Macro Vs. Hotbar

[Kinseykinz]

Hi Spoolz,
I used macros for almost everything in FFXI (was a blm so staff swapping was like constant) but for this game, I only have macros set up for gear changes atm. I do use a gamepad. What I have found is you can lay out your action bar in such a way that is is usally quicker with a gampad to click into a spell/action that way than it would be to cue an action. The trick is to align your action bar in such a way that you have spells/abilties side-by-side or up and down from each other you use often. Also, my main Class/Job is CNJ/WHM so it is VERY important my spells go off when i want them too (I can't afford double-clicks because a macro didn't fire or tripped up a spell).

WHM Action BAR
Cure/Cura/Curaga/Esuna/Shroud of Saints/Blissful Mind/Sentinel/Stone/Aero/Repose
Protect/Regen/Sac.Prism/Stoneskin/Second Wind/Featherfoot/Cleric Stance/Stonera/Aerora/Holy
Benediction/Presence of Mind/Raise/Empty/Empty/Empty/Empty/Empty/Empty/Rampart

Keep in mind: It is super easy on a game pad to go from Cure to Repose with my setup by clicking to the left on your directional pad (at least with my setup) and again from the top action bar to the bottom simply by clicking up one time. This means that one click up or down and you can see the next action bar set. Also, by stacking my Stone one slot above Stonera, I can cast stone, click down one and be on Stonera, ready to roll.

I do basically the same sort of set up for BLM... I stack my spells so Fire is on action bar one, Fira on action bar 2 right below it and Firaga on action bar 3 making me a little fire column. Each spell in the combo being only one click up or down. Also, I have both Excruicate/Dark Seal on my top action bar so I can see them. Also as it does make sense to use them after you cast a tier 1 but before the tier 2, having them on the top bar works spell+Excruciate + tier 2 spell in combo.

Some people prefer to keep abilities on longer timers on top bar, but as both Benediction and Sacred Prism tend to be used by WHM in 'oh poop' moments, they are okay to keep on a bottom bar. At any rate, with a game pad, I think organizing your action bars in a way that makes sense to you, and allows you to quickly click what you want will win out over macros.

[Asiaine]

How do you specify the person you want to Cure?

I use macros 1-7 to cure <p1> to <p7>

[Kinseykinz]

How do you specify the person you want to Cure?

I use macros 1-7 to cure <p1> to <p7>

Were you asking me? I have my UI set up for Option B for targeting. I switch my mode to 'party' and target the tank (unless it's on of those instances where the tank isn't going to be taking the most damage/I'm not the tank healer). Then all I need to do to heal different party member is select cure, tab up or down on my gamepad to target who i want to heal (it targets up or down based on their order in the party list, so usually I just watch my party list), and hit A (which is the button that is Enter on my Gamepad). It's basically just as quick as tabbing over in macros <p1>- <p7> with the added bonus that I dont' need to remember who's <p4> etc.

[Estellios]

How do you specify the person you want to Cure?

I use macros 1-7 to cure <p1> to <p7>

I hit Cure on the Action bar then Up/Down on the D-pad to cycle through the party list (You need subtargeting on to do this though, and really subtargeting is only good for gamepad users). Unlike Kinsey I'm almost always on "enemy" filter though. I like to be able to see how much hp/what status effects the target has on it so I know when to do stuff like recast Aero. Since up/down is always reserved for party targeting I don't need to use left/right for it.

I have an assist macro, too, "/assist <stparty>". After I hit it I can select a party member with up/down.

[Kinseykinz]

I hit Cure on the Action bar then Up/Down on the D-pad to cycle through the party list (You need subtargeting on to do this though, and really subtargeting is only good for gamepad users). Unlike Kinsey I'm almost always on "enemy" filter though. I like to be able to see how much hp/what status effects the target has on it so I know when to do stuff like recast Aero. Since up/down is always reserved for party targeting I don't need to use left/right for it.

I have an assist macro, too, "/assist <stparty>". After I hit it I can select a party member with up/down.

Well, I do play with HP bars shown when doing dungeons/bosses etc. That lets me see boss's hps and my emn. I don't worry about status effects on the boss, because being able to use DD spells while Main healing is just rare for me. For all other classes, I am in Enemy mode.