Macros, anyone..anyone?

[Darstig]

Forgive me for suggesting something that was not included in the original, but being one of those who actually still play UO (perhaps not for much longer) I find that macros intensify the playability and usability of battle, especially in regards to spellcasting. Would you this be something that you believe should or could be worked on?

Thank you for your time.

[SB-X]

I dunno what you'd use it for. Everything is U7 is pretty much point click in a single action. It would be more convenient (and this is already listed as a feature suggestion) to have the toolbelt allowing you to use any object with one keypress.

[Chris Schumacher]

Spellcasting macros in U7 would be pretty much useless. If the game didn't
freeze whenever you brought up the spellbook you might have a point, but
it's really just a matter of being able to hit the "B" key in time, which shouldn't
be a problem since U7/SI only required one hand to play.
(no dirty comments, people) Besides which, Macros are usually two-keystrokes (even more since you'd need to worry about hitting a system
function with the ctrl and alt keys, so you'd have to come up with an arcane
system like Shift-Alt-num pad 5) which will actually take up more time than
opening up the spellbook.
HOWEVER, having some sort of "speed dial" system for spells once the book is open would be quite appreciated, though I'm not quite sure how you'd implement it. It would probably be a matter of assigning the spells you use most manually. But that's not really what I was thinking.

[Gradilla Dragon]

I think the spellbook responding to numerals for turning to the appropriate page might speed up things a little, given that you know the spell's circle.

And how about using the number row from the typewritter part for turning the pages, and the numpad for activating a spell from the page you are currently in?

In my case, using the numbers for turning the pages is enough. Selecting the spell and targetting is fast enough with the mouse.

[SB-X]

But I also like the idea of keyboard-only play being added. Allowing us to use the arrows to walk was a start.

[Colourless]

SB-X, you can already do that.

[Chris Schumacher]

Using the keypad for the circles (pages) might be a better idea, since on the typerwriter part the 0 comes at the end, whereas on the keypad it's at the
beginning. In BG, you'd have to hit 0 to change it to the linear page.

[Gradilla Dragon]

But if the keypad is used for turning the pages and you are right-handed, that means you have to move your left hand all the way to the right section of the keyboard into an unconfortable position, which makes you slow and clumsy, completely destroying the purpose of having the hotkeys. You can use the right hand instead, but that would make you release the mouse, slowing you down as well.

Only the left-handed would benefit from having the page-turning hotkeys on the keypad, so I guess it is better to have both the keypad and the number row, so all can benefit equally.

[Gunnar]

Only the left-handed would benefit from having the page-turning hotkeys on the keypad, so I guess it is better to have both the keypad and the number row, so all can benefit equally

Actually a lot of left handed people use their mouse right handed, which gives them the same problem

[Dominus]

the way keyboard shortcuts are handled gives people the ability to change the keys to their liking by editing a simple text file.

[artaxerxes]

I had mentioned a type of shortcut several years ago in which your choose the spell to cast by typing it's page number (= circle number in SI) immediately followed by the spell number (between 1 and 8). For instance IIRC, typing 98 in SI would launch Unbalance.

We could always remap the keys so that opening the inventories require the CTRL key or sth like that.

Artaxerxes

[Bomb Bloke]

Perhaps a feeding macro?

Or a sleeping macro?

[Gradilla Dragon]

Feeding macro? We got the F key already. No feeding macro necesary.

[Dominus]

I think what is meant by the feeding macro would be that "F" would feed every party member automatically without having to choose...

Same with sleeping. The macro would put the bedroll on the floor, doubleclick it and select an appropiate time all by itself...

I don't see much use in either.

[Bomb Bloke]

I admit I wouldn't use them either. It would take all the fun out of the game.

At the rate modern games are 'advancing' at, there'll be a macro to simply finish the game before long.

[DreamMaster]

I nominate Alt-X