How to make a infinite-loop macro!

Alexeno - Sanctuary

Disclaimer: I already performed a quick search, everything is outdated. So I'm making this short post in the hopes to keep the knowledge of this function available.


It's actually quite simple, once you get past the mistranslated loop function. The button that has the curved arrow and says "Walk behind target" is actually the "Loop Macro" function. To use it properly to allow for an infinitely looping macro, you place the loop function in the first macro slot, then place the skill chain after that.

Sidenote- the sword icon "Attack" performs a single normal melee weapon attack. If you use it as the last part of the macro, it will initiate standard melee auto-attacking on the target.

Here's a couple examples of loop macros:

LoopFunc -> Skill 1 -> Skill 2 -> Skill 3
When you use the macro, will perform Skill 1, followed by Skill 2, followed by Skill 3. It will then repeat itself.

LoopFunc -> Skill 1 -> Skill 2 -> Attack
When you use the macro, will perform Skill 1, followed by Skill 2, followed by a single normal melee attack. It will then repeat itself.


Hope this helps everyone b:pleased

Krisnda - Lost City

lol at least this will help on bosses b:victory

Alexeno - Sanctuary

Krisnda - Lost City wrote: »

lol at least this will help on bosses b:victory

LoopFunc -> Heal Pet -> Venomous Scarab

infinite heal loop for venos b:victory

Aadi - Lost City

I could never get a heal macro right...

Alexeno - Sanctuary

Aadi - Lost City wrote: »

I could never get a heal macro right...

LoopFunc -> Ironheart -> Ironheart -> Ironheart

-or-

LoopFunc -> Ironheart -> PlumeShot





....or you could use my personal auto-heal macro that makes [good] barbs invulnerable b:embarrass

LoopFunc -> Stream of Rejuv -> Ironheart -> Ironheart -> Ironheart -> Ironheart -> Ironheart

b:sweat


on the ironheart strings, it will use the first one, skip the second, use the third, skip the fourth, etc....

Aadi - Lost City

Hm...My macro is:

Loop > IH > IH > IH

First time I tried -- One heal, stopped.

Second time I tried -- Two heals, stopped.

Third time I tried -- One heal, stopped.

Am I missing something here...?

Got it to work for maybe 15 seconds with fours IHs...

Falcondance - Heavens Tear

Maybe the macro's moving too fast for the cooldown?

Alexeno - Sanctuary

Aadi - Lost City wrote: »

Hm...My macro is:

Loop > IH > IH > IH

First time I tried -- One heal, stopped.

Second time I tried -- Two heals, stopped.

Third time I tried -- One heal, stopped.

Am I missing something here...?

Got it to work for maybe 15 seconds with fours IHs...

what is your combined -%chan?

all my cleric-based loops were based on -42%chan. i can simulate anything under that if necessary :P

Aadi - Lost City

Falcondance - Heavens Tear wrote: »

Maybe the macro's moving too fast for the cooldown?

According to Alexeno the idea was just to skip every other heal, and move on, and by then the cooldown was over. But for some reason that doesn't work...I really don't understand how it decides when to cast and when not to, because it cast different amounts of times for the same macro when I tried to replicate my results.

Edit: @Alexeno: 3%.

Alexeno - Sanctuary

Aadi - Lost City wrote: »

According to Alexeno the idea was just to skip every other heal, and move on, and by then the cooldown was over. But for some reason that doesn't work...I really don't understand how it decides when to cast and when not to, because it cast different amounts of times for the same macro when I tried to replicate my results.

