PC Boxing - Multiboxing Guide

Using Hotkeys to Switch EQ Windows

Using alt-tab is strictly frowned upon, because of the PC client's problem of having alt stick when using alt-tab, and because of the extra actions needed to switch a window. It is highly recommended you use a hotkey that involves 1 keypress, not something with a combination of multiple hotkeys (like ctr+f1.) Less actions per minute (APM) to switch a window = more APM to control your character.

(3/1/2023) Link to brief HotKeyNet and macro tutorial video, for PC client users https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJA6ShtIJI4

Secret's Client

If you are using Secret's client then it came with a program called HotKeyNet.exe and a script file called Script.txt. By starting HotKeyNet.exe and loading Script.txt, then pressing left control + f12 you can automatically open 3 EQ windows. This script works with Secret's client only because the client will automatically name the Window of the program based on how many clients are currently open (up to Client4.) You can see this script assigns <hotkeys> to a function that sets the window to the foreground. You can change the hotkeys used in the <hotkey> tag by looking at this link http://www.hotkeynet.com/ref/keynames.html

<Hotkey Lctrl F12>
<SendPC local>

	<Open "C:\EQMac\eqgame.exe" patchme>
	<Wait 2000>
	<Open "C:\EQMac\eqgame.exe" patchme>
	<Wait 2000>
	<Open "C:\EQMac\eqgame.exe" patchme>
	<Wait 2000>

            

<hotkey NumpadInsert>
	<If WinExists "Client1-LS">
		<TargetWin "Client1-LS">
		<SetForegroundWin>
		<SendFocusWin>
	<else If WinExists "Client1">
		<TargetWin "Client1">
		<SetForegroundWin>
		<SendFocusWin>
	<else>
	<endif>


<hotkey NumpadEnd>
	<if WinExists "Client2-LS">
		<TargetWin "Client2-LS">
		<SetForegroundWin>
		<SendFocusWin>
	<else if WinExists "Client2">
		<TargetWin "Client2">
		<SetForegroundWin>
		<SendFocusWin>
	<else>
	<endif>

<hotkey NumpadLeft>
	<if WinExists "Client3-LS">
		<TargetWin "Client3-LS">
		<SetForegroundWin>
		<SendFocusWin>
	<else if WinExists "Client3">
		<TargetWin "Client3">
		<SetForegroundWin>
		<SendFocusWin>
	<else>
	<endif>

<hotkey NumpadHome>
	<if WinExists "HotkeyNet 0.1.45 build 210">
		<TargetWin "HotkeyNet 0.1.45 build 210">
		<SetForegroundWin>
		<SendFocusWin>
	<endif>

• Note - By adding the last hotkey (NumpadHome) and assigning it to the HotkeyNet window, this allows people with multi monitors to focus out to a separate window, like Chrome (alt-tab has problems on Secret's client when using multiple monitors.)

Not using Secret's client

If you do not use Secret's client (then you are using just eqw.exe (perhaps with Haynar's new .dll)) then you can use a program written by Surron that will rename each window and assign numpad hotkeys to each box. More info here http://www.takproject.net/forums/index.php?threads/pc-boxing-hotkey-program.1647/

Useful Boxing Macros

Please include in this guide any type of useful macro that can be used with EQ commands that inhibit more effective game play.

Following your main toon

On all my characters I use the same spot on my hot bar (4) to auto follow my main toon. That way if I need to rush out of an area, I press box1 hotkey (1 key press) and then press the number 4 (1 key press.) 2 actions and 1 of my boxes is on autofollow.

/target Main
/pause 1
/follow

A very small /pause is needed to handle the delay when using /target

Standing - Healing - Sitting

Sometimes combining a /sit with a heal macro can be an agro inducing dilemma, and can be a pain if the hotkey was pressed unintentionally. However, making your group leader the healer, and always inviting the tank (or whoever takes most damage first, so they become hotkey f2 to your healer) is very important. With this hotkey you can switch to healer box, press f2, press your heal hotkey and then switch back. All in under a seconds time, your groupmates will be impressed with your APM. Always include a /group Casting Heal on %t line so that when switching back to your other toon you can be sure that the heal hotkey was pressed. However, because of this you only have room for 2 /cast's which can leave room for fizzle errors.

/g healing %t
/stand
/cast 2
/pause 46, /cast 2
/sit

Although the /pause here is first, it is actually doing the /cast 2 first, and then waiting 4.6 seconds to /sit.

Standing - Assisting - Nuking - Sitting

Like the heal macro, you need to be careful when using this as to not pull agro by having the /sit in the hotkey. This hotkey however leaves only one /cast so fizzles can be a problem.

/stand
/assist MainAssist
/pause 5
/pause 50, /cast 1
/sit

Assisting and Pet Attack

Switching to a box, assisting and pet attacking is probably a common macro. (Make sure to /assist off) so auto attack doesn't turn on.

/assist MainAssist
/pause 5
/pet attack
/pet health

Here a /pause is needed because there is a delay when using /assist. I include the /pet health so I am spammed with the pet's buff list each time, so I can monitor rebuffs.

Dragging Multiple Corpses

You can drag up to 2 corpses at a time, you can not spam this macro for it to work correctly, you must press it once and let it complete before pressing again.

/target Person1
/corpse
/target Person2
/corpse