What Macros should I use?

[Ryouken]

I just started lvling NIN to sub for my WAR since my LS wants to start doing CoP missions, and I hear that WAR/NIN is an ideal job for tanking during the boss fights at the three crags.

Anyway, I didn't notice a macro guide on this forum, so I'm asking what are the best macros for me to use once I start to PT (even if NIN won't be my main job, I would still like to be the best I can at it and to be an efficient tank in my PTs'.)

Any help at all would be truly appreciated, thank you.

[Caspian]

Re: What Macros should I use?

A provoke macro (which you should already have).
An utsusemi macro (/nin "Utsusemi: Ichi" <me>)
and your weapon skill macros.
Once you hit your 20's and get your enfeebling ninjutsu's, then you'll want to macro them as well.
I wouldn't bother macroing the Ichi level elementals. They suck for damage, take 4 seconds to cast and don't garner you and tp.
You may also want to add a macro for party chat for when all your shadows are down. This can help your backup tank know when to voke and get hate off you so that you can recast.

[Celeal]

Re: What Macros should I use?

The macro posted by Caspian works fine. Let me post an alternative.

My Utsusemi: Ichi macro is like this:

/recast "Utsusemi: Ichi"
/ma "Utsusemi: Ichi" <stpc>

To cast Utsusemi: Ichi, press the macro, then press Enter key to confirm. (if target moved to other party member, press F1 key to target self)
To check how much time left for Utsusemi: Ichi timer, press the macro, then press Esc key to cancel.

The advantage of this macro is:
1. You can see the timer.
2. You can confirm or cancel.

For example, let say when the macro is pressed, the chat log shows:

Utsusemi: Ichi [00:04]

That means there is still 4 seconds before Utsusemi: Ichi is ready to use. There should also an arrow on top of the character's head (the character is highlighted), wait for the the player to press Enter to proceed Utsusemi: Ichi, or Esc to break out the macro.

Let say if the goblin strip all the shadows in Goblin Rush, you press the macro and the chat log show:

Utsusemi: Ichi [00:15]

The means you will have more than 15 seconds without shadows. Will you be able to parry or evade enough for the next 15 seconds? Do you have enough HP to take a few hits before Utsusemi: Ichi is ready again? Should you ask the backup tank to turn the mob?

Just my 2 gil, hope it is helpful

[Armando]

Re: What Macros should I use?

Don't count out the Ichi elementals entirely just yet. They're situationally (key word, there) useful, because they never fail to give the mob -30 resistance (and that's quite a bit.) They're good if you're in a party with high damage Skillchains and Magic Bursts, to cut down the resists.

You know what macro I recommend? I call it the "GTFO macro." Basically, in the first line, make a visible equip swap (the easiest thing to do in my opinion is to take off your hand gear.) Then, in the second line, Provoke, and in the third, you put back whatever you took off. Basically, you make your character blink out due to gear swaps, and perform Provoke while your character is blinking - this causes you to skip the animation entirely, which means you can Provoke while moving without pausing at all. Depending on lag and the likes you may have to throw in a /wait 1 between the first line and Provoke. Its main use is pulling a mob that you can't beat away from the party, while keeping all your original distance from it. Fun fact, I kited an IT++ Empty in the 4th floor of Promyvion as WAR/NIN for about 45 seconds while the rest of the party made for the spire that way.

EDIT: Oh! You can use this for practically every JA. Especially useful with Boost, Charm, and Flee, Perfect Dodge, Invincible, Defender, Dodge, and just about any other JA you would consider useful while running to or from something.

[Ryouken]

Re: What Macros should I use?

Thanks for your advice, I've already gotten my macros down:

#1 /p {Utsusemi: Ichi} >>> <me> <call>
/wait 1
/nin "Utsusemi: Ichi" <me>

#2 /p {Please Assist} <call5> (This one is for when I run out of shadows.)

#3 /p {Provoke} >>> <t> <call>
/wait 1
/ja "Provoke"
/wait 30
/p {Provoke} {Ready!} <call>

By the way, isn't true that a NIN can't really tank until 12, I'm currently at lvl 10 and my PT members (only been in two really crappy PT's at the dunes so far) keep telling me to tank, which usually results in my death, since in both PT's, there is no WAR or PLD present. Is it just me, or was I wrong in thinking that NIN are only good tanks till lvl 12?

