Tweaking click macros

[Darm]

I understand the basics of click macros, but I'd like to discuss how to go about tweaking them to maximize DPS.

Just for the sake of example, let's talk about a survival hunter rotation, and assume a click speed of twice per second.
And assume a spec/gear where cooldown times are as follows:

Black arrow cooldown - 26 seconds
Explosive shot cooldown - 6 seconds
Aimed Shot cooldown - 10 seconds
Serptent Sting cooldown - 21 seconds

/castsequence reset=combat/target Black Arrow,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,, (52 commas)
/castsequence reset=combat/target Serpent Sting,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, ,, (42 commas)
/castsequence reset=combat/target Explosive Shot,,,,,,,,,, ,, (12 commas)
/castsequence reset=combat/target Aimed Shot,,,,,,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, (20 commas)
/cast steady shot


Ok. Now that the preliminaries are out of the way, and you go up to the heroic test dummy and do your damnest to keep your spam speed at a nice even 2 clicks per second. Perhaps you even have a metronome, software or hardware to help you keep that rhythm.


And then let's imagine you notice that Black Arrow is not being reapplied when it falls off, and is in being reapplied four or five seconds later. In the heat of a real combat situation perhaps your spam speed changes, but in a controlled environment and with some practice and repetition that seems like an unlikely explanation. So what is happening? Or is there a good way to figure out is happening? And what's the best way to address it?


My first question is -- if you make an adjustment to the Black Arrow macro, by subtracting a few commas, should that also require subtracting commas from the other /click macros? Again, assume the click spam rate is staying constant. That is, even if you aren't at exactly 2 clicks per second, assume the spam rate stays constant.


My second question is -- does some allowance need to be made when their are abilities with cast times in the DPS rotation? That is, Steady Shot has a cast time, and the others do not have cast times. Does that require some adjustment?

My third, and related question is -- I think I understand the formula that determines how many commas should be inserted at the end of a castsequence ( # of commas = Clicks per second * spell cooldown in seconds), but is that an oversimplifcation? Even though commas dont' trigger the GCD is there some "lag" generated by pinging the system so frequently? Does having a longer set of click macros trigger some lag on its own?


Anyway, I've been trying for awhile to optimize a hunter macro, but it seems like macros that shouldn't be related to each other are related, and that changing the timing on one macro will upset the timing on others.

Any thoughts or assistance would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[Ualaa]

If your actual click speed is 1.8 clicks per second, instead of 2.0 clicks for the first spell, then the second spell will also be off, if based off of 2 clicks per second. Or the same, if your click speed is 2.4 per second while the macro was built based off of 2 per second. Click speed per second will be consistent good, or too fast or too slow, when compared with each of the macros.

You don't need to adjust for a cast time, as it is a priority sequence. While Steady Shot is firing off, nothing else can. But as soon as Steady has finished, the first ability which is ready (according to our priority basis) will fire off.

I determine the number of commas to add to a click sequence the same way as you do. Sometimes I tweak it, for 1 less commas or 1 extra commas. But usually stick with 2 clicks per second, times desired interval between castings/use of the ability.

[Darm]

I guess I need to really work on keeping that click spam rhythm as consistent as possible.

Thanks for the reply and confirmation of the mechanics.

[Saoul]

Goto http://multibox.me/ and span ur dps key, will do the amount of ,,,,,'s required

[lightstriker]

1 No, the commas are for each spell's CD and DoT times. Is it interfering with passing to the next cast? Its better to have a few more commas. If Black Arrow only has 3 commas, you will get stuck on the cooldown with a message "That ability is not ready yet". It wont goto Serpent Sting. I had this problem with too few commas on Lava Lash. Just subtract enough commas for plus or minus a second when the CD/DoT expires. the only way to get it precisely is if you use a external program, but that would be botting.

2 No, CD are longer than most casting times and the GCD. CDs are still counting down during casting time. Spells with a casting time AND a CD, I don't think the CD starts until its casted. (This is why i dont like some of the warlock dest spells. Instant spells have a CD or Dot. Spells with casting times dont have CDs. But a casting time and a CD; is Chaos Bolt that powerful? )

3 I dont think so. Commas are not sending anything to the servers. Edit- You mean the lag on your PC system? Not unless you are playing wow on a Commadore 64.

What's the space between the commas do? That's the only thing i couldn't find in the forums.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

What's the space between the commas do? That's the only thing i couldn't find in the forums.

Two commas with nothing between them will allow the macro to "fall through" to the next line.

So, as an example, let's assume the following:

• You have a ret pally
• You want to spam crusader strike (4-second cooldown)
• You want to drop consecrate between your Crusader Strikes
• You press your macro button once per second

A working macro would look like:

/castsequence reset=3/combat crusader strike, , , ,
/cast consecration

[lightstriker]

Two commas with nothing between them will allow the macro to "fall through" to the next line.

So, as an example, let's assume the following:

• You have a ret pally
• You want to spam crusader strike (4-second cooldown)
• You want to drop consecrate between your Crusader Strikes
• You press your macro button once per second

A working macro would look like:

/castsequence reset=3/combat crusader strike, , , ,
/cast consecration

Can this work for 2-3 min CDs like Psychic Horror? I have been trying for so long to work it in. I can't put it in front of the rotation; its stuck on next target/combat. I cant put it at the end; Mind Flay instant spells won't pass to it. i have even try filling the entire macro with commas. Maybe like this...?

/castsquence Mind Blast,, ,,,,
/cast Psychic Horror

Maybe have more commas than the channeling time? (instead of the usual nochanneling)

/click button3
/click button4

/castsequence mind Flay............

/cast Psychic horror

the long CD makes it so hard to test

[Ualaa]

It depends on your clicks per second, and the cooldown or desired delay until you re-click.

With the default macro system, you are limited to 255 characters.
And you need to use several characters for the macro itself.
/castsequence reset=combat Name of Spell (That's 39 characters, its safe to assume 30-40 characters for most abilities).
That leaves 255 - 40 = 215 commas in the castsequence.
At 1 click per second, we get 3 minutes and 35 seconds.
At 2 clicks per second, we have 1 minute and 47 seconds.
At 3 clicks per second, we have 1 minute and 11 seconds.

If you use an addon, that will let you use macros of up to 1024 characters.
Which is a lot more commas in the castsequences, for potentially longer delays.

The other thing..
If the long ability is off of the Global Cooldown (GCD), then you can include it anywhere in the macro.
As in, on the main click spam macro, or on any of the called macros, and it will fire off whenever its available.

If the ability is on the GCD, then it will "stick".
As in nothing that is clicked later will execute, when the priority has the "stuck" macro as the next spell and it is still on cooldown.
In that case, you might just want to manually cast it, and not have it as part of your click macro.