New "Macro Strings", Macro's Reborn!

[Coldbrand]

Revamping the UI would go a LONG way towards keeping this game fresh and survivable for the future.

[kingfury]

**EDITED ORIGINAL POST**

Cool alternatives/Similar concepts:
-Selzak's idea(Post 1),(Post 2)
-Tamarsamar's idea
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Yep, I wouldn't mind how it gets done, whether my idea or another's, so long as we can reduce the cumbersome task that is gear swapping ^^ As it stands, I'm satisfied knowing that the Dev Team realizes the need to revise the UI of the current macro system. Thanks to the feedback from Camate /salute. Every idea beyond this point is just constructive feedback towards communicating to the Devs what we would like to see before they eventually update the system.

Thanks to everyone that posted feedback so far, and I hope we keep it going until we hear word from the Devs on exactly what we can hope to see in the future. /salute

[kingfury]

Would it be terribly hard to let the "/macro book" and "/macro set" commands receive a similar face lift as the /wait command got with the "<wait ##>"? It would be super great to have that last macro line be used for actually commanding something or including that last piece of gear vs only housing /macro set ## or /macro book ##. Example:

/equip Ammo "Ravager's Orb" <macro set #>
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Oh and also(if the latter is not possible, at least this lol):

/macro book ## <macro set ##> (since if you want to jump to another book and set you need to take up two macro lines to do so)
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That's gotta be doable Camate!! ^^/
/Kingfury readies drumroll... o.o;

[Keyln]

While we can see the plus sides of the suggestion, there are some pitfalls involved as well. Being able to string together multiple macros would put too much of an emphasis on automation and that is a direction that the development team does not want to move toward.

Though I can’t promise a specific date, the development team is looking into UI and macro revamps for the future.

I would like to point out that it isn't automatic macros necessarily that most people want, but the ability to swap gear in and out with a single button press. The way it is now is a big problem.

For example, when I play Summoner, when I use a Blood Pact, I have to press three buttons. The first button is to activate my Blood Pact, as well as swap in my Blood Pact Delay - gear, then I press a second button to swap in my avatar magic optimization/physical optimization/summoning magic optimization gear, and then I need to press a third button to swap in my avatar perpetuation optimization set (No perpetuation cost kupo!).

In short, I need to press three buttons to do one job. If I can limit to one button, that'd be great.

[Krystal]

i gotta say king..you have some VERY GOOD IDEAS for FFXI...honestly...maybe you should apply for the dev team! they could use someone like you!

[kingfury]

i gotta say king..you have some VERY GOOD IDEAS for FFXI...honestly...maybe you should apply for the dev team! they could use someone like you!

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/kneel Thank you very much friend for the feedback ^^/ It would be a dream come true, honestly to officially work with/for the Dev Team, of which I would try to pinch myself everyday to make sure was real lol.

After checking out the Careers Page, though, I think I would need a major reference from the inside to even get my foot in the door since they are only hiring what seems to be "Big Wig" positions right now lol ><;

I'm going to submit my resume anyway of course and just /crossfingers in the hopes they need an artist to illustrate little stuff like the occasional event written pieces (like the current Egg Bonanza illustration that's up now) because I would totally rock those out all day lol. Those writers deserve a small web comic page based on all that good writing ^^. Hmmm... maybe that could be apart of my resume submission! o.o But, I'll take anything for that matter ^^

[kingfury]

I would like to point out that it isn't automatic macros necessarily that most people want, but the ability to swap gear in and out with a single button press. The way it is now is a big problem.
For example, when I play Summoner, when I use a Blood Pact, I have to press three buttons. The first button is to activate my Blood Pact, as well as swap in my Blood Pact Delay - gear, then I press a second button to swap in my avatar magic optimization/physical optimization/summoning magic optimization gear, and then I need to press a third button to swap in my avatar perpetuation optimization set (No perpetuation cost kupo!).
In short, I need to press three buttons to do one job. If I can limit to one button, that'd be great.

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/Agreed, This is in essence the basis of my proposed concept in a nutshell. Granted, I opted for even more power with group strings which would pull in up to 3 macros at once per macro line ^^; but the request is the same overall. Pressing "One" macro to handle a complete gear swap would be ideal.

I pray that whatever the revamped Macro UI comes out to be, it answers, at the very least, this request.

Thanks for the feedback /

[kingfury]

**EDITED TO ORIGINAL POST**
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Would it be terribly hard to let the "/macro book" and "/macro set" commands receive a similar face lift as the /wait command got with the "<wait ##>"? It would be super great to have that last macro line be used for actually commanding something or including that last piece of gear vs only housing /macro set ## or /macro book ##. Example:

/equip Ammo "Ravager's Orb" <macro set #>
-----
Oh and also(if the latter is not possible, at least this lol):

/macro book ## <macro set ##> (since if you want to jump to another book and set you need to take up two macro lines to do so)
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I actually should've put this in from the start ><; Camate, if you're at all able to revisit this, this would be super helpful if the Devs could give some feedback on this particular possibility. If they are in fact already working on such an improvement, then all is well ^^ /

[Zumi]

Are you forgetting PS2 limitations won't allow that much in the RAM to be used at once, it only has 32mb. It would definitely have to be in the RAM to work so it won't work unless there was no PS2.

[Duzell]

When I started I asked a GM why i couldn't have Macro 1 Turn on Macro 2 and the GM told me it prevents automation. The example they gave is Macro 1 having 3 enhancing spells, and 2 having 2 spells and refresh and having #1 start #2 and #2 start #1 so you could go AFK and cap enhancing magic. So long as there is no way for this situation to occur I see no reason why you couldn't allow a gear set as a single macro line in some way.