Spread Out Macros / Formations

People ask this so much, I am going to sticky this. - Xzin


I know how to spread out in a + sign. I know how to spread out in a x.

What I cant work out is how to spread out in a line. I seen Xbox do it in his movies and some of the others do it in there movies.

IE:
M
C1 C2 C3 C4

To do + you would bind:

A=Up, B=Down, C=Left, D=Right and make something like Numpad0 be that on all characters. To do an X I use Xkeys to press up and left, down and right etc etc.

Cant work out the line, can someone help?

-Slats

Just an idea from a noob, but can you make the two 'inside' ones walk instead of run?

Something like:

/walk
/move left(or right)
/run

in a macro?

The result would be a line with the main in the center as he doesn't move.

Two buttons. One is strafe left for alt A while strafe right for B, other is same for C and D. Press both buttons, but hold one for longer. You'll end up with(assuming you start with main and four followers):

- -M
A A A A

Nice ideas so far, is there a smoother way to do it?

I really want to do it in one fluid motion as others seem to do.

I am pretty sure Brad does it in one of this movies too... *nudge*

This has been talked about on the forums a fair bit. Brad has said what he uses to do his line formation already.

You can't control movement with a macro, /follow excluded.

I've done a forum search, I cannot find Brads post where he does a LINE.

I dont want an X I dont want a + sign. I want a _ _ _ _ style.

I am thinking I could maybe do the two button idea as suggested and use X-Keys to insert a pause. I am unsure.

IE:
A&B=Numpad0
C&D=Numpad1

On X-Keys make a macro to press both, insert a pause break and then just the out two. Dont know how smooth this would be. :(

If we can come up with a good solution I wouldn't mind putting together a clean formations thread as people post about it all the time and people are too quick to go "go away use the search button" obviously if people are psoting it so often its nowhere clear to be found.

-Slats

*nod* That is quite effective.

I am more looking for a way to have my main run up to something and my four clones spread out into a line behind him.

I also love the + formation for showing off as it works with Totems really really well.

OK looking at this video closely around the 1:29 mark it looks like he does do it in 2 stages, wether a walk toggle is involved I am unsure.

It looks like

AB - Left
CD - Right
Then:
B Left
D Right

Hmm. I will experiment when I am at home, so far we have two very likely solutions.

-Slats

I'm not quite sure how other people do it but I'll share how I do it. It's as close to a "line" as I can get. In fact, I don't see how you can do the perfect line without holding two buttons with one button held a little longer.

To do it the way I'm going to describe, you'll need X-Keys Pro and understand that if you press Forward & Strafe (left or right), you will move in a diagonal direction. So if you're standing in the middle of a clock and press Forward & Strafe Right, you will head towards 2 o'clock. So with that in mind, clear ALL of your movement bindings from your clones. And I mean ALL of them. Then set up your clones like the following, you can use different keys if you prefer but just make sure you maintain the same pattern as I have listed below.


Toon A

Forward = ""
Backward = ""
Strafe Left = "O"
Strafe Right = ""

Toon B

Forward = ""
Backward = "P"
Strafe Left = "O"
Strafe Right = ""

Toon C

Forward = ""
Backward = ""
Strafe Left = ""
Strafe Right = "O"

Toon D

Forward = ""
Backward = "P"
Strafe Left = ""
Strafe Right = "O"

(For turning right & left, I mapped those movements to Q & E so I can turn my clones left or right should they not be facing a target or something.)

X-Keys configuration:

Choose two keys that are next to each other. For the first key, record the keystroke by pressing the letter "O". (not uppercase). Then the second key, record the letter "P" (not uppercase). Remove the single key caps from those keys and place a double key cap over them so a single key press will press both keys.

Using this method will give you a formation like this:

[code:1] x M x
x x[/code:1]

I hope this helps.