What is your hotbar strategy??

[Da]

Hey all, I've made it up to level 35 - and I've been hashing and re-hashing the layout of all of my abilities on my hotbars. I use the standard UI, and I currently have 6 bars open (might open more) - stacked one on top of another.  I play at a fairly high resolution, so this doesn't take up a huge amount of real estate on my display. But my issue is, I've rearranged myself a few times - and can't seem to come up with an arrangement of abilities that "flows" when I play.  I have: 1)  Put all of my most commonly used abilities together 2)  Clustered abilities by type (mez, stun, etc...) with individual target / encounter versions either next to each other horizontally (across one hotbar), or one on top of the other (so individual mez right above encounter mez for example) It seems that no matter how I put stuff together, I end up having to "reach" for abilities - which isn't really all that bad of a thing... but I was wondering how some of you other folks have yourselves set up - and what the reasoning that contributed to your choices was.

[Wald]

<p>I have mine setup like this roughly:</p><p>hotbar 1: crowd control</p><p>hotbar 2: damage</p><p>hotbar 3: escapes</p><p>hotbar 4: buffs</p><p>hotbar 5: pet control</p><p>hotbar 6: debuffs</p>

[fat to]

<p>I leave my primary hotbar as it is and set my secondary hotbar to reachable keys. So instead of alt +1, alt +2 I set them to z, x, c, v, f, e, q, mouse4, etc. You can do this under controls/hotkeys. I do almost all of my dps with my left hand, freeing up my mouse for targeting or using high recast timers such as clickies or savante.</p><p>pumpkin pie</p><p>illusionist/woodworker of the night's watch on nagafen</p>

[Mihos]

<p>Being old school (day 1) and only ever having one toon.  My spells are still in the order in which I got them for the most part. I would just add another bar once on filled up.</p><p>I think the last things I added was a hot bar for items and a hot bar for macros.  </p><p>Its a mess, but if I were to move things around, I would probably be lost.  </p>

[Ardnahoy]

<p>My primary hotbar has all of our single target nukes/dot's, HO starter, pet commands, sprint, and emergency AoE mez tied to the last key. Nukes are arranged by recast time so that the most common spells are set at 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. 90% of the time, I only use my primary spell bar. This is the only hotbar that is completely full.</p><p>My secondary spell bar (Alt-##) has my AoE spells, invis (group and single target), AA abilities, temp group buffs, and construct. This hotbar is used for stuff I usually cast before or after a pull. It is has 4 empty spaces.</p><p>My tertiary hotbar (Ctrl-XX) has all of my crowd control spells - mez, root, emergency mez, stun, stifle, aoe mez, aoe stun. It has 5 empty spaces.</p><p>The thinking here is that the ALT hotbar has stuff I use once at the start of a fight - sentiment, chrono, construct, ect. Then, after the fight starts, I take my thumb off the ALT key and start spamming my normal hotbar. The CTRL bar has, ahem, "control" spells. Mez is first, root is second as those are the ones most used. My reflexes are conditioned to using my thumb on the ALT key only to start an encounter, and then rests close to the CTRL key for when I need to use CC spells. So, basically, the way I have it, my insticts are to keep my thumb in to defend myself, and keep it out to prepare myself for an attack.</p><p>I also have three extra hotkeys set up, each using the smallest possible icon size, and all 3 stacked in the corner of the screen away from sight. These hotbars have all my buffs, clickies, and potions. These are spells/abilities that are very seldomly used, or only used at specific times. I'd rather use my mouse to acticate them (to avoid inadvertantly using a potion or heart/shard, etc.). They are arranged in a grid of 6 rows by 6 columns. Top row has our group buffs, second row has our single-target buffs, third row has Personnae and arcane dispell/cure. Fourth row has vision buffs, fifth row has potions, last row has clickies (manastone, mana siphon, mana cloak, hearts, shards, aoe protect item).</p><p>The one thing I forgot to mention is that the unused buttons in the ATL and CTRL bars are arranged so that I don't mess up casting the wrong spell at the wrong time. For example, CTRL-9 is group mez, so I didn't put anything in ALT-9 just in case my thumb gets confused. Sentiment is ALT-3, and emergency mez is CTRL-3 - this way, one does not hurt the other if my thumb is out of position.</p><p>Hope this helps.</p>

[TygerMeow]

