[IfritnoItazura]

/assist <stnpc>
/wait 1
/p <lastst> is targeting <<t>>!

Something like that, I think, should work for a macro.

[Yellow Mage]

Huh, noticed that this wasn't mentioned yet.

/ma Regen <stpt>

and

/ma Refresh <stpt>

basically exist for the sole purpose of easing headaches. Both of those spells can only be used on party members, anyway, so there's absolutely no reason not to. Sure, it will take some getting used to, but ultimately it's much more efficient, especially if you're on the front line.



Just so we're clear, <stpt> was added in a fairly recent update (not sure which one), which basically allows you to target party members, even when they're not on the screen, because the targeting arrow is on the list of party members rather than just over their heads. There's another one for alliances that was added in the same update, too, but I forgot what it was, and so far I haven't encountered any reason to use it.

[IfritnoItazura]

<stal>

And, a RDM would want that for Cure's, -na's, and Haste macros, so when one scrolls through the alliance list to reach the person needing Cure or other spells, blinking from equipment change would not knock one out of <stpc> (or <st>).

[Taskmage]

The problem I have with <stpt> and <stal> is unless I'm mistaken they don't let you use the F-to select your target. Alliance I can sortof understand but I can't get used to the new method of refreshing my party. I'm probably as quick typing /ma "Cure IV" first three letters [tab] as I would be selecting a target with the arrow keys anyway.

Not that I'm saying they're useless or anything but for someone who's spent 6 years honing themselves on a set of tools without those tags they're maybe not worth changing to.

[IfritnoItazura]

Hmm. I'm mostly a controller user, and I found the transition from <stpc> to <stpt> and <stal> to have been pretty easy.

I can't quite imagine typing for cures, though; wouldn't you normally press a macro for Light Staff anyway? I also macro in some combination of Fast Cast gear and Swift Belt for Cure IV (well one of my Cure IV macros), Refresh, Haste, and -na spells. (Erase and its 15 second base recast... urg!)

[Taskmage]

For gear swaps I just hit my cure macro after I hit enter on the chat line. Though /ta nam[tab] and then hitting the macro would probably be a lot more efficient now that I'm thinking about it. I figure if I'm healing outside of my own party I'm already overachieving anyway so I don't stress the details too much. I haven't come across circumstances where doing so is needed very often since leaving dynamis so I haven't refined my technique.

[IfritnoItazura]

I'm frequently in alliance configurations where there's one WHM + DD x4 + BRD (two-boxed) party in the alliance, while I'm in the tank party keeping PLDx2, WHM and misc. people company. I cure DDs in the other parties more often than the people in tank parties, I think, so the WHM over yonder can spend more MP/time on Haste.

[Yellow Mage]

Originally Posted by Taskmage

they don't let you use the F-to select your target.

The F-? The Force? The F***?

The biggest problem I had adjusting was that I would normally have a targeting arrow on the screen above somebody's head, and I was previously used to using the arrow keys to move the camera around to get a better view of my target. Since the arrow keys weren't controlling the camera any more, but rather the arrow on the list of party members, that was a bit of a rough start.

I still use <stpc> for cures and -na spells, as in addition to just being used to it already, I can always cast those on people outside my party should I want to help someone. But, for me, there is nothing more simple than looking at a name that is lacking a bit in HP, and then casting Regen on that name.

[Armando]

The F-? The Force? The F***?

Function Keys. As in Alt+F4.

[Yellow Mage]

Ah, I see.

[Ellipses]

The biggest thing for me with <stpt> and <stal> has been the lack of sound. The other st things make that "Here's a big blue target arrow" noise when it pops up, so I know I've at least hit the right kind of macro (one where I have to select something), or that the macro has actually activated. Not so with <stpt> and <stal>, and I just haven't gotten used to it.

Not to pile on poor <stpt> and <stal>, though. They're nifty.

[Yellow Mage]

Ah, right, I had just about forgotten at this point: the lack of the targeting sound really got to me, as well.

Well, not so much any more, otherwise I wouldn't have forgotten about it.