Is it a DPS loss to use macros?

[Alistaire]

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

There is 1 exception, /ac "Flaming Arrow" <t> (and other ground targets, shadow flare, salted earth etc)

Such a godsend this patch.

Make your macro:

/micon "flaming arrow"
/ac "flaming arrow" <t>
/ac "flaming arrow"

That way if you aren't targetting anything or your target is too far away your normal ground target placement will appear.

[Jim_Berry]

I used to suffer a loss when I had Mudras macro'd. I have two macros for NIN:

/macroicon "Dream Within a Dream"
/ac "Dream Within a Dream" <t>
/ac "Assassinate" <t>

/macroicon "Suiton"
/ac "Ten"
/em is setting up {Trick Attack}.

[Mikoko_Miko]

Thanks a lot, but I should post my macro for clarification. I made the following Fire macro. I'm not sure how much DPS loss it is but I don't think it is huge.

/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/ac "Fire"
/micon "Fire"

I don't intend to cast Fire continuously. I make it executable before GCD is done. I use it just like ordinary actions.

I tested it as THM at the Hall of the Novice DPS Training Exercise 4: Avoid Engaged Targets. There were not much difference in clear times. I find it more reliable than the ordinary action when I cast Fire after I move. If I cast Fire before I stop, unmacroed one is interrupted and macroed one is recasted immediately after I stop.

[Ragology]

A simple way to see the delay a macro causes is to get on a casting job and cast a normal spell followed by an instant-cast spell.

Arcanist for example, make a macro that casts Miasma, waits the appropriate time ( 2 or 3 seconds I forget) and then casts Bio. Do it a few times on a dummy to get used to the timing.

After that, manually cast miasma and then mash Bio as the spell is ending. You'll see a difference in how quick a manual bio triggers versus a macroed one.

In the beginning while learning how to DPS while healing, I had a macro that cast Bio 2 followed by aero, then miasma followed by Bio, all on <tt> so that I didn't have to deselect the tank. It wasn't the most efficient set up, but it was a lot more helpful than being one of those healers who twiddle their thumbs waiting for a tank's health to drop to 90% so they can over heal. I cast all my dots manually now.

[DarkerOrange]

Please delete that macro and learn to play your class properly, lol.

Macros for any dps skills are an awful, awful thing that no one should ever, ever do. Please just accept this as a fact and start practicing how to use spells properly. If you are moving about and having trouble casting, then the answer is to practice the timings, so you know exactly when you need to push the button, not to create that abomination of a macro.

EDIT: Also, you can't queue up macros, so there is no way you can use that macro to be more efficient then queuing up the skills yourself.