Not a fan of the in game macro systemFollow

I was really hoping it would be like Rifts macro system. You press the button and if the skill on your macro list is available it casts.

The macro system in this game is more of a hand off approach where you click the button and it does what you types.

Problem is wait time. Most macros are set to 2.5 second wait times as that is the default GCD. However theres a lot a stuff that effects the GCD in the skill speed stat. The skill speed stat is a number that gets higher that doesn't quite reflect the actual time it reduces the GCD. Also food often carries a skill speed buff.

What ends up happening is that It seems to be faster to cast by clicking. Even spending a lot of time tinkering with the macros on dummies, on the field the macro would gum up, hang, or just not work right.

Im not huge on using macros, other than the fact they spare me an early case of arthritis.

Was really disappointed with the in game macro system after some thorough testing then use in a dungeon, I actually had to swap my skills back on the hotbar so I could see when it screwed up and manually click the combo finisher ect..that's when I noticed that the macro was waiting too long at 2.5 seconds...attempting to lower it seemed to cause the macro not to cast skills.

Either way, I much prefer a list style approach where you click the button for each command...and to be honest with you, I kinda need macros set since ill need a 3 skill combo, behind enemy combo, flank combo...and still have room for all my non combo skills ect. The reason I want macros more than anything is to keep easy reach keys available, as stretching fingers for extended periods of time to use other combos comes with a lot of needless finger fatigue.

I was curious if anyone else has issue with the macro system, and any suggestion on it. Seems when I bring this up in game people get REALLY defensive for some reason. Not looking for easy mode here, just looking to combine 3 combos worth of keys into 3 buttons.

Edited, Sep 5th 2013 9:06pm by Strangerous

Macros in this game can't be compared to Rift. I played Rift with my G13 and I swear I just ran around pushing on button all day. Then I figured out I had a repeat option on the G13 and ran around just holding down one button. Worked flawless but did get a bit boring, while it was not quite the "best" set up, my DPS and Tank was just as good as any other. But each ability had it own recast timers and then you put the final one at the end of the macro, so everything fired off if it was available.

I find it much easier to macro in just a few things that are either off the GCD or abilities I want to use before an action. For instance, on my MRD I have mercy strike macroed in on all of my primary abilities so if mercy strike is able to be used then it goes before the primary ability I want to use.

But trying to macro in a progression of things that the GCD applies to is just asking for trouble.

I've been trying out some different macos recently. All of which sounded great when I first thought of them, but I quickly realized their shortcomings in action. I'm back to the drawing board with that. I went back to putting all my skills on the hotbar individually until I come up with somethin'.

It is too bad that all DPS abilities don't work like the PUG. So far, I have been able to consolidate everything to one key because each attack opens up the next attack, so you simply list them in reverse order and watch the GCD on one ability (if you spam too fast it can miss the right ability). I don't know how well it works at higher levels, but thus far, my PUG is a 1 button killing machine.