Topic title pretty much, XML confuses the hell outta me and I'd rather not use it.
Also, if no spellcast, how would I go about with macros, what with the like ~30 JAs and only 20 spots?
Is It Possible To Be A Good DNC Without Spellcast?
Is it possible to be a good DNC without spellcast?
You can be a great ANYTHING without spellcast... /thread
[+]
Um... you have 200 per book. Learn to scroll up a page or two on your macros.
I play Scholar [well] without spellcast, I can't imagine dancer being any more difficult than that.
/macro line <number> will become your friend, that's for sure.
Ramuh.Austar said:
Um... you have 200 per book. Learn to scroll up a page or two on your macros.
/macro line <number> will become your friend, that's for sure.
[+]
Same here Z, and sch is VERY skill intensive I think. Almost as bad as pup.
[+]
The only thing that bugs me is when I go to use curing waltz and my character blinks and I lose my target, that and having to spam a macro after combat to put on tandava. Other than that, it's no different than playing any other job.
You could do almost as well using Windower macros as if you use Spellcast, but Spellcast is easier.
You can be "good" without using either, which is better than average. I feel my melee jobs benefited from Spellcast/Windower macros a lot more than my mage jobs, though.
You can be "good" without using either, which is better than average. I feel my melee jobs benefited from Spellcast/Windower macros a lot more than my mage jobs, though.
Ramuh.Austar said:
The only thing that bugs me is when I go to use curing waltz and my character blinks and I lose my target, that and having to spam a macro after combat to put on tandava. Other than that, it's no different than playing any other job.
if you breath for a few seconds while looking at an XML and try to think straight, it's a really basic language. Ffxiah has always been really helpful with making my spellcasts, and the wiki for spellcast is quite helpful as well, as it will take you through a step by step tutorial on how to make your spellcast.
The thought process to making a spellcast XML is quite an easy one too:
"I want my spellcast to switch into X set for Y ability, but on gear piece F, I might want it to change depending on what day it is"
That sentence would translate to the use of simple sets, rules, and variables. If you are able to think and lay out what you want your spellcast to do, you can write it with ease. You're not always writing it from scratch either, you can always look at other XMLs for examples for what to do.
I know this doesn't answer your question, but I just thought I'd give a brief insight on how simple spellcast actually.
The thought process to making a spellcast XML is quite an easy one too:
"I want my spellcast to switch into X set for Y ability, but on gear piece F, I might want it to change depending on what day it is"
That sentence would translate to the use of simple sets, rules, and variables. If you are able to think and lay out what you want your spellcast to do, you can write it with ease. You're not always writing it from scratch either, you can always look at other XMLs for examples for what to do.
I know this doesn't answer your question, but I just thought I'd give a brief insight on how simple spellcast actually.
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I suggest using spellcast, I have a super basic script to get you started, it's what i started off with before I got the hang of it, just swap gear where appropriate. Hope this helps.
