Post-patch AOE indicators are too distracting

I like the color changes, the read lines just looked so cheap.

Was it stated that the change was for color blind people? Or did they change it because the new marker just simply looks better?

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Originally Posted by EasymodeX

I'm guessing you're a healer or RDPS?

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Tank is my primary, BLM secondary, WHM tertiary. There is rarely a good reason to stay inside an AoE regardless of class though.

Thinking about others is hard, eh OP?

I do not mind the color of the new marker, but I hate the pulsing that is not connected to anything.

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Originally Posted by Iymala

I do not mind the color of the new marker, but I hate the pulsing that is not connected to anything.

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The pulsing is likely to catch your eye. See my comment a few posts above to understand how it helps those that don't have normal color vision. Humans are more likely to notice movement (the pulsing) over a color scheme anyway.

Sorry to say op. But that's kind of the point lol

I also like the change. When I'm playing as a healer, I'm rarely watching the enemy (usually only for fights like Hydra where I need to be ready to move for a specific attack). I'm watching the party list and enmity indicators. Having the bright color and the pulsing movement of the aoe markings makes me more likely to see them and get out of the way in time. I approve.

I've found the new color blends into the floor a lot more often than the old one did. Could just put in an rgb or color selecting setting somewhere to handle this.

This is why games that wish to offer colorblind modes offer them as toggleable options rather than forcing them on everyone.

No way! This new indicator is much better. I sometimes didnt see the older one, this one I cant miss it. So what if is isnt synced with the enemy cast bar ... I dont think it was meant to. I mean if they want to include a UI option to revert to the old one im all for it but this one is a big improvement IMO.

No im not colorblind... I can easily see the butterfly in this image

http://www.toledo-bend.com/colorblind/Color45.jpg

Like some others, I found the new indicators somewhat annoying in my first runs after the patch. But it did not take me long to get used to them and I much prefer them now. The timing of the pulses is totally irrelevent. If you're in it, get out. The pulse is there to catch your eye, so you'll notice it even if you fail to spot the colour, which is quite hard to miss.

Overall, i'd say good job with this change, devs.

I'm still confused about the "timing" aspect of the pulses people have mentioned. I don't know about you, but my timing upon seeing an AOE is "GTFO".

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Originally Posted by Tiggy

Tank is my primary, BLM secondary, WHM tertiary. There is rarely a good reason to stay inside an AoE regardless of class though.

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No: good tanks and mDPS will move back into position immediately. Immediately means moving back in when the indicator is fading but when it is still visible. However, with the pulsing AOE animation, the timing of when the AOE is complete is now conflicted between the fade animation and the pulse animation (e.g. the pulse animation distracts from the fade animation). You now have 2 different animations that intuitively disagree with each other and tell the player different things.

This also becomes relevant for multiple AOE mechanics where you need to move out of zone A, then move back into zone A to avoid the mechanic in zone B. This can be observed in Titan EX (although for that fight the zones are invisible bomb explosions, not the strobing indicators -- in other new content like Leviathan or Turn 6-9, I would not be surprised when multiple indicators are placed next to each other).

Bottom line: the fade-out and expiration of the indicator zone is much less clear with the random strobing introduced in the patch. It needs to be synchronized with the spellcast in some fashion or removed entirely. If not, then the strobing needs to be able to be toggled off because as it stands it makes the indicator timing less clear than it was pre-patch.

Too flashy! Please remove it!

I do like the animation, it's funny when its multiple enemies with round attacks.. Woo look at the pretty ripples its like wate....oh crap

The only thing I don't like about it is if it's a full room AoE (like the final boss of Haukke Manor) it really hurts my eyes for some reason.

If the design is good or bad, we can discuss...
But: They have added it now means they fixed the big problems and are now adding stuff we already had in ALPHA/BETA...
That alone lets me hope the fixed quest tracker will be added soon too!

Hmm.. I really like the new indicators, they stand out much better. As for the pulsing/fading, none of the enemies attacks changed so the casting time is still the same, exp. players should have a feel of when to move in and out already.

