Need a little help - WAR

I am nearing level 50 as my WAR and seem to be doing okay, however, I seem to be having pretty limited hotbar space as I play on PS4. The advice I am looking for is a more simplified rotation or hotbar setup that I can use to still do a good job tanking and keep my cooldowns for damage spikes.

Possibly some macros that I can use to combine some cooldowns would be a solution.

Yeah, no macros. Bad tank, bad... no macros, unless they are just CD macros, and they only have one skill in them and maybe say something to let your party know you're using a certain skill. Tanking takes adjustments, quick thinking, and you can't be hung up with using a rotation on a macro. First though, we have to know what system you're playing on. PC or Playstation. Since the bar set up is different. I can only really give advice on a PC set up since that's what I play all the classes and jobs on.

I definitely wasn't thinking of macroing a rotation, that would be bad. I was thinking something along the lines, which I found, putting defensive cooldowns in one macro, where I could have them all up at different times, or all together if the fight called for it. I am on playstation. I was also thinking more along the lines of what skills are pretty situational, and what are more necessary for starting out at 50.

The macros I plan on trying out are:

/ac "Foresight" <me>
/ac "Featherfoot" <me>

and

/ac "Thrill of battle" <me>
/ac "Convalescence" <me>

as far as defensive goes.

For offensive I have:
/ac "mercy stroke" <t>
/ac "heavy swing" <t>
this should allow for mercy stroke when available, otherwise itll usually be heavy swing

and

/ac "Bloodbath" <me>
/ac "Skull Sunder" <t>
this way bloodbath is always up instead of me having to use another hotbar slot for it

Don't put CDs on a macro together unless they are meant to be paired together, making them catalysts to each other. For instance, Blood Bath, then 10 seconds later, Berserk. These are catalytic skills, since Berserk increases your damage, and Bloodbath absorbs that extra damage as healing. Much of this game requires good timing, and especially on warriors. Things like Foresight and Featherfoot don't usually have combinations that play off one another, and thus shouldn't be used in a Macro. Also, you have to be careful, macros with no wait times will perform only one skill in the list of macros. I often use this aspect of the game to put things like Bloodletter into macros on all my spam skills on Bard, that way I don't have to worry about looking at the skill itself to see if the CD reset from a DOT crit, it will just do it automatically 1 second after the skill I just threw out. You can't do that on a warrior... ESPECIALLY on a warrior. A Paladin may get away with putting Shield Swipe in a list CD before one of spam skills, but a Warrior definitely can't do this since soooo many of their tools are soooo situational.

That being said, the CDs are definitely something you should take a moment to examine and think carefully about. Pairings together can be dangerous and result in lower survivability. You'll also notice I didn't say put Unchained and Bloodbath together. My reason for this is the different CD times, meaning that when one is ready to be used, the other won't be.

also, by list macros, I mean something like this.

/ac "Shield Swipe" <t>
/ac "Fast Blade" <t>

This will cause my character to use Shield Swipe instead of Fast Blade if Shield Swipe is available for use, but will also still use Fast Blade if it isn't if I press the button. I've tried other list macros, for instance...

/ac "Heavy Shot" <t>
/wait 1
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>
/ac "Hawk's Eye"

This macro will cause my character to use Heavy Shot first, then after 1 second (enough time for the animation lag to go through) it will use Bloodletter automatically, essentially between skills. If Bloodletter isn't up, it will use Hawk's Eye instead. If none are up, nothing. I don't wish to discourage you, because I am sure there are plenty of warriors out there that do just well on Playstation. However, there ARE more buttons at your disposal on a computer, and many MANY more add on you can put on a computer to help. In my case, I use a Razor Naga (20 button mouse with a number pad on the side) and a Razor Nostromo (Mini Keyboard for the left hand with about 30 buttons and a toggle button, effectively doubling the buttons at my finger tips to a total of 100) I'm not going to say it's better to play on PC, but I will say it definitely has its advantages. I am not a PC elitist, I've met plenty of players who play just fine on Playstation, and I play with plenty that do as well. Many Playstation players though often get a keyboard add on to help though.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Konamisune

