Combo Action Button

[Rongway]

I'm a relatively new player, but you are presenting a valid concern. Completely valid. I'm not very techi but I believe there are things like Macros in this game. I don't know how to use them at all, but that might be the solution. So, can anyone explain macros? Please explain like we are five.

I, myself, am concerned because I already have six hot bars running and all the skills are valuable. Thanks to anyone who replies.

Macros shouldn't be used for most combat for several reasons.

• They slow you down because they block the action queue system. Unmacroed actions can be pressed up to a second in advance, and will execute when the current action is finished. Macros must be activated after the current action finishes.
• They slow you down because waits can only be whole seconds. If you try to wait partial seconds, the system rounds to a whole number. If your GCD is 2.1s long, you have to use a <wait.3> to make a macro execute actions in sequence. This means you'll only take 70% as many actions as you could. This is a huge loss.
• If a sequence is interrupted, you need the next action somewhere on your bar anyway, since you can't start from the middle of a macro.

The exceptions are macros targeting secondary targets for buffs, heals, and raises, which allow you to do things like raise "whoever is dead" without specifically targeting them, or quickly manashifting a healer without changing targets; and macros for ground target AoEs, which will center them on the designated target and are faster than pressing the button, placing the cursor, then pressing the button again.


tl;dr: don't use macros for combat actions.

[Hercub]

Macros shouldn't be used for most combat for several reasons.

• They slow you down because they block the action queue system. Unmacroed actions can be pressed up to a second in advance, and will execute when the current action is finished. Macros must be activated after the current action finishes.
• They slow you down because waits can only be whole seconds. If you try to wait partial seconds, the system rounds to a whole number. If your GCD is 2.1s long, you have to use a <wait.3> to make a macro execute actions in sequence. This means you'll only take 70% as many actions as you could. This is a huge loss.
• If a sequence is interrupted, you need the next action somewhere on your bar anyway, since you can't start from the middle of a macro.

The exceptions are macros targeting secondary targets for buffs, heals, and raises, which allow you to do things like raise "whoever is dead" without specifically targeting them, or quickly manashifting a healer without changing targets; and macros for ground target AoEs, which will center them on the designated target and are faster than pressing the button, placing the cursor, then pressing the button again.


tl;dr: don't use macros for combat actions.

Perfect, macros are not for Combat but may be appropriate for Healers? I think this is really important for all of us that are just getting into things like WHM. I've only played DPS in this game, but I'm starting to explore Healer.

Can you or anyone else recommend links to sites explaining How Macros Work and How to Create them not just for Healers but for other appropriate situations. I'm starting as WHM, but I've always wanted to try Astrologian and I fear that particular Job cannot be done without Macros. This is for anyone who has ever been confused by the Astrologian class.

Thanks!

[Sylve]

I'm a relatively new player, but you are presenting a valid concern. Completely valid. I'm not very techi but I believe there are things like Macros in this game. I don't know how to use them at all, but that might be the solution. So, can anyone explain macros? Please explain like we are five.

I, myself, am concerned because I already have six hot bars running and all the skills are valuable. Thanks to anyone who replies.

There are no macro commands that would work for what I'd like to see. Closest is what I managed on Monk, which simply has attacks that require specific forms macro'd to be cast together. The system just automatically uses whichever skill fits the Form I happen to be in. That just let me use 1 2 3 8 for my main combos, just in different orders depending on where im at with buffs/debuffs. Cut down the keybinds a little with zero negative effects on my rotations.

The command for it is as simple as
/ac "Twin Snakes"
/ac "Demolish"
For one, and the other is
/ac "True Strike"
/ac "Snap Punch

So if I press 1 2 2, its Dragonkick - Twin Snakes - Demolish. But if I don't need Demolish, I can hit 3 for Snap Punch instead for a finisher, or True Strike if Twin Snakes is up.
Which is basically a dodgy, Monk only version on what I would very much like. A simple reduction in keybinds without dumbing down the way weaponskills combo together.

