PSA: Macro Sound Effects Harm People with Sensory Issues

4.2 is coming and I’m hoping there will be some surprises with the patch notes. Here’s to hoping good things come for the new year!

I'd been following this thread partly because I do also have Asperger's and anxiety and can sometimes get frustrated by game noises - though more often due to frustration than specific noises (eg. the longer I've been going in circles trying to find something or solve a puzzle, the more ambient sounds and BGM start to grate on my nerves - in a physical gut-feeling 'I can't take this any more' way - and I'll have to mute it until I can finish the objective and move on).

Fortunately I don't seem to get affected by the macro sounds, but I've just recently gotten White Mage to Lv50+ and found my own nemesis.... the "Lily Gauge filled" sound effect. Nasty sharp sound that made me feel a bit 'funny' after hearing it. Not enough to stop playing, but.... ugh. And the cast sound for Stone III is not quite so bad, but similar and still unpleasant. I want this to be one of my main classes, but suddenly it's become a bit less appealing. :(

EDIT: Having leveled a few other classes to this point now, I've realised it's a general and not white-mage-specific "gauge filled" sound effect.

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Also I've come across a few people in Duty Finder who use the more piercing sound effects in conjunction with Provoke and use it to start every enemy encounter..... which, even if that was the correct usage of the ability, telling the other players seems to have no gameplay use at all. Of course the tank is going to draw the enemy, and we know which enemy has been targeted because their health bar turns red. I can't see any point to announcing that an enemy has been provoked.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

I can't see any point to announcing that an enemy has been provoked.

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There's actually one singular reason why you'd need to do that: tank swapping fights to let healers know to switch their main target. I know, not exactly a necessary thing, but it does make life a bit easier for harder content that involves that mechanic.

And yes, with 4.2 around the corner, hopefully there will be something to better change or modify sound effects like the gauge fill, because that ratchet sound really is quite annoying.

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Originally Posted by Kazrah

There's actually one singular reason why you'd need to do that: tank swapping fights to let healers know to switch their main target. I know, not exactly a necessary thing, but it does make life a bit easier for harder content that involves that mechanic.

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Ah, that's quite a different context to be using it in! That makes more sense than in a standard dungeon run. And it would be used sparingly, I assume, and not just their opening attack for every mob? So I guess other players have seen them doing it and copied the idea without understanding the actual purpose (or correct use of Provoke), and it spreads that way until all tanks think that's what they're expected to do when provoking....

I haven no sensory issues. I just find it damned annoying sometimes. Options are good. I'm fully behind a way to customize the sounds I want to hear or if I don't want to hear any.

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Originally Posted by Iscah

Ah, that's quite a different context to be using it in! That makes more sense than in a standard dungeon run. And it would be used sparingly, I assume, and not just their opening attack for every mob? So I guess other players have seen them doing it and copied the idea without understanding the actual purpose (or correct use of Provoke), and it spreads that way until all tanks think that's what they're expected to do when provoking....

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I remember when warriors used to overuse it along with ciuntdown and sound for each second.

hope something comes out of your thread, good luck

I’m pretty disappointed that there was no added optoon just to disable macro sounds in 4.2. Just another reason I’ve decided to play another MMO for the majority of my freetimr. It’s a pitty, but what else can I do?

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Originally Posted by Kisagami

I’m pretty disappointed that there was no added optoon just to disable macro sounds in 4.2. Just another reason I’ve decided to play another MMO for the majority of my freetimr. It’s a pitty, but what else can I do?

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I have some questions about their priority this patch. The MSQ change makes me wonder if it was really the right decision to invest that much time into the recording and Perform changes. Hope they add it soon, it's a pity to see someone leave over this :(

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Originally Posted by BillyKaplan

I have some questions about their priority this patch. The MSQ change makes me wonder if it was really the right decision to invest that much time into the recording and Perform changes. Hope they add it soon, it's a pity to see someone leave over this :(

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Yeah, overall 4.2 is a major disappointment for the Western World. Its going over okay in Japan, not so much here.