/ac "Bloodbath" <me>
/ac "Skull Sunder" <t>
this way bloodbath is always up instead of me having to use another hotbar slot for it

---

Believe it or not, Bloodbath is a good CD (I know, I have said otherwise before, but it really is worth its low CD and decent healing), and shouldn't be used just liberally, but paired with a DPS up skill. That's why I suggested Berserk. It's much easier for a Paladin, since it pairs incredibly well with Fight or Flight. Unfortunately, Berserk has a 20s duration on a 50 War, and then 5 seconds of pacification. This is dangerous to use on a CD with Bloodbath without a wait timer, which can't be used on a 7.5 second skill rotation, as the wait time you'll need is 10 seconds to get the full use, so avoid putting skills like this on spam skills, since it will lead to either timing issues, or lack of potential.

I definitely get your point about the PC. In fact, I am usually the one to jump straight to PC over a console for any game that allows it, and might eventually go ahead and spend the money to have both licenses. With the foresight and featherfoot macro, I am not meaning to use them at the same time, but rather one after the other, but it is also very situational, I agree. thrill of battle and convalescence I would most likely use together, because of the 10% increase in health, however, again, situational. Bloodbath and berserk I was thinking about trying together, also, my question is, is if I have the blood bath and berserk macro'd with a /wait 10, would that work while im using other skills? I think I'll end up using the playstation feature for an extra hotbar, should be quick and easy to use once I get used to it

You will need all the hotbars you can get. I actually have all 10 visible at the bottom and left side of my screen. Also, I am not sure what Convalescense and Thrill of Battle will do together. I play warrior, but I'm not that "in tune" with it. I can do well enough to get by on most anything though. If I am not mistaken, Thrill of Battle's HP increase and healing is % based, meaning it won't be effected by Convalescense, since Convalescense only effects healing that varies with certain stats. If I am wrong about either of these, I would like to be corrected, but I am pretty sure I read the tooltips right. Perhaps a hidden mechanic? Not sure.

The thrill of battle increases my health by 10% for 20 seconds as well as healing that 10% as I use it, so in a high spike damage situation, I would put them both up and have a bigger health pool for those 20 secs, and be healed for more as well, at least, that was my thoughts on the usage. Or am I thinking of convalescence the wrong way?

Will I be safe to use something like:
/ac "Bloodbath" <me>
/wait 10
/ac "Berserk" <me>

while I am spamming other abilities?

Yeah, these skills essentially are independent of one another. Even though your HP pool increases, (also, later, a trait will raise it to 20% HP and Healing), the convalescence is still independent. To be perfectly honest, Thrill of Battle isn't a Warrior's strongest CD. It isn't BAD, but it's just the fact that all it does is just kind of inflate your HP. Sure, big numbers look good, but the only REAL benefit is the healing from it. Essentially, all it is, is another Second Wind (I highly suggest getting Second Wind too). Now, pairing Second Wind with Convalescence I am pretty sure is a good combination. Essentially, a macro like this...

/ac "Convalescence"
/wait 1
/ac "Second Wind"

That would be catalytic, as Second Wind is not % based, but Strength based, meaning the heal varies and has a potency factor. So the heal will be boosted by the 20% of Convalescence.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Konamisune

Will I be safe to use something like:
/ac "Bloodbath" <me>
/wait 10
/ac "Berserk" <me>

while I am spamming other abilities?

---

As long as you do not use another macro in that 10 seconds, you should be fine. Starting another macro during a macro will cancel the one in effect, causing the next skill to not be triggered.

This is just my opinion from a main PLD/WAR.