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<spellcast>
<config
AutoLoadXML="true"
RequireVersion="2.16"
Debug="true"
HideErrors="false"
ShowGearSwaps="False"
/>
<sets>
<group default="yes" name="DNC">
<set name="Standard">
<main lock="true" />
<sub lock="true" />
<ammo></ammo>
<head>Charis tiara +2</head>
<neck>Charis necklace</neck>
<lear>Suppanomimi</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Charis casaque +2</body>
<hands>Ocelot gloves</hands>
<lring>Rajas ring</lring>
<rring>Epona's ring</rring>
<back>Atheling mantle</back>
<waist>Twilight belt</waist>
<legs>Charis tights +2</legs>
<feet>Tandava crackows</feet>
</set>
<set name="Engaged" BaseSet="Standard">
<feet>Charis toeshoes +2</feet>
</set>
<set name="pyrrhic kleos" BaseSet="Engaged">
<head>Aias bonnet</head>
<neck>Soil gorget</neck>
<lear>Kemas earring</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Loki's kaftan</body>
<hands>Ample gloves</hands>
<lring>Rajas ring</lring>
<rring>Flame ring</rring>
<back>Atheling mantle</back>
<waist>Soil belt</waist>
<legs>Tumbler trunks</legs>
<feet>Charis toeshoes +2</feet>
</set>
<set name="Evasion" BaseSet="Engaged">
<head>Optical hat</head>
<neck>Torero torque</neck>
<lear>Suppanomimi</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Aurore doublet</body>
<hands>Ocelot gloves</hands>
<lring>Meridian ring</lring>
<rring>Epona's ring</rring>
<back>Boxer's mantle</back>
<waist>Nusku's sash</waist>
<legs>Charis tights +2</legs>
<feet>Ballerines</feet>
</set>
<set name="evisceration" BaseSet="Engaged">
<head>Aias bonnet</head>
<neck>Soil gorget</neck>
<lear>Kemas earring</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Loki's kaftan</body>
<hands>Charis bangles +1</hands>
<lring>Jupiter's ring</lring>
<rring>Epona's ring</rring>
<back>Atheling mantle</back>
<waist>Soil belt</waist>
<legs>Tumbler trunks</legs>
<feet>Charis toeshoes +2</feet>
</set>
<set name="dancing edge" BaseSet="Engaged">
<head>Aias bonnet</head>
<neck>Soil gorget</neck>
<lear>Kemas earring</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Charis casaque +2</body>
<hands>Ample gloves</hands>
<lring>Jupiter's ring</lring>
<rring>Airy ring</rring>
<back>Atheling mantle</back>
<waist>Soil belt</waist>
<legs>Tumbler trunks</legs>
<feet>Charis toeshoes +2</feet>
</set>
</group>
</sets>
<rules>
<if Skill="Ninjutsu">
<if Spell="Utsusemi*">
<equip when="precast" set="Engaged" />
<var cmd="inc UtsuCount" />
<if spell = "Utsusemi: Ichi" buffactive = "Copy Image*" NotBuffActive = "Silence|Mute|Omerta|Obliviscence">
<midcastdelay delay = "3.3" />
<cmd when = "midcast">cancel 66</cmd>
<else>
<cancelspell />
<return />
</else>
</if>
</if>
<else>
<equip when="precast" set="Engaged" />
</else>
</if>
<if spell="autoset">
<action type="equip" when="resting" set="Resting" />
<action type="equip" when="idle" set="Standard" />
<action type="equip" when="engaged" set="Engaged" />
</if>
<if NotStatus="Engaged">
<action type="equip" when="aftercast" set="Standard" />
</if>
<else>
<action type="equip" when="aftercast" set="Engaged" />
</else>
<if TPGT="10">
<action type="Disable" slot="main|sub|ranged" />
</if>
<else>
<action type="Enable" slot="main|sub|ranged" />
</else>
<if Spell="pyrrhic kleos" NotTPLT="100">
<action type="castdelay" delay=".2" />
<action type="Equip" when="Precast" set="pyrrhic kleos" />
</if>
<if Spell="evisceration" NotTPLT="100">
<action type="castdelay" delay=".2" />
<action type="Equip" when="Precast" set="evisceration" />
</if>
<if spell="Reverse Flourish">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" >
<hands>Charis Bangles +1</hands>
</action>
</if>
<if spell="Striking Flourish">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" >
<body>Charis Casaque +2</body>
</action>
</if>
<if spell="Violent Flourish">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" >
<body>Etoile casaque</body>
</action>
</if>
<if Spell="dancing edge" NotTPLT="100">
<action type="castdelay" delay=".2" />
<action type="Equip" when="Precast" set="dancing edge" />
</if>
</rules>
</spellcast>
<?xml version="1.0" ?>
<spellcast>