<p>First of all, I try to minimize the number of hotbars I keep open (although not populated). On all of characters, except my warlock, I use two open hotbars. On the first hotbar I keep all my fighting spells and on the second hotbar I keep utility type spells for the most part. I'm also a decently big user of macros to combine multiple items or just inform the group what I'm doing. I was not happy when the number of necessary spells on my Warlock forced me to open a third hotbar in his 40's.</p><p> For my Illusionist on Venekor, the specific setup is below. After sprint, the numbers basically follow a standard attack sequence (although with more than two mobs in a group I send my pet in and then use group mezz, otherwise I root and then mezz the add) down the primary hotbar. Number 3 is a macro that uses our mit reducer, starts an HO and sends my pet in for the attack. Everything else in the main hotbar is pretty standard. Secondary hotbar is almost utility or mezz/debuff. It's mostly grouped by type (such as stun or power, although I'm just noticing that tap mind and mana flow should be together). Entrance is also a macro that lets the group know which mob I'm mezzing (for whatever that is worth :).</p><p> I'm pretty hardcore about 2 hotbars and I will move spells that are rarely used or just plain worthless to hotbars 3 and 4. After I get to the point that I need both hotbars, I will move my buff macros to hotbar 3. Then I just use Shift-3 to switch to hotbar 3, buff up, then switch back to 1. Finally, I put my crafting items on the last hotbars, starting from 10 back. I switch the main to the crafting spells while I craft, then back to 1.</p><p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/ryanrands/illusionist_Hotbars.jpg" border="0"></p>

[Ardnahoy]

<cite>TygerMeow wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>First of all, I try to minimize the number of hotbars I keep open (although not populated). On all of characters, except my warlock, I use two open hotbars. On the first hotbar I keep all my fighting spells and on the second hotbar I keep utility type spells for the most part. I'm also a decently big user of macros to combine multiple items or just inform the group what I'm doing. I was not happy when the number of necessary spells on my Warlock forced me to open a third hotbar in his 40's.</p><p> For my Illusionist on Venekor, the specific setup is below. After sprint, the numbers basically follow a standard attack sequence (although with more than two mobs in a group I send my pet in and then use group mezz, otherwise I root and then mezz the add) down the primary hotbar. Number 3 is a macro that uses our mit reducer, starts an HO and sends my pet in for the attack. Everything else in the main hotbar is pretty standard. Secondary hotbar is almost utility or mezz/debuff. It's mostly grouped by type (such as stun or power, although I'm just noticing that tap mind and mana flow should be together). Entrance is also a macro that lets the group know which mob I'm mezzing (for whatever that is worth :).</p><p> I'm pretty hardcore about 2 hotbars and I will move spells that are rarely used or just plain worthless to hotbars 3 and 4. After I get to the point that I need both hotbars, I will move my buff macros to hotbar 3. Then I just use Shift-3 to switch to hotbar 3, buff up, then switch back to 1. Finally, I put my crafting items on the last hotbars, starting from 10 back. I switch the main to the crafting spells while I craft, then back to 1.</p><p><img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v333/ryanrands/illusionist_Hotbars.jpg" border="0"></p></blockquote><p>Your scheme is missing some key spells. Like it or not, Illusionists are too versatile to just have 2 hotbars open. You dont have prismatic in there, which is a huge no-no. You are also missing a DoT, an AoE DoT, emergency mez, AoE mana drain, construct, and Bloodlines temp buff. These are spells I use all the time - whether soloing, grouping, or raiding.</p><p>If you upgrade to Profit UI, you can drop Arcane cure form your hotbar and use the spot for something else. You have our single target invis spell, but not our group invis spell, which is unusual. </p>

[Cohann]

While you level up your playstyle will change. With Agi/Int Setup you  will cast very fast and in longer fights  there maybe only 1 spell up at a time so you have no choice what to click next if you want to do dps. You have to chaincast everything that does dmg or can trigger procs (group mezz and group stun do too). With that in mind it makes sense to put your spells in that order that they become available again when chaincasting with 100% spellhaste. If you cast nothing for only a second you will loose 60% spellhaste when you are agi/int specced for dps. With lower (AA-) levels you don't have to care about any casting orders or spellhaste yet so I suggest you put together your dmg spells in a bar with those two AEs next to each other and in another bar you put all your mezzes, stuns, stifle root etc. Use another bar for your grp and single buffs and make the bar smaller if you like to as you don't cast your buffs too often. You will cast spells with long duration first (construct) so they can do as much dmg as possible before the fight ends. A good order for your dmg spells would be: prismatic (pre pull), meelee debuff, construct, mental miti debuff-dot, other dot, AEs, nuke... Then put your spells that handle aggro together and make them easy accessible as they will often safe your life. And think of your soloing strategy when you put your spells in an order. Fast reaction ist everything when soloing. When your root breaks you have to stun and re-root the mob as quick as possible and it would be clever to have these spells near to each other...

