HowTo: Guide to Laptop Multi-Boxing Part 2

Welcome back for the second installment of the Guide to Laptop Multi-Boxing. Since the last post I have gotten team RSD (Rouge-Shaman-Druid) up to level 55 and have been running Stratholme and Scholomance with the help of some very kind guildies. Leveling 3 toons to 55 in 13 days with a solid raid schedule as well is something I am very proud of and did not think possible. I guess you could just roll a Death Knight and just start at 55, but this gives you 9 other options.

After part one you should have a good understanding of how to setup your computer to be able to run three clients at once and have installed KeyClone. The next set in actually playing the game this way is to set up Keyclone so you can get a display like the one above and pass the right keys to all windows.

First, make sure you have your 3 WoW directories. For this guide I am assuming the directories are:

C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft
C:\Program Files\WOW2
C:\Program Files\WOW3

Second, KeyClone needs to be installed and registered. KeyClone is not freeware and costs 20 USD payable by PayPal and linked in the app. I have tried other free apps that provide similar functionality, but they do not all required functionality. The Maximizer functionality of KeyClone alone makes it worth the price.

Now that the base has been set up, KeyClone needs to be configured. When you launch KeyClone it should look like this (however, the middle area will be blank).

Click "Setup" and the "General" page of Setup will be displayed. Configure the following settings:

KeyClone name: This is the name of your computer. You can have multiple computers with KeyClone installed relay key strokes between them.
auto-add windows titled: Unchecked and the text box = "world of warcraft"
focus follows mouse: I have this unchecked because i did not like how it worked. Try it and use at your own discretion
startup command: Checked and text box = "main,alt01,alt02"
seconds: 2

Now create the commands you defined in the startup command field:

This will create the command to launch the top window.

command: main
cpu affinity: CPU0 (this assumes a dual core processor is being used)
program: C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\WoW.exe
region: region1
wow:username: checked and text box = your primary account's WoW account name.
wow:maxfpsbk: Maximum frames per second of a WoW client in the background: 15
maxfps: Maximum frames per second of a wow client in the foreground: 40

Now click the "+" button.

This will create the command to launch the bottom left window.

command: alt01
cpu affinity: CPU1 (this assumes a dual core processor is being used)
program: C:\Program Files\WoW2\WoW.exe
region: region2
wow:username: checked and text box = your second account's WoW account name.
wow:maxfpsbk: Maximum frames per second of a WoW client in the background: 15
maxfps: Maximum frames per second of a wow client in the foreground: 40

Now click the "+" button.

This will create the command to launch the bottom right window.

command: alt02
cpu affinity: CPU1 (this assumes a dual core processor is being used)
program: C:\Program Files\WoW3\WoW.exe
region: region3
wow:username: checked and text box = your third account's WoW account name.
wow:maxfpsbk: Maximum frames per second of a WoW client in the background: 15
maxfps: Maximum frames per second of a wow client in the foreground: 40

Now click the "+" button.

Next configure the "Do-Not-Pass" page.

These keys will not be passed to the background windows. This is very helpful.

I have the movement keys WASD, "R"eply, "M"ap, "B"ag, "N" - Talents, "C"haracter, "/", Enter, and Escape on my list. Feel free to experiment with what ever works for you.

The next thing that needs to be done is to setup Maximizer.

This is the part of KeyClone that sets up the three window display. I use an import file do everything is exact. To import a setting file press the "I" button and select the file. This is the configuration I use:

D,1920,800
R,'region1','\\.\DISPLAY1',0,0,1920,800,(119.0),(1920x800),0
R,'region2','\\.\DISPLAY1',6,800,966,1200,(120.0),(1920x800),0
R,'region3','\\.\DISPLAY1',960,800,1920,1200,(121.0),(1920x800),0

I also set PIP (picture in picture) to Left Ctrl + F1 for region 1, Left Ctrl + F2 for region 2, and Left Ctrl + F3 for region 3. PIP lets you switch which window is the top main. This way if you need to switch toons you are not forces to use the smaller bottom windows.

My configuration is specific for my resolution of 1920 by 1200. A large number of import files for various configurations and resolutions can be found here.


Lastly and override key needs to be configured on the override settings page. This will allow you to turn off broadcasting when do thing s in only one window, like chatting, and then turn it back on. I use the "Pause/Break" key.
Finally, click OK and close KeyClone. Now launch each instance of your client manually One at a time. On each client open the video settings and select "Windowed Mode" and set the resolution to 800x600. This will not be the actual resolution, as Maximizer will set it but this needs to be the default.

Close the client and do the same for each of the others.

Now launch KeyClone. This should spawn all three windows in whatever configuration you specified in Maximizer. The account name should be populated. Press "Pause" to turn off broadcast and click each window, enter you password and log-in. Select each toon and "Enter World".

Now click "Pause" again to enable broadcast.

Once all three toons are physically next to each other, tell the two alts to "/follow" your main.

Congratulations! You are now multi-boxing on a laptop.

In the next installment of the guide I will explain macros, addons, and general tips to make using three toons at once more smoothly.

If you have any questions please leave a comment.

Additional resources can be found here:

KeyClone Homepage
Dual-Boxing.com Forums

Until next time, remember NO DRAMA is good drama.