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  1. #3
    Player
    vanityobscene's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Gridania
    Posts
    116
    Character
    Williem Roosecote
    World
    Tonberry
    Main Class
    Arcanist Lv 50
    I see your main class is a Bard. Bards are, in my opinion, THE macro class because they can get away with macroing a bit more than others.

    First thing's first, macro all of your buff cooldowns and set up a bar that shows them individually so you can see which are ready and which aren't. After a while you'll grow to know when each are ready regardless of this separate bar. But honestly, your buffs don't need to be spread out if you have them in the right order and cycle them.

    Here's my macro:
    /macroicon "Internal Release"
    /ac "Internal Release" <me>
    /ac "Raging Strikes" <me>
    /ac "Hawk's Eye" <me>
    /ac "Barrage" <me>
    /ac "Featherfoot" <me>

    Only ever spam this macro if there is a DPS race and you need Internal Release (for the crit) and Raging Strikes and Hawk's Eye for the damage boost. Any other time you should cycle them one at a time. What I mean by that is hit it, wait till it clocks off, hit it again, repeat. So it should be IR then RS then HE then Barrage and by the time you're done IR should be ready again. Hawk's Eye may come back on before Raging Strikes depending on what you do. This is fine. Also note that Internal Release and Featherfoot are both carried over from Pugilist. Featherfoot isn't that useful, but can be handy in a bind when you need to kite.

    Next your attacks.
    /macroicon "Straight Shot"
    /ac "Straight Shot" <t>
    /ac "Misery's End" <t>
    /ac "Bloodletter" <t>

    /macroicon "Heavy Shot"
    /ac "Heavy Shot" <t>
    /ac "Misery's End" <t>
    /ac "Bloodletter" <t>

    Other Note: Misery's End always goes before Bloodletter, this is because Bloodletter has an animation that lags you. Besides, Misery's End has higher potency and should always take priority over Bloodletter.

    What both of these macros do is let you use SS and HS normally, while activating Bloodletter and Misery's End whenever they're available. Bloodletter should account for almost 50% of your attacks if you keep your DoTs (Venemous Bite and Windbite) up at all times. Don't macro your dots. There's no point.

    A useful macro for Bards (or any ranged dps class that's still learning the ropes) is target assist.
    /as <f>

    For that to work you need to focus target the tank, and from there hit that macro and you'll automatically target the tank's target. This helps you refrain from missing the correct target but becomes less useful toward endgame.

    As a bard, on any mob of three or less, you should be using your DoTs on everything to maximise your damage over time. Don't worry about the tank, they should be able to hold threat. Having dots up on all of the mobs means that your bloodletter is available more often as well. So dot 1, 2, 3, then go back to one and reapply dots. If a tank marks a target, dot once, then focus down the primary. Anymore than 3 and that's AOE territory. Wide Volley, then Rain of Death or Quick Nock if they come up. Flaming Arrow is always good to drop on a mob. Don't worry about TP, you have a song for that, but do make sure you keep straight shot up at all times for the crit chance.

    Finally, do not try to macro Shadowbind or Blunt Arrow, but learn when to use them. Shadowbind is useful if your tank loses hate to a healer and you need to stop a mob from attacking them. Blunt Arrow is to silence and interrupts casts, but not skills. Eg. in TBCOB: Turn 1, Blunt Arrow stops the move High Voltage on the ADS.

    Once you've made all of your macros you need to set them to your hotbars, which is as simple as dragging and dropping the icons. Straight Shot, Heavy Shot, Venomous Bite and Windbite should be grouped close, then blunt arrow, then your buff macro.

    Your AOE damage attacks need no macros, and neither do your songs.

    Addendum: Don't be fased about getting Blood For Blood, I haven't bothered with it and my DPS comes out a head and shoulders above my companion Bards. Good bard DPS comes down to knowing how to maximise your skills to the fullest and blood for blood is non-essential.
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    Last edited by vanityobscene; 08-19-2014 at 02:37 AM. Reason: Syntax, spelling, etc.