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» (1) Introduction
» (2) Installation & setup
» (3) Creating a character & starting to play
» (3.6) Creating basic macros & inscribing items, predefined macros
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» (9) Miscellanous

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(3.7) Creating macros for ranged attacks & abilities (spells)
(3.6) Creating basic macros & inscribing items, predefined macros               
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Macros are absolutely obligatory, you _will_ need them, so read this
carefully and if something isn't explained well, ask your fellow players to
clarify.

In turn-based single-player rogue-like games you always have enough time to
press "q" (quaff a potion) followed by the according inventory slot, for
example b) (if there is a potion of cure critical wounds in the second
inventory slot).

However, TomeNET is multiplayer and real-time. This means you don't have
enough time to look at your inventory and search the correct letters for items
which you might need *this instance* to avoid certain death. Often situations
get hectic, for example if all of a sudden dark-elven warlocks come around
the corner while you are engaging a pack of wolves, then you need kind of a
panic button that quickly transports you out of trouble.

To comply with this need, a macro system has been implemented, allowing you to
program freely choosable keys of your keyboard to perform a series of other
keypresses or commands when pressed. These macros can also interact with
certain items of your inventory by using "item inscriptions". You can inscribe
items (with the '{' key) as often as you like to.
To remove an inscription again, use the '}' key.

Note that there is a fast method to create macros: The Macro Wizard.
If you don't want to dive into macro creation too much, just use it instead to
easily create macros for you. Press % to enter the macro menu and then z to
start the wizard, which will guide you through macro creation in easy steps.
Don't forget to 's' save your macros afterwards. The game will suggest a
filename that is your character's name with an attached '.prf' suffix, you
should just press ENTER key to accept that suggestion, as this will make the
macro file automatically loaded whenever you log on with that character.
See (3.7c) for more info on the macro wizard.


Predefined macros:
------------------
There are also a few predefined macros on some keys, so you can use these
right from the start without creating any additional macros of your own.
Some require you to inscribe an item to use with it (press '{' to inscribe):

Key         Purpose of the Macro                    The macro   Inscription
                                                    itself      on the item(s)
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F1  fire with ranged weapon at closest target       \e)*tf-
    (you can inscribe your ammunition:  !=  to pick it up automatically)

F2  quaff a potion inscribed @q1                    \e)q1           @q1
F3  quaff a potion inscribed @q2                    \e)q2           @q2
F4  quaff a potion inscribed @q3                    \e)q3           @q3
F5  read scroll inscribed @r1                       \e)r1           @r1
F6  read scroll inscribed @r1                       \e)r2           @r2
F7  read scroll inscribed @r1                       \e)r3           @r3
F11 throw item inscribed {bad} at closest monster   \e)*tv@bad\r-   {bad}
F12 use any kind of item.                           \e)*t/1-        @/1
    If it's a ranged magic device then use it on the closest hostile target.
    (Your magic device ability determines your chance of successfully using a
    magic device, so it won't take you too many tries to activate, see (7.10))

;   Guide search                                    :/?\s
[   Repeat last chat input                          :^P\r
X   Swap equipable items inscribed @x0              w0
,   Reply to last private message                   :+:

For example warriors will start with a potion of berserk strength. It is very
typical for newbies to completely forget about using it. So first thing you
can do is to press '{' key to inscribe the potion, when prompted type in this
inscription for it:   @q2
Now whenever you press the F3 key (compare the table above) your character will
try to quaff a potion inscribed @q2, which will be your berserk strength potion
or any other potion you inscribe @q2, for example a speed potion. Note that
only the first item that matches the inscription is used, so you cannot drink
multiple potions at once this way by inscribing them all in the same way.
If your character finds (or buys) a scroll of phase door, just inscribe it @r1
and voila, likewise you will be able to phase by pressing the F5 key then.
Now the F11 key macro actually throws an item that is inscribed "{bad}" at the
closest monster. This can be used to throw bad potions that you don't want to
drink and that can't be sold at monsters, to possibly affect them negatively.
And the most tricky one maybe, the one on the F12 key:
It works with any kind of item. If you inscribe food @/1 then pressing F12
will eat it. If you inscribe a potion or scroll, then it will quaff or read it.
But to make the most use of it, you probably want to inscribe a magic device
you find, like a wand or a staff. If used with wands (or other items that
require a target), this macro will automatically target the closest monster.


---
Continuing about manual macro creation..

A quick note about inscribing items:
Inscriptions aren't just used for macros, but also just for yourself to help
you remember properties of an item.
Inscriptions don't just help you to remember the abilities of certain items,
they can also interact with the macro system and other aspects of the game.
Chapter (0.3) has a list of important inscriptions.

Usually if you want to quaff your potion of Heroism or read a scroll of Phase
Door, you would press keys 'q' 'c', q for quaff, then c for third inventory
slot for example, or 'r' 'd' (r for read, then d for the fourth inventory
slot, if your scroll resides here).
However, if you just picked up another potion, your inventory order might be
changed and you had to remember the new positions of your vital potion and
scroll.

Now we are going to create three macros that will instantly quaff the potions
or read a scroll of recall, no matter where in the inventory they exactly are,
on a single keypress! Inscribe the potion of Heroism "@q1", the scroll of
Phase Door "@r1" and the potion of Cure Light Wounds "@q2".
It should look like this now:
b) a potion of Heroism {+,1} {@q1}
c) a potion of Cure Light Wounds {+,1} {@q2}
d) a scroll of Phase Door {+,1} {@r1}

Now we will create macros that make use of these items. Invoke the macro menu
by pressing '%' key. Then choose "(a) Enter a new action" and enter the
following two characters and press Enter:
q1
Now choose "(h) Create a hybrid macro", then press the F1 key.
Now enter a new action, this time q2 instead of q1. Create another macro, this
time hit F2. Then Enter the third macro, r1, and choose F3 key.
Have your TomeNET client save the macros to a file on your hard disk, in your
TomeNET directory at \lib\user by choosing "(s) Save macros" and entering a
filename, or simply confirming the shown default file name which is the same
as your character (recommended!).

