Monk Macros with Proper Rotation!

[TheRealMadruck]

https://www.fflogs.com/reports/McNw7...pe=damage-done on Faust z

Thank you for the data Axxion!

[HyoMinPark]

I read until about page 7, and I'm a little sleep-deprived, so hopefully my post is coherent, and I was understanding this thread...

I disagree with this. The use of macros and the practice of macroing your rotation, like others have said, is a DPS loss. Regardless if it's 5% or 50%, it's still a loss. And really, that 5% could make or break a DPS check. Macros do not allow for ability queuing. They do not allow for fractional wait times. Take a normal GCD: 2.5 seconds. You can't macro:

/ac "Bootshine"
/wait 2.5
/ac "Twin Snakes"
/wait 2.5
etc...

You have to do 3 seconds instead. With two moves, that's already a 1 second delay. May seem minuscule now, but those seconds quickly add up the more a fight progresses. Again, a DPS loss is a DPS loss. And no DPS loss can ever be considered good, no matter how small.

You said you didn't design these macros for use in endgame/savage content, yet you are challenging any and all who disagree with your macros, to use them in endgame/savage content, and then make a judgment? That seems a little contradictory. Addition here: When people talk about "competitive" content in this game, they are generally talking about current EX primals/Savage raids. Not FATEs, not story/leveling dungeons, not guildhests, trials, etc. Not even Expert roulette. Current EX Primals and Savage content. Because, really, those are the numbers that make their way onto FFLogs. MAYBE the current 24-man raid, but competitive players upload competitve numbers to their FFLogs page. Not their DPS numbers for Sastasha.

You bring up human error. You say everyone makes mistakes. That is true. Compound the naturalness that is human error with macros that already have the potential to break and fragment a rotation. That could lead to even more of a DPS loss.

I agree with the other posters that macros should be reserved for ground AoEs, alert macros (i.e., "Berserk used! Pacification in 20 secs!"), and, if you're a healer, maybe even a Swiftcast+Raise macro. I use Swiftcast+Raise macros on my heals, and they sometimes break, and do not go off properly. Pretty annoying actually. I really can't imagine that happening during my entire rotation if it's macro'd.

I am not a good or decent monk by any means. I'm actually pretty bad at monk, I think, though I'm told otherwise. But I think I know enough to say that this is generally just bad practice. And while, yes, it's your sub/your $15/you'll play how you want, that's a pretty poor attitude to have given the way you are responding to some of these posters. The burden of proof lies with you. It's up to you to prove your macros work and are competitive. Not tell us to make a video and prove you wrong.

For the record, I did not watch your video, but, based on the comments I read, I don't really feel like I have to, to know that I will still disagree with it. And just because a system is implemented in a game doesn't mean that it has to be used as much as you seem to think that it does. The sample/default macros when you make a new character aren't even for skills--they're for greetings and emotes! You can macro your rotation, just like DRKs can cross-class Flash--but it doesn't mean that you should.

[Caitlyn]

Take a normal GCD: 2.5 seconds. You can't macro:

/ac "Bootshine"
/wait 2.5
/ac "Twin Snakes"
/wait 2.5
etc...

There is a difference between

/macroicon Demolish
/ac Internal Release <wait.3>
/ac Blood for Blood <wait.3>
/ac Steel Peak <wait.3>
/ac True Strike <wait.3>
/ac Demolish <wait.3>
/ac Bootshine

and

/macroicon Demolish
/ac Internal Release
/ac Blood for Blood
/ac Steel Peak
/ac True Strike
/ac Demolish
/ac Bootshine

.

The first macro is used as some kind of "press Button X one time and wait until its finished". In this case, you definitely have a HUGE DPS loss, because you have to wait 3 seconds instead fo 2,5 (or less). Time is Damage (kinda).

The second macro is use as some kind of "mash Button X repeadly to activate all skills when your GCD is finished". This works for Monk ONLY because "True Strike" and "Demolish" can only be activated, when you re in the right stance. This will work as to merge your 2 CDs, 1 OFFGCD and 1 combo into 1 Button. Bootshine will not be executed, when "Demolish" or "True Strike" is activate because of their GCD. Or to be clear:

Skills executed in order:

1. Internal Release
(skip because of GCD) Blood for Blood
2. Steel Peak
(inaccessable, wrong stance) True Strike
(inaccessable, wrong stance) Demolish
(skip because of GCD) 4. Bootshine

(on cooldown) Internal Release
(on cooldown) Steel Peak
3. Blood for Blood
(inaccessable, wrong stance) True Strike
(inaccessable, wrong stance) Demolish
(skip because of GCD) 4. Bootshine

(on cooldown) Internal Release
(on cooldown) Steel Peak
(on cooldown) Blood for Blood
(inaccessable, wrong stance) True Strike
(inaccessable, wrong stance) Demolish
4. Bootshine

(on cooldown) Internal Release
(on cooldown) Steel Peak
(on cooldown) Blood for Blood
5. True Strike
(inaccessable, wrong stance) Demolish
(skip because of GCD) Bootshine

(on cooldown) Internal Release
(on cooldown) Steel Peak
(on cooldown) Blood for Blood
(inaccessable, wrong stance) True Strike
6. Demolish
(skip because of GCD) Bootshine

This is quite different to OPs macro, but shares the same mechanic. Like previously said, even when it does works somehow, its still risky and not recommended to use it.

