[Shamaya]

This isn't my own original post, but that of someone curious on the subject. As I'm also curious, I will paraphrase to a wholesome extent,

Elsewhere said:

Looking towards any Spellcast Gurus for advice here.
I'm building mine currently, and obviously it doesn't work yet. This is due to a few reasons, mainly: I suck. I don't know how to do certain things.

Hopefully, this topic can eventually be used as a guide for other Thf's, so I'm going to try and lay it out in a semi-guide/semi-question format.

What I want from spellcast:

* To Equip SA/TA/SATA sets on activation of the JA, and to witch back to TP set after the next melee round.
* To automatically use the correct JA/WS combination gearset when any combination of SA/TA/SATA+WS/Multi Hit WS is used.
* To equip Racc gear for ranged attacks, and switch back to TP gear afterwards.
* To equip AF feet for flee.
* To equip Eva/Utsu sets for Utsusemi spells.
* To not TP in Suppanomimi if sub is not /Nin.



To Equip SA/TA/SATA sets on activation of the JA, and to witch back to TP set after the next melee round.
When you equip item sets for a Spell/JA in a mage script, spellcast equips the gear befor/during/after the cast, as specified, then swaps back to your Idle set after the spell has fired. This obviously wont work for Thief, as we need to wait untill the next melee attack befor it swaps back.
The code needed to equip the gear is this:

<if Spell="Sneak Attack" when="Precast">
<action type="Equip" Set="SA">
</if>


Obviously you can do the same for TA.
First question: SATA. How do you make sure it only equips the SATA set if BOTH JAs are active, would this work?:

<if Spell="Sneak Attack|Trick Attack" mode="AND" when="Precast">
<action type="Equip" Set="SATA">
</if>


Is it simply a matter of specifying the mode="AND"? If not, how is it done?
The second part of this I really haven't got the faintest clue about. How do you tell spellcast to not swap back to the standard set after activation of the JA, but rather after the next melee round/after the WS?

To automatically use thee correct JA/WS combination gearset when any combination of SA/TA/SATA+WS/Multi Hit WS is used.
Now. The basics of this I have made work. It will swap in specific sets depending on what combinatipon of SA/TA+WS1/WS2 (WS1=Stab/SB, WS2=DE/EV) I'm using.
This is the code:

<if Spell="Evisceration|Dancing Edge">
<if BuffActive="Sneak Attack">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" set="MultiSA" />
</if>
<elseif BuffActive="Trick Attack">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" set="MultiTA" />
</elseif>
<elseif BuffActive="Sneak Attack|Trick Attack" mode="AND">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" set="MultiSATA" />
</elseif>
<else>
<action type="equip" when="Precast" set="WS" />
</else>
</if>

<if Spell="Shark Bite|Mandalic Stab">
<if BuffActive="Sneak Attack">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" set="SA" />
</if>
<elseif BuffActive="Trick Attack">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" set="TAWS" />
</elseif>
<else BuffActive="Sneak Attack|Trick Attack" mode="AND">
<action type="equip" when="Precast" set="SATAWS" />
</else>
</if>


As mentioned, this works for combinations of SA/TA+WS1/WS2, however it does not work for SATA+WS1/WS2. I'm assuming because the mode="AND" is either used wrongly, the wrong code, or just doesn't exist. I expect this is the same problem as getting it to equip gear for solo SATA. Do you know how to go about this?

Ranged Attacks, Flee, and Utsusemi
This is simple enough:

<if Spell="Flee">
<action type="equip" when="precast">
<feet>Rogue's Poulaines</feet>
</action>
</if>
<if Spell="Ranged">
<action type="equip" when="precast" set="Ranged" />
</if>
<if Spell="Utsusemi: Ichi">
<action type="equip" when="precast" set="Ichi" />
</if>
<if Spell="Utsusemi: Ni">
<action type="equip" when="precast" set="Ni" />
</if>


Swapping back to your standard set afterwards is also simple. This goes at the top of your rules:

<if status="Engaged">
<action type="equip" when="Engaged|Aftercast" set="TP" />
</if>


This will swap back to your TP set after any spell/JA. What concerns me is if it'll conflict with the solo SA/TA/SATA rules, and swap back immidiatle, instead of after an attack round/WS.
If you want to equip things like Orochi Nodawa/Striders when not engaged, I'm assuming putting this under that TP rule will work:

<else status="Idle">
<action type="equip" when="Idle|Aftercast" set="Idle" />
</else>


I hope that will work, but I'm not 100%. I'm a newbie to spellcast after all.