On WAR (All classes?) have a total of 22 skills and you have 16 slots on each bar.
+ another 4 from another class should you carry something over so 26 skills overall.
8 on L2
8 on R2

So quick tapping R1 takes you to the next page giving you another 16.
32 slots for 26 moves (hopefully this is right as I'm not even on the game right now)

You personally need to sit down and train yourself where all actions are and learn to fast tap R1 to get access to the others.
I don't use any macros for any of my classes simply tapping R1 to get to the next set. (I have thought about it for somethings but I don't need it right now)
I have no useless actions on my 32 slots as I like swapping back and forth 2 pages only.
and 4 slots are always going to be Mount/Teleport/Return/LB on all classes. (Page 2 - L2 Right Left Down Up)

So, no as a PS4 user I don't see how you are having limited space.
You need to rework your whole 1 2 3, (4) (5) (6) rotation onto whatever location.

Work in the defence and HP moves to assigned slots, and work in tomahawk and provoke somewhere as well.
Then get 100% used to every location until it becomes muscle memory.

You just need more time on the class, and take a good look at your own skill layout.

Yeah, I am going to start using the L2 -> R2 and R2 -> L2 switches and get used to that I think, rather than R1 switching, but you're right, I haven't even hit 50 yet, so now I will be able to get used to the switches, I was just starting to think about how I might be running out of room pretty soon, and maybe crunch some macros together to help a little.
One more question is how often will I be able to make brutal swing useful in anything but dungeons? I haven't started raids or primals yet and wondering how useful it is to keep at the ready.

I'm also on PS4 and main war, so far i only really use 2 macro's

/ac "Foresight" <me>
/ac "Vengeance" <me>

and

/ac "Bloodbath" <me>
/ac "Convalescence" <me>

i usually switch between tab 2 and 3 for remaining skills, you lose little time if you know what your doing next and know how your defiance buff is going

I use Brutal Swing at every opportunity I get on end game boss's for that extra bit of DPS.
On crit it can be anything to 200+dmg and more with MNK's internal release.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by KuraiKiserogeru

I use Brutal Swing at every opportunity I get on end game boss's for that extra bit of DPS.
On crit it can be anything to 200+dmg and more with MNK's internal release.

---

I do that and then it screws me up on ifrit or bosses that need stuns ;-;

I wasn't really thinking about the DPS, but more of the stun, but it seems it definitely won't hurt to add it in where I can.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LadyLarunai

I'm also on PS4 and main war, so far i only really use 2 macro's

/ac "Foresight" <me>
/ac "Vengeance" <me>

and

/ac "Bloodbath" <me>
/ac "Convalescence" <me>

i usually switch between tab 2 and 3 for remaining skills, you lose little time if you know what your doing next and know how your defiance buff is going

---

I am not sure convalescence work together, but let me know if you see an increase in self-heals. Also, do you use the foresight and vengeance together or separate? Seems it would work better separate except for huge damage spikes, and the cooldown times on them are different, so that kinda shys me away from it.

I agree with the people claiming that you have more than enough bar space... I just hit 50 on my warrior as well and I have plenty of space(also play on the ps4)... You need to start using the L2+R2/R2+L2 combination.. that lets you have a total of 32 buttons easily accessible... it might require some finger training, but once you get the hang of it, you will cycle all bars just as easy as the first one... You can also restrict which bars you cycle through using R1 in and out of battle, which also helps. I have have set up that during battle, just tapping R1 will cycle between bars one and two, and only those two... Which means I basically have another 8 buttons at my "easy to access" disposal...

Here's what I run with (PS4):

Set 1 - When holding L2
Up - Steel Cyclone
Left - Mercy Stroke
Right - Unchained
Down - Overpower

Triangle - Provoke
Square - Infuriate
Circle - Beserk
X - Tomahawk

Set 1 - When holding R2
Up - Storm's Eye
Left - Inner Beast
Right - Storm's Path
Down - Brutal Swing

Triangle - Butcher's Block
Square - Maim
Circle - Skull Sunder
X - Heavy Swing

Set 2 - When holding L2
Up - Thrill of Battle
Left - Bloodbath
Right - Foresight
Down - Vengeance

Triangle - Defiance
Square - Convalescence
Circle - Holmgang
X - Fracture


I just play on Set 1.
Then I have L2-and-then-R2 as well as R2-and-then-L2 both set to bring up the L2 side of Set 2. This way I don't have to fumble with L2-first or R2-first, just "hold both" at any time to bring up the extra slots. Downside is I get 8 less slots to play with. I have all my characters setup like this and haven't run into an issue yet. I'm fine with moving around a few skills here and there depending on content, though...

