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GearVars

Stop editing macros every time you replace a weapon or shield.

Description

GearVars

GearVars window

Stop editing macros every time you replace a weapon or shield.

GearVars stores your Main Hand, Off Hand, and Shield item names once. Any macro that uses the tokens {MH}, [OH], or <SH> is automatically rewritten with the current item names whenever you change gear. Great for warriors who stance-dance and swap shields, but works for any class.

Tested on WoW Classic Era 1.15 (Interface 11508).

Quick start

  1. Type /gv to open the window.
  2. Click Detect from Currently Equipped — fills the three slots from what you're wearing.
  3. Click Auto-Bind Macros (Convert to Tokens) — scans every macro you have, replaces literal item names with {MH} / {OH} / {SH} tokens, and stores them.

Done. Next time you replace a weapon:

  • Drag the new item onto the matching slot in the GearVars window, or
  • Equip it and run /gv detect.

Every macro that uses that slot updates instantly.

Example

Before:

#showtooltip Shield Block
/cast [stance:1/3] Defensive Stance
/equipslot [noequipped:shields] 16 Sequoia Hammer of Power
/equipslot [noequipped:shields] 17 Heart of Agamaggan
/cast Shield Block

After Auto-Bind, GearVars stores the template:

#showtooltip Shield Block
/cast [stance:1/3] Defensive Stance
/equipslot [noequipped:shields] 16 {MH}
/equipslot [noequipped:shields] 17 {SH}
/cast Shield Block

The macro your client actually runs is still the fully expanded form — GearVars writes the expanded body back to the macro whenever your gear changes.

Tokens

You can write tokens in any of three styles, whichever your keyboard makes easiest:

  • {MH} {OH} {SH}
  • [MH] [OH] [SH]
  • <MH> <OH> <SH>

Square brackets are safe here — MH/OH/SH aren't real macro conditionals, and substitution happens before WoW ever parses the macro.

Inspecting bound macros

The right side of the window lists every macro GearVars is managing. Hover a row to preview the stored template body:

Macro tooltip preview

Right-click a row to unbind that macro (the macro itself isn't deleted — only GearVars forgets it). Orphaned templates — where the macro was renamed or deleted outside GearVars — are flagged in red.

Slash commands

Command What it does
/gv Open the window
/gv detect Fill MH/OH/SH from equipped items
/gv autobind Scan all macros, replace item names with tokens
/gv bind <name> Capture one macro as a template
/gv edit <name> Restore template body in the macro for editing
/gv unbind <name> Forget a template
/gv list Show bound templates
/gv apply Re-write bound macros with current gear
/gv minimap Toggle the minimap button
/gv reset Wipe gear + templates (with confirmation)
/gv help Print the command list

Notes

  • Combat-safe. EditMacro is blocked by Blizzard during combat lockdown. If you change gear mid-fight, the update is queued and applied the instant combat ends.
  • 2H detection. Setting a two-handed weapon as Main Hand grays out and clears the Off Hand slot.
  • Per-character storage. Each character has its own gear + templates.
  • No external libs. Pure Lua, no LibStub/LibDBIcon/Ace dependencies.
  • Macro size limit. WoW caps macro bodies at 255 characters. If your expanded macro overflows, WoW will truncate it.

Install

From CurseForge / Wago

(Once published) Install from the CurseForge or Wago client.

Manual

  1. Download the latest release zip.
  2. Extract so the folder lives at: -macOS:World of Warcraft/_classic_era_/Interface/AddOns/GearVars/ -Windows:World of Warcraft\_classic_era_\Interface\AddOns\GearVars\
  3. Restart WoW (or /reload). Enable GearVars in the AddOns list at character select.

License

MIT — see LICENSE.