Edit: @Alexeno: 3%.

macros work like this:

cast skill 1, cast skill 2, cast skill 3, etc... there is no cooldown check between casts. it will cast the first ironheart, then immediately cast the second. the first will not have had a chance to cooldown, so it skips the second cast, and goes to the third

with only -3%chan, your cooldowns basically aren't reduced at all, so you will need to socket more than just 3 ironhearts in a row (you should also test putting a "placeholder" in the first slot after the loop command, like stream of rejuv or wellspring surge)

one other thing, the macro is based client-side. so your personal lag affects the macro. hence, if you get a lag-spike, it could compromise your formerly perfect macro by causing the next skill in the macro chain to cast later than intended (BM stunlock marco's suffer the most from this)

LloydAsplund - Sanctuary

Alexeno - Sanctuary wrote: »

macros work like this:

cast skill 1, cast skill 2, cast skill 3, etc... there is no cooldown check between casts. it will cast the first ironheart, then immediately cast the second. the first will not have had a chance to cooldown, so it skips the second cast, and goes to the third

with only -3%chan, your cooldowns basically aren't reduced at all, so you will need to socket more than just 3 ironhearts in a row (you should also test putting a "placeholder" in the first slot after the loop command, like stream of rejuv or wellspring surge)

one other thing, the macro is based client-side. so your personal lag affects the macro. hence, if you get a lag-spike, it could compromise your formerly perfect macro by causing the next skill in the macro chain to cast later than intended (BM stunlock marco's suffer the most from this)

1.) If a skill is not cooled down when it reaches that point of the macro, the entire macro stops. It wont 'skip' to the next skill.

2.) Channeling does not affect cooldowns at all. Also, if we apply your logic (of it skipping) then faster channeling would be worse because there is even less time for skills to become 'cooled down'.

3.) Actually, if you lag a bit, it might be better for a chain macro consisting of the same skills. If you have minimum lag, the skills would automatically be casted (because of the macro) once the previous skill is used, but the CD denies casting the particular skill. If there is a bit of lag, the skill MIGHT just have a longer delay of casting, allowing the skill to cool down.

Alexeno - Sanctuary

LloydAsplund - Sanctuary wrote: »

1.) If a skill is not cooled down when it reaches that point of the macro, the entire macro stops. It wont 'skip' to the next skill.
then why does my healing macro work? stream>iron>iron>iron>iron>iron
2.) Channeling does not affect cooldowns at all. Also, if we apply your logic (of it skipping) then faster channeling would be worse because there is even less time for skills to become 'cooled down'.
with my -42%chan, that would mean that it would need to skip 3-4 ironhearts (at least) before the cooldown ends, however it only skips 1-2 (depending on lag)
3.) Actually, if you lag a bit, it might be better for a chain macro consisting of the same skills. If you have minimum lag, the skills would automatically be casted (because of the macro) once the previous skill is used, but the CD denies casting the particular skill. If there is a bit of lag, the skill MIGHT just have a longer delay of casting, allowing the skill to cool down.
a person should NEVER make a chain that depends on this however, because lag is extremely unreliable factor

answers above in red

_Baalbak_ - Dreamweaver

I'm not entirely sure why it works for you and not for others. Regardless of -channeling %, you still have to wait for the cool down before casting again. all that the -% channeling does is allow the skill to reach the "cast" stage quicker.

from what I've noticed it goes:
press button: channel begins
channel ends: cast and cool down begin simultaneously.

IHB has a cast AND cool down time of 1 second. theoretically it should work since your cast stage is finished at the exact moment it supposedly cools down, thus you should be able to immediately begin channeling the next IHB.

Lloyd is correct in saying that when a macro hits a skill that is still on cool down (or does not have enough chi or mana to perform) it simply stops and does not continue, does not skip skills at all. I can tell you without a shadow of a doubt that this is accurate information, as I've had it happen to me several times on my veno and barb while testing different macro strings.