To not TP in Suppanomimi if sub is not /Nin.
This I'm not sure how to do. I think this will work, but could someone check for me?:

<if status="Engaged">
<if NotSubJob="NIN">
<action type="equip" when="Engaged|Aftercast">
<lear>Pixie Earring</lear>
</action>
</if>
<else>
<action type="equip" when="Engaged|Aftercast" set="TP" />
</else>
</if>



So, segmented, that is what I have so far, what I want to achieve, and what I don't know how to do. Are there any pros who could help me build up a full spellcast for Thief?

[Banggugyangu]

Regarding stacking SATA together, IMO it's easiest to do it this way

<if mode="AND" spell="Sneak Attack" buffactive="Trick Attack">
     <equip set="SATA" when="precast" />
</if>
<if mode="AND" spell="Trick Attack" buffactive="Sneak Attack">
     <equip set="SATA" when="precast" />
</if>

That will force the check for both regardless of which is used first.

Also, when stacking SA and/or TA on WSs, it's best to do a check for BOTH SA and TA together as the first if statement, then have the seperates as the elseif statements. If it's checking for a single buff first, and you have both, it will see that single buff and equip only for that.

Say you check for TA first and have SA and TA up... It'll see TA because it's up and completely disregard the elseif statement which includes SA AND TA together.

Also, rather than having a check for /NIN to decide suppa or not, I prefer to create multiple xml files for all the combinations I might use. There are multiple gear differences I choose depending on my subjob. These are autoloaded by this format: *example of my own* "Banggugyangu_SAM_DRG.xml". This file gets autoloaded whenever I switch to SAM/DRG. If I'm anything else, it'll adapt accordingly as long as the appropriately named xml file is in the directory.

[Qanael]

Here's what I've used so far. It's still incomplete; I need to add a couple things like my ranged set and whatnot, but it's mostly functional.

I'm pretty sure there's no way for Spellcast to know when the next melee round happens, since it only processes on user actions (i.e. spells, JAs, engaging, resting, etc.). If you're already engaged and use SA, it can equip the set, but won't know when you land your next hit ,and doing it with a fixed time delay invites all sorts of annoyance.

Since my TP set has all my haste gear on it, and I don't have any Fast Cast pieces, I switch to my TP set for Utsu, but you can easily change that to whatever recast set you use. It also doesn't have aftercast switching for the same reason.

It also automatically switches to SA or TA sets when you engage if you have them active, in case you disengaged and switched out before landing the hit for some reason.

<?xml version="1.0"?>

<spellcast>

<config />

<sets>

<group default="Yes" name="Merit">

	<set name="TP">
	
		<head>Walahra Turban</head>
		<neck>Love Torque</neck>
		<lear>Brutal Earring</lear>
		<rear>Suppanomimi</rear>
		<body>Rapparee Harness</body>
		<hands>Homam Manopolas</hands>
		<lring>Woodsman Ring</lring>
		<rring>Rajas Ring</rring>
		<back>Amemet Mantle +1</back>
		<waist>Swift Belt</waist>
		<legs>Bravo's Subligar</legs>
		<feet>Dusk Ledelsens</feet>
	
	</set>
	
	<set name="SA">
	
		<head>Assassin's Bonnet</head>
		<neck>Love Torque</neck>
		<lear>Merman's Earring</lear>
		<rear>Merman's Earring</rear>
		<body>Dragon Harness</body>
		<hands>Hecatomb Mittens</hands>
		<lring>Thunder Ring</lring>
		<rring>Rajas Ring</rring>
		<back>Amemet Mantle +1</back>
		<waist>Warwolf Belt</waist>
		<legs>Dragon Subligar</legs>
		<feet>Hecatomb Leggings</feet>
	
	</set>
	
	<set name="TA">
	
		<head>Enkidu's Cap</head>
		<neck>Love Torque</neck>
		<lear>Genin Earring</lear>
		<rear>Drone Earring</rear>
		<body>Dragon Harness</body>
		<hands>Rogue's Armlets +1</hands>
		<lring>Emerald Ring</lring>
		<rring>Emerald Ring</rring>
		<back>Cerberus Mantle</back>
		<waist>Scouter's Rope</waist>
		<legs>Dragon Subligar</legs>
		<feet>Wood M Ledelsens</feet>
	