[Styrkarr]

I'm big on what I call "Attack Routines". A carefully crafted sequence of attacks that maximizes that particular toons spells and abilities. I'm big on that (using all your abilities). I preach it to my buddies alot: "Use every tool in the toolbox". I tend to have a few guidelines in creating an Attack Routine that you might find helpful. I always work left to right on the quickbar. A perfect routine moves me right down the quickbar, one attack after another. (1) - If I'm playing a pet class, the pets attack will usually be first. It's always best to have the pet accrue the initial aggro. With my Illusionist, I listen for my Personae's spell casting and start my initial cast a split-second after he starts his. (2) - Any spells that debuff, especially spells or abilities that debuff my own damage type usually come next. Debuffs like this are obviously first, because every subsequent spell in the attack routine will hit better/harder/etc. (3) - Spells that do Damage Over Time (DoT's) come next. The thinking here is lay down that DoT early, to maximize its damage potential.  Get that thing ticking away, damaging the enemy thoughout the whole attack routine if possible.  When things are really timed out sweet, your DoT(s) may stop ticking right about the time you come through your next rotation on the attack routine.  I love it when I can tweak a routine like that. (4) - Spells or Abilities with long recast times come next. This recast time idea is always something I think about alot. Depending on the spell, say if it does great damage or something, a long recast timer spell might even make it higher on the Attack Routine than a DoT or a debuff. But usually only if it maximizes the timing of the whole routine. That is to say, if it just happens to fit perfectly that right about the time I finish the whole routine, that this spell will have refresh seconds later, and I can then begin the whole routine over. Only then will I put one of these ahead of a debuff or DoT. (5) HO. The Heroic Opportunity is placed with its best trigger power right after it on the quickbar. Followed by the HO closer spell. (6) Debuffs that debuff other classes damage types usually come last. But only for solo, or small group play. It may change of course, if some major DPS class is in my group and I can debuff his damage type, then I'll actually sneak these in with the other debuffs at the start of the routine. Crow Control spells always get their own quickbar. Placed prominently for quick access. I'm a mouser, so I often place that quickbar slightly offset from the center of the screen so that my mouse doesn't have to travel quite as much monitor real estate to click on a target (when I need to pick a very specific target out of a crowd). Though for standard, fairly safe fights, I usually just TAB through targets. But puttin' the CC quickbar close to the center of the screen shaves a split second or two off my mez time, which just might save a life.

[Anathriel]

<p>I dont have a very high level Illu so cant really comment on the exact nature of the hotbars but in general I use the following:</p><p> 8 hotbars, set out in 4x3 layout with a size of 30 (default 40) - all are across the bottom of the screen with the exception of one (my MA bar) which is 1x12 along the right hand edge next to spell effects.</p><p>1st bar: stuff to cast after dying: pet, buffs etc</p><p>2nd bar: Debuffs, hex dolls, potions, stuff i need at the start of the fight, /assist macro</p><p>3rd bar: DoTs, manastone, clarity potions, target macros, stuff i need for slowly ramping up the DPS</p><p>4th bar: DD, power pots, stuff i need for the last 25% of a long fight - max DPS etc</p><p>5th bar: emergecy stuff, feather/spirit guide, health pots, group macros </p><p>6th bar: kit changes - max FT, max on various resists, weapon macros, leave group (PvP server where i mentor a fair amount and want to drop group quickly for PvP), /follow</p><p>7th bar: silly stuff: /emote gives %T a cookie, sprint, CoQ </p><p>8th bar (vertical one): MA calls (target MT, assist MT, assist OT, Debuff call, DPS call, spam macros for the likes of Healthy Corpuscle, Gnorbl etc)</p><p>OK this isnt as i said perfect setup for a high level illy, but you can tell from this that i move from left to right along my bars, sticking to one bar at a time to get all the debuffs available onto the mob as required, then dotting then big damage - ive found that this setup works well on a few classes and while not all bars are full with spells or combat arts, there are generally other macros i make that fill the bar </p>

[Kilatha]

<p>I seem to have a little different strategy than others. The idea being that important and vital spells are not put on first bar (which is switchable using shift).</p><p> I try and focus on having four bars open.</p><p> Hotbar 1: Primary and able to switch hotbar index 1 - 7 via Shift. I use this hot bar as situational. Shift+3 might be my buffs and Shift+4 might be crafting. Usually Shift+1 is tweaked for group/solo and Shift+2 for raid. The advantage is I can tweak several bars for different situations without worrying about my most vital and important spells. It usually keeps damage and debuff and such. But never things that are vital and class defining. (No heals for a priest, no taunts for a tank, you get the idea).</p><p> Hotbar 2: Assigned to index 8. Secondary (Alt). Most important spells here (tends to be focused on single targets). I keep my thumb on the Alt-button so I can quickly cast spells.</p><p> Hotbar 3: Assigned to index 9. Tertiary (Ctrl). Also important spells (tends to be focused on groups). A little more tricky to reach Ctrl-button for quickbars though.</p><p>Hotbar 4: Assigned to index 10. No quick command. Can only reach these by mouse. Less frequently used spells and abilities like invis, yell, run.</p><p> Plus: I never have to worry I won't have my most important spells hidden. Just by switching between Alt or Control I am able to choose between single or group spells. Alt+1 = single mezz, Ctrl+1 = group mezz</p><p>Minus: Took some time to re-learn from my old playstyle.</p>