[Ilan]

Combo buttons for PvE? No thanks. I wouldn't even work for classes where the combo forks up at a certain point and it would make PvE as boring as the PvP got after they trashed it down for the sakes of people who don't really know the classes they play.

[Yasminou]

Combo buttons for PvE? No thanks. I wouldn't even work for classes where the combo forks up at a certain point.

I'm pretty sure such combos exist in PvP and the system works. If you have a combo 1->2->3 and another 1->2->4, then both combined combo action show the first WS. Then pressing either combined combo action button will update them both to show the second WS. Doing it again will update them both and one will show the third WS while the other will show the fourth one.

[Ilan]

I'm pretty sure such combos exist in PvP and the system works. If you have a combo 1->2->3 and another 1->2->4, then both combined combo action show the first WS. Then pressing either combined combo action button will update them both to show the second WS. Doing it again will update them both and one will show the third WS while the other will show the fourth one.

You mean the combos with skills where some got completly changed and others have been completly kicked out? Yeah still a hard pass from me. If we go that route we could also go that far that we put every dmg skill into a 1 button combo. Most classes are completly fine with 3 hotbars for skills which is not too many skills.

[Nora_of_Mira]

All I know, is that this would be a nightmare for Samurai. The way I have my abilities on my hotbar are from left to right to flow with the combo (i assume most people do this). Not only does it make sense, but it allows me look down and know WHERE i am in my combo for those moments in fights where I have to focus on a mechanic or something.

consolidating this crap would basically mean relearning this entire job, especially factoring in Hagakure and Meikyo.

[Liam_Harper]

All I know, is that this would be a nightmare for Samurai. The way I have my abilities on my hotbar are from left to right to flow with the combo (i assume most people do this). Not only does it make sense, but it allows me look down and know WHERE i am in my combo for those moments in fights where I have to focus on a mechanic or something.

Not to mention those moments, for whatever reason, where you're short on Kenki for a Midare so you want to Haka -> Jinpu (now you have your Kenki), Kaiten -> Midare, then finish your Jinpu combo for another Sen. If the combo was consolidated you're forced to waste a Sen.

In short, it just wouldn't work well for Sam.

[Sandpark]

Not to mention those moments, for whatever reason, where you're short on Kenki for a Midare so you want to Haka -> Jinpu (now you have your Kenki), Kaiten -> Midare, then finish your Jinpu combo for another Sen. If the combo was consolidated you're forced to waste a Sen.

In short, it just wouldn't work well for Sam.

Sam is no more complicated than the other jobs when it comes to core combos just has more strings. Monk has two single target strings, Sam has three single target strings, aka Monk would need two dedicated combo buttons and Sam would need three.
(1)Hakaze>(2)Jinpu>(3)Gekko= String 1 Gekko Combo
(1)Hakaze>(4)Shifu>(5) Kasha= String 2 Kasha Combo
(1)Hakaze>(6)Yukikaze= String 3 Yukikaze Combo

Non-consolidated equals six dedicated buttons, consolidated equals three dedicated buttons.
Now the rotation is 1,2,3 -> 1,4,5 -> 1,6.
Consolidated would be 1,1,1-> 2,2,2 -> 3,3.

With that short on kenki scenario in a consolidated combo, you would press 1,1, do kaiten -> Midare, then finish your Jinpu combo with 1.
Meikyo Shisui completely screws that consolidated idea though. You can't consolidate into fewer buttons then be able to do them separately..

So if they did try and consolidate Sam combos the effect or description of MS would have to be changed to something else like grants a full Kenki gauge and perhaps adds easier access to Hissatsu skills.

[Nora_of_Mira]

So if they did try and consolidate Sam combos the effect or description of MS would have to be changed to something else like grants a full Kenki gauge and perhaps adds easier access to Hissatsu skills.

thats precisely why I dont think they should do this kind of consolidation. not the mention the years of muscle memory lost.