PLD MACROS - PS4

[kashi11]

Can you tell me which instances specifically these situations occur? I feel like I could just have a separate hotbar with those specific skills removed from the macro just for those specific raids/trials. Otherwise they are being used between GCDs whenever they are up like you suggested.

[aleph_null]

Macros have a bit of delay based on my experience, and once you play in a high level (savage raids, ex trials) you don't want that delay if possible. For example hallowed ground may have to be double weaved with another off gcd skill in order to not disturb your optimal dps rotation (something like fast blade > hallowed > fof > savage blade), and double weaving macro'd off gcds carries the risk of them not going off (which may either be fatal if it's a defensive cd, or a huge dps loss if it's offensive).

Another thing is that those 120s/180s buffs you grouped may actually be better used separately or together with buffs of different cd length. For example sentinel is sometimes used as a stand alone cd due to its strength, while bulwark and awareness are often used together since crit attacks can't be blocked/parried. Circle of scorn is also used in your single target rotation since it's off gcd, so you shouldn't macro it together with flash. And your sword/shield oath macro seems odd to me. If you're on sword oath and you use that macro, wouldn't it deactivate sword oath first before activating shield oath? That'd put an unnecessary 0.5s delay compared to activating shield oath immediately.

It's good that you did your own research about these macros but unfortunately in this game the most optimal play relies on little to no macro at all.

[Caitlyn]

Oh dear lord... ... ... "How to play PLD totally wrong - The beginner guide".

Seriously, NEVER use macros for combos. And never mix different defensive cooldowns together (especially not the wrong ones). Paladin is extremely easy to play. In fact: you lose control over your actions by using macros.

For example: "Sentinel" is a strong mitigation skill. You should use it normaly without any other defensive skills. If you do, you just waste them. Your Shield/Sword Oath macro is totally useless.

I m playing with a Xbox 360 gamepad and I have no problem to put all skills in my 2 crossbars. Only 2 crossbars. Thats all you need. One crossbar for your attacks/offensive skills, the other one for your defensive skills. Where is the problem? Dont be lazy, play the game right!

[kashi11]

Macros have a bit of delay based on my experience, and once you play in a high level (savage raids, ex trials) you don't want that delay if possible. For example hallowed ground may have to be double weaved with another off gcd skill in order to not disturb your optimal dps rotation (something like fast blade > hallowed > fof > savage blade), and double weaving macro'd off gcds carries the risk of them not going off (which may either be fatal if it's a defensive cd, or a huge dps loss if it's offensive).

Not really sure what you mean here. You're saying I may need to pop a cool down between GCD skills, and that I might not be able to do so before the GCD timer ends if I have something like SW or SS MACRO into my GCD. Since I leave cool downs in a separate slot, I can manually pop these to insure they go off. In the off chance that my OGCD skills are up, worst case scenario I lose a few fraction of a second on my next GCD skill in my rotation

[Rongway]

Since I leave cool downs in a separate slot, I can manually pop these to insure they go off. In the off chance that my OGCD skills are up, worst case scenario I lose a few fraction of a second on my next GCD skill in my rotation

This is the order things have to happen for a cooldown to work.

1. You push the button.
2. You gain the buff.
3. The mob's cast bar reaches 100% and disappears.
4. You take reduced damage.

If you macro your cooldowns, you're more likely to get into the following situation.

1. You push the button.
2. The mob's cast bar reaches 100% and disappears.
3. You gain the buff.
4. You take the full damage.
5. Your cooldown fails to reduce the damage from the one hit you really needed it to work on.

The buff has to take effect before the cast bar completes. Those fractions of a second can be the difference between a 14k hit and a 20k hit with a wasted cooldown.

[kashi11]

If you macro your cooldowns, you're more likely to get into the following situation.

1. You push the button.
2. The mob's cast bar reaches 100% and disappears.
3. You gain the buff.
4. You take the full damage.
5. Your cooldown fails to reduce the damage from the one hit you really needed it to work on.

The buff has to take effect before the cast bar completes. Those fractions of a second can be the difference between a 14k hit and a 20k hit with a wasted cooldown.

So basically your saying if I need say Sentinel, then my macro which has bulwark first, would have to go through using bulwark which has an animation lock before sentinel can be used. But if Bulwark is on CD then sentinel comes out instantly? or does the system reading through the macro lose too much time?

[Martin_Arcainess]

Pretty much that, not to mention it may skip a line as well so you could use your macro and even if Bulkwark is on CD it will read that, say it's no available and then skip the line to use Senitel.

Also you should never have the need to remove any skills from your hot bar as you should be able to comfortably fit them all onto your hotbar with no issue. If you like I can show you a video of my set up with macros that I use for my PLD,DRK an WAR and they are instant and in no way a DPS loss if anything it makes playing the 3 tank class's easier.

[kashi11]

And your sword/shield oath macro seems odd to me. If you're on sword oath and you use that macro, wouldn't it deactivate sword oath first before activating shield oath? That'd put an unnecessary 0.5s delay compared to activating shield oath immediately.

The Oath MACRO switches between the two instantly, not really sure why it works, it just does.

[kashi11]

Another thing is that those 120s/180s buffs you grouped may actually be better used separately or together with buffs of different cd length. For example sentinel is sometimes used as a stand alone cd due to its strength, while bulwark and awareness are often used together since crit attacks can't be blocked/parried.

I wasn't aware crits couldn't be blocked or parried, good to know! Also these skills aren't linked by a wait command, so each skill comes out with each button press, so I can still use awareness and bulwark while saving foresight and sentinel.

Circle of scorn is also used in your single target rotation since it's off gcd, so you shouldn't macro it together with flash.

Not entirely sure if you are saying it should be in my single target rotation exclusively or that it is in mine personally, but I hardly ever circle of scorn out of my flash. Circle of Scorn only activates if I press that MACRO again while on GCD.

[CompSci88]

To be honest, you'll hardly notice any difference between no macro and macro now at level 58. However, like everyone has said, macro is extremely bad for combos and cds. Just don't get into the habit of using them so that your life in the end game will be much better.