[Malles]

I always remap my Function keys as a second hotbar.  So I have two hotbars for whatever I need to cast with any amount of speed.  I always have 1 and 2 as my /follow and /assist keys (as I box).  The 3-4 are my nukes, 5-6 stuns 7-8 Mezs, Personae.  F1-4 would be my short buffs that need to be refreshed during combat (Fleeting, pet buffs, mob damage debuffs).  F5-8 DOTs, I dont use often.  Then my buffs, just because its nice to be able to hit a key quickly.  If I start running out of space on two bars, the buffs get put on a third and I gotta mouse em. Almost all my spells are /do_file_commands with text files, and I use the target_group_member # extensively.  That way I can do most of my typing in a text file that I can save; and copy them to all my systems.  Much less typing this way, especially with alts. Mal

[FuriCuri]

I use mapping similair to which I was using playing necromancer in Vanguard. <ul><li>1st bar (keys mapped: "1".."="): attack spells (instant damage and dots) and on the end of the bar emergency spells (sprint, blink etc.) - keys for emergency spells also dublicated on my G15 hotbuttons: "G16".."G18"</li><li>2nd bar (keys mapped: "F1".."F12"): CC spells (mezes, stuns and roots).</li><li>3rd bar (keys mapped: "Alt+1".."Alt+=" also dublicated on "G1".."G12"): assist macro and debuffs</li></ul>I tend to use spells in macros more, specially when it comes to pet managment and utilities spells. I preffer to put some debuff on macroses to (for example, I use Chronosiphoning and HO opening before every lighting I nuke - it's cheap, fast and that makes sure you always have Chronosiphoning running and HO casted almost right after each cooldown).

[110euph]

heh.. I have six hot bars on the screen at all times. =)  2 are buff bars, set at 30 size, no frames, no padding.  The rest are clustered around the bottom right hand side of my screen, both vertically and horizontally. <img src="http://i205.photobucket.com/albums/bb80/Merkvah/EQ2_000049-1.jpg" border="0"> Since that picture was taken I've made the affore mentioned change to the top left hotbar and added one more below it.  It's a busy screen, but it's not too bad.

[Ravella]

<img src="http://www.eq2flames.com/imagehosting/646b7d1594f658.jpg" alt="" border="0" />First bar: Assist is always #1, on all my characters. I have /pet attack macro'd onto my Cronosiphoning button. As many single-target abilities as I can are crammed on this bar, in a semblance of spell order (it mixes up alot hehe)Second bar: Buffs, and a couple things I couldn't fit on the first one. The macro under the mez is just mez with a /gsay attached to it (so I don't spam group when I have to mez anything for any amount of time).Third bar: my AE's, and just random [Removed for Content] that I prefer to use a hotkey to access rather than my mouse.Fourth bar: Potions, PBAE's, my least used spells, and then the 3 long-cast, short term buffs that I don't want to fire off on accident with a wrong keystroke.Fifth bar: clickies!!!!! And Phase cuz it didn't fit anywhere else lol!Sixth bar: My personal mana flow (macro'd to cast on myself), sprint to keep power down, god abilities, and the rest of my clickies.

[Pins]

<a href="http://www.physics.uc.edu/~pinskie/UI.JPG" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.physics.uc.edu/~pinskie/UI800.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>As you can see from my hotbars, my strategy isn't to run straight across a single hotbar, it's more about setting up groups across multiple hotbars.  The first being single-target, 2nd being dot+master strike, 3rd being AE+pet, 4th being HO, Mana CLoak, Tribulation, and so on.  Making sure to spam as much on the left-side of the hotbars as often as possible, and if needed going to the right side of the hotbars.The other hotbars are just potions, clickies, things like that.

[Jvaloth]

<p>I have Shimmering beam in the middle and then completely surrounded by all my other DPS/Perp spells to keep it all going.   Click Shimmering in middle then cycle around it, every other cast is shimmering beam practically aside from keep the 2 AE dots going and I've got Prismatic where his Master strike is.</p>

[Peebo]

<p><img src="http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb64/Peebs_01/EQ2_000031.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="1024" height="600" /></p><p> Heres mine <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src=" width="15" height="15" /></p>

[Jvaloth]

<img src="http://img530.imageshack.us/img530/2249/chanterhotbarcb5.png" alt="" width="615" height="227" border="0" />

[Ravella]

<cite>Peebs@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote><p> Heres mine <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img mce_tsrc=" width="15" height="15" /></p></blockquote>Out of curiosity.... are you left-handed? I just noticed your screen ran right-to-left, which is opposite the way mine is. Just really interesting IMHO.