Bard Detail

[Seravi Edalborez]

If you want to be super ultimate best BRD you can be, never ever "wasting time" by using 2 non-GCDs in a row (as can happen sometimes with spam macros), you'd go full manual. But it's a hell of a lot easier to just use macros. I don't agree with a couple of the ones in OP though (convoluted one for DoTs, I have a /p macro for Blunt when I'm sure I've already stunned so I can buffer the input of Blunt itself).

This is what I use on BRD:

Heavy Shot:
/micon "Heavy Shot"
/ac "Barrage" <me>
/ac "Misery's End" <t>
/ac "Bloodletter" <t>
/ac "Heavy Shot" <t>

DoTs*: (replace Venomous Bite with Windbite for a separate macro)
/micon "Venomous Bite"
Misery's End
Bloodletter
Venomous Bite

*Some people like to also put Internal Release at the beginning of their DoT macro; I don't personally like it but some BRDs I know do so.

AoE*: (Replace Wide Volley with Quick Nock for a 2nd macro)
micon
/ac "Wide Volley" <t>
Misery's End
Bloodletter

*AoE first since I don't like to be in "Bloodletter proc hell" when I want AoEs to go off

Buff spam macro*: Like in OP; spam between GCDs
/micon "Raging Strikes"
Internal Release
Raging Strikes
Blood for Blood
Hawk's Eye

*I have Quelling by itself and Barrage as part of Heavy Shot
*Also I have another version of this macro without Blood for Blood for situations like Titan stomps; will pop it manually at a safe time.

Straight Shot I do not macro; I want this to go off when I hit it (previously RoD was also unmacroed but not worth mentioning now)

[gaogaostegosaurus]

If you never want to use two non GCDs in a row you can just have everything be /ac GCD ability, /wait, /ac non GCD abilities.

I have a second crossbar that I switch to when I need to go manual though (like when I need to silence next and animation lock will ruin that).

[Spider-Dan]

I took Barrage off of my Heavy Shot macro because I got tired of automatically using it on mobs that were nearly dead. (I still have Internal Release on my DoT macro though, because I wouldn't use a DoT on a nearly-dead mob.)

Here's my macro priority order:

DoTs:
Internal Release > Misery's End > GCD DoT > Bloodletter

AoE:
GCD AoE* > ME > BL

Straight Shot:
Straight Shot* > ME > BL

Heavy Shot:
ME > Haymaker > Heavy Shot > BL

Blunt Arrow:
Blunt Arrow* > Repelling Shot > ME > BL > /wait 1 > /p (Blunt Arrow) <t>

Buffs:
IR > Hawk's Eye > Raging Strikes > Barrage > Blood for Blood

*note: this is an action that needs to come out when I push it, so it's always first

[Judai]

I personally hate that Blunt Macro. I want to Blunt and only Blunt and I use Repelling to move around and dodge stuff alot, I don't want to double tap to hit it. Everything else is pretty much what I do, IR in DoTs, Barrage in HS for me.

[RKI]

Quick question: does anyone else have TP problems after the update? I noticed that I'm running out of TP way faster than before, pretty sure my CGD was higher before the update, too. And a couple of other BRDs from my FC confirmed that they have that "issue". Is it possible that they did something to the Skill Speed stat?

indeed on two occasions, I found myself low on tp in new dungeons without having spammed aoes. In particular, I wonder if Haukke Manor (hm) last boss has a drain tp move...

[Dakin]

I'm a firm believer that Bard is best played macro-less. The only macro worth having is blunt arrow for party announcement.

[Kelenae]

Ya i play macro-less as well.

[Spider-Dan]

I personally hate that Blunt Macro. I want to Blunt and only Blunt and I use Repelling to move around and dodge stuff alot, I don't want to double tap to hit it.

I also have Repelling direct action on my hotbar, just in a slightly less convenient location that I rarely use.

[tol]

Is it possible to macro items into buff macros, IE pots of dex? according to the command list the structure should be /item "Item Name" <target> however this isn't working for me. Did they take it out or am I just being incredibly dumb?

