Is it a DPS loss to use macros?

[jssanderson747]

So I was trying to clean up my action bars a bit and made some macros. I made a nice one for Raging + IR + Hawk's Eye..

Then I made one that does Venomous Bite > Windbite with a delay of 2.5.. but it feels SO SLOW compared to hitting it normally.

Is it just me or is this a DPS loss when you macros abilities together with the 2.5 delay? When I try 2.4 I get the "too soon" error so I know it doesn't round the decimal - but it doesn't work with 2.49 either.

Generally any macro involving more than one weaponskill or ability is a dps loss. Macro-ing say a recast message to your invigorate or a <t> command to something like flaming arrow however won't affect dps in any relevant way. The flaming arrow thing is arguable but there isn't really a fight in the game where placing the arrow is more beneficial than just having it instantly placed.

[Darkstride]

How did this thread from 2013 get revived? lol.

On topic, using macros for Summoner to cast your DoTs (as suggested) a really terrible idea, and in my opinion is just lazy.

[Maero]

Probably because some still seem to think using macros for dps is NOT a loss when in reality it is, lol

[Puwarh]

I think macro the oGCD with GCD will not really drop dps, like..

/ac swiftcast
/ac shadowflare

This one will use swift cast with shadow flare ready to target in 1 press

or
/ac "Misery's End" <t>
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>
/ac "Heavy Shot" <t>

This will prioritize Misery's end before blood letter and heavy shot, so, when you spam this macro you will use Misery's end when it's available, then blood letter when it's available and heavy shot as filler in-between and it works even better with Wanderer Minuet on

[Neophyte]

Because of the cooldown on tridisaster. even with contaigon you still have to redot before tri is off cd

There are 4 "DoT-Sequences" on SMN, when you start with an 2p1f-opener .

(Most Off-GCDs not included)
I. Opener: Bio2 -> Miasma -> Bio (-> Swiftcast+Shadowflare)
II. First refresh: Tridisaster+Contagion in DWT + Shadowflare after DWT
III. Second refresh: Bio->Ruin/Ruin3->Miasma->Ruin/Ruin3->Bio2
IV. Third refresh: Bio-> (Swiftcast+Shadowflare + 2-3 GCDs, mostly 2-3xRuin1/2/3) -> Tridisaster+Contagion in DWT (when Miasma runs out) -> + Shadowflare after DWT & 1-2GCD

Repeat steps III. and IV.


The macro shown above just covers the first sequence, which you should optimally use just once a fight.
They may vary from fight to fight, but Bio2->Miasma->Bio is really, really not used that often.

[DarkerOrange]

Is it a dps loss? Yes, it is.

/thread

[Mikoko_Miko]

I understand in many cases it is a DPS loss to use macros for GCD actions. But are there exceptions?

It is a DPS loss to use /wait because an argument is rounded to an integer. AFAIK macros are executed line by line and each line runs per frame. So it takes 33ms/line in 30fps. Macros consisting of few lines drop DPS because their pseudo-queueing windows are not enough. Macros involving two or more actions also causes a DPS loss.

I made my macro to avoid these problems. If it really drops DPS, I want to know the mechanism.

[DarkerOrange]

It is still a loss because even spamming a command in a macro to create a pseudo-queue effect will not be as efficient as you queuing up the skills yourself. And this is before we even get into the fact that for 90% of cases, you will not always want to use the same skills after one another every time. E.g. SMN dots, DRG 4th tier procs, BRD procs, RNG in fights that can cause you to need to use a different combo finisher (most obvious for NIN).

[FunkyBunch]

I have my Manaward and Manawall on one macro.
And Aetherial Manipulation on a macro as well so I cast and then my old target is selected again. It's usually enough to let me dodge a mechanic.
I wouldn't macro offensive spells though, just utility ones.

[Ossom]

I understand in many cases it is a DPS loss to use macros for GCD actions. But are there exceptions?

It is a DPS loss to use /wait because an argument is rounded to an integer. AFAIK macros are executed line by line and each line runs per frame. So it takes 33ms/line in 30fps. Macros consisting of few lines drop DPS because their pseudo-queueing windows are not enough. Macros involving two or more actions also causes a DPS loss.

I made my macro to avoid these problems. If it really drops DPS, I want to know the mechanism.

You can not Queue up Macros like you can GCDs. So all action must be done and then the Macro will attempt to run the skill. If there is in action going on while the Macro tries to run the skill, it will just fail out of that line and go to the next one, obeying any <wait.#>s in the process.

Not being able to queue up your GCD is a huge DPS lost, you will be performing your rotations far slower than necessary. It's so much slower that other people can see that you are taking time before your actions if they decided to watch you a little during the fight.