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[Niwashi]

Target forwarding can be done in macros using <tt> for target of target. For example:
/ac "Aero" <tt>
would cast Aero on your target's target.

In macros, you can also combine multiple options, like:

/micon "Cure"
/ac "Cure" <t>
/ac "Cure" <tt>
/ac "Cure" <ft>

That would try casting Cure on your target, but if that isn't possible (like when you have an enemy targeted), then it would try casting it on your target's target. If neither of those is a viable target for a cure, it would cast on your focus target. Lines that aren't viable because they specify an unavailable or inappropriate target are skipped until it reaches a line that works. At that point, you begin casting, so any following lines are skipped because you're already busy. The result is a single cast to any of several possible targets, choosing between them according to the priority of how those lines are arranged in the macro.

EDIT: oh, and <mo> for "mouse over" is another popular one for keyboard/mouse players to include, usually fairly high on the list. Mouse overs can be done either mousing over the nameplates above the actual character or mob, but more reliably over names in the party list or enmity list (since HUD elements don't keep moving around like characters do).

[Hasrat]

/micon "Cure"
/ac "Cure" <t>
/ac "Cure" <tt>
/ac "Cure" <ft>

That would try casting Cure on your target, but if that isn't possible (like when you have an enemy targeted), then it would try casting it on your target's target.

Might be wrong here, but pretty sure that would just mean Cure would cast on self, and the macro would never progress past that.

[TensaiSogetsu]

Might be wrong here, but pretty sure that would just mean Cure would cast on self, and the macro would never progress past that.

You are wrong. Macros don't automatically default to self. The example given would try to cast cure on the Target then if that's not successful, it tries to cast cure on the Target of the Target, then if THAT isn't possible, then it tries to cast cure on the Focus Target. Unless you are targeting yourself or change the first /ac "Cure" <t> to /ac "Cure" <me> then it will not cast on yourself.

[worldofneil]

In macros, you can also combine multiple options, like:

/micon "Cure"
/ac "Cure" <t>
/ac "Cure" <tt>
/ac "Cure" <ft>

That would try casting Cure on your target, but if that isn't possible (like when you have an enemy targeted), then it would try casting it on your target's target.

You are wrong. Macros don't automatically default to self. The example given would try to cast cure on the Target then if that's not successful, it tries to cast cure on the Target of the Target, then if THAT isn't possible, then it tries to cast cure on the Focus Target. Unless you are targeting yourself or change the first /ac "Cure" <t> to /ac "Cure" <me> then it will not cast on yourself.

Sorry, but you're both wrong (I even tried the macro above just to make sure it wasn't something strange when doing as a macro!).

Cure (and Physick etc) will always cast on yourself if they cannot cast on the target in question. This has always been the case since at least 2.0 (possibly earlier than that, but I can't remember). If you have an enemy targetted or something that is valid to receive the cure (someone who just died or just raised for example), the cure will still cast, but will always land on yourself.

You can literally confirm this by finding any mob in the world, target it and just running the first line, /ac "Cure" <t>. From what you both wrote it should error, but it won't, it'll cast on yourself without an error (and in the macro it would cause the following lines to not run as you're already casting)

[Niwashi]

Cure (and Physick etc) will always cast on yourself if they cannot cast on the target in question. This has always been the case since at least 2.0 (possibly earlier than that, but I can't remember). If you have an enemy targetted or something that is valid to receive the cure (someone who just died or just raised for example), the cure will still cast, but will always land on yourself.

That's true if you have the skill itself directly on your hotbar and use that, and I'm pretty sure it's also true if you have just /ac "Cure" in a macro. In those cases, it will try casting on your target, but will cast on yourself if that's not valid. But once you place the target specifier in the macro line, like <t>, <tt>, <mo> or whatever, then that's the only target that that line of the macro will use. Target selection like this is one of the most popular and widespread uses for macros.

[worldofneil]

But once you place the target specifier in the macro line, like <t>, <tt>, <mo> or whatever, then that's the only target that that line of the macro will use.

Sorry, but no... (just try it!)

Damage spells and actions do work exactly as you described, but healing actions are different. If you try and cast a healing spell on a mob, regardless of the method, if always casts on yourself (if it's a spell that you can cast on yourself normally).

So if the first line of the macro is using <t> it'll just cast on yourself causing the others to fail.