[arlee]

any item from the CT set worth getting for a brd still saving up for myth items?

[Raldo]

Hands are really nice
Head is good
Body/Waist is alright
Feet/Legs are laughable unless you need accuracy

[Kincard]

As far as the macro discussion goes, I just put Bloodletter and Misery's End together with the Bloodletter icon (so I generally don't miss GCDs) and I put all my CDs except B4B in the same macro, in the order IR > Hawk's Eye > Raging Strikes > Barrage. The order is because IR recharges the fastest, I'll be shooting off flame arrow soon after that so Hawk's Eye, and Barrage stacked with other stuff is always nice so it comes last. B4B is separate for obvious reasons. I have a side bar not keybound that has all the CDs as individual buttons so I can know at a glance which ones are up- the icon for my CDs itself actually displays Misery's End so I know when I can use it and when it's back up.

And of course I have Blunt Arrow macro. Other than that I go manual.

[fren.]

I've cleared to T4 a few times -- schedule doesn't allow for statics so its PUGs for the most part. I have only one allagan piece (bracelets; went five weeks without a drop from 1-4) rest is basically myth (head/body/legs/feet) and DL. I have a pentamelded HQ gryph ring (Crit III x2/Vit III/Det III x2). I was thinking of just replacing my darklight choker with a HQ Gryph as I had a VIT IV laying around, what should I be slotting in for the final four spots?

Apologize if it's been asked and answered multiple times.

[Niiro]

Crit III x2

Past that, doesn't matter much.

DTR is capped, can add a VIT II to cap that or some Quickarm. Can put an ACC I or II if you really need ACC for some reason.

[hagun]

Is it possible to macro items into buff macros, IE pots of dex? according to the command list the structure should be /item "Item Name" <target> however this isn't working for me. Did they take it out or am I just being incredibly dumb?

Second this, I've been trying to make a macro that incorporates item use during PVP, but no luck.

[Deadgye]

You can drag items onto the hotbar, which is good enough for me for now. I'd really like a texted based command to use fudz though.

[Niiro]

I'm wondering, is Wide Volley really worth using for the proc chance over straight Quick Nock spam?

On average, you should get a proc off of Volley every 6-7 uses (960-1120 TP) for a free RoD.

Using Nock 6-7 times costs 840-980 TP, saving you 120-140 TP by comparison, roughly enough for another Nock (which is also 10 more potency than RoD).

The difference ultimately doesn't seem that significant I guess, just wondering what other people thought.

[Seravi Edalborez]

I view it in a similar light to Doomspike vs HT-Ring of Thorns on DRG. Depends on what AoE type you need. All things being equal I've preferred Quick Nock since in a case like Garuda plumes I usually have a better angle at hitting multiple targets.

[Deadgye]

I'm wondering, is Wide Volley really worth using for the proc chance over straight Quick Nock spam?

On average, you should get a proc off of Volley every 6-7 uses (960-1120 TP) for a free RoD.

Using Nock 6-7 times costs 840-980 TP, saving you 120-140 TP by comparison, roughly enough for another Nock (which is also 10 more potency than RoD).

The difference ultimately doesn't seem that significant I guess, just wondering what other people thought.

Assuming the mobs are grouped up, it wouldn't be worth it if only because there are those times when shit procs like crazy and I can't even use enough tp to pop invigorate before mobs die. Also the range on Quick Nock is only 12 whereas it's 25 on Wide Volley and Rain of Death; I like not having to be next to the group I'm AoEing.

[Nyima]

If my math is correct, you will be able to do 10 Quick Nocks over the course of using 1000 tp.

Using that same 1000 tp on Wide Volley you will perform, on average, 10 skills as well. (While taking into account you have a 15% chance of a free skill followed by an additional 15% chance of another free skill, both of which would allow for more tp to accumulate between GCDs.)

If you also consider that RoD is only a 100 potency skill; then spamming Quick Nock actually comes out slightly ahead, but it's negligible.

Personally I prefer using Quick Nock because it's easier to just spam it rather than having to watch for a chain bonus.