Quote Originally Posted by Felis View Post
Macros are good for healers to DPS enemies without untargeting the tank.
I wouldn't use macros for DPS at all. You will still run into issues.

Macros for mitigation tools, like Virus or Disable, are pretty handy, especially when you know you'll be healing the tank after. A simple...
/macroicon "Virus"
/merror off
/ac "Virus" <tt>
/ac "Virus" <t>

or
/micon "Disable"
/merror off
/ac "Disable" <tt>
/ac "Disable" <t>

...makes it so I don't need to switch from DPSing to mitigate or switch from the tank to target the boss to mitigate with the same slot being used. Even then, I find myself mashing it between GCDs. The skill does not apply unless I hit the button at the perfect moment.

Quote Originally Posted by Altena View Post
Not true.

This only applies to GCD based skills. Hitting a macro between GCDs does not affect the queue system (which is where the problem lies). The issue is that macros cannot be queued.

For example..

If you have a macro that uses a GCD skill, the skill will activate before the GCD completes - rendering the macro a failure and the skill doesn't activate. Hence the need to "spam" a GCD based macro in order for it to activate. Since this is the case, server latency takes into effect and your action will be delayed 300-500ms after the GCD completred.

Off GCD skills however do not have this rule, as the off-GCD based skill CAN be activated while you have an active GCD (provided your character is not slightly animation locked by the previous skill). Therefore you can hit a macro and the off-GCD skill will activate during the GCD. You can then queue a non-macro GCD based skill afterwards without any detrimental effects with server latency.
Right, but that's just putting in more input delay because you're either mashing your macro, since it doesn't queue, or making sure you don't hit it during animation lock.