I also like to position my abilities in order. Notice my Butcher's Block combo "works up" the game-pad (X -> Circle -> Triangle). And my other combo's "work up" the other side (X -> Square -> Right or Up)
I also have Tomahawk on L2-X because I have Heavy Swing on R2-X and that way they're kind of on the same button (X).

I also have Inner Beast on the R2-Side of things so that the indication of full wrath stacks is spread out some more, for easier notification.

If anyone's looking for a setup, my suggestion is to try a few things and see what works best and feels most comfortable for you. If you like macros, use them. If you don't like them... find another way. If you like lots and lots of slots... find a way to make that happen. If you force something you don't really want, you'll just end up frustrating yourself.

Have fun!

My advise: dont use macro. All skills are queued 0.5s before end of current active skill (so u can hit next skill before animation or GCD of previous ends), but macros not.
WAR has large number of used skills (and 3 combos), so I use two sets of skills, with difference only on main 4 buttons: 1 set - BB combo and Overpover, 2 set - SE/SP combo. Rest of buttons are duplicated. And some skills on enhanced cross-hotbar (L2->R2 and R2->L2) with icon on side hotbars (for info about cooldowns, not for pushing - I play with pad only). Then if I play OT - I play on set 2 only. When MT - BB, R1, SE, R1, and so on, this is very easy.
If u must make macro, then macros only oGCD skills. There are two skills only in logic sequence, in my opinion: Berserk and Internal Release. ToB + Conv is bad idea, sometimes I need help healer with Conv, but hold ToB on next big hit. Foresight + Vengeance? No, Foresight is ~8% phy dmg mitygation, Vengeance 30% of both (phy and magic). Some attack needs strong Vengeance. Bloodbath + Conv? I use Bloodbath with Berserk only for HP returns, Conv is not need here (because HP returns from my heavy hits :) ).

extended hotbar
http://youtu.be/kfNxoyPNSdo

I play WAR in FCoB, this is my set up:

Set 1 - When holding L2
Up - Unchained
Left - Mercy Stroke
Right - Berserk
Down - Infuriate

Triangle - Tomahawk
Square - Steel Cyclone
Circle - Provoke
X - Brutal Swing

Set 1 - When holding R2
Up - Overpower
Left - Storm's Path
Right - Storm's Eye
Down - Flash

Triangle - Butcher's Block
Square - Maim
Circle - Skull Sunder
X - Heavy Swing

R2>L2
Up - Thrill of Battle
Left - Foresight
Right - Vengeance
Down - Holmgang

Triangle - Inner Beast
Square - Awareness
Circle - Convalescence
X - Bloodbath

L2>R2
Up - Food
Left - Party Macro (Low on TP)
Right - X-Potion of STR
Down - Party Macro (Bennu spawn timer T12)

Triangle - Potent Poisoning Potion
Square - Defiance
Circle - Mercy Stroke
X - Fracture


I never swap sets while in battle, everything is handled by holding one or a combination of the L2 and R2 buttons. Swapping skill sets is trouble when you are doing difficult content because your brain can get pretty darn side-tracked thinking about other things.

do poison potions generate any enmity?

Will bring up the left or right side of another hotbar, I have a macro tht puts ignore 1 if I use provoke an I'm on ps3 I utilize all my skills the set 1 an 2 the second with pots on the right healing a defense on the left.

It's in setting for hotbars

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by aisustrong

do poison potions generate any enmity?

---

Yes but not enough to matter in most situations.