I've tested IHB on loop macro with just one IHB, it stops after the first. I've tested with two IHB icons sometimes it does 1, sometimes it does two, and once it did 3 (successfully doing the first loop and beginning again). But never went beyond that. If we assume it "skips" the second one - it should be restarting from the first IHB every time if you only have two icons there. Two is all you should need if the skills really did skip (which they do not). What you're saying is:

Perform First - Skip Second - Perform Third - Skip Fourth - Perform First etc etc etc.
Should be the same as:
Perform First - Skip Second - Perform First - etc etc etc.

but that's not the way it works

Venomancers have much the same issue when trying to macro (even without a loop) venomous scarab. I've once put the whole macro to do venomous scarbs. It would do 3 or 4 sometimes, other times it would just do one or 2. This skill is the same as IHB (timing wise) - has both 1 second cooldown, and one second cast. sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. I wouldn't bet my life (or a barbs life) on an IHB macro that may decide to quit working at any moment while I'm off in the bathroom.b:surrender

SpitBlood - Dreamweaver

wait? this game has macros???

Lady - Harshlands

1.) If a skill is not cooled down when it reaches that point of the macro, the entire macro stops. It wont 'skip' to the next skill.


then why does my healing macro work? stream>iron>iron>iron>iron>iron...oh right, it doesn't.


2.) Channeling does not affect cooldowns at all. Also, if we apply your logic (of it skipping) then faster channeling would be worse because there is even less time for skills to become 'cooled down'.


with my -42%chan, that would mean that it would need to skip 3-4 ironhearts (at least) before the cooldown ends, however it only skips 1-2 (depending on lag). I made this up because channeling has no effect on cooldowns, end of story.


3.) Actually, if you lag a bit, it might be better for a chain macro consisting of the same skills. If you have minimum lag, the skills would automatically be casted (because of the macro) once the previous skill is used, but the CD denies casting the particular skill. If there is a bit of lag, the skill MIGHT just have a longer delay of casting, allowing the skill to cool down.


a person should NEVER make a chain that depends on this however, because lag is extremely unreliable factor, but I am still a troll that's full of ****.

fixed it for you.

RedsRose - Lost City

There is a guide here on the forums -->

http://pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=3324631&postcount=7

Aadi - Lost City

RedsRose - Lost City wrote: »

There is a guide here on the forums -->

http://pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=3324631&postcount=7

Teehee level 49 centetric b:chuckle

RedsRose - Lost City

Aadi - Lost City wrote: »

Teehee level 49 centetric b:chuckle

b:chuckle I know....lol

Deceptistar - Sanctuary

ill have to try the iron heart out.
altho 42% channeling would

1) make me uber squishy cause id have to swap it with my pdef gears.
2) channeling over 35% will make ironheart 'glitch' in which there are times that cast>heal>cast>pauselock>recast>heal

Elenacostel - Heavens Tear

Macros seem inconsistent for me.

This macro works, for archers:

Repeat -> Normal -> Spark (any)

With this, an archer can afk auto-spark against a boss.


This macro does not work, for me:

Repeat -> Quickshot -> Normal -> Normal -> Normal -> Normal -> Spark

The intention here is to hope Demon Quickshot procs, and get at least 4 attacks off on the proc. Anyways, it doesn't work. It goes through once, but on the 2nd run through, it just does normal attacks. Quickshot has cooled down by the time it starts over, so it's not an issue with that.

Aadi - Lost City

Methinks I'll stick to pressing f3 when the cooldown ends and only using macros for my buffs b:cute

LloydAsplund - Sanctuary

Ill stick with pet heal -> venom scarab, repeat. Then the occasional spark to heal mp. Works on most mini bosses/lotsa hp bosses. Worked pretty nice when I was DDing on sword tamer too.

I still dont see how channeling makes a difference at all to macros. Other than the fact that the skills are CASTED faster.

jaeseu

I was always wondering how to do this...XD...

I actually thought the 'walk behind' thing actually made you walk behind someone...and when I tried and it didn't work, I wondered why. XD...so, thanks for this simple, but valuable info!