Now if you press F1 you will automatically quaff the potion of Heroism, F2
for Cure Light Wounds and F3 to read the scroll. You are ready to enter the
dungeon now. If you still have some spare money, buy a flask of oil to fuel
your lantern if it runs out, as well as some rations of food in case you
get hungry.
The next time you log on, you may load your previously saved macro file by
invoking the macro menu again ('%'), choosing "(l) Load macros" and
entering the filename. If you saved the macros to the same name as your
character, they will be automatically loaded, saving you that hassle.

An even simpler way to create macros is the 'macro wizard' described in (3.7c).


The macro recorder:
-------------------
Note that instead of entering an action string (such as 'q1' or 'r5'), the
macro menu also provides a 'macro recorder', which when invoked will record
all your key presses until you enter the macro menu again. Then the keys
you pressed will be the default action that you can directly bind to a trigger
key by choosing normal, command, or hybrid macro.


Note that while it is probably overkill to create macro hotkeys for items
which aren't as important as healing or teleportation, inscribing them can
still be helpful because it allows you to easily access them.

Example: You inscribed your flasks of oil @F1 . Now if your lantern is running
low on oil you just type the keys 'F' (to fill) and '1' instead of having to
search your inventory for the correct slot letter the oil flasks reside at.
Same goes for other items that aren't used in time-critical situations during
combat but nevertheless regularly, like scrolls of identify.

If two items have the same inscription, for example Potions of Cure Critical
Wounds @q1 and Potions of Healing @q1, the item which is above the others in
your inventory is chosen. So in this example you'd first use up all CCW
potions, then use the healing potions because CCW are located above healing
potions in your inventory. You can uninscribe items with the '}' key.


Loading macros automatically:
-----------------------------
If you save your macros to a filename that is the same as your character's
name and add a '.prf' at the end, it will be automatically loaded as you
join a game with your character, which is very helpful!
Example: If your character is named 'Kinkan', save the macros to Kinkan.prf
to have them loaded automatically.
Note: If you're using a Linux version, remember that the file system is
case-sensitive, so don't save your macros to 'kinkan.prf' since your character
actually starts with a capital 'K' or the file won't be loaded. Make sure
the filename and character-, class-, race- or trait-name are exactly the same
('Dwarf.prf', 'High-Elf.prf', 'Ranger.prf', 'Enlightened.prf'..).
Another option is to save the macros to a file named 'global.prf' (all lower
case letters). This is a special macro file that will always be loaded, for
all characters of yours.
You can also save macros to <racename>.prf, to <classname>.prf and to
<traitname>.prf, like Warrior.prf to have them being auto-loaded on all
characters of that class/race/trait.
Last but not least, characters that change shape (Mimicry) can autoload macro
files that depend on their form name (in addition to their character name) by
naming them '<character name>^<form name>.prf' eg "Gandalf^Greater Balrog.prf".
Priority order (latter one overrides prior one):

These files are meant to store client options and configuration,
you should NOT use them for macros:
-----------------------------------
pref.prf (global for all OS and users on the system)
*.opt files (client options configuration files, ending on ".opt")
pref-<operating system>.prf (loaded if under the specific operating system)
graphics-<operating system>.prf OR font-<operating system>.prf OR
graphics-<dimensions>.prf OR font-<dimensions>.prf
                            (loaded if using graphics / ascii font on the
                             specified system)
user-<operating system>.prf (loaded if under the specific operating system)

These files can be used for saving your macros to without problems:
-------------------------------------------------------------------
'global.prf' (is always loaded for any character the player logs in with.
               be sure to use all lower-case letters, not 'Global.prf'!)
<race>.prf (for the specific race)
<trait>.prf (for the specific trait, particularly useful for Maiar)
<class>.prf (for the specific class)
<character name>^<form name>.prf (for that character and its current form)
<character name>.prf (for the specific character the player logged in with)

It is recommended to use only race/trait/class/character/character+form
preference files for storing your macros.


Command macros:
---------------
Command macros are only executed if the game isn't currently waiting for a
specific input, for example "quaff which potion?" or while you're typing chat
messages. That means they won't "disrupt" any other command which is currently
being run. This is convenient for keys which you use in chat, but can be
dangerous if you define vital macros as command macros.
It is recommended to make your most important macros normal macros or at least
hybrid macros (for example a "panic key" macro). Command macros don't work
in shops.


Hybrid macros:
--------------
Use 'create hybrid macro' instead of 'create normal macro' in case you don't
want the macro to appear on hitting the corresponding key in a normal chat
message (for example useful for '-' key so it won't prevent you from
inscribing your Word of Recall scrolls).
Hybrid macros still work within input requests such as "quaff which potion?",
just not in STRING INPUT such as chat lines, polymorph-codes or money amounts.
Hybrid macros don't work in shops.


Delete macros:
----------------
If you accidentally bound a macro to a key which wasn't free, for example
the key 'r' which is used to read a scroll, you can reset the key by
-pressing % to invoke the macro menu
-choosing '(d) - delete macro'
-pressing the key wich you want to reset.
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(3.5) Preparing the first time for fighting enemies
Next
(3.7) Creating macros for ranged attacks & abilities (spells)