Target Rotation Macro

I'm currently 3boxing druids. :-) They're great fun, though most likely significantly less overtly powerful than shaman. One area my beloved droods probably excel is in the area of CC. Multiple Cyclones just pisses people off, as do multiple Roots against the correct crowds.

In an effort to get around some of the limitations of diminishing returns, I'm trying to figure out a way to rotate my targets. Currently, all my damage spells look like this:
[code:1]/cast [target=focustarget] moonfire[/code:1]
And my CC spells look pretty basic
[code:1]/cast cyclone[/code:1]
I just find the [target=focustarget] mechanism to work much faster than /assist focus; /cast... system. So I've reserved the "Focus Targeting" to work off my main, who is everyone's focus. Their CC aiming is done with their target. I guess I could switch if I needed to for "target rotation" but at this point, it seems to work well.

I'm completely willing to release my focus for a brief time in order to complete the "target rotation", but I've not been able to work it out quite yet.

Can you do something like this?
[code:1]/focus [target="DroodA"target][/code:1]
Then with a second macro to be used just a brief lag-induced moment later:
[code:1]/target [target=focus][/code:1]

Sadly, I'm at work and can't mess with it.

Obviously, you'd want to make the setup more robust to deal with dead characters well, but that's easily done by checking status. It's the general principle that I need to work out first.

Anyway, I'll keep this thread up to date if I have any progress, but I ALWAYS love to hear what you other more experienced Boxers (Men's Underwear?) have figured out.


EDIT: As always, I did what I could to search for this topic. I didn't find anything. If I'm mistaken, and there is a post which describes this process, please point me to it and accept my apology.

You can
/assist Abc
/focus
/cast superduperblast

you can use the keys to rotate all your characters. I think its E and Q default. I could be wrong

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ame

You can
/assist Abc
/focus
/cast superduperblast

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Diamndzngunz

you can use the keys to rotate all your characters. I think its E and Q default. I could be wrong

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I think you guys may have misinterpreted my question. :-) Or I didn't ask it well.

Here's what I'm after: Ds are my druids, Ts are their targets.

Pre-macro
D1 -> T1
D2 -> T2
D3 -> T3

Post-macro
D1 -> T2
D2 -> T3
D3 -> T1

So, if D1 cyclones T1, the next cyclone to hit T1 will come from a different Druid so I avoid a lot of the diminishing returns on CC effects.

Try this while using your main Druid to target?

D1's macro
/castsequence Cyclone, Rejuvenation, Rejuvenation
D2's macro
/castsequence Rejuvenation, Cyclone, Rejuvenation
D3's macro
/castsequence Rejuvenation, Rejuvenation, Cyclone

You may have to goof around with target modifiers to get it to work properly. Would also recommend choosing anything low rank that is instant cast to conserve mana for the filler. i.e.
/castsequence [harm] Cyclone, [target=self] Rejuvenation, [target=self] Rejuvenation
OR
/castsequence Cyclone, Insect Swarm(Rank 1), Insect Swarm(Rank 1)

For what it's worth, you don't need to put in a "filler" spell. You can just leave double commas (or triple if that's what you need). Or you could just use the round-robin feature of KeyClone if that's the software you use.[code:1]/castsequence Cyclone,,
/castsequence ,Cyclone,
/castsequence ,,Cyclone[/code:1]

BUT... I think I've failed once again to describe what I'm really after.

So... Here's my end goal:

I want to cyclone 3 independent targets, then rotate targets so my next cyclone barrage at the same 3 targets isn't subject to diminishing returns.

What wallshot described above is a GREAT way to keep a single target CCd, but if I've got 3 toons capable of CCing something, I'd like to be able to CC 3 things. That way, I can focus fire a 4th, and then pick off the remains.

Being able to beat 1 character with my 3 isn't all that impressive. Being able to disable 3, and kill the 4th! ...now I'm looking hawt for all the Tauren men who ogle my lithe Moonkin sexiness! If I can't reliably CC multiple targets, then I'd be MUCH better off giving up my Druish Princess ways and learning those of the Shaman. (Shaman are most likely better anyway, but the difference is obscenely large if I can't utilize my best abilities.)

If you're using target="drooda"target you need to write it like this:

target=drooda-target

Macro script requires you to use dashes between the 'target's if you're using a character name rather than a built-in like 'focus'. I forget whether you need quotation marks, so try both drooda-target and "drooda"-target.

Keep in mind there's lag between when you target and when the rest of your party is aware of your new target.

By the way, I'm not sure, but I believe diminishing returns are based on a certain type of effect, rather than a spellcaster. So if you cyclone with one druid, and a second druid cyclones the same target, you will still get diminishing returns.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I've seen it work this way. After all, if it didn't, everyone would just roll all-warlock teams and keep the entire enemy team feared for the entire match (not that it doesn't mostly happen that way anyway).

This should work if you have a bit of lag ie if they dont change target too fast, then all 3 droods should cast on the otherones target. Of course once cast the targets have now swapped. You'll have to manually target 3 seperate targets before hand though.

then u can just spam the cyclone button.

drooda
/cast [target=droodb-target] cyclone

droodb
/cast [target=droodc-target] cyclone

droodc
/cast [target=drooda-target] cyclone

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aetherg

By the way, I'm not sure, but I believe diminishing returns are based on a certain type of effect, rather than a spellcaster. So if you cyclone with one druid, and a second druid cyclones the same target, you will still get diminishing returns.