	</set>
	
	<set name="Evasion">
	
		<head>Optical Hat</head>
		<neck>Evasion Torque</neck>
		<lear>Dodge Earring</lear>
		<rear>Dodge Earring</rear>
		<body>Scorpion Harness +1</body>
		<hands>War Gloves</hands>
		<lring>Emerald Ring</lring>
		<rring>Emerald Ring</rring>
		<back>Corse Cape</back>
		<waist>Scouter's Rope</waist>
		<legs>Dragon Subligar</legs>
		<feet>Dance Shoes</feet>
	
	</set>

</group>

</sets>

<variables>

	<var name="TH" nooverwrite="true">false</var>

</variables>

<rules>

	<if spell="autoset">
	
		<if status="engaged">
			<if buffactive="Sneak Attack">
				<action type="equip" when="engaged" set="SA" />
			</if>
			
			<elseif buffactive="Trick Attack">
				<action type="equip" when="engaged" set="TA" />
			</elseif>
			
			<else>
				<action type="equip" when="engaged" set="TP" />
			</else>
		</if>
	
	</if>

	<if advanced='"$TH" = "true"'>
		<action type="equip">
			<hands lock="yes">Assassin's Armlets</hands>
		</action>
		<action type="command">spellcast disable hands</action>
	</if>
	<else>
		<action type="command">spellcast enable hands</action>
		<action type="changelock" slot="hands" lock="no" />
	</else>
	
	<if spell="Sneak Attack">
	
		<action type="equip" aftercastdelay="0" when="precast" set="SA" />
	
	</if> 
	
	<if mode="AND" spell="Trick Attack" notbuffactive="Sneak Attack"> 
	
		<action type="equip" aftercastdelay="0" when="precast" set="TA" />
	
	</if>
	
	<if type="weaponskill">
	
		<if notbuffactive="Trick Attack">
			<action type="equip" when="precast" set="SA" />
		</if>
		<else>
			<action type="equip" when="precast" set="TA" />
		</else>
		
		<if mode="or" spell="Dancing Edge|Evisceration">
			<action type="equip" when="precast" >
				<head>Enkidu's Cap</head>
			</action>
		</if>
		
		<action type="equip" when="aftercast" set="TP" />
	
	</if>
	
	<if spell = "Utsusemi*">
		<action type="equip" when="precast" set="TP" />
	</if>

</rules>

</spellcast>

[pathwriter]

I have trouble staying awake while playing my video game, is there a way to fully script what little input remains in playing this game after employing Spellcast sets like this? Also, how can I get Spellcast to give me a blowjob after I've turned to stone from mind-numbing boredom as my programs play themselves?

[Qanael]

pathwriter, on 03 February 2010 - 01:13 PM, said:

I have trouble staying awake while playing my video game, is there a way to fully script what little input remains in playing this game after employing Spellcast sets like this? Also, how can I get Spellcast to give me a blowjob after I've turned to stone from mind-numbing boredom as my programs play themselves?

The only thing this does is save you a couple key presses for equip sets, and not even that, if you use Windower macros. The actual gameplay (i.e. using JAs, WSs, etc.) remains the same. I use it more to be able to centralize my equip sets than for actual automation.

Now, I do suspect it might be possible to make a bot with Spellcast with some clever use of uncommon JAs or spells, but it's not something I ever intend to do.

[Banggugyangu]

pathwriter, on 03 February 2010 - 01:13 PM, said:

I have trouble staying awake while playing my video game, is there a way to fully script what little input remains in playing this game after employing Spellcast sets like this? Also, how can I get Spellcast to give me a blowjob after I've turned to stone from mind-numbing boredom as my programs play themselves?

While you're entitled to your opinion, I have to ask what the difference is between hitting 2-3 macros for one ability, or hitting 1. If those extra 2 macros help you stay awake so much more, then by all means... stay like you are and enjoy your game. It's not as if it's activating the abilities for you.

[xurion]

Path is right.

Lazy THFs are lazy.

[treelo]

You don't even wanna know what I think.

[pathwriter]

Banggugyangu, on 03 February 2010 - 04:45 PM, said:

While you're entitled to your opinion, I have to ask what the difference is between hitting 2-3 macros for one ability, or hitting 1. If those extra 2 macros help you stay awake so much more, then by all means... stay like you are and enjoy your game. It's not as if it's activating the abilities for you.

