Am I The Only One Who Wants Cast Sequence Macros?

[R3DTID3]

Don't know why, but most people I talk to are opposed to it. I'm fairly new to the game, but not the genre - joined with the PS4 rush - and with the controller bars get cluttered very fast. Buff CDs (off GCD) are easy enough, but say a simple combo with LNC/DRG for example...

1) Impulse Drive - Disembowel - Chaos Thrust
2) True Thrust - Vorpal Thrust - Full Thrust

6 actions condensed to 2 hotbar slots. Having these cast sequences wouldn't really change gameplay since you're just going to hit that move anyway, other than a miss-click. Some people have suggest a /wait macro, but that just isn't practical since /wait will never be optimal matching with skill/spell speed and is just clunky in general for in game combat.

Thoughts? Suggestions? Do you think it would be a positive or negative addition to the macro system to add a cast sequence function?

(If this is a repeat thread I apologize, didn't see any off hand)

[Gnova]

I feel the macro commands are powerful enough in their current state.
You just need to get used to switching hotbars and using the L2->R2 and R2->L2 hotbar crossbar 8.

It does change gameplay since it simplifies it down to a two button mashfest.

[Sagittarian]

You can do this with pugilist/monk to some extent because you have skills that can only be triggered when in certain stances. The system skips any abilities that aren't available and keeps going down the list.
You can also set up a macro to trigger the marauder and archer abilities that are only available when the target hit points are low.

I don't want to see self-editing macros, if-then statements, or macros calling other macros because (while I would probably like them) it gives too much power to macros, be very hard to balance, and essentially allow botting.

[Estellios]

It's really not a good idea to get used to it since a ton of high level fights have periods where you have to move around, avoid things, or other stuff that requires you to avoid simply hammering on stuff whenever they are ready (at least if you want to maintain your combo or do decent damage). Using Monk as an example, if you know a period of time where a boss is going to be invincible or untargetable is coming up, you can try to time your combo so you don't lose your stance before the boss is vulnerable again. There's also some fights where MNK can keep a boss's move locked down by Silencing it which requires them to stretch out their stances as long as possible so they won't lose the combo before the move comes up again.

It's also within your best interest do use off-Global skills when available since they can be used mid-combo which hampers the utility of such a macro.

[Slatervonjager]

Uh, you can make a macro that does that. The only issue is if you do it, you have to let it complete the entire sequence, or else you're forced to start it over. if you move out of range to dodge something while still mid combo, you've just ended the sequence and must start it over(unless you kept the actual skills handy). My brother had set up a macro like this for pld once to do rage of halone combo. He quickly dropped it. Can't remember though if he could do other skills during it(which in turn canceled the macro), or if it blocked him from using anything until the whole sequence ended.

Again, you can do it, but it is NOT recommend.

[Suki-]

I, as a PS4 user, have the same issue as you with hotbar space. But I recommend to not do this as well. It'd be okay to use such a macro for trash, like when doing fates. But for a boss/primal/what-have-you, it's better to 'manually' do your combos.

For example if I have a macro set to do all rear attacks, and the boss starts a rear AoE, when I dodge to the flank my next attack will loose damage when I could have use a flank attack instead.

Condensing buffs though is an excellent way to save hotbar space & also making a second hotbar. You can set it up so that it will only cycle though the ones you want while your weapon is drawn :)

[Estellios]

There's also an option to have extra hotbars available when pressing L2 then R2 or R2 then L2 (you can make them the same bars or different ones).

[Niwashi]

... and using the L2->R2 and R2->L2 hotbar crossbar 8.

Personally, I use L2->R2 for the left half of crossbar 8 and R2->L2 for the right half of crossbar 4. (I don't have anything set on the other halves of either of those bars.) Having them bring up different bars allows including both class-specific and non-class-specific sections. That gives me 8 slots for generic non-class-specific stuff like Sprint, Return, Mount Roulette, Gysahl Greens, my favorite minion, and a few others. Then I also have an extra 8 slots for class skills.

With this arrangement I can have 24 class skills (plus 8 generic actions) without crossbar swapping, or up to 40 class skills (plus 8 generic actions) while only toggling between two bars rather than cycling between 3 or more.

[Archous]

I think it's best to manually use your abilities. It solidifies your knowledge of your class abilities (I seem to be one of the few monks who actually use howling fist and Mantra... No one uses mantra) and it will allow you to maintain dps should something happen that was not anticipated.
If you rely on macros, over time you will forget what each ability does (again shocked to find so many dragoons and monk who don't understand/care about proper placement: flank vs behind) and it can also destroy a combo if you suddenly have to change it up (because you're now locked in with your macro: I.e stun or other ability)
Plus I think it's incredibly lazy. I have an issue with all the lazy players I encounter... Auto attacking only... Refusing to play their class properly ... Scholars letting Eos do the healing while they literally stand there and do nothing.

I say go manual. It will make you a better Dragoon.