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Oh that would make me very sad. Can anyone comment on that? I know it's not a purely multi-boxing issue, but if that's true, I've got a tremendous hurdle to overcome.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Fursphere

I wrote about this idea a little here:

http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums2/v...ht=tab+tab+tab

Different class / spells, but same concept.

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That thread talks about the initial setup of targets. I'm thinking after that, where I need to rotate my toon's targets "Everyone assist the druid to your left" style. Though, if Aetherg is correct, this is a big waste of time.

Thank you all for your time thus-far and potentially in the future. This is a great forum!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by bbj

This should work if you have a bit of lag ie if they dont change target too fast, then all 3 droods should cast on the otherones target. Of course once cast the targets have now swapped. You'll have to manually target 3 seperate targets before hand though.

then u can just spam the cyclone button.

drooda
/cast [target=droodb-target] cyclone

droodb
/cast [target=droodc-target] cyclone

droodc
/cast [target=drooda-target] cyclone

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This may be more along the lines of what I'll have to do. Perhaps just make

• "g" cyclone your target
  "alt-g" cyclone your right-friend's target
  "ctrl-g" cyclone your left-friend's target.

With a little intelligence to make sure the target is still alive, that could be quite a good and robust system.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gloss

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aetherg

By the way, I'm not sure, but I believe diminishing returns are based on a certain type of effect, rather than a spellcaster. So if you cyclone with one druid, and a second druid cyclones the same target, you will still get diminishing returns.

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Oh that would make me very sad. Can anyone comment on that? I know it's not a purely multi-boxing issue, but if that's true, I've got a tremendous hurdle to overcome.

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This is unfortunately the case - check out this link:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Diminishing_returns

Cheers,
Stealthy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Stealthy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Gloss

Quote:

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Originally Posted by aetherg

By the way, I'm not sure, but I believe diminishing returns are based on a certain type of effect, rather than a spellcaster. So if you cyclone with one druid, and a second druid cyclones the same target, you will still get diminishing returns.

---

Oh that would make me very sad. Can anyone comment on that? I know it's not a purely multi-boxing issue, but if that's true, I've got a tremendous hurdle to overcome.

---

This is unfortunately the case - check out this link:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Diminishing_returns

Cheers,
Stealthy

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I'm sad now. :( I should almost undoubtedly switch to Shaman now.
/cast Tear Absorbant Totem

The temptation for me to go horde to save on TBC then roll a 3rd as a shaman is massive from reading these boards lol

Try

GlobalMacro1
/target Party1Target
/focus

D1.LocalKeyBinding (pass thru keys)
D1.Ctrl+1 = GlobalMacro1
D1.Ctrl+2 = no action
D1.Ctrl+3 = no action
D1.Ctrl+4 = LocalMacro1

D2.LocalKeyBinding
D2.Ctrl+1 = no action
D2.Ctrl+2 = GlobalMacro1
D2.Ctrl+3 = no action
D2.Ctrl+4 = LocalMacro1

D3.LocalKeyBinding
D3.Ctrl+1 = no action
D3.Ctrl+2 = no action
D3.Ctrl+3 = GlobalMacro1
D3.Ctrl+4 = LocalMacro1


That should set up your Pre-macro requirement of:
D1 -> T1
D2 -> T2
D3 -> T3


When you're ready to rotate targets, Press Ctrl+4

D1.LocalMacro1
/assist Party1

D2.LocalMacro1
/target Party2FocusTarget
/focus target

D3.LocalMacro1
/target Party1FocusTarget
/focus target

Post-macro
D1 -> T2
D2 -> T3
D3 -> T1

You would then have to manually setfocus on your current target after Ctrl+4

Since I have a main tank in my group that is always the leader, I use Party1 instead of having everyone setfocus on the main tank.

DruidA:

/target focustarget
/Targetenemy
/cast Cyclone

Druid B:

/cleartarget
/Targetenemy 1
/cast Cyclone

Druid C:

/cleartarget
/Targetenemy
/cast Cyclone


Targetenemy works like tab, targetenemy 1 works like reverse tab. Sadly you can only do this once in each macro click.

So what this will do:

first druid will CC the next furthest target from your focus's target.
second druid will CC the furthest target that is in range.
third druid will just target the nearest target in range.

You could end up with double CC's here, or attempting to CC your focus target by accident but then again you may not.

So in this case you'd CC up to 3 targets in front of you.... if they're not in LoS then it'll just CC what i can get.

and yeah, diminishing returns exists, here's some info:

<from 2.3 patch notes under rogue header>
Blind is now a physical (no longer a poison) attack. Reagent requirement removed. Now shares the same diminish category as Cyclone and is now diminished in PvE as well as PvP.

<wowwiki page on diminishing returns, great info>
http://www.wowwiki.com/Diminishing_returns

<Addon that will track when cyclone can be used to full effect again>
Chronometer
Nature Enemy Castbar


Basically what this means however is that your first cyclone will last 6 seconds, 2nd 3 seconds, and finally 1.5 seconds. but that's only if you don't stack some other class spell that shares the diminishing return timer of cyclone such as rogue: Blind. Regardless of which druid does the actual casting.