Really? I mean, really? You don't possibly see a problem with writing a script that will choose what set of gear to equip based on whether you have Sneak Attack or Trick Attack active before using one of 3-5 weaponskills, then changes you back to your normal gear? This game is slow and boring enough and I say that as someone who likes FFXI. Letting a program do your thinking for you basically says, "Nah, I'd rather not play." I'll certainly agree that the basic macro palette is too limited in size and I don't begrudge anyone using extended equip macros, but that's about as far as is reasonable.

[Qanael]

pathwriter, on 03 February 2010 - 06:10 PM, said:

Really? I mean, really? You don't possibly see a problem with writing a script that will choose what set of gear to equip based on whether you have Sneak Attack or Trick Attack active before using one of 3-5 weaponskills, then changes you back to your normal gear? This game is slow and boring enough and I say that as someone who likes FFXI. Letting a program do your thinking for you basically says, "Nah, I'd rather not play." I'll certainly agree that the basic macro palette is too limited in size and I don't begrudge anyone using extended equip macros, but that's about as far as is reasonable.

As I said before, this is hardly any different from standard Windower functionality. It does exactly the same things my Windower macros do: equip a standard SA/TA set when I use SA or TA, and change the head piece when I use WS, in the case of DE or Evis, or change to haste gear for Utsusemi. Sure, the change back to TP gear after a WS is automated - that's one key press less. It also keeps my TH gloves on if I set a variable, but I can do exactly the same thing leaving my other gloves in my MH for an event. More situational things, like changing in and out of an eva set, still have to be done manually.

The largest advantage I've seen from Spellcast is that I don't need a dozen text files for my equip sets, cause it's all in one file (and you can inherit from a base set for situational sets). It makes it much easier to change things around when I get a new piece of gear.

[Banggugyangu]

pathwriter, on 03 February 2010 - 06:10 PM, said:

Really? I mean, really? You don't possibly see a problem with writing a script that will choose what set of gear to equip based on whether you have Sneak Attack or Trick Attack active before using one of 3-5 weaponskills, then changes you back to your normal gear? This game is slow and boring enough and I say that as someone who likes FFXI. Letting a program do your thinking for you basically says, "Nah, I'd rather not play." I'll certainly agree that the basic macro palette is too limited in size and I don't begrudge anyone using extended equip macros, but that's about as far as is reasonable.

Built in macros are exactly that... they're a set of scripts that you write to activate abilities and switch gear accordingly. Once again, I ask you what the difference is between hitting 1 macro to activate sneak attack and hitting 3-4 macros to do the exact same thing. The only difference I can possibly see is that my macros are much cleaner with spellcast than they would be without. Spellcast doesn't make decisions about what is happening in the game. It's only making decisions about what I'm wearing as it's happening. These decisions it's making are exactly the same as if I were using the in-game macros to equip the exact same gear.

*edit* If the macro palettes were extended to 17 lines per slot *1 line for action, 16 lines for equipment* what difference would there be between using spellcast and the in-game macros?

[pathwriter]

Not that I'm surprised that you're playing dumb with this, but let's just pretend that you're genuinely brain-damaged and cannot grasp this.

if(Sneak Attack) and if(Evisceration) then(SAEvisgear)

if(Sneak Attack) and if(Trick Attack) and if(Dancing Edge) then (SATADEgear)

What's the result? You don't have to pay a lick of attention except to make sure that you're behind the mob. No attention or care paid to your buffs or your weaponskill, no mental input whatsoever, your happy little script reads what Job Ability is active, what Weaponskill is being used, and does all your thinking for you. A standard macro setup requires several keypresses and actually relies on being awake and having half a brain.

This isn't even entering in to some of the really exploitative things that can be done with Spellcast. I'd list a few examples, but you'd instantly go looking for how to replicate them so that your shriveled cerebrum doesn't ever have to awake from its comatose state while playing a game that is nominally supposed to be fun. Who cares if you're not paying attention, not really enjoying yourself, and certainly not actually playing? To hell with skill, just hand me the merits or loot so I can go back to tickling my nuts and staring at a wall.

