Is it a DPS loss to use macros?

[Rose-Wild]

Don't use them. You can't queue other skills and becomes a dps loss.

[Caduceus]

a loss of about .09 sec recast time isn't that big... if you notice people have done this math i think the last line sums it up best http://www.bluegartr.com/threads/117...=1#post6040789 , and since technically knowing your dps through a parser is a violation of t.o.s then how terribly are they going to call you out honestly?


"Arguments for manual:
• Prebuffered actions (see above)
• Ability to make decisions (i.e. it's better to wait .1 seconds to fire an upcoming Heavy Shot, then fire a fresh Bloodletter proc as we discussed about 10 posts back in this thread, but the macro system can't do that)
• Full control over buffs
Arguments for macros:
• Less occupied hotbar space
• Less to keep track of
• Less room for error
Ultimately, the method you choose is entirely up to your own preference, as the difference is minimal. "

[emmgee]

Do not use macros for dps, this video clearly shows the side-by-side difference:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=253&v=czzLF4IfFaM

[Wintersandman]

i also was told it's a "dps loss"; however what people don't get about macros is they can't be "queued up" is the problem, and the intervals are in .5 segments so 2.4 is rounded down to 2.0; however 2.5 IS NOT rounded up to 3.0 the combination of "animation lag" and inability to queue up a macro skill

From the testing I have done there is no .5. I have tested with Ninja Mudra's and PLD combo's. There is significantly more delay than me using the buttons myself. As a SMN you don't have to wait for procs but with a lot of other classes you may have to interrupt a combo to use it or completely change targets and thus your queue is wasted.

[Dante_V]

It's is a noticeable dps loss. Anything .5 is rounded. No queue for abilities and even at the most efficient usage it's essentially like nerfing your Skillspeed which means losses of gcds over time. There is also no freedom with OGCD attacks and it interferes with the usage of certain procs.

TLDR - It lowers the ceiling on potential dps output.

[Blaste]

macro'ng abilities that are off the gcd - like bloodletter and misery's end - is a dps gain

macro'ng abilities in a castsequence as you have is a dps loss

If this is the case is it ok to marco Bloodletter and Misery's end to all your basic DPS skills? like windbite and viper? or Heavy shot and straight shot? Does anyone actually have a useful macro to use for level 60 BRD? I will do anything to lighten the load and allow me to focus on more DPS without worrying about procs.

[Vanroe]

If this is the case is it ok to marco Bloodletter and Misery's end to all your basic DPS skills? like windbite and viper? or Heavy shot and straight shot? Does anyone actually have a useful macro to use for level 60 BRD? I will do anything to lighten the load and allow me to focus on more DPS without worrying about procs.

I macro both to my main attacks (Heavy Shot, Venomous/Wind Bite), mainly because there's no buff or proc indiciator that bloodletter's cd has reset, leading me to not notice, and I dont want to be staring at my hotbars all day.

I wouldnt use it on straight shot, since you're going to want to hit it when you get the proc.

I would say the most important thing, if you go the macro route, is to notice if you have the misery's end animation or bloodletter animation, so you can immediately hit the button again to use your intended attack. Of course this has lead me to spam keys.

Im sure, in a perfectly played situation, its a dps loss of some degree, but it helps me manage bloodletter at least, so it works for me.

[Edewen]

OK. to be clear. a macro like the one below is still a dps loss

/micon "heavy shot"
/ac "heavy shot"

This is because of the queing system explained on this page already. Nobody is perfect and witout using the queing system you are bound to lose a couple tenths of a second at minumum with each ability using macros.

Here is the kicker. Only in game macros are the issue. If you have a button on your mouse or keyboard that hits several keys at once. That still uses the queueing system. For example, Im lazy, and almost always want to use bloodbath, fight or flight, and shelltron on cd as soon as possible. so every time i hit 6 on my naga, it also hits the keys i have associated with those skills on the side of my screen. essentially hitting all 4 at once and still being able to utilize the queueing system built into the game.

Same can, in theory, be applied to bard abilities like bloodletter and ME, but not sure how it will work with the horror that is minuet. Mainly because my bard will sit at 50 until the unlikely event they take away the dam cast bar adn turn it into a buff to damage given for standing still for x ammount of time.

[Parawill]

Hmm, "less to keep track of" for summoners is a horrid reason to use macros for them. If you keep refreshing dots before they run out (since you'll most likely go through your whole Bio II -> Miasma -> Bio), you're losing out on ticks from Bio II and Miasma, thus increasing your mana consumption by nasty amounts. Plus, you lose a few GCDs for inefficiently refreshing debuffs... in exclusion to clipping with Tri-Disaster in B.Trance.

[Arkenne]

The short answer is: Yes.
And the long answer doesn't matter, but its still Yes.