[SmallHobbit]

was try out this macro stuff yesterday and i notice not just a dps lose the most problem with this stuff is how to see which skill will be excuse with atm when you press the same button all time.
monk rotation is based on shine buttons which tells you "PUSH ME NOW look i am shining so nice!!!" so the problem is i have no clue which skill excuse atm and do i need change postion already? no idea because it dosent show you in macro (only one icon but many skills) this makes just even harder to do a good monk rotation like without macros.

regards hobbit

[SpookyGhost]

Few things:

1. Macros are okay if you're feeling lazy and doing content where you can be lazy (Fate farming, story fights, etc) - however the error you've made is in claiming that they're "competitive". As others have pointed out, there is an inherent GCD delay in GCD Macros (you can even see this in your own follow-up video) - a roughly ~5-10% DPS loss over the course of a fight. That isn't competitive, that's flat out worse, and the barrier you'd need to leap over to get that extra DPS is a very small one.

2. You mention that Monk "has a lot of buttons" but, in reality, it has very few. For example I can fit all my stance-related GCDs on Q, E, 1, 2, 3, and 4 - these are all well within range of WASD and make it very easy to execute any string of combos whenever I want on a standard USB KB+M.

3. While it's nice that you want to help players, a teacher is typically one with tons of info and experience regarding what they're teaching. You are clearly new to Monk as you've yet to even reach 60 - which isn't a bad thing, everyone's been where you are, but you shouldn't be spreading information you haven't verified with more experienced players or, alternatively, you can wait and get that experience yourself.

Also just some educational video editing related stuff:

- Don't need a face cam unless you're actually an important part of the video - people will have an easier time concentrating if the only thing they can see is the gameplay footage when they need to be looking at it.

- If you are going to include a face cam, don't put your face 2 feet away from it. This isn't flattering for anyone as it makes you look like you're breathing down the viewers neck.

- It's better to include ways to contact/follow you at the end of the video or at the beginning rather than taking up a portion of your screen throughout the whole video. Just makes it feel cluttered that way, especially when you have a face cam and a text document on it as well.

[TheRealMadruck]

SNIP

I have been playing FF14 for over 2 years Spooky with over 9 60's at max level. My youtube channel(I understand if you do not go there to verify) Clearly explains what happened to my old account. So just on basis on my current account has no factor on my knowledge in which I can understand others would get that misconception. And if you took every button individually, http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Monk, http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Pugilist minus everything except basic attacks needed at 60 for your rotation you are still left with 18 buttons. Thats not even including buffs! So Monks do have alot of buttons as do other Jobs. And the sole purpose of this thread and my videos was to show a proper way to macro if someone chooses to, not that it is the only way to play. Lastly, thank you for your feedback on improving my videos and channel and I will consider it for future details. Take care.....

[Kaurie]

I have been playing FF14 for over 2 years Spooky with over 9 60's at max level.

If you have over 9 60's, how can you think that MNK has a lot of buttons and how can you think that macros are a good idea?

[TheRealMadruck]

If you have over 9 60's, how can you think that MNK has a lot of buttons and how can you think that macros are a good idea?

http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Monk, http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Pugilist Count the amount of buttons you have to use to effectively play Monk including your aoes that you will need if the situation arrives, the buffs you need to activate, your movement abilities, your stuns and silences.....the list goes on!

If you do not use those abilities but rely solely on your base rotation, you need to practice Monk a little more. Lastly, Macros are a good idea when it comes to content like fate farming, solo quests, Low Level Dungeons with only a few buttons.....again do I really have to list the casual content it can be used for. Under this Kaurie, I do not recommend or will I ever recommend relying solely on Macros. Players need to learn to play the game with and without Macros if they choose to use macros, if the dont use Macros.....then nothing is lost. Macros are something to use as a tool when it comes to content that does not hinder other players or negate top dps as needed....thats all!

[Kaurie]

http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Monk , http://ffxiv.consolegameswiki.com/wiki/Pugilist Count the amount of buttons you have to use to effectively play Monk including your aoes that you will need if the situation arrives, the buffs you need to activate, your movement abilities, your stuns and silences.....the list goes on!

I do not need to count them, you already did. You said there are 18. By comparison, my SMN has 4 12 key hotbars completely full (48), and I use ~30 of them frequently. By comparison, 18 seems laughably small. I've also leveled my MNK via PotD and obtained all skills that way and it was a joy to have such an empty hotbar.

If you do not use those abilities but rely solely on your base rotation, you need to practice onk a little more. Lastly, Macros are a good idea when it comes to content like fate farming, solo quests, Low Level Dungeons with only a few buttons.....again do I really have to list the casual content it can be used for. Under this Kaurie, I do not recommend or will I ever recommend relying solely on Macros. Players need to learn to play the game with and without Macros if they choose to use macros, if the dont use Macros.....then nothing is lost. Macros are something to use as a tool when it comes to content that does not hinder other players or negate top dps as needed....thats all!

I cannot critique your macros, unfortunately, as you're not listing what they actually are or do.
I use macros for one purpose: targeting. I use the ground target macro for things like Shadowflare, and the <2> or <tt> for things like Eye for an Eye and Virus.
EDIT: I also have a macro to party chat who I am raising, so that healers don't attempt to raise the same player.

[randysquirrel]

/ac "Uninstall" <me>