[xurion]

pathwriter, on 04 February 2010 - 02:31 AM, said:

Not that I'm surprised that you're playing dumb with this, but let's just pretend that you're genuinely brain-damaged and cannot grasp this.

if(Sneak Attack) and if(Evisceration) then(SAEvisgear)

if(Sneak Attack) and if(Trick Attack) and if(Dancing Edge) then (SATADEgear)

What's the result? You don't have to pay a lick of attention except to make sure that you're behind the mob. No attention or care paid to your buffs or your weaponskill, no mental input whatsoever, your happy little script reads what Job Ability is active, what Weaponskill is being used, and does all your thinking for you. A standard macro setup requires several keypresses and actually relies on being awake and having half a brain.

This isn't even entering in to some of the really exploitative things that can be done with Spellcast. I'd list a few examples, but you'd instantly go looking for how to replicate them so that your shriveled cerebrum doesn't ever have to awake from its comatose state while playing a game that is nominally supposed to be fun. Who cares if you're not paying attention, not really enjoying yourself, and certainly not actually playing? To hell with skill, just hand me the merits or loot so I can go back to tickling my nuts and staring at a wall.

Not to mention the fact that if this existed, basic human error would no longer factor in (hitting the wrong gear or WS macro) - giving you another unfair edge.

Windower is not meant to give you too much of an unfair advantage over non-windower users, and a plug-in such as this definately borderlines that advantage.

[Banggugyangu]

pathwriter, on 04 February 2010 - 02:31 AM, said:

What's the result? You don't have to pay a lick of attention except to make sure that you're behind the mob. No attention or care paid to your buffs or your weaponskill, no mental input whatsoever, your happy little script reads what Job Ability is active, what Weaponskill is being used, and does all your thinking for you. A standard macro setup requires several keypresses and actually relies on being awake and having half a brain.

Right... because hitting ALT-1, ALT-2, and ALT-3 in direct succession takes SO much more brain power than hitting ALT-1 by itself.

Quote

This isn't even entering in to some of the really exploitative things that can be done with Spellcast. I'd list a few examples, but you'd instantly go looking for how to replicate them so that your shriveled cerebrum doesn't ever have to awake from its comatose state while playing a game that is nominally supposed to be fun. Who cares if you're not paying attention, not really enjoying yourself, and certainly not actually playing? To hell with skill, just hand me the merits or loot so I can go back to tickling my nuts and staring at a wall.

Of course everyone that plays this game has such a limited attention span such as yourself. BTW... I know the more eploitative scripting that can be done w/ spellcast. Any of them that apply to THF require autoexec as well.

How is it, btw, that hitting 3-4 macros to do an ability requires you to pay any more attention? I can honestly say that when I was macroing gear swaps with multiple macros, I paid less attention than I do now. It was annoying to have to hit multiple macros to accomplish one task.

[treelo]

If X happens, do Y.

When X = SA+WS and Y = Change gear, you have "an invaluable plug-in that enhances the flawed macro system."

When X = Fafnir popping and Y = CLAIM DAT SHIT you have a bot that is highly illegal and unfair.

[Banggugyangu]

treelo, on 04 February 2010 - 09:28 AM, said:

If X happens, do Y.

When X = SA+WS and Y = Change gear, you have "an invaluable plug-in that enhances the flawed macro system."

When X = Fafnir popping and Y = CLAIM DAT SHIT you have a bot that is highly illegal and unfair.

One is a simplification of an automation that is already possible by tools given to players by SE. The other is an automation that is not possible by tools given by SE. Macros themselves are automation scripts. Spellcast, when used to change gear, is merely a cleaner means to reach the same end.

[Chriscoffey]

Articulate all the valuable words that you want to make justification for using more than a threshold for which an invisible line has been crossed over about using windower. I have had people telling me using game sharks in the past on games was legit ways of beating them because it just used the 0 and 1's from the programming in a different way. lol To each their own.

[treelo]

Quote

a cleaner means

I notice you're using a clumsy phrase to avoid using any of the following:
- Easier
- More efficient
- Simpler

Quote

The other is an automation that is not possible by tools given by SE.

Funny, last time I checked most people spammed a macro, or directly from the abilities/spell meu. Most bots just automate this process, in exactly the same fashion as Spellcast changing equipment for you.

[cidbahamut]

Does a delayed reaction time or a more cluttered macro palette count for anything?

Ok, ok, I'll go back to lurking.

[Shamaya]

you don't even play the game you fucking tea drinking cunt