• Macros 101: Basic Gear/Action Swap



    The recent patch in FFXIV finally implemented Macros. For those that don't know what that is, it's basically a script in-game to perform a specific action.

    I was a huge macro fan, extending macro usage from the basic 6 line, to some "advanced" macros provided "elsewhere". I've used some WoW macros too and I have to say, mastering macros is an important aspect of being able to play the game efficiently.

    Eorzeapedia already got an article on intro to FFXIV macros. Well here, I'm just showing my way of putting it to practical use. (and yes lol, I'm quite late into posting about macros :x, hard when you spend more time playing than writing)


    So I'm a Thaumaturge, a Miner and a Goldsmither. While I'm adventuring/"beta testing", I constantly need to swap between Miner and Thaumaturge and going through the menu is just tedious, so let's make a few macros!

    Keep in mind that macros below can be copied and pasted :P If it fits your profile. AND!!! If you already have a good understanding of macros, then here's the usage of macros from Wiki.

    So first to access macros, it's under (quite hidden lol).



    You then click on an empty box where you want your macros to be. Now keep in mind which tab that you've clicked on at the top left. If you are on the Ctrl page, then your macro is initiated by pressing the Ctrl+where-ever you place your macros. For tutorial purposes, we'll leave it at Ctrl.

    I'll start by creating a macro to swap back to my Thaumaturge.

    • Select an empty box and click enter twice.
    • Give your macro a name
    • Press the arrow down key to navigate to the bottom box.
    • Put in your desired commands. Now keep in mind order is important. You cannot equip actions unless you are on the correct discipline, therefore weapon should go first, follow by everything else.

      /equip main "Weathered Scepter"
      /equipaction 2 "Scourge" main
      /equipaction 3 "Banish" main
      /equipaction 4 "Poison" main
      /equipaction 9 "Gravity" main

      It should look something like the SS above. Press escape and it will auto save. Now try it out!
    • Now I'll create one for mining. I will put it on the 2nd box to the right. That way when I see a node, I can quickly swap and start mining by pressing Ctrl+2

      /equip main "Weathered Pickaxe"
      /equip sub "Bronze Sledgehammer"
      /equipaction 2 "Lay of the Land"
      /equipaction 3 "Prospect"
      /equipaction 4 "Lay of the Land II"

    Now I can quickly swap between mining and mage by simply pressing Ctrl+1 for Mage and Ctrl+2 for mining.

    Note: /eaction is the same as /equipaction, I used /equipaction to make things clear.

    Here's my goldsmithing one. Yes, I'm just too lazy to hop into the menu and change stuff. Macros make life easier :P



    Now if for some reason, you need to "clear" out your action bar to load another set of spells, you can use the following: (The macro below broke after today's update, maybe removed?)

    • /eaction 2
      /eaction 3
      /eaction 4
      /eaction 5
      /eaction 6
      /eaction 7
      /eaction 8
      /eaction 9
      /eaction 10
    Notice I didn't have equipaction 1. It's because you'll really... at this point, unequip the discipline's basic action, such as spirit dart or stone throw

    Unlike FFXI, macros also don't need wait anymore. It seems like the algorithm runs it slowly, but ensures the action/task is completed before progressing to the next line, which is a big improvement from before, now they just need to make it faster :P

    Macros swap slowly, give yourself some time before mining at the node! Have fun beta testing :D! I'll keep updating the post with more creative use of macros!

    If you play FFXIV in Windowed mode, you can simply copy and paste any macro from a browser to FFXIV.
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    Comments 20 Comments
    1. Xariana's Avatar
      Thanks for this, Mai. I, too, was a macro-lover for sure. My RDM had a large closet and I loved using every bit of it.

      Looking forward to putting this to use in XIV~
    1. fusionx's Avatar
      great article ^^ I definitely like the improvements over the FFXI macro system.
    1. Kimiko's Avatar
      My biggest question though is this. Compared to XI where normal macros would either take seconds to launch (if they fired at all), are the macros still laggy in XIV? Or have we finally seen a significant improvement with their responsiveness?
    1. Calaera's Avatar
      I just hope macros will automatically be saved to the server come retail release. If not, I will cry. :(
    1. Maiev's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Calaera View Post
      I just hope macros will automatically be saved to the server come retail release. If not, I will cry. :(
      I doubt it will auto save, plus retail release, you'd start all over again SO... you won't get the spell and when you have codes that is referencing to spells you do not have, it might crash :P

