Calling abilities in the key maps

The quick version - can someone confirm that you can type in the spell name into a class/spec specific key map to avoid having to put the ability on the character's hotbar in WoW?

The longer version - I took the leap and am using the style mmo-pro setup to run a multi-class team in WoW. Though I am using the clique/grid healing system, my video fx and repeater region isn't very pretty and has dropped my frame rate 20 fps on all low settings. So far I have put dps abilities on the character hotbars in WoW and used the button numbers to call the abilities in the character/class specific key maps. My first upgrade was moving from using the click bar to moving to the MMO pro system, and then I made 3 or 4 step ability rotations.

My next upgrade is going to removing abilities from the character hotbars in WoW and calling them by name in the character/spec specific key maps. Eventually, I would like to reset the rotations for each fight, especially in dungeons (admittedly, at level 20ish, this isn't an issue yet). Then, at some point, I would like to figure out a more efficient (and esthetically pleasing) method of healing.

Given that I started with an all shaman group about two weeks ago and hadn't really done much with macros before, the support through the website here and dual boxer, the wiki and the videos are awesome! Thanks all for helping me get started! I hope to be able to run heroic dungeons to help cover the subscription fee on a couple of my 5 accounts while I'm having fun.

P.S. Quick update, it looks like my frame rates are okay with video fx and repeater regions. I was running Eversong Woods and still getting just shy of 60 fps with all five characters at low video settings. Orgrimmar was where I saw the lower frame rates.

[MiRai]

I personally don't understand the idea of removing all abilities from your action bars and strictly relying on "typing out" spells rather than using the game's (IMO) superior macro system—I just don't see what would be gained by using such a system, especially when you could easily end up accidentally pasting multiple lines into the chat window resulting in nothing being successfully cast at all. ISBoxer can store user-created macros and transparently tie them to the character/class of your choosing, so there's really zero need to be pasting text into the chat window and hoping for a successful cast. Using text strings, or pasting in text, is generally used as a last resort for games which don't have a flexible macro system (such as World of Warcraft does).

Also, please don't create a mega-thread of several questions which are unrelated to each other—Separate threads for separate topics helps everyone find the information they're looking for.

I personally don't understand the idea of removing all abilities from your action bars and strictly relying on "typing out" spells rather than using the game's (IMO) superior macro system—I just don't see what would be gained by using such a system, especially when you could easily end up accidentally pasting multiple lines into the chat window resulting in nothing being successfully cast at all.,

I certainly could be misunderstanding (or misrepresenting) some ideas here, but here is what I am trying to accomplish:

I have a two teams with a mage on each. I would prefer to type out arcane blast in ISBoxer's arcane mage dps key map, rather than have the map call hotbar 1, slot 1 and make sure the spell is in the right place on both mages' character screens in game

Also, please don't create a mega-thread of several questions which are unrelated to each other—Separate threads for separate topics helps everyone find the information they're looking for.

Will do.

[MiRai]

I certainly could be misunderstanding (or misrepresenting) some ideas here, but here is what I am trying to accomplish:

I have a two teams with a mage on each. I would prefer to type out arcane blast in ISBoxer's arcane mage dps key map, rather than have the map call hotbar 1, slot 1 and make sure the spell is in the right place on both mages' character screens in game

That's exactly where macros created through ISBoxer come into play.

1) Create a macro in the Game Helper section of ISBoxer. (Video)
2) Assign it to the appropriate characters.
3) Based off of what you said about adopting the Pro System -- Add a WoW Named Macro Action to your DPS Mapped Key, select the macro from the list, and give it a Target of Window:Current. (Video)


Probably the main reason that Text String Actions are completely inferior in this area is because when you send "/cast Arcane Blast" into chat, how do you know it's going to fire off? What if you type it out and the GCD is still active? Do you spam it multiple times and hope you don't get "/cast Arcane Blast/cast Arcane Blast," or do you send it once and hope the GCD is over?

Text String Actions are generally used on things that the GCD doesn't affect—Like follow, or assist.