BRD macro

[Tua]

Excuse me..why is the /wait 2.5 a bad idea if I use skills that ignores GCD? otherwise it wont work the whole chain, if you can please enlighten me since I didn t think that would be a "problem" thanks

/wait 2.5 rounds up to 3 seconds, so over time it'll waste enough half-seconds to be a dps loss.

[Roy_M]

/wait 2.5 rounds up to 3 seconds, so over time it'll waste enough half-seconds to be a dps loss.

I see but the 2 secs doesn t make the next skill to go on time, suggestions? I also use other skills that ignores GCD along with buffs so it s not like I m standing there doing nothing until those 2.5 secs pass.

[Bardo]

/wait 2.5 rounds up to 3 seconds, so over time it'll waste enough half-seconds to be a dps loss.

*edit - Nvm, additional testing, and you are right about this. Decimal points don't work, they just round up or down.

Nonetheless:
The ACTUAL problem with macros, as has been stated several times in this thread is that they disable the Command Queue for actions that are ON the global cooldown.
Why is this a problem?
Because without the server side command queue, you basically have to wait 2x your latency longer to execute an ON global action.

Example of how you can test this:
Write 4 macros identical to this for Straight Shot, Windbite, Venomous Bite, and Heavy Shot.
/ac "Straight Shot" <t>
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>

Then go outside and shoot at something while trying to run through Straight Shot, Windbite, Venomous Bite, Heavy Shot. You will quickly notice that you have to wait until your client updates that the GCD is refreshed before it lets you use the next skill.
Now replace those 4 macros with the skill buttons for Straight Shot, Windbite, Venomous Bite, and Heavy shot. Again, fire them in order and you will notice that you can actually press the button early and it will go off BEFORE the client shows your GCD is actually ready.
This is because of the server side command queue.

If you macro your main ON global cooldown abilities, then you potentially delay your Global Cooldown skills by 2x your latency every single global.
In short fights this won't make much of a difference at all. In 5+ minute long fights, it could mean as much as 10% lower dps even with average latency.

[Garnatian]

Quick correction here, it most definitely does NOT round up.

It's a know fact that it does round either up or down. It's easy to test, just create a macro like this:

/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/wait 0.4
/s Finished

and another like:

/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/wait 0.5
/s Finished

The 1st macro will end instantly (rounded to 0s) instead of in 4s while the 2nd will take 10s (rounded to 1s) instead of 5s.

Not only does it round up, but macros also cannot be queued, meaning while a regular ability is queued up approx. 0.5s before the ability GCD concludes and activates as soon as it finishes, macros do not activate until the button press following the GCD finishing.

DPS/Healing macros are generally a bad idea.

[Thailer]

I would agree for most classes. With Bard we want Misery's End and Bloodletter activated every time they are up. Using them in conjunction with 4 of our GCD skills (straight, venom, wind, and heavy) this gurantees they are activated when up and does not slow the GCD skill down when not. If we are talking about macroing all our skills together outside of ME and BL then yes I agree that is not the way to go.

[Danko]

If you macro your main ON global cooldown abilities, then you potentially delay your Global Cooldown skills by 2x your latency every single global.
In short fights this won't make much of a difference at all. In 5+ minute long fights, it could mean as much as 10% lower dps even with average latency.

We have a winner!

Macroing OFF Global Cooldown Abilities onto your Global Cooldown abilities is not a DPS gain because of the delay it causes to your Global Cooldown. Which in and of itself is a direct DPS loss but also cannibalizes straighter shot damage due to less heavy shot spam over time.

If you absolutely insist on making a one button macro for your Off Cool Downs, make a separate one for them and weave them in between your GCD. But even then, you are sacrificing situational optimization to do that.

The only real good reason to use these types of one button macros is if you do not care about optimal DPS and just want to spam one or two buttons for passable DPS without having to think too much about it. Depending on the player and the level of consistency with which you can keep up with your abilities, this could be a DPS increase for you. This is not optimal DPS for the job, however.

[EasymodeX]

If you absolutely insist on making a one button macro for your Off Cool Downs, make a separate one for them and weave them in between your GCD. But even then, you are sacrificing situational optimization to do that.

The situational optimization you sacrifice is rather minimal if you have an effective approach:

1 oGCD macro for ME/BL alone
1 oGCD macro for ME/BL + all buffs except BFB
1 oGCD macro for ME/BL + BFB

Generally speaking, you can still control your cooldown usage by simply not pressing the second macro multiple times. If you have each cooldown elsewhere on your UI for tracking, you can even combine the BFB onto the second macro and simply take care when you press it. BFB is an infrequent danger though, so this situation is uncommon.

[magicninja999]

the 4 macros you need:

1. /micon "Straight Shot"
/ac "Misery's End" <t>
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>
/ac "Straight Shot" <t>

2. /micon "Heavy Shot"
/ac "Misery's End" <t>
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>
/ac "Heavy Shot" <t>

3. /micon "Windbite"
/ac "Misery's End" <t>
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>
/ac "Windbite" <t>

4. /micon "Venomous Bite"
/ac "Misery's End" <t>
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>
/ac "Venomous Bite" <t>

Makes ME and BL 1st priority over the other skills, does not mess with the GCD and will make sure you use the skills EVERY time they are off CD.

P.S. pop your own buffs....