Thanks again for your help.

[Neomage]

Re: What Macros should I use?

Ninjas tanking pre-Utsu is like asking the Black Mage to tank. Sure they can do it(for 3 seconds before the monster sheds them to pieces and unceremoniously deflies the remains) but they compeletly suck at it.

[Ryouken]

Re: What Macros should I use?

Oh my god, thank you! I knew I was right about that.

You see, there was this BLM in my last PT that kept commanding me to tank, which of course resulted in my death. When I tried to tell him that NIN cannot tank till 12, he replied that "his" NIN was 75 and he tanked since lvl 9, telling me that he was an expert in NIN and that I was wrong!

Well I'm glad that I wasn't doing anything wrong and now I can honestly tell my PT that I can't and won't tank till lvl 12, unless of course I need to take hate of WAR if his health is too low (or if I need to take hate of mages when tank cannot voke yet.).

Thank you so much.

[ItazuraNhomango]

Re: What Macros should I use?

Thanks for your advice, I've already gotten my macros down:

#1 /p {Utsusemi: Ichi} >>> <me> <call>
/wait 1
/nin "Utsusemi: Ichi" <me>

#2 /p {Please Assist} <call5> (This one is for when I run out of shadows.)

#3 /p {Provoke} >>> <t> <call>
/wait 1
/ja "Provoke"
/wait 30
/p {Provoke} {Ready!} <call>

Please do not use <call> in your Utsusemi or Provoke macro--it's very obnoxious. Frankly, most parties do not need to see party chat for provoke or utsusemi at all, much less getting a <call>. If anything, party chats for Utsusemi and Provoke are useless distractions filling up the precious log space.

There are only two reasons to use party chat for Utsusemi:

1. Before Lv.37: When there's a backup tank, who use Provoke so you can recast Utsusemi. /p is ok in that case--better solution is to use a /t (backup voker) instead in your macro.

2. Lv.37 or later when you party with PLD's or DRK's (and later WHM or BLM), they can use Stun or Flash to help you put Utsusemi: Ichi up. Then, it's ok to have party chat for Utsusemi: Ichi (but not for Ni).

There's ZERO reason at all to use a /p in a Provoke macro, IMO. The monster lights up in big red graphic when you provoke--I think it's more than obvious enough to anyone interested, don't you?

Here're some macros nicer to your party:
(/echo lines are optional.)

/nin "Utsusemi: Ichi" <me>
/recast "Utsusemi: Ichi"

/nin "Utsusemi: Ni" <me>
/recast "Utsusemi: Ni"

/echo >> ONLY when having trouble putting up Utsusemi <<
/p <Utsusemi> <Casting spell> <Please assist> <call20>
/nin "Utsusemi: Ichi" <me>

/echo >> Provoke the current target <<
/ja "Provoke" <t>
/recast "Provoke"

/echo >> Select target, then Provoke (useful for links) <<
/recast "Provoke"
/ja "Provoke" <stnpc>

Celeal's Utsusemi macro is very nifty, but probably harder for most people to get used to.

Note that <stpc> requires one more key/button press to activate than <me>, so it's for players who anticipate the need for Utsusemi recast and press the macro ahead of time. I think it would interfere with enfeeb recasting for me (since I'd have to cancel out of Utsusemi macro prep if shadows are still up), and generally make a mess of my style (lot's and lot's of macro pressing), so it's not for me. (Unfortunately.)

By the way, isn't true that a NIN can't really tank until 12

NIN can tank at Lv.10, just not tanking like a NIN.

Eat defense food, geared with defense (not evasion) armor, and you probably will live to the end of the battle if you're getting cured. NIN has higher VIT than War, but lack the Defense Bonus at Lv.10. Still, given that more than half of the players in Valkrum Dunes don't bother with food, if you use any defense food with good armor, you'll do at least as well as the average WAR, defense wise.

However, while NIN10/WAR5 can tank, its not a good tank; it can't do enough damage to keep the mob well, and doesn't have any option to generate large amount of enmity except with Provoke. If possible at all, let someone else tank; WAR/MNK, PLD/WAR, DRG/WAR, etc.

Party leader who tell you to tank as NIN10 is stupid anyway, so it's better you refuse and go solo to Lv.12 instead.