The ultimate casting macro

[magwo]

So I finally did my first AB with 4*shamans at level 43.. obviously I was quite humiliated by 49 twinks who were very skilled and so on, BUT I did gain some wisdoms in macroing.

I present my attempt at the ultimate casting macro (requires use of focus for assisting):



/cleartarget [noharm]
/cleartarget [dead]
/targetenemy [target=target,noexists]
/cast [target=focustarget, exists, harm, nodead] [harm] Chain Lightning; Chain Lightning


The whole idea behind the macro is alleviate the difficulties with your main's target lag in tight situations where you are switching target frequently and need to output high amounts of dps.
It executes like this:
If my current target is friendly, clear my target. If my current target is dead, clear my target.
If I don't currently have a target, then target an enemy. If my main has a valid enemy target, cast on that target, otherwise cast on my current target if it is an enemy.
Pros of this macro:
You will always start casting quickly and output high damage, even if some spells might be cast on other targets than your main's. This ensures maximum dps output against a group of enemies.
Cons of this macro:
You will sometimes lose focused dps if you spam casts too quickly after switching target on your main. However, as a shaman in BGs this is not a great problem - usually you will want to output high dps on several targets and do chain lightning as soon as it is up.

[magwo]

Actually I take it all back - this sucks. :\

[Negative1]

Actually I take it all back - this sucks. :\I LOL'ed IRL

[Kaynin]

xD, yeah, focus makes us shammies work, removing that will get you eating dust I'm afraid. :p

'e' bound to Chain lightning PWNAGE

/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,modifier,nodead,harm,exists][modifier][target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning

'c' bound to 'follow key

/cleartarget
/follow focus

I believe that is my chain lightning macro as it is now, off the top of my head. (I'd have to doublecheck to be entirely sure when i get home.)

[Ughmahedhurtz]

'e' bound to Chain lightning PWNAGE

/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,modifier,nodead,harm,exists][modifier][target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning
Why wouldn't you add a "/stopmacro [noharm]" at the top so you don't burn your trinkets/etc. on an invalid target?

[Ðeceased]

*points at Ughmahedhurtz* he speaketh the truth

[Maxion]

/cleartarget [noharm]
/cleartarget [dead]


These have some value though. Put them in your /follow macro. Why?

There are many NPC's and mobs in the world that are straight bugged the F out when it comes to following on your mount.

I have /assist in my /follow macro for when I need melee combat. If one of my alts is targeting one of the bugged NPCs or dead bodies, and I mount of and hit /follow macro (to ensure they are all following) it will randomly cause that player to dismount. Reason being is that it tires to /assist (attack) the current target and dismounts.

The fix would be to remove /assist from my follow macro, but it makes multibox melee combat pretty simple the way I do it. ;)My solution to that is that I put a "/follow focus" at the end of all my melee ability macros.
Lets me keep my main follow button clean.

[Chorizotarian]

What if your followers are at range and you hit a melee ability? Do you really want them all to come running over to your main?

[Negative1]

'e' bound to Chain lightning PWNAGE

/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,modifier,nodead,harm,exists][modifier][target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning
Why wouldn't you add a "/stopmacro [noharm]" at the top so you don't burn your trinkets/etc. on an invalid target?Very nice tip I'll add this to my macros when I get a chance!

Any way to stop the error message "that spell is not ready" in reference to the buff spells? Also the annoying failed spell sound you get.

[Kaynin]

'e' bound to Chain lightning PWNAGE

/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,modifier,nodead,harm,exists][modifier][target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning
Why wouldn't you add a "/stopmacro [noharm]" at the top so you don't burn your trinkets/etc. on an invalid target?

I've not burned them yet on accident. >.> But I'll consider that!

[Djarid]

'e' bound to Chain lightning PWNAGE

/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,modifier,nodead,harm,exists][modifier][target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning
Ok out come the critique... flame me if I have it wrong but...

surely [target=focustarget,modifier,nodead,harm,exists] is redundant with [target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists] as the latter will fire whether a modifier is used or not
also [modifier] and [] are unnecessary option in the same macro as [] will resolve true whether the cst is modified or not.

you could rewrite the whole thing as

/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning

[Kaynin]

'e' bound to Chain lightning PWNAGE

/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,modifier,nodead,harm,exists][modifier][target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning
Ok out come the critique... flame me if I have it wrong but...

surely [target=focustarget,modifier,nodead,harm,exists] is redundant with [target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists] as the latter will fire whether a modifier is used or not
also [modifier] and [] are unnecessary option in the same macro as [] will resolve true whether the cst is modified or not.

you could rewrite the whole thing as

/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning


<3! Awesome, thanks a lot. :D Didn't realize that.

This will be my new macro then when I log on. (I realized I needed the target focustarget yesterday for feigning hunters :P )

/target focustarget
/stopmacro [noharm]
/use [modifier] 13
/cast [modifier] Elemental Mastery
/cast [modifier] Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists][] Chain Lightning

I suppose I could remove the [target=focustarget,nodead,harm,exists] completely then. Just that [target=focustarget] doesn't seem to target feigned hunters. /target focustarget does.

[Maz]

Some tweaks:
You don't want to blow Nature's Swiftness on a pull, you only want that once you're in combat.
If harm is true, exists will also be true.
You can abbreviate modifier to mod.