<config
AutoLoadXML="true"
RequireVersion="2.16"
Debug="true"
HideErrors="false"
ShowGearSwaps="False"
/>
<sets>
<group default="yes" name="DNC">
<set name="Standard">
<main lock="true" />
<sub lock="true" />
<ammo></ammo>
<head>Charis tiara +2</head>
<neck>Charis necklace</neck>
<lear>Suppanomimi</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Charis casaque +2</body>
<hands>Ocelot gloves</hands>
<lring>Rajas ring</lring>
<rring>Epona's ring</rring>
<back>Atheling mantle</back>
<waist>Twilight belt</waist>
<legs>Charis tights +2</legs>
<feet>Tandava crackows</feet>
</set>
<set name="Engaged" BaseSet="Standard">
<feet>Charis toeshoes +2</feet>
</set>
<set name="pyrrhic kleos" BaseSet="Engaged">
<head>Aias bonnet</head>
<neck>Soil gorget</neck>
<lear>Kemas earring</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Loki's kaftan</body>
<hands>Ample gloves</hands>
<lring>Rajas ring</lring>
<rring>Flame ring</rring>
<back>Atheling mantle</back>
<waist>Soil belt</waist>
<legs>Tumbler trunks</legs>
<feet>Charis toeshoes +2</feet>
</set>
<set name="Evasion" BaseSet="Engaged">
<head>Optical hat</head>
<neck>Torero torque</neck>
<lear>Suppanomimi</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Aurore doublet</body>
<hands>Ocelot gloves</hands>
<lring>Meridian ring</lring>
<rring>Epona's ring</rring>
<back>Boxer's mantle</back>
<waist>Nusku's sash</waist>
<legs>Charis tights +2</legs>
<feet>Ballerines</feet>
</set>
<set name="evisceration" BaseSet="Engaged">
<head>Aias bonnet</head>
<neck>Soil gorget</neck>
<lear>Kemas earring</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Loki's kaftan</body>
<hands>Charis bangles +1</hands>
<lring>Jupiter's ring</lring>
<rring>Epona's ring</rring>
<back>Atheling mantle</back>
<waist>Soil belt</waist>
<legs>Tumbler trunks</legs>
<feet>Charis toeshoes +2</feet>
</set>
<set name="dancing edge" BaseSet="Engaged">
<head>Aias bonnet</head>
<neck>Soil gorget</neck>
<lear>Kemas earring</lear>
<rear>Brutal earring</rear>
<body>Charis casaque +2</body>
<hands>Ample gloves</hands>
<lring>Jupiter's ring</lring>
<rring>Airy ring</rring>
<back>Atheling mantle</back>
<waist>Soil belt</waist>
<legs>Tumbler trunks</legs>
<feet>Charis toeshoes +2</feet>
</set>
</group>
</sets>
<rules>
<if Skill="Ninjutsu">
<if Spell="Utsusemi*">
<equip when="precast" set="Engaged" />
<var cmd="inc UtsuCount" />
<if spell = "Utsusemi: Ichi" buffactive = "Copy Image*" NotBuffActive = "Silence|Mute|Omerta|Obliviscence">
<midcastdelay delay = "3.3" />
<cmd when = "midcast">cancel 66</cmd>
<else>
<cancelspell />
<return />
</else>
</if>
</if>
<else>
<equip when="precast" set="Engaged" />
</else>
</if>
<if spell="autoset">
<action type="equip" when="resting" set="Resting" />
<action type="equip" when="idle" set="Standard" />
<action type="equip" when="engaged" set="Engaged" />
</if>
<if NotStatus="Engaged">
<action type="equip" when="aftercast" set="Standard" />
</if>
<else>
<action type="equip" when="aftercast" set="Engaged" />
</else>
<if TPGT="10">
<action type="Disable" slot="main|sub|ranged" />
</if>
<else>
<action type="Enable" slot="main|sub|ranged" />
</else>
<if Spell="pyrrhic kleos" NotTPLT="100">
<action type="castdelay" delay=".2" />
<action type="Equip" when="Precast" set="pyrrhic kleos" />
</if>
<if Spell="evisceration" NotTPLT="100">
<action type="castdelay" delay=".2" />
<action type="Equip" when="Precast" set="evisceration" />
</if>
<if spell="Reverse Flourish">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" >
<hands>Charis Bangles +1</hands>
</action>
</if>
<if spell="Striking Flourish">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" >
<body>Charis Casaque +2</body>
</action>
</if>
<if spell="Violent Flourish">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" >
<body>Etoile casaque</body>
</action>
</if>
<if Spell="dancing edge" NotTPLT="100">
<action type="castdelay" delay=".2" />
<action type="Equip" when="Precast" set="dancing edge" />
</if>
</rules>
</spellcast>
Ifrit.Eikechi said:
You can be a great ANYTHING without spellcast... /thread
you can't /thread your own post!
