Macro setup question from a new 5 boxer

[olsondw]

I'm getting ready to start 5 boxing and want to start off right. I have been reading the forum on and off for awhile now and have learned a lot. I'm starting to get things setup and want to setup things right from the start.

Macro Setup:
What is better, a master DPS spam macro (using the ones in the wiki) or individual key mapped spells/macro's? Has any one started off with the Master spam macro, but switched to individual macro's for better control of the toons?

[Lax]

A master DPS spam macro is pretty much the only way to go when multiboxing, unless you're only ever going to play one class/spec. Use additional keys for the situational stuff.

My DPS spam macro works in several different modes, I use a toggle between PVE and PVP, as well as a 4-mode defensive/offensive throttle -- 1. defensive for themselves (e.g. ret paladins heal selves), 2. defensive for the tank (e.g. rets heal tank), 3. normal offensive, and 4. overdrive (e.g. ret paladins will now taunt). The PVE/PVP toggle pretty much turns off the taunt and adds a stun rotation etc when in PVP.

So I have pretty good control over how fast my characters try to kill themselves, while generally only needing the DPS spam macro itself.

[olsondw]

Thanks Lax.

Concerning the spam rate, if the GCD is 1 sec, is there an advantage of a faster spam rate faster then then 1 sec?

[Owltoid]

There are tons of situations where faster than 1 sec spam rate is useful.

If you hit your key once per second, and you have a 1.5 second cast time spell, then you're not casting it again as soon as you can.

If your slave is able to cast more quickly due to a proc, or haste, or whatever, then you need to be spamming much more often to ensure the slave isn't waiting for your master to be done.

There are many, many examples. I'm just any button spammer is hitting it at least three times per second, and more likely 5+.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Thanks Lax.

Concerning the spam rate, if the GCD is 1 sec, is there an advantage of a faster spam rate faster then then 1 sec?

Faster spam = less time wasted after GCD is up, at the cost of being more difficult to modulate your keypress speed, making accurate fall-through macros harder.

Slower spam = more time wasted after GCD, but much easier to build fall-through macros.

Also, there is no point in building anything but master macros for your major functions. We've discussed some setups over in another thread (http://www.dual-boxing.com/showthread.php?t=30453) that you might find illuminating.