How to deal with PLD's bloat?

Quote:

Originally Posted by whiskeybravo

Good luck bro!

(for real PLD does still have a lot of button bloat. War and Drk the standard XHB is fine, PLD is the only one where I have to use the new expanded XHB to keep all the skills accessible)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Linx0r

It’s not that bad with ps4 controller. Just know how to and be comfortable with being able to switch your hot bars. Memorize where your offensive and defensive cd’s are. It may take some getting used to but it will go smooth once you are comfortable

I find it fits quite nicely on the cross hotbar to be honest. here's how I have it set up.
https://i.imgur.com/q8yVRFz.png

Set 1 is my basic stuff used at 70.
set 2 is basically the same only with halone combo and set up for synced content. even has an empty slot if I need reprisal, interject, lowblow or something such.

set 4 is my expanded hotbar r2+l2 or l2+r2 which is typically defensive cooldowns and stuff. and the standard hotbar on the left isn't used its just for a visual indication of cooldowns..

it's pretty smooth I find. if I end up in 50 synced content I can just go to set 2 and stay there. all the way.
at 70 I generally open with set 2 to establish hate and then switch to set 1 and stay there for the duration of the fight. the result is I'm hardly ever having to actually change sets in the middle of a fight everything is nearly always right where I need it.

the cooldowns are doubled up because if i'm standing in trash and holding l2 spamming scorn and eclipse I can pop cooldowns with minimal button presses. same deal if I'm holding r2 mid ra combo...

there's a lot of duplicates on my layout like the entire l2 side is the saem on sets 1 and 2. and the expanded buttons are the same on both sides its only really the dpad that changes..

shirk and intervention are both macrod to slot 2 in the party list. (always the second tank in 8 man)

everything is pretty much easily accessible all the time with hardly any need to ever change sets or double tap triggers for the wxhb.
I do use the wxhb but its typically chat macros and target markers or countdowns hate using it for actual skills because it ends up being to many button presses.

There is no bloat really. Paladin is supposedly one of the most bloated jobs and yet i can use 1 hotbar plus the expanded 99% of the time. hardly ever have to release triggers and actually switch hotbars.