Jetue - Harshlands

Things I use macros for:

1) squad buffs, 'cus I'm far to lazy to press all 4 buttons.
2) bosses:solo IH>cyclone>WT>cyclone>repeat, or some variation of this
dd-mag debuf>phys debuf>cyclone>WT>cyclone>repeat, again, with variations
3)grind: cyclone>WT>cyclone>plume> whatever till dead (again, 'cus I'm lazy)

I have never been able to get a single skill to repeat reliably. IH will go 1 to 3 times, then stop. I fix this problem by using a physical "macro" (small heavy object on the 1 key).

Vitenka - Dreamweaver

Yeah, if a skill can't fire off (because it's in cooldown, or doesn't have a target) then the whole macro ends.
Oddly, using macro's across transformations also seems to fail.

Alexeno - Sanctuary

so, i had a big long post i had written out explaining how after re-downloading the client i found my cleric deleted, and how i'm going to have to rebuild it (will take about 48 hours tops).... but my internet connection cut out and so here's the summary/recap b:laugh

good news is, that all i lost when the cleric deletion went thru is the cleric itself. i have all the uber-equips on my mage b:sin

anyways, reason i bring this up is that i intend to double-check my info. i'll post the results of the testing here

in the meantime, if you have requests for infinite-loop macros, post what you'd like to accomplish here. i'll whip up a macro for ya and test it out, then post the [working] macro here once i get it figured

Current to-do list for macros:
1) heal macro for miss aadi (-3%chan restriction)

Alerean - Heavens Tear

LloydAsplund - Sanctuary wrote: »

Ill stick with pet heal -> venom scarab, repeat. Then the occasional spark to heal mp. Works on most mini bosses/lotsa hp bosses. Worked pretty nice when I was DDing on sword tamer too.

I still dont see how channeling makes a difference at all to macros. Other than the fact that the skills are CASTED faster.

Cooldown can sometimes have an effect. Here is an example,

Going off the fact that if a skill hasn't cooled down the macro stops (Dunno what some other people are talking about with it skipping, but it doesn't work that way for me or anyone I know.)

As for the example, for a cleric an attack macro might be;
Loop, Plume Shot, Cyclone, Plume Shot, Wield Thunder

Wield Thunder has a cooldown of 6 seconds.

For a Demon Cleric without any -chan gear the Chan+Cast time of Plume, Cyclone, Plume is 6.4 seconds. However with even a modest 12% -chan, the Chan+Cast time of Plume, Cyclone, Plume drops to almost exactly 6 seconds. Add a bit more -chan gear and your macro would no longer work due to Wield Thunder not having cooled down in time.

Alexeno - Sanctuary

update:

aadi, here's your healing loop
LoopFunc -> Ironheart -> Vanguard
-or-
LoopFunc -> Ironheart -> Wellspring

if mana isnt a concern, then here's a stronger heal
LoopFunc -> Stream of Rejuv -> Ironheart

Aadi - Lost City

Alexeno - Sanctuary wrote: »

update:

aadi, here's your healing loop
LoopFunc -> Ironheart -> Vanguard
-or-
LoopFunc -> Ironheart -> Wellspring

if mana isnt a concern, then here's a stronger heal
LoopFunc -> Stream of Rejuv -> Ironheart

I like the IH/Wellspring, but I think in the end I'll just stick to f3, f3, f3, f3...saves mana as well b:chuckle

Macros make me nervous because they can't adapt to a situation...same reason I hate BB b:surrender

Centetric - Lost City

RedsRose - Lost City wrote: »

There is a guide here on the forums -->

http://pwi-forum.perfectworld.com/showpost.php?p=3324631&postcount=7

Aadi - Lost City wrote: »

Teehee level 49 centetric b:chuckle

RedsRose - Lost City wrote: »

b:chuckle I know....lol

b:boredb:cool

Alexeno - Sanctuary

Aadi - Lost City wrote: »

I like the IH/Wellspring, but I think in the end I'll just stick to f3, f3, f3, f3...saves mana as well b:chuckle

Macros make me nervous because they can't adapt to a situation...same reason I hate BB b:surrender

for support classes, adaptability to the situation at hand isn't really so much an important thing... but yea, i get where you're coming from :P