear on it. Is most stuff tradeable on Test? So I can copy A guy and just trade all his cool clickies and stuffs to some new account? Sounds like plat is a non issue there. What about Neighborhoods and guildhalls/houses?

Nothing is tradeable on test that is not tradeable on a standard server. Plat is a non-issue, it is handed around. I have no idea about neighborhoods.

 

[Valdemar]

We're not supposed to mention which server we play on, so don't assume that this recommendation is based on my server. Anyway, let me recommend Firiona Vie server as an option. It's not Test and lacks some of the benefits outlined, but it does remove one total pain which is NO DROP. There are still special items that are NO DROP, but normal stuff can be traded. It cuts way back on the headache of gearing your toons as they level. If something drops that one of your toons needs which is not active, you can loot it and transfer later. It also serves to gin-up the player economy a bit because people can buy and sell items that are NO DROP on other servers.

It's something to consider. It does cost money to transfer toons and you need to pay careful attention to the restrictions because they will not do refunds. Transferring bank contents also requires loading up character's bags before you actually initiate, and you may need to create and transfer bank mules to get everything out of your personal and guild banks. I suppose it just depends on how much you value being able to transfer gear that would be NO DROP on other servers.

 

[Jaspar]

Welcome back! I played from about 2000 until 2010ish and then fazed out. I did take time off in between here and there. I started playing again last year and had no clue about the offerings of this community until researching it last year. It's been so cool getting to know EQ in a whole new way. I tend to play more on Test and have been experimenting with emulators. My accounts have gotten banned here and there and I just picked up and made new ones. Sic is right about learning management of the toons. It helps a great deal to figure out a system that works for you. I'm sure you'll have fun with it.

 

[Free_Sid]

I kind of feel like eventually you will run the whole group. FTP characters are better than mercs anyway so you might as well start leveling them all together. I started with an original 3 box group I played before MQ2...3 toons plus 3 mercs....within a month I made 3 extra toons and it was way better than having the mercs. a mage for coth...wiz for port/evac...you really have the chance to enhance your group.