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@Mcmurdles
You should consider putting the xml in spoiler tags so it doesn't make it such a long post.
like so:
You should consider putting the xml in spoiler tags so it doesn't make it such a long post.
Code
[spoiler]....[/spoiler]
like so:
[+]
You don't need spellcast to be good at any job. It just makes it a bit easier. I've often wondered how much easier it would be to use spellcast but then I've been so used to doing everything the way SE intended I've never bothered giving it a second look.
Anyone who says you can't be a good <insert job> without spellcast can't play that job...probably sucks at that job without spellcast.
On BLM alone I have 100+ macros set up to do everything I need them to do, built up over a period of time. I like it that way. Call me odd...almost 6 full banks of macro's, most of which I use regularly. I know where they are and using a PS2 controller on my laptop I can get around them quickly enough to be more than competent on BLM.
I'm sure spellcast would make my life easier on BLM but really....I'm not interested, I like things on hard mode.
My DNC doesn't have anywhere near that number of macro's, most of it is split over maybe 40 macros at the most. If you need spellcast for DNC that's worrying...
...and if blinking out bothers you, try blinkmenot... ;)
Anyone who says you can't be a good <insert job> without spellcast can't play that job...probably sucks at that job without spellcast.
On BLM alone I have 100+ macros set up to do everything I need them to do, built up over a period of time. I like it that way. Call me odd...almost 6 full banks of macro's, most of which I use regularly. I know where they are and using a PS2 controller on my laptop I can get around them quickly enough to be more than competent on BLM.
I'm sure spellcast would make my life easier on BLM but really....I'm not interested, I like things on hard mode.
My DNC doesn't have anywhere near that number of macro's, most of it is split over maybe 40 macros at the most. If you need spellcast for DNC that's worrying...
...and if blinking out bothers you, try blinkmenot... ;)
[+]
The previous spoiler is my stupidly simple spellcast for war. It does two things: unequips my dusk gloves outside of combat and swaps gear for weapon skills. I learned spellcast when a friend gave me his samurai spellcast - that's the best way to learn the language, by augmenting another one to fit your needs.
By far the most valuable thing spellcast does for me is automatically change gear sets when my status changes (like engaged or idle). As previously mentioned, you can do anything without spellcast but it makes your life so much easier.
Not using at least windower macros on Dancer either loses you the major advantage of the job or loses you all the equipment modifications of your actions. With Black Mage, it's no problem to hit 2-3 macros per spell and I used to do it happily. If I ever seriously go back to RDM, I'll have to stop using spellcast because (imop) it's horrible for the job.
With Dancer, hitting one macro for gear, one macro for action, and one macro back to gear every time you have to Waltz someone, use a Step, etc. loses you the "instant"-ness of our actions. Official macros take a set amount of time between lines to process the previous line. Windower macros send all the commands at once, in the time that it takes a single line to process. Spellcast offers no real advantage for Dancer (isn't like we need day/weather checking really) over well-made Windower macros, except that it's easier to script the logic.
* Would people consider you a "good" Dancer if it takes you less than 2 seconds to Waltz someone at full potency? Yeah, sure.
* Would they consider you a better Dancer if you could Waltz them at full potency in under half a second? I'd sure hope so.
* Would they consider you a better Dancer if you only wore your WS gear for the half a second that you're WSing? Probably.
* Would they consider you a better Dancer if you could always swap MAcc gear before Violent Flourish? Yeah, probably.
etc.
You can be "good" without Spellcast, because the bar is very low. You would be better with Spellcast.
With Dancer, hitting one macro for gear, one macro for action, and one macro back to gear every time you have to Waltz someone, use a Step, etc. loses you the "instant"-ness of our actions. Official macros take a set amount of time between lines to process the previous line. Windower macros send all the commands at once, in the time that it takes a single line to process. Spellcast offers no real advantage for Dancer (isn't like we need day/weather checking really) over well-made Windower macros, except that it's easier to script the logic.