/target focustarget
/stopmacro [noharm]
/use [mod]13
/cast [mod]Elemental Mastery
/cast [mod,combat]Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,nodead,harm][]Chain Lightning
Why do you include the first line given that you're going to be casting at your focustarget regardless? Probably so that the /stopmacro check works but you might be able to rework that to achieve the same. I'm at work so I can't test this, but this should work:


/stopmacro [target=focustarget,noexists][target=focustarget,noharm]
/use [mod]13
/cast [mod]Elemental Mastery
/cast [mod,combat]Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,nodead,harm][]Chain Lightning

[Kaynin]

Why do you include the first line given that you're going to be casting at your focustarget regardless? Probably so that the /stopmacro check works but you might be able to rework that to achieve the same. I'm at work so I can't test this, but this should work:


Actually, I found that I need to use "/target focustarget" instead of [target=focustarget] Since the latter doesn't seem to want to cast on feigned hunters. Or maybe I'm doing something wrong. So, mmh, based on your tweaks. I come up with this.

/target focustarget
/stopmacro [noexists][noharm]
/use [mod]13
/cast [mod,combat]Elemental Mastery
/cast [mod,combat]Nature's Swiftness
/cast [target=focustarget,nodead,harm][]Chain Lightning

And the only reason for the /target focustarget is simply a 'failsafe' to make sure the alts will cast, even on hunters that are feigning. And I also prefer to have both EM as well as NS at the same time, so I added a combat condition there too then. :p

I believe [target=focustarget,noexists] in the stopmacro would cause my main to stop the account, since he won't have a focus? So /stopmacro [noexists][noharm] should work with the hunter failsafe in place I reckon. :p

Awesome, this wasn't even my thread but I'm learning loads tho. Thanks for the replies on this one. xD This will surely come in handy.

[Maz]

Given that you're targetting your focustarget then, you don't need the condition in the cast.


/target focustarget
/stopmacro [noexists][noharm][dead]
/use [mod]13
/cast [mod,combat]Elemental Mastery
/cast [mod,combat]Nature's Swiftness
/cast Chain Lightning

[Kaynin]

^^

I suppose so. This will considerably shorten my macro. :P

[Maz]

Must.... Stop.... Tweaking.... Macros!


#showtooltip Chain Lightning
/target focustarget
/stopmacro [noexists][noharm][dead]
/console Sound_EnableSFX 0
/use [mod]13
/cast [mod,combat]Elemental Mastery
/cast [mod,combat]Nature's Swiftness
/console Sound_EnableSFX 1
/cast Chain Lightning
In combination with the ? icon, this will display the correct tooltip. It will also turn off the annoying sound effects when your trinket is on cooldown. Add the ErrorMonster ('http://www.wowace.com/wiki/ErrorMonster') addon and you'll be rid of the "Ability is not ready yet" spam as well.

[Kaynin]

Must.... Stop.... Tweaking.... Macros!


#showtooltip Chain Lightning
/target focustarget
/stopmacro [noexists][noharm][dead]
/console Sound_EnableSFX 0
/use [mod]13
/cast [mod,combat]Elemental Mastery
/cast [mod,combat]Nature's Swiftness
/console Sound_EnableSFX 1
/cast Chain Lightning
In combination with the ? icon, this will display the correct tooltip. It will also turn off the annoying sound effects when your trinket is on cooldown. Add the ErrorMonster ('http://www.wowace.com/wiki/ErrorMonster') addon and you'll be rid of the "Ability is not ready yet" spam as well.

By all means, don't stop. Haha! xD

Duely noted, you're awesome. <3

[cepheus]

cant you remove noexists too when you got noharm? Is there any point in having both?

[Kaynin]

cant you remove noexists too when you got noharm? Is there any point in having both?

This one you mean?
/stopmacro [noexists][noharm][dead]

I'm not sure if harm works in that way, I'd have to test it. In the same condition it should work, but, not sure about the stopmacro.

[cepheus]

cant you remove noexists too when you got noharm? Is there any point in having both?

This one you mean?
/stopmacro [noexists][noharm][dead]

I'm not sure if harm works in that way, I'd have to test it. In the same condition it should work, but, not sure about the stopmacro.

Yea. [noharm] means "if you dont have a hostile target" . [noexists] means "if you dont have a target at all". So [noexists] seem exessive since when you dont have a hostile target this will include not having a target at all

[Maz]

Yea. [noharm] means "if you dont have a hostile target" . [noexists] means "if you dont have a target at all". So [noexists] seem exessive since when you dont have a hostile target this will include not having a target at all
That sounds perfectly reasonable :)

[Ken]

Why do people make macros in such a way that they won't work (and/or give errors) when you don't have a focus set?
If you do make them correct, then you can solo with your characters too.
Sample set:
http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/Macro:Ken%27s_complete_Shaman_macro_set

[Kaynin]

My set is solable? >.>

I don't get errors when I don't have a focus. (like on my main. :p )

[Ken]

My set is solable? >.>

I don't get errors when I don't have a focus. (like on my main. :p )
Indeed it is.
I thought the startpost one wasn't it seems to be ok too.
*shame*

[Crucial]

Must.... Stop.... Tweaking.... Macros!


#showtooltip Chain Lightning
/target focustarget
/stopmacro [noexists][noharm][dead]
/console Sound_EnableSFX 0
/use [mod]13
/cast [mod,combat]Elemental Mastery
/cast [mod,combat]Nature's Swiftness
/console Sound_EnableSFX 1
/cast Chain Lightning
In combination with the ? icon, this will display the correct tooltip. It will also turn off the annoying sound effects when your trinket is on cooldown. Add the ErrorMonster ('http://www.wowace.com/wiki/ErrorMonster') addon and you'll be rid of the "Ability is not ready yet" spam as well.

After Sound_EnableSFX 1 add:


/script UIErrorsFrame:Clear()

That should clear the error message.

[Tizer]

I used this at the weekend, or part of it and it worked a treat. :)