Mouseover Macros

[Katlyna]

This gives a pseudo-queueing window of 1/4 to 1/2 second, does not have to step over the /micon line on every run, and doesn't offer alternate targets.
Contextual targeting is great for buffs and binds/heavies, bad for heals.

Nice recommendation Rongway! I'll give this a try with my own spin. I hadn't considered stacking the /ac <mo> To increase the mouse over attempts. Very smart!

[Katlyna]

This gives a pseudo-queueing window of 1/4 to 1/2 second, does not have to step over the /micon line on every run, and doesn't offer alternate targets.
Contextual targeting is great for buffs and binds/heavies, bad for heals.

I tested your approach and like how I was able to adjust my healing macros with "light" context. I adjusted my macros as follows:

/mlock
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Benefic" <tt>
/echo Macro test 1
/macroicon "Benefic"

---

This locks the macro till finished (which is much faster than anticipated, tested with an echo). The lock is required if you spam to allow the context clause at the end to be reached (if you spam hard). This makes it such that when you are not mousing over context clauses will be reached after a split second (testing indicates these take between 0.1 and 0.05 seconds to run)

You consequently can build something like this too which runs really well

/mlock
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <mouse>
/ac "Aspected Benefic" <tt>
/ac "Time Dilation" <mouse>
/ac "Time Dilation" <tt>
/macroicon "Aspected Benefic"

[Rongway]

You consequently can build something like this too which runs really well

The Time Dilation lines will run during a GCD, which means that after using this macro to cast Aspected Benefic once, you won't be able to spam it to regen/shield the next target, making it less useful. I'm also confused as to why you want to use both mo and tt on a heal. In what situation would you not use a mouseover when mouseover is an option? Out-of-party tanks in a FATE or alliance raid can be mousedover as the target of target pane, or one of the alliance panes.

Your macro, while certainly innovative, gives too much flexibility for a heal. Healing macros should be focused, to minimize the risk of unintended effects. I could definitely get behind a separate Time Dilation macro with mo-tt-t targeting, as I would with any target party member cooldown, but adding it to the end of any of the healing spells introduces the possibility that clicking to heal people doesn't actually heal them.

[Katlyna]

The Time Dilation lines will run during a GCD, which means that after using this macro to cast Aspected Benefic once, you won't be able to spam it to regen/shield the next target, making it less useful. I'm also confused as to why you want to use both mo and tt on a heal. In what situation would you not use a mouseover when mouseover is an option? Out-of-party tanks in a FATE or alliance raid can be mousedover as the target of target pane, or one of the alliance panes.

Your macro, while certainly innovative, gives too much flexibility for a heal. Healing macros should be focused, to minimize the risk of unintended effects. I could definitely get behind a separate Time Dilation macro with mo-tt-t targeting, as I would with any target party member cooldown, but adding it to the end of any of the healing spells introduces the possibility that clicking to heal people doesn't actually heal them.

Good questions and points Cyrillo! The answer to your questions are both complex, logical, and a taste of personal preference:

First whenever an ability is cast and a macro has zero wait times, no other ability is cast again during the macro. This means that functionally you can control what occurs by changing your behavior. If I tap this ability just outside the GC it will simply cast Aspected Benefic over and over. On the other hand if I quickly cast this twice it will cast Aspected Benefic and then Time Dilate the person, which is my traditional usage of the ability. If one were to compare my usage of Time Dilation with other raiders what you would find is because of my approach my usage and uptime of the ability is VASTLY more than your average raider. Admittedly this means that sometimes I will use the ability at a less opportune moment, but in general I get healthier use out of the ability period.

The above approach of pairing secondary abilities off the GC with primary abilities is personal preference, but it is also an excellent way to get very good use out of them in intense raid settings where you have much higher priorities.

As for your second question related to why mouse over and target of target. The reason is because functionally I like to do as much damage as I can during fights. Likewise I want to preserved the ability to heal and move fluidly with the right mouse button pressed down. Consequently the easiest way to do this is to include a <tt> line for all heals. This makes running dungeons a breeze, and makes complex raid movement easier. Note that target of target in all these cases is simply the tank.

Again though both of these are personal preference, along with some improvement on efficiency due to how I play. Contextual macros are NOT for everyone o/

[Katlyna]

OH you also have to be careful with longer macros... as if you spam fast enough (like with a turbo button) you will literally recast the macro midstream. I think I need to put some macro blocks into mine to stop this from happening.

To fix that problem you put in /mlock

[Rivxkobe]

I use a controller so I don't use Mouse over macros, or any macros actually. I tried once but not being able to Queue my spells drove me nuts so I tossed em.

[Ragology]

I use a controller so I don't use Mouse over macros, or any macros actually. I tried once but not being able to Queue my spells drove me nuts so I tossed em.

I also play with a controller. I cast my dots with L2+ Dpad directions. While this is happening, I've got an Embrace macro (with a line for <tt> and <t>) that I use by repeatedly mashing the Square button. This keeps my Dots queued while my fairy spams embrace on the tank. I've also got macros for shadow flare and sacred soil to put them under a target if I have one selected.

I think you'd be fine with those sort of macros since they won't slow down your spells.

[Rivxkobe]

I also play with a controller. I cast my dots with L2+ Dpad directions. While this is happening, I've got an Embrace macro (with a line for <tt> and <t>) that I use by repeatedly mashing the Square button. This keeps my Dots queued while my fairy spams embrace on the tank. I've also got macros for shadow flare and sacred soil to put them under a target if I have one selected.

I think you'd be fine with those sort of macros since they won't slow down your spells.

Honestly I don't want to mash any buttons just to get something to go off, I found manually using embrace and Fairy abilities to b easy enough. Besides its rare the the Fairy isn't healing the tank, I don't see the need to tell her to spam Embrace. I don't find targeting ground AoEs difficult, and being able to freely choose where I want them to go is more important to me than having them come out quicker. But this is all just my personal feelings and play-style.

[Anzer]

Some good info in here and some good discussion. In most of the previous MMOs I've healed in (I usually tank, but enjoy healing on alts for a change of pace), I've generally used add-ons or macros to mouseover heal, as I find it quicker and easier for my playstyle. I really appreciate everyone bringing up the pros and cons in regards to FFXIV so I have a better idea of what to expect.

So basically, thanks!

[Eul]

Can someone explain to me the benefit using this mouseover macro, or the macro itself for healing? Until now I never use any macro except notification I resurrect someone or prevent double virus.