Evidence that Macros Do NOT Cause GCD Delay or Lost Casts

[GrizzlyTank]

Macros queue if you write them to queue. All the details of how that works are in the first post.

Macros have a different type of queue.

When you use abilities you can use an ability and then there is a period where the input for the 2nd ability will queue and trigger when possible.
With macros this is not the case. If you put the same abilities in two macros, when you use one ability, you have to spam the button for the other until it triggers. Since macros don't queue.

[LilimoLimomo]

Macros have a different type of queue.

I would hazard that you're probably talking about the fact that macro queues are shorter, or perhaps the fact that only a single macro can run at once. But to truly know, I'll need more information. Can you describe these situations in more detail? I want to make sure I'm understanding the exact situations you're talking about, because I think you're misunderstanding some aspect of what's happening...but I can't be sure if I don't have more information about the situations you're trying to describe so that I know we're on the same page.

When you use abilities you can use an ability and then there is a period where the input for the 2nd ability will queue and trigger when possible. With macros this is not the case. If you put the same abilities in two macros, when you use one ability, you have to spam the button for the other until it triggers.

The way you describe this situation is throwing up red flags, because there's no situation where a well-written macro benefits from being spammed. That suggests to me that something else is going on.

From just what you've written here, my guess is that the timing of your second macro press is too early; remember, macros have shorter queues than normal actions. So if you wanted to use a macro in this situation, you'd just have to adjust your timing; then you could still get the benefit of a queue while also benefiting from whatever functionality the macro is giving you.

It's up to every individual player to decide whether that's "worth it" to them. For me, it most definitely is. I've got years of playing twitch games under my belt so consistently hitting a button in a 10-frame window isn't an issue for me. But for others it might be, and that's valid.

[GrizzlyTank]

I would hazard that you're probably talking about the fact that macro queues are shorter, or perhaps the fact that only a single macro can run at once. But to truly know, I'll need more information. Can you describe these situations in more detail? I want to make sure I'm understanding the exact situations you're talking about, because I think you're misunderstanding some aspect of what's happening...but I can't be sure if I don't have more information about the situations you're trying to describe so that I know we're on the same page.


The way you describe this situation is throwing up red flags, because there's no situation where a well-written macro benefits from being spammed. That suggests to me that something else is going on.

From just what you've written here, my guess is that the timing of your second macro press is too early; remember, macros have shorter queues than normal actions. So if you wanted to use a macro in this situation, you'd just have to adjust your timing; then you could still get the benefit of a queue while also benefiting from whatever functionality the macro is giving you.

It's up to every individual player to decide whether that's "worth it" to them. For me, it most definitely is. I've got years of playing twitch games under my belt so consistently hitting a button in a 10-frame window isn't an issue for me. But for others it might be, and that's valid.

No situation well-written macros...

Ma-am, ever played healer on controller? Half their kit will be macroed as
/ac <action> <t>
/ac <action> <tt>

So that they don't get issues having to constantly swap targets to damage an enemy, or heal an ally targeted by an enemy.

And there are plenty other macros that are one action only. And no, macros don't have shorter queue. They have none, the timing would have to be some time after the last ability have completed, unlike with non-macros where the next ability would trigger as the last ability finish.

[Venks]

And if you read this to the end, I greatly appreciate your patience in engaging with this novel! <3

This was a super fun read and I'm glad I saw this thread. I've been noticing more Japanese players using macros recently which was super confusing to me given what I've heard from the Balance, but I see now that you can actually use macros without clipping. I'm excited to try this out.

[Mikoko_Miko]

I've been noticing more Japanese players using macros recently which was super confusing to me given what I've heard from the Balance

Conversely I'm from JP and I'm confused at the antipathy against macros here. Perhaps it is partially because one of the top players in the JP community preferred healing macros. Unfortunately he retired from the game 6 years ago.
World 1st The Unending Coil of Bahamut(Ultimate) WHM PoV https://youtu.be/qa3iK4Gnxqo

[LilimoLimomo]

This was a super fun read and I'm glad I saw this thread. I've been noticing more Japanese players using macros recently which was super confusing to me given what I've heard from the Balance, but I see now that you can actually use macros without clipping. I'm excited to try this out.

Whoops, I got so caught up in the pushback that it distracted me from your post!

I just want to say that I really appreciate your taking the time to leave positive feedback like this; it fills me with warmth to hear that you were inspired to give these techniques a try, and I hope they work out for you! And if you ever want to talk shop to fine-tune anything or try to solve pain points that arise, I'd be more than happy to!

[Venks]

Whoops, I got so caught up in the pushback that it distracted me from your post!

I just want to say that I really appreciate your taking the time to leave positive feedback like this; it fills me with warmth to hear that you were inspired to give these techniques a try, and I hope they work out for you! And if you ever want to talk shop to fine-tune anything or try to solve pain points that arise, I'd be more than happy to!

I've been trying it out a bit and it is super cool how much space it can save on my hotbars. It's going to take some time to rebuild my muscle memory. I realize that when I'm dodging mechanics I have a bad habit of mashing my button instead of timing my presses accurately. But so far when I am focused entirely on my rotation, I don't ever clip the GCD. The timing is tighter than what I'm used to, but is super doable. I'm really glad you made this thread, because so many people have very confidently told me incorrect information, I had no idea this was possible and it's super cool!

[LilimoLimomo]

I've been trying it out a bit and it is super cool how much space it can save on my hotbars. It's going to take some time to rebuild my muscle memory. I realize that when I'm dodging mechanics I have a bad habit of mashing my button instead of timing my presses accurately. But so far when I am focused entirely on my rotation, I don't ever clip the GCD. The timing is tighter than what I'm used to, but is super doable. I'm really glad you made this thread, because so many people have very confidently told me incorrect information, I had no idea this was possible and it's super cool!

Hearing this truly makes my day! ^^

[Akonyl]

This was a super fun read and I'm glad I saw this thread. I've been noticing more Japanese players using macros recently which was super confusing to me given what I've heard from the Balance, but I see now that you can actually use macros without clipping. I'm excited to try this out.

It's worth mentioning that JP players will naturally have less aversion to macros because JP ping is way lower than the average NA/EU player, and at lower pings the need for queueing up abilities as a way to mitigate ping issues is reduced. This isn't some secret JP knowledge that NA/EU players are just too dumb to realize, it's just that our play environments are very different ping-wise. Heck, there was a bug in p12s that likely only made it through QA because they didn't have to worry about ping, as the bug was afaik experienced primarily by NA/EU raiders.

If you don't play at a high level, or if you play a job that never has to double-weave, you might not notice it, or you might not care. But not noticing it, and it not being a thing, aren't the same. I personally have a few macros I use (on bard I use a mouseover macro for warden's paean), but I have to intentionally only use them at points where I'm not going to be trying to double-weave anything around it or else the GCD clips. Maybe you live somewhere with very nice ping, but the majority of NA/EU players don't.