AOE changes are great. Quite a few color-blind people in my FC are loving it, I personally love the new look as well. It's not distracting at all.

I like the new AOE indicators. People stop being so resistant to change. This is an improvement. The fact they distract you means they are doing their job. Stop being selfish as well. This change is not for you. It's for colorblind people who pay the same monthly fees as you and were having a hard time seeing a game feature.

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Originally Posted by Phaydra

People stop being so resistant to change. This is an improvement. The fact they distract you means they are doing their job. Stop being selfish as well. This change is not for you.

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If the change is not for me then why is my client changed? Most competent MMOs include colorblind-friendly options as options. It's not a hard concept to grasp.

Furthermore, randomy frenetic distractions are bad for gameplay. They may as well try strobing an entire fricken rainbow.

That aside, the #1 problem with the change has nothing to do with colorblind people at all, and should be adjusted. Short of fixing the issue, they should disable the change or make it a toggle / option.

That goes for ready check spam as well. JFC.

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Originally Posted by EasymodeX

If the change is not for me then why is my client changed? Most competent MMOs include colorblind-friendly options as options. It's not a hard concept to grasp.

Furthermore, randomy frenetic distractions are bad for gameplay. They may as well try strobing an entire fricken rainbow.

That aside, the #1 problem with the change has nothing to do with colorblind people at all, and should be adjusted. Short of fixing the issue, they should disable the change or make it a toggle / option.

That goes for ready check spam as well. JFC.

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I'm seriously not understanding your position. If the slight animation of a pulsing line in the aoe indicator distracts you, how do you even look at the screen during a boss fight with all the different multicolored explosions/effects hammering the screen at once? You've mentioned timing as well, but that doesn't even make sense. See AOE indicator, vacate area immediately. There is nothing to -time-, just get out. Getting back in works exactly the same as it did before. Cast bar finishes, animation begins, you are already moving back into position. There is no difference whatsoever.

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Originally Posted by Senfei

I'm seriously not understanding your position. If the slight animation of a pulsing line in the aoe indicator

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It's not a slight animation. It's the game visually shouting at me at max volume.

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how do you even look at the screen during a boss fight with all the different multicolored explosions/effects hammering the screen at once?

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What explosions/effects? I have all party spell effects turned off. The only effects I see are my own attack animations.

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You've mentioned timing as well, but that doesn't even make sense. See AOE indicator, vacate area immediately. There is nothing to -time-, just get out.

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You time when you go back in so the boss doesn't move (tanks) or so you can get accurate position (DPS) and immediately continue DPSing (DPS) or to avoid the secondary mechanic (all classes). Failure to do so is what causes players to get knocked off by landslides or hit by bombs when landslides are not highly controlled on Titan.

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Getting back in works exactly the same as it did before. Cast bar finishes, animation begins, you are already moving back into position. There is no difference whatsoever.

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Except the random strobing line which is shouting in my face is telling me a different timing to run back in than the significantly more subtle fade-out of the circle.

I guess we all have our tipping points lol

It doesn't bother me personally, but it should have been introduced as an option instead of straight up change. No dispute there.

Whatever man, I prefer the old indicators too but the pulses and the color of them are not too distracting. They serve the same benefit they always have, there's no reason for the pulses to be synchronized with the actual ability going off, and you should only need to pay attention to them long enough to realize that it's a big "DO NOT STAND HERE" zone. There were also times where a lot of ground targeted or PBAoEs were going off and it was hard to see boss AoE indicators and that doesn't happen after the patch.

I was going to post about the OP being wrong, but I actually think that the pulse moving with casting time would be a good fix.

It really does need to be implemented as an option, not a mandatory thing. If it's a change for color-blindness, then you should be aware of all the different types of color-blindness there are. Unilaterally changing effects for one type can completely screw over another.

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Originally Posted by EasymodeX

-snip-

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Well, different strokes for different folks I guess. For me, the orange is -less- obtrusive than the old bright red indicators. I also don't use the then red now orange indicator