Mac Man

[Beastlord]

Hmm question for you whms' out there, I'm currently lvling BST I have about 5 other active jobs I lvl and I'm running low on macro room. I'm 16 whm now I have 2 astrals etc all the spells at my lvl and I was wondering how much spells do you set up on macros so far I have a whole row devoted to Cure1's for every group member and some poison, and paralyze as well, then Row2 I have Cure2's for everyone Curaga and Devine seal. Then I have to use a whole other set for Some Blm spells and Bar -spells Do I really need to use all these in macros cause its becomeing insane and I'm only lvl 16 running outta macs.

[Aiarin]

I find it more useful to just use the F1-f6 keys to select party members, then use a simple [/ma "Cure" <t>] macro. It's one extra keypress when you want to switch targets (Which shouldn't be too often, if the tank is doing his job), but it's much simpler, and you won't end up curing the wrong person.

[Beastlord]

OOO.oooo didnt know you could use the F1 keys for pt members

[Omniblast]

For the macro I recommend using this:

/ma "Cure" <stpc>

stpc = select target player character
This way you just hit the f1-f6 keys after hitting the macro. This will make your life easier in that regard, and you don't need to target other players first then selecting them.

Note: you will get a pause after doing that macor until you hit the f1-f6 keys and then {Enter} key. This is normal and helpful if you want to stop a macro with a pause.

[Cremonte]

Originally posted by Omniblast
For the macro I recommend using this:

/ma "Cure" <stpc>

stpc = select target player character
This way you just hit the f1-f6 keys after hitting the macro. This will make your life easier in that regard, and you don't need to target other players first then selecting them.

Note: you will get a pause after doing that macor until you hit the f1-f6 keys and then {Enter} key. This is normal and helpful if you want to stop a macro with a pause.

As far as using switch targets, I've seen it's more a matter of preference. As far as amount of keystrokes go, <t> goes a bit faster because if only a single person is taking damage, you won't need to hit - for example, Ctrl+1 -> enter, or Ctrl+1 -> F2 -> enter for each cure. You can just spam on the Ctrl+1 key and it'll cure.

Up to 36, I've personally always used <t> macros. The only downside that I can tell at this point is when you zone/rezone, the order of party members is different, so if you safely exp for 2 hours, zone from a mob and come back, it can feel a bit odd.

<stpc> and <t> are both common though, so I suggest you try out both.

[Aiarin]

Originally posted by Omniblast
This way you just hit the f1-f6 keys after hitting the macro. This will make your life easier in that regard, and you don't need to target other players first then selecting them.

How so? :confused:

I'm not saying you're wrong, my Whm is only 12 after all ^^ I just don't see how having to select your target every time you hit your macro is easier o.0;;

Especially when you're mashing a macro to try to get someone healed asap

[lionx]

I think its just a matter of preference for ppl, i personally use stpc becuase i like to look at the monster hp gauge and somehow know what MP management i need to do...and that i can know if i should flash or anything...not to mention i wont mistarget my <t> macros cuz i target the monster and lockonto it...so all <t> hits the monster and i can cure fine. But thats me, find the one that best fits yoru style of play and go with it ^^

[Darkedge]

If you play on ps2, you can try to play my way.

I only really used macros for perfeorming more than one actiong (IE, Divine Seal + Curaga 2, or status curing magic)

I didn't use macros for Cures or Regen, but I always had my spell menu open ready to cast, and my eyes were always fixed on the party HP/MP bar.

After 46~ levels of WHM, when I made my new character it took me a while to re-realize there was a screen in the top left corner showing HP, MP, and TP. lol In fact while soloing, I often find myself looking at the bottom right instead of the top left. :sweat:

[TheMidg]

Macro Haste and Regen as well, put a /recast line in the first line of the macro.

Personally, for cures I use:


/ma Cure <st>

That's all XD

I'm on PC, if I use my keyboard I just simpy hit the macro then use the F keys to target the person and hit enter to cure. If I use my PS controller I just use the up and down arrows to scroll up and down party members.

[AtraposBLM]

I'm also a big fan of /ma Cure <stpc>
It might seem like its slower than simply /ma Cure <t>, and it might be a little slower at first, but the reason that they even out is the following:
Using <t>:
You have your tank selected, he needs a Cure. So you hit your cure macro. The next time your cure macro is effective is when you're done casting cure. If in this time you want to check on the mob, you have to hit f8, then fX (number of the tank) to reselect and see how the mob is doing. In lower levels, you may not even have to bother, but starting around lv20, when you get Regen, you want to start paying attention to how healthy/dead the mob is. You need this information to determine when you should rest, and when you can use regen to start healing the tank, and rest a little bit early, knowing the mob will die before you are required to heal again.

Using <stpc>:
You have the monster selected, your tank needs a cure. You hit your macro, then fX (tank #), enter. You start casting cure. You already know how the mob is, so you don't need to switch targets at all. You can also immediately hit your cure macro again, select the tank, and as soon as you finish casting cure, hit enter, and you cast again. Therefore, no pause.

<t>:
Advantages:
Slightly faster at first
Easier to mash
Easier to get used to

Disadvantages:
Any time you have your target locked on the mob, you have to disengage, manually target the player needing heals, heal, then retarget.
Slower heals to non-tank players
Have to retarget to check mob's health


<stpc>:
Advantages:
Can target anyone anytime without retargeting
Constant Monitoring of the mob's health (More important during later exp sessions)
Ends up being just as fast as <t> after the first cast
Helps you eliminate having to use /wait in your macro's (saves lines)

Disadvantages:
More difficult to get used to
Requires an additional step to curing
If a party member disconnects, and your tank was in the p6 slot, and you hit p6 by habit, you'll end up curing yourself.


Personally, I use <stpc> for anything I would ever need to cast on someone else, <me> for any self buffs, and I leave it blank (defaults to <t>) or <stnpc> on anything I cast on mobs. I like having as much control as I possibly can as fast as I can. Using the correct <st command can make selecting your target *much* faster. Last thing I say is the following situation where <stnpc> is obscenely helpful:

Whenever your party/alliance gets any links, selecting the link can be a pain, as you have to scroll through party/alliance members, and usually in a really annoying way (trying to select mobs using tab is real annoying, and if the link isn't the mob closest to you, f8 won't work). That's why, on my Sleep II, and Sleepga II macro's (applies the same for the I version), I use <stnpc>. I hit that macro, and I've reduced the number of targets to scan through from 7+ (5 party members + 2 mobs) down to 2+. It makes it much easier to quickly select the link, sleep it, and quickly target the regular pull. It's not that much of a difference for EXP situations, but any time you're in an alliance (Dynamis O.o), <stnpc> let's your tab key get some needed relief.