How I missed this I don't know but I have just discovered the macros option built into Rift. I know macros ain't a new thing in MMO's but this is the first game thats made them easy and straight forward.

There are plenty of good guides around just waiting to be googled, if you can't be arsed then at least read the following on how to setup a couple of melee macros. By doing this I managed to condense about 3 QB (quickbars) into 4 buttons.

The first thing to note about macros in Rift is that they can have upto 26 actions assigned to them but will only do 1 action per button click. The macro will go through each action programmed to it and do the 1st one in the list, if it can't (e.g. it's on a timer or waiting for you to dodge/parry first etc) then it will move onto the next one in the list and keep moving down the list until it gets to the first available ability.

Because Rift is a modern MMO almost every action is on some kind of timer (something that peeves me no end tbfh) and so this macro system is a god send. Whilst it doesn't allow me press one button and go make a cuppa whilst my toon goes something like ....
macro = mez/stun/debuff/debuff/buff/buff/biggest attack/2nd biggest attack/3rd biggest attack/ 2nd biggest attack/biggest attack etc
and come back after mob is dead.

It does allow me to just spam 1 button and concentrate on the action on the screen rather than looking at my QB's playing a glorified version of wack-a-mole!

So how do you set them up? Easy peesy!

1) On the main menu select the macros button.
2) Click on one of the empty slots on the left.
3) Click on the name box and type in what you want to name your macro
4) Click on the icon box and select the icon you want your macro to have (Or type #show "name of ability" - without the ")
5) In the text box at the bottom of the screen type cast "name of ability"
6) In the next line type cast "name of 2nd ability"
7) Continue this for as many abilities as you want.
8) Drag the macro icon too your QB.

Remember it will try and do the first ability every time you press the macro button so if you put an anytime ability in the list make sure it is last otherwise any abilties after it in the list will never get activated.

Heres the 3 macros that I have for my Shaman/Druid/Sentinal spec

1) melee

#show fae hammer
cast combined effort
cast eruption of life
cast Fae Hammer
cast Massive Blow
cast Bombard
cast Trickster Spirit
cast Lightning Hammer

2) shields

#show shield of oak
cast Glacial Shield
cast Shield of Oak

3) Reactionary

#show jolt
cast jolt
cast glory of the chosen
cast fated blow

4) Heal

#show healing breath
cast healing breath
cast balm of the woods

thats 14 QB slots condensed into 4. Much easier to manage imo.

btw if your playing the same spec you can actually cut and paste those into your macros.

you can also shift-click skills in skill book, to add straight into macro (this is great if you cant spell)