FTL - makes sense for non-homogene grps?

[torytrae]

Now, FTL has some benefits, but some drawbacks as well in setting it up and configuration.

I am currently going for the 1 Tank + 3 DD + 1 Healer Setup, and I am thinking, if FTL would really be something for my team? Obviously this only is required for Instances or PvP. As I do not PvP and only go for PvE, is it worth the effort to setup FTL?

What would I accomplish if my tank goes down in an instance? The normal /focus or /assist system would be sufficient in 99% of all cases?
What do you think? Worth the effort for a mixed PvE only team?

[Sajuuk]

In no cases is ftl ever ''required''.

It's just awesome to not have to make those 20ish macros to switch focus.

[torytrae]

I understand. The question is, would a non-homogene group doing PvE only ever require focus switch often enough?

[Ken]

In no cases is ftl ever ''required''.

It's just awesome to not have to make those 20ish macros to switch focus.

You don't need 20ish macros if you use modifiers to switch focus.
For example: "+" for set focus (with modifiers to determine which char you want) and "-" for clearfocus (of current screen's character only, so this key shouldnt be broadcasted)

However, if you want flexible group setups with FTL, you'll need multiple macros anyway.
I personally use focus and have stuff like:

"Focus account 1" macro:
/focus [target=SomeCharOnAccount1,exists] [target=OtherCharOnAccount1,exists]
/assist

This basically just checks to see which character is online on account 1 and selects that as focus whenever I switch to that window.
So yes, I have 4 focus macros per account, but on the other hand I don't need to create extra macros if I create new groups. That means that if you have many groups, you actually save macro space by chosing a focus-based system rather than an FTL-based system.

As with most macro systems, each has its own benefits and drawbacks.

[Ken]

I understand. The question is, would a non-homogene group doing PvE only ever require focus switch often enough?

Switching characters in PvE only is necessary when things are going wrong and even then you can just keep on aiming from your dead character and use your dead character's target. So in short: no.

In PvP it's quite handy, but even there you don't want to switch too often, but keep using your dead character, as switching chars can take several seconds. Those few seconds are sometimes enough to get another one of your characters die.

For me a focus-based system is the most flexible one. This way I can just focus on *any* raid member and have my dps follow him/her while I do some tricky boss stuff with my tank/healer.
It also allows me to swap in other characters in my team more easily.

[edit] The biggest drawback for me is that I can't use focus for crowd-control or pet-targetting, but I don't mind too much, as I have solutions for both.

[Sajuuk]

In no cases is ftl ever ''required''.

It's just awesome to not have to make those 20ish macros to switch focus.

You don't need 20ish macros if you use modifiers to switch focus.
For example: "+" for set focus (with modifiers to determine which char you want) and "-" for clearfocus (of current screen's character only, so this key shouldnt be broadcasted)

*shrug* when I was using keyclone I always had one macro per PiP key so things got switched around when I switched windows.

[Ken]

In no cases is ftl ever ''required''.

It's just awesome to not have to make those 20ish macros to switch focus.

You don't need 20ish macros if you use modifiers to switch focus.
For example: "+" for set focus (with modifiers to determine which char you want) and "-" for clearfocus (of current screen's character only, so this key shouldnt be broadcasted)

*shrug* when I was using keyclone I always had one macro per PiP key so things got switched around when I switched windows.

You can use shift/ctrl/alt(and combinations of that) + a regular key for PiP switching. This would lead to 1 button click in WoW and the WoW macro would then handle the ctrl/alt/shift modifier accordingly, like this:
/clearfocus
/focus [modifier:ctrl,modifier:shift,target=Avarell] [modifier:ctrl, target=Willyam] [modifier:shift, target=Jeck] [target=Joeh]

[edit] The only drawback of this is that sometimes Keyclone makes one of these modifiers stuck in its state, even after you switched screen. That would lead to shift/ctrl/alt still being pressed(even though you dont physically press it) after switching away from that window.

[Kaynin]

The difference between FTL and other set ups is that for an FTL set up you can just go to any window and automatically that character assumes leadership without having to do any action.

Whilest other set ups usually need an extra macro, like a focus set up. Which is very close to FTL but you need to change focus' when you change your character.

There is a target set up that is pretty close to FTL in terms of characters dying. (When one character dies, all macro's automatically skip that char to targettarget, but go to the next with nodead modifiers) but it doesn't have the flexibility of FTL.

In the end, FTL is mainly convenient. But neccesary? Hmm, for me, yes. I couldn't do without. Specifically in dynamic situations where things don't go as expected. Being able to change leader instantly is real nice in those situations (PvP or PvE-going-haywire).



As someone said in the thread, focus has some cool nifty things of being able to put your alt on anyone in the raid as well as vehicle boxing. I have a focus-based FTL set up for that myself. (So more of a TL set up. :P But basicly it's everything the FTL set up has but instead of /targer [FTL stuff] it does /focus [FTL stuff] )

[KvdM]

Its not necessary. However, it does allow you to use /focus for crowd control.

[Ken]

The difference between FTL and other set ups is that for an FTL set up you can just go to any window and automatically that character assumes leadership without having to do any action.

While this is very relevant when you have all WoW windows at a decent size, it is not relevant when you use Picture-in-Picture swapping and have the 'slave' windows at a smaller size constantly. In my case, I have to press a button anyway to swap these windows.

There is a target set up that is pretty close to FTL in terms of characters dying. (When one character dies, all macro's automatically skip that char to targettarget, but go to the next with nodead modifiers) but it doesn't have the flexibility of FTL.

I don't like kill-order, because I want to be able to use any character at any time (e.g. when doing pickup quests).
It's personal preference of course :)