Multi attack macro

Hello everyone, hope you are all doing fine. [3.5e free version]] I am currently setting up my first adventure, I have played as a DM before, but it was really messy so far. I just recently came around to write macros for monster attacks and alike, but I didn't really use the char sheet, instead, I wrote character actions for all of the monsters and copied it afterward. It will do the trick I assume, but it feels like there are easier ways around it. How would you format a macro for something like a high-level dragon's full attack? The way I did it so far was: /em The silver dragon attacks! /w GM bite [[1d20+19]] for [[2d6+12]] /w GM claw1 [[1d20+17]] for [[1d8+8]] /w GM claw2 [[1d20+17]] for [[1d8+8]] /w GM wing1 [[1d20+17]] for [[1d6+8]] /w GM wing2 [[1d20+17]] for [[1d6+8]] /w GM tail [[1d20+17]] for [[1d8+15]] It works, since there are so many options to do the same thing, I would like to know how one could improve on this? The difference to a macro based on the actual character sheet would be that it reacts to changes on the sheet, yes? Or are there other advantages too? Could you make one @based macro and use it for anything? Not entirely sure if that would work like I imagine it. Thanks.

First you could use a rolltemplate: /em The silver dragon attacks! /w GM &{template:default} {{name=Dragon Attacks}} {{bite=[[1d20+19]] for [[2d6+12]]}} {{claw1=[[1d20+17]] for [[1d8+8]]}} {{ claw2=[[1d20+17]] for [[1d8+8]]}} {{wing1=[[1d20+17]] for [[1d6+8]]}} {{wing2=[[1d20+17]] for [[1d6+8]]}} {{tail=[[1d20+17]] for [[1d8+15]]}} You could use the @ formulas to get specific attack and damage values. I'm guessing at what they should be: /em The silver dragon attacks! /w GM &{template:default} {{name=Dragon Attacks}} {{bite=[[1d20+@{BAB} +2]] for [[2d6+(@{strength}*1.5)]]}} {{claw1=[[1d20+@{BAB}]] for [[1d8+@{strength}]]}} {{ claw2=[[1d20+@{BAB}]] for [[1d8+@{strength}]]}} {{wing1=[[1d20+@{BAB}]] for [[1d6+@{strength}]]}} {{wing2=[[1d20+@{BAB}]] for [[1d6+@{strength}]]}} {{tail=[[1d20+@{BAB}]] for [[1d8+@{Strength} +7]]}} This would need to be an Ability on the dragon character sheet, and you'll have to check what the attribute names actually are - I dont play D&D on roll20, so just guessed at BAB and strength.

MarkusE said: The difference to a macro based on the actual character sheet would be that it reacts to changes on the sheet, yes? Or are there other advantages too? Could you make one @based macro and use it for anything? Not entirely sure if that would work like I imagine it. Thanks. The primary advantage is that reacts to changes on the character sheet, yes, but there's a secondary advantage: you can copy it to other character sheets with the same attack. You can use one @based macro for a lot of similar creatures, but creatures with unusual attacks will need dedicated abilities. Some sheets have multiple attacks like this stored in a single attack button, and use that sheet's rolltemplate, which is usually prettier than the default rolltemplate I used above.

Thanks, that helped a lot already.