Step Based Priority for Shamans

Referencing Shamans and pidster's thread here.

I understand how the step based works, as well as setting up the spells and macros in ISBoxer.

It's more or less in reference to the amount of hotkeys I should be using. For example like mosq2's DK Manifesto you would be using:

Bind 1: Sends 111122233445

So it spamming 1 binds 4 times being the most important, 2 being important, 3 & 4 if less importance but on same terms and 5 maybe being on a Round Robin, or at least the smallest of importance.



How can I make the decision on the macros that pidster has posted in a similar manner? I have been looking around and searching but haven't found much in regards to what I should look at for a system.

It can get pretty complicated, but I would suggest mixing the multiple steps with the game's cast sequences.

For my basic Elemental Shaman DPS rotation, I have 3 WoW Macros, and 2 Steps. Step 1 does Flame Shock, using this macro:

Code:

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/castsequence reset=target Flame Shock,null
/castsequence reset=27 Flame Shock,null

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(Honestly I have no idea if the 27 second one fires. It's possible the reset should be different on the first line)

On Step 2, I have this Lightning Bolt (and Earth Shock) macro:

Code:

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/castsequence reset=target lightning bolt,lightning bolt,lightning bolt,lightning bolt,lightning bolt,earth shock,lightning bolt

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Followed by a /cast Lava Burst macro. (also in Step 2)

This 2-Step rotation is configured for "pressed OR released". So when I hit my DPS button, what happens is when I press it, my shamans will try to cast Flame Shock if it is available and on either a new target, or a 27 second rotation to refresh it. Next, when I let go, if Flame Shock didn't just capture the global cooldown it will attempt to cast Lightning Bolt (or Earth Shock on the 6th one). Finally, if Lava Burst is available, that's going to override the Lightning Bolt cast. The spells seem pretty effectively prioritized.


I've been using this to level up from 80 to 90, can't say I've done dungeons with these or that this is the best rotation etc, but this might give you some ideas on how to manage it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vociferate

Referencing Shamans and pidster's thread here.

I understand how the step based works, as well as setting up the spells and macros in ISBoxer.

It's more or less in reference to the amount of hotkeys I should be using. For example like mosq2's DK Manifesto you would be using:

Bind 1: Sends 111122233445

So it spamming 1 binds 4 times being the most important, 2 being important, 3 & 4 if less importance but on same terms and 5 maybe being on a Round Robin, or at least the smallest of importance.



How can I make the decision on the macros that pidster has posted in a similar manner? I have been looking around and searching but haven't found much in regards to what I should look at for a system.

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Mosq2's system isn't step-based, it's priority-based. They are two very different systems, as I explain in the thread itself. Further information on each system can be found in the links in the above overview posts from the Macro thread. You can also find some different setups for them in the Newbie's Guide Vol 1 under Configurations.

Step-based = I press 1, the first time I press it, it sends 1 to the game. The second time it sends 2, the third time it sends 3 and so on. Each successive keypress steps through a series of keys that contains a different macro.

Priority-based = I press 1, it sends 1, 2, 3, etc all at the same time. The game processes the list from top to bottom, using the first available action and blocking the rest with the global cooldown.

Sending 1 4 times in a row in a step-based system is probably just going to tank your DPS since if 1 doesn't have anything available the first time, it's probably all on cooldown, so you may as well be spamming an empty key.

All of the macros in that thread should be set up exactly as you would set them up using the system they are based under. Pidster specifies that his setup is priority-based which means it sends all the macros at once, in the order they are listed.

If you were to write your own macros, you would need to figure out what your class' priorities are. You can see some explanations here, here, here and here of how I set up mine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Khatovar

If you were to write your own macros, you would need to figure out what your class' priorities are. You can see some explanations here, here, here and here of how I set up mine.

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Thank you Khat, I thought that they were the same systems. :) I'll have a better read of that thread again, I blame it on being Friday before a 3 day weekend here in AUS. :D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vociferate

Thank you Khat, I thought that they were the same systems. :) I'll have a better read of that thread again, I blame it on being Friday before a 3 day weekend here in AUS. :D

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I usually blame it on lack of coffee, lol. Also, like Lax mentioned, you can use a combination of the two setups, which I do as well. Both systems have their merits. The more you know about how a specific class functions, the better idea you can get of how to group and break up abilities to build your macros, but copy/paste macros are usually a pretty decent place to start.

Lazy macros are the way to go here: http://wowlazymacros.com/

On my 5s I use a single DPS key that handles the rotation key for each of my class / spec groups.

If I want something to be a priority before that rotation, such as Execute or Kill Shot, I make a separate WoW macro applicable to that action titled something like 'Finishers' and then Finishers appears in the same step just an action to take before my rotation key.

Ideally you want to minimize the amount of keys you are sending to the WoW client to save for other needs like pet handling, using consumables, 5/10 minute cooldowns, etc.

i get mixed results for lazy macros.. I think a combo of priority and step is best. I cant wait to start testing it all out. I'm waiting for patch 6.0 though. ( that is the patch BEFORE the expansion right? )

6.0 is the pre-WoD patch where all the pruning will be released.

I'm curious as well to how it'll hold up.

The reason lazy macros probably don't work the best is because conditional proc classes are in general variable. Sometimes they will score amazing numbers and other times, mediocre numbers. Also, the macros have to be written in a specific way to respect such things.


For example I pulled this from lazy macros website - some credit goes to Mimo on that forum:

Quote:

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#showtooltip
/castsequence reset=target Flame Shock,Searing Totem,null
/castsequence reset=0.3 0,0,Lava Burst
/castsequence reset=0.3 0,Elemental Blast
/castsequence reset=target Lightning Bolt,Lightning Bolt,Lightning Bolt,Lightning Bolt,Lightning Bolt,Earth Shock,Lightning Bolt,Lightning Bolt,Flame Shock

/cast [combat]Ascendance

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Note: I did modify it slightly. The reason for the modification is that Ascendance can be dropped out of the sequence rotation entirely by placing it afterwards with a combat check. Unleash Elements is typically seen as a net loss as it consumes a global so I removed that, too.


Edit: This one will give you much more control over your shocks ( alt for earth, shift for flame )

Quote:

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#showtooltip
/castsequence reset=target Flame Shock,Searing Totem,null
/castsequence reset=0.3 0,0,Lava Burst
/castsequence reset=0.3 0,Elemental Blast
/castsequence reset=target [nomod]Lightning Bolt;[mod:alt]Earth Shock;[mod:shift]Flame Shock

/cast [combat]Ascendance

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Give it a whirl and let us know how it goes.

Do you not use Frost Shock much? Or is that based on each situation?

Also are you not using the Unleash Elements at all?

You'll want frost shock somewhere in there if you do PvP much. I figured he was looking for PvE.

From what I've read, Unleash Elements is pretty much a waste for Ele because it consumes a global cooldown.

Yeah I only PvP (for better or worse).


I have the Frost Shock Talent on one toon, and then swapped the talents around on the others to maximize the pewpew, but yeah I can see what you mean by a wasted GCD.