[Macros] How do I display a target name based on the what my target was?

Hi.

Here's what I'm trying to figure out more precisely:

Is there any way to write a macro to remind myself when to recast a skill, and who I should recast it on?

What I currently have is this:

/micon "Aspected Benefic"
/ac "Aspected Benefic"
/wait 14
/echo Aspected Benefic recast in 5

This works as a general recast reminder. It tells me that the regen effect will end in 5 seconds so I have a bit of time to prepare. However, the problems start when I have more than one target that I'm casting Aspected Benefic on. In such a case, the message will display twice, but it won't tell me whose regen is about to run out, only that someone's regen is about to run out.

It seems to me that if I could somehow have <t> be recognized in isolation as <t> within the macro instead of being based on my target in live gameplay, then it would work. But I haven't been able to find any way to do that.

Your help is appreciated.

Sadly, I do not believe what you're trying to do is possible within the macro system we have available to us. Not to mention the issue of ability queueing not working with macros.

Your best bet is honestly just practice. "Feeling out" the duration so to speak and getting used to if.

I see, that is unfortunate.

While I'm on this topic though, are the sound effect macros always party-wide? Or is there a way to make it so only I hear it?

Only if you use echo. Basically if you put a sound effect in a public channel everybody will hear it

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Originally Posted by NocturniaUzuki

I see, that is unfortunate.

While I'm on this topic though, are the sound effect macros always party-wide? Or is there a way to make it so only I hear it?

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While I'm not positive that it works with sound effects, /echo is how you direct text to yourself, but no one else. I'd be surprised if it didn't work. Try:

/echo <se.1>

If you hear something, that's most likely the solution you're after.

I personally don't recommend those kinds of macros for skills like HoTs or DoTs. I do use this kind of macro for buff skills like Straight Shot, Heavy Thrust, and Hot Shot, and for certain oGCD moves like Rouse and Enkindle.

Hmm. Would need to test, but...

If you put <t> in a line of display, like echo, it prints target name. The issue is, I think, that the echo command will use your target at the time that the echo goes off, not the target when you activate the macro. I'd have to test it.

Also, only one macro can be running at once. So if you use a wait to delay text like this and Regen someone else, you cancel the reminder from the first one.

Ideally you wouldn't want to use macros for anything battle related. By design, they aren't going to give you the performance you want.

Thanks everyone.

For now, I've got it set up to beep at me whenever Aspected Benefic is going to run out. I don't really need reminders for anything I can otherwise see. Aspected Helios' timer is going to be on my own buffs so I can see that. Long cooldowns I just put on my WXHB so I can see them at all times.

It sounds like you are trying to put up Aspected Benefic as soon as it wears off.
But this isn't always the best idea.

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Originally Posted by dragonseth07

Also, only one macro can be running at once. So if you use a wait to delay text like this and Regen someone else, you cancel the reminder from the first one.

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Learned that lesson the hard way a while ago >_> the only solution I found to answer this is...its clunky and cluttery but its best to keep a spare hotbar off to the side containing the raw skills with the longer recast timer on them. Just to keep a visual aid of their cooldowns. Its clutter but it saves so many headaches. The price to pay of using macros.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by NocturniaUzuki

Thanks everyone.

For now, I've got it set up to beep at me whenever Aspected Benefic is going to run out. I don't really need reminders for anything I can otherwise see. Aspected Helios' timer is going to be on my own buffs so I can see that. Long cooldowns I just put on my WXHB so I can see them at all times.

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Don't do this. FFXIV uses a queuing system that allows players to preemptively "queue" their abilities before they're off cooldown. If I hit say, Disembowel a split second or two before the GCD turns over, the game already acknowledges I pressed that ability and readies it. Macros, on the other hand, wait the full duration. This guarantees a delay and can occasionally misfire, meaning the ability won't go off at all. You only want to use macros for things like Raise, Shadewalker and etc. Basically, any ability what won't mess up your rotation or risk a heal not going off. Putting that aside, you won't always need to refresh aoe HoTs. In the end, you're far better off getting used to doing most things manually.

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Originally Posted by Canadane

It sounds like you are trying to put up Aspected Benefic as soon as it wears off.
But this isn't always the best idea.

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No, but it often is, so it's useful to know when it's going to drop either way, so I know that the tank will effectively be taking more damage over time. I'm not going to cast Aspected Benefic when the tank's HP is dangerously low just because it runs out. But as far as general sustain goes, especially in easier dungeons, it's useful to just recast it and go back to DPSing. Oftentimes, the regen is all the tank needs to sustain.

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Originally Posted by Bourne_Endeavor

In the end, you're far better off getting used to doing most things manually.

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Do you just mean that macros can't queue with other skills? I don't see that as a particularly big deal. I've never been that fond of queuing anyways, since having the game start to cast the wrong spell when you suddenly need to change your plans creates a far larger delay than avoiding queues. For instance, if someone takes a massive hit and I need to heal them ASAP, but just as I go to heal them, the game starts the next spell in my queue, forcing me to interrupt my own spell and recast the spell I really need. I also miscast/castfail far more often due to touchy WXHB controls. Double-tapping triggers can get sketchy, hence why I typically only keep my less mainstream spells on them.