Experiments with macros

[Arkann]

I stumbled upon this topic by chance, and it made me want to try some stuff using the "/hotbar Action" function and share some macros I came up with. I haven't tested them in real combat situations (only on a dummy), and they are NOT viable if you want to be really effective at your job, but who knows, someone could find a use to them, or make them better.

1st type of macro: Ninjutsu for the forgetful.
Examples:
Katon:

/micon "Katon"
/hotbar Action "Chi" 6 10
/hotbar Action "Ten" 6 11

Doton:

/micon "Doton"
/ac "Ten" <me>
/hotbar Action "Jin" 6 10
/hotbar Action "Chi" 6 11

My initial intent was to make one-button ninjutsu macros without a "/wait 1", but I found it wasn't possible. Instead, I came up with the idea of a Ninjutsu-only hotbar, which looks like this.

When you click a three-steps Ninjutsu, it executes the 1st mudra immediately, and changes the last two slots of the hotbar (hotbar 6 in the example) to the rest of the combination in the correct order. Two-steps Ninjutsu work similarly, but clicking the macro does not execute the 1st step. This is so that the last 3 slots of the hotbar are always correct.

The One-Slot-But-Not-One-Click-Combo.
Example:
Aeolian Edge Combo

/hotbar Action "Spinning Edge" 6 2
/wait 2
/hotbar Action "Gust Slash" 6 2
/wait 2
/hotbar Action "Aeolian Edge" 6 2
/wait 2

Once you click this macro, no action is executed. Instead, the 1st step of a combo of your choosing appears in the slot you chose. 2 seconds later, it will change to the second step, and 2 seconds later, in the 3rd step, all in the same slot. If your recast time is lower than 2 seconds however, you'll waste time. Unlike regular full-combo macros, queueing/spamming/whatever is possible, since you are not clicking the macro, but a regular ability. It looks like this:

[Rawrz]

Same sort of thing can be done using /hotbar copy (as a ps3/4 user its /chotbar copy)
Put your different bars on your base class, such as a Marauder to a Warrior, and when you use certain skills they adjust your hotbar. An example would be clicking Maim on your hotbar would result in replacing Skull Sunder and Butcher's Block with Storm's Eye and Storm's Path. Pressing Heavy swing would also take you back to the default Skull sunder/Butcher's Block slots.

This sort of thing also works well with /hotbar change # where # is the hotbar number so that you can switch between bars fluidly, such as moving from Deliverance to Defiance or in reverse. Macros are amazing! Thanks for writing the guide I'm sure it'll inspire newer people to get creative!

[Arkann]

I haven't tried /hotbar copy, but it does sound very useful, especially with the situation you described! Most of the time I only use the keyboard for 1-2-3-4, and use the mouse for everything else. Changing my main bar depending on what combo I want to perform sounds like a very good way to prevent those "Eek where is my cursor!?" and "Noooo my hand is too small! Is it 5 or 6 ? I guess we'll see!" moments

[Egnasya]

Problem with such macros is always, what happens if things go wrong and you somehow end up in a situation that blocks you from using the right actions? For example, if you go through combo actions like in OP's example, and you miss executing an action in between for whatever reason, you can't simply abort the macro's programming and go back. Puts you at the mercy of RNG which is not exactly what you want, probably.

I see some use for this with stances. Like if you want a specific set of actions on your main 4 - 5 buttons when using certain stances (or enter stance-like phases during a fight), create a few macros that do nothing other than rebind buttons according to your needs. That should be ok. Personally I'd refrain from including /ac commands in those macros for the reason stated above.

Golden rule: If anything can remotely go wrong - unforseen interrupts, clipping issues, lag, etc - it will go wrong sonner or later. Don't use macros that can backfire.

[Jim_Berry]

I simply have my Mudras on Hotbar 8, I believe (Hold R2 then Hold L2). Square, Triangle, Circle being Ten, Chi, Jin respectively while X is Ninjutsu. It's easier than how it sound.

[Humorless]

Macro's are bloody awful and you should feel bad for using them.


Stop being a detriment to everyone you party with by lowering your damage for no good reason.

[Arkann]

Macro's are bloody awful and you should feel bad for using them.


Stop being a detriment to everyone you party with by lowering your damage for no good reason.

I haven't tested them in real combat situations (only on a dummy), and they are NOT viable if you want to be really effective at your job, but who knows, someone could find a use to them, or make them better.

Read the bolded and red part...

[Rawrz]

Macro's are bloody awful and you should feel bad for using them.


Stop being a detriment to everyone you party with by lowering your damage for no good reason.

Macros aren't bad. Chaining skills with the wait command are typically the bad parts. I use a bunch of macros to fluidly switch between hotbars! Half the fun in a new class for me is designing a chotbar layout. Intuitive design breeds great results.


I don't have a Ninja, but looking at their skills its not very practical to use a macro like this, but most classes that have skills that are only good using combos work VERY well with switching out for the combos. Imagine on a Dragoon having:

True Thrust = x
Impulse Drive = o
Vorpal Thrust = Triangle
Full Thrust = Up

Using True thrust would make the non macro'd combo skills Vorpal Thrust and Full Thrust appear.

Pressing Impulse Dive would change the button layout to:
True Thrust = x
Impulse Drive = o
Disembowel = Triangle
Chaos Thrust = Up

There is no situation where you can use those skills without first using Impulse Drive. Pressing True Thrust will bring back True Thrust's Combo Rotation. Macro's can really cut down unnecessary clutter, and just keep the game more fluid on a controller. Some people like toggling through hotbars to access their skills, this is just my way! <3