      I'd just copy it to a notepad :D for now!
    1. Maiev's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Kimiko View Post
      My biggest question though is this. Compared to XI where normal macros would either take seconds to launch (if they fired at all), are the macros still laggy in XIV? Or have we finally seen a significant improvement with their responsiveness?
      It feels laggier :P but sure more robust and you know stuff are "completed", or gives you a good "error message" :P
    1. Calaera's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Maiev View Post
      I doubt it will auto save, plus retail release, you'd start all over again SO... you won't get the spell and when you have codes that is referencing to spells you do not have, it might crash :P

      I'd just copy it to a notepad :D for now!
      You misunderstood. I hope they automatically save macros to server unlike in XI where you needed to manually save and retrieve.
    1. Maiev's Avatar
      oh LOL i see :P not too hard for their server if its just text :D
    1. Xariana's Avatar
      OMG Cala I always was wrestling with that download/upload of macros... it really sucked. ._.
    1. Reiokyu's Avatar
      I just tend to methodically do it whenever I make new macros. Yes...monk does require quite a few contrary to popular belief especially when lowmanning/salvaging. Although mostly it is minor tweaks to scholar, or whenever I get a new ability/small piece of gear/change medicines I have on hand. I guess I got used to it though when I would switch between PC and 360 a lot. >_>; So now it is just habit.
    1. Norell's Avatar
      this is super helpful thanks alot for posting this up and i look forward to putting this into action very soon in beta :) god i was hoping there was an easy way and you showed me it :)
    1. Maiev's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Norell View Post
      this is super helpful thanks alot for posting this up and i look forward to putting this into action very soon in beta :) god i was hoping there was an easy way and you showed me it :)
      I actually was going to produce a video and cast it, but due to legalcat say no videos at this point, I've held back onto it :x

      But yea in the future! :D
    1. Jonpaule's Avatar
      any idea how to get it to cast the heal/regen on yourself?

      I tried /ac "Sacrifice" main me but it didnt work, I know there is an AoE component to it so maybe thats why I cant get it to work
    1. Amanda Martin's Avatar
      Right now, I can't do this. Yesterday, after playing for a few hours and using my macros for gear switching quite without problem, I suddenly hit CTRL to get to my macro bar and my game stopped responding to my input. Mobs kept moving around me, but I had no input whatsoever anymore.

      I attempted a reboot, no good. I can bring up the ALT bar, but if I hit CTRL, I lose control of my game. I just tried to access my Macros, and after hitting the "Macro" button on my Configuration, my game actually locked up.

      So I'm pretty much !@#%@ed for the rest of the beta, as I can't figure out a workaround and can't post on the beta forums.

      Any suggestions? Please e-mail me: chacha@atelier-hd.com
    1. Rachel Guritz's Avatar
      Just fyi, this wasn't working for me as of last night either. I have the same primary class (Thaumaturge), with mining and botany. I copied the macros over directly. They would all equip the items properly, but not load the toolbar skills properly. The mining skill Prospect will enter the toolbar wherever I set it, but Lay of the Land won't. The skills for Thaumaturge won't load at all. >.< I was so hopeful about this, but I'm back to leveling each of these individually because it takes so long to switch manually between them. :(
    1. Orophen's Avatar
      @Amanda Martin @Rachel Guritz

      Sorry guys, I've looked into this, but I really can't find anything about the issue you two are having. Maybe Maiev can come up with something but you can probably just chalk this up to beta bugs. In the meantime I'll keep on the lookout for something about this
    1. Orophen's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Guritz View Post
      Just fyi, this wasn't working for me as of last night either. I have the same primary class (Thaumaturge), with mining and botany. I copied the macros over directly. They would all equip the items properly, but not load the toolbar skills properly. The mining skill Prospect will enter the toolbar wherever I set it, but Lay of the Land won't. The skills for Thaumaturge won't load at all. >.< I was so hopeful about this, but I'm back to leveling each of these individually because it takes so long to switch manually between them. :(
      You might be able to find a solution in this thread on blue gartr:
      http://www.bluegartr.com/forum/showthread.php?t=97271

      There seems to be some issue with copying macros off of forums and such that causes problems. Basically copying into notepad and then into the game should help. but I'd read that thread first to make sure that you're not inputting anything in the wrong way.
    1. Rachel Guritz's Avatar
      @Orophen - that solved the issue, thanks a million! :D
    1. Orophen's Avatar
      Quote Originally Posted by Rachel Guritz View Post
      @Orophen - that solved the issue, thanks a million! :D
      No problem! Glad to help :D
    1. Orophen's Avatar
      @Amanda

      It could be that your character data is somehow corrupted. I've seen some things around about people getting their character data corrupted in various ways. Can you replicate this behavior on other characters or a new character? If not then your data definitely probably got corrupted somehow. You may have to delete that character and start over. This may or may not work, but it's better than not being able to play properly for the rest of the beta. Test it out on another character or a new character first to be sure.

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