Macro's Level of complexity

I have noticed that you can link a macro to a macro. but is there a way to do an if/then statement and if so how do I do that? eg... If d20=>19 then #crit confirm else #damage.

That would be cool.

This way lies madness... In all seriousness, conditional logic would be useful, but I think some high-level design decisions need to be made about how far to go with such things. You'll no sooner have IF then you'll want ELSE, and then SWITCH, and pretty soon you'll have a whole scripting language like MapTool. It's "powerful", but it is an ugly syntax, borne of epic feature creep. If we're going to start programming macros in Roll20 (*and I wouldn't mind that*) then let's just start with a proper scripting language. Roll20 would only need to provide one side of the interface, and the rest could be handled by a system-specific bit of code coming in from somewhere else. People who don't know JavaScript (or whichever) might be scared, but those are the same people who will start the inexorable march toward a piecemeal pseudo-language by asking for one control structure at a time, then turn around in 3 years and lament that the syntax is brutal and they wish they could just make it talk to JavaScript... Can you tell this is the voice of experience speaking?

Agreed (another voice of experience here). MapTool's language does the job, but it's not...overly...pretty. If the designers ever go this far with Roll20, I second the "pick a proper language, don't write your own" approach. I'm not (personally) that big of a supporter of a full-blown scripting capability anyway, but if they do it, there are good ways and bad ways.

I did love making macros in Maptool, and still do. But I don't think that Roll20 should go the same way. I am not in favor of a complete scripting capability. It would detract from Roll20 appeal as a simple tool. But if it was to be added, I would surely prefer a real language than a new special half- baked one.

I am not in favor of a complete scripting capability. It would detract from Roll20 appeal as a simple tool. It would remain "simple" if you choose to keep it as such. As an option available, you could choose to simply not use it after all. But, as an option... I can't imagine this would be anywhere near the top of the developers' list of priorities. I'd wager it would be tossed on the list when they get to the "we're bored, what else do we add?" stage.

Well, by that same reasoning, you could deem any program simple, just by ignoring most of its features. I think it is mostly a question of philosophy. Either you aim for simplicity (with the risk of missing features some peoples may find important) or you aim for completeness (with the risk of features bloat). I suppose the answer depends on what you want. I tend to use Maptool or Roll20 for different needs. Now, I understand that some peoples could wish Roll20 to become an online Maptool. I simply have no need for that. If a real scripting language was to be added, I would probably use it anyway. I just think it would detract from Roll20 initial philosophy. I would find it un-Roll20 like. But YMMV.

The only thing really keeping me here on Roll20 is ease of use for connectivity. If enough new features that add to my enjoyment of using the tool don't get added... I'll be less likely to keep paying to use it since there are free options I can use instead.

I agree with Jonathan, although I think a full scripting language is a bit much (unless its done through the API/Extensions System they have listed on the roadmap) but having some basic conditional statements, assignable variables and loops would make the possibilities for macros much greater.

I kind of like the idea of using JavaScript and being able to build a library of functions that can be called from macros or in the chat panel directly.  People could then post functions to one of the forums and share them, or even add them to modules and make them available in the marketplace.

While I can see the allure of a full scripting set up for dice rolling, I wonder what these same people do on a physical table top?  I mean, is it that hard to just add it up? Don't get me wrong, I use macro's, and they are convenient, but plugging everything into a marcro right now doesn't work that well unless you also build a complete character sheet with every possible modifier.  

If I had a set of dice I could program with critical ratings, etc at the table easily, I'd use those too.