* Would people consider you a "good" Dancer if it takes you less than 2 seconds to Waltz someone at full potency? Yeah, sure.
* Would they consider you a better Dancer if you could Waltz them at full potency in under half a second? I'd sure hope so.
* Would they consider you a better Dancer if you only wore your WS gear for the half a second that you're WSing? Probably.
* Would they consider you a better Dancer if you could always swap MAcc gear before Violent Flourish? Yeah, probably.
etc.
You can be "good" without Spellcast, because the bar is very low. You would be better with Spellcast.
[+]
As others have said you can play a job just fine without Spellcast, but if you have access to it then use it!
[+]
there is a way to change macro sets and books with the stock macro system. if you saved one macro from each like thats still plenty to work w/ and you could use 1macro per set to move you to a base macro book/set where you could bounce raound from.
there was examples of the while back on the allahkazham smn thread you could base it off of. or just shout in town for a smn main to let you in on how to do this i forgot lol. this will take a very long time to write them all out. like 2-3 hrs min:(
there was examples of the while back on the allahkazham smn thread you could base it off of. or just shout in town for a smn main to let you in on how to do this i forgot lol. this will take a very long time to write them all out. like 2-3 hrs min:(
Shiva.Eldarias said:
Ramuh.Austar said:
The only thing that bugs me is when I go to use curing waltz and my character blinks and I lose my target, that and having to spam a macro after combat to put on tandava. Other than that, it's no different than playing any other job.
You can also add the /wait to the end of your command line also. That was added in one of the more recent updates.
My advice is if you're gonna try to use spellcast, edit .xmls in Notepad++. It makes reading the entire thing a lot easier on the eye and generally makes the process a lot less painful for people new to xml.
[+]
Odin.Zicdeh said:
I play Scholar [well] without spellcast, I can't imagine dancer being any more difficult than that.
/macro line <number> will become your friend, that's for sure.
Ramuh.Austar said:
Um... you have 200 per book. Learn to scroll up a page or two on your macros.
/macro line <number> will become your friend, that's for sure.
Hmm, I put the page swaps in my macro's, a sort of directory if you will. Works awesome for smn, blm, etc.
Bahamut.Zellc said:
Hey kaz! :D
WHO IS THIS NOW
Basically SE likes to make tons of super situation specific gear, which makes zero sense based on their own macro system.
They really should have had a spellcast type system built into the game.
But PS2 limitations blah blah.
They really should have had a spellcast type system built into the game.
But PS2 limitations blah blah.
Bahamut.Kazius said:
My advice is if you're gonna try to use spellcast, edit .xmls in Notepad++. It makes reading the entire thing a lot easier on the eye and generally makes the process a lot less painful for people new to xml.
Without Spellcast? Sure.
Without Windower Macros... Doubt it.
Without Windower Macros... Doubt it.
[+]
Shiva.Flionheart said:
Without Spellcast? Sure.
Without Windower Macros... Doubt it.
Without Windower Macros... Doubt it.
They'd be "very better" if they weren't on PS2. As a Dancer that made the PS2->PC switch, I feel I can say this with confidence.
Byrth's post pretty much demonstrates my opinion. Just suck it up and learn Spellcast. It's not even that hard, and you have access to it. Ask someone for help.
[+]
Hate to say it because I know so many are all <3 about spellcast. You can do everything spellcast can do at the same speed with intelligent windower macros. Yes, you have to learn how to shift between bars 1-10 quickly for certain jobs (blm,rdm,pld come to mind quickest) but for basic jobs that have trouble filling even 20 macro slots (mnk, with full mdt, pdt, counter, 2 ws, 2 tp, cant even fill 1 full alt/cntrl line) you're really not gaining anything using spellcast. Learn how to use windower macros properly and you're done. To me, spellcast takes the last bit of skill out of this game, as it pretty much wipes your *** for you on mage jobs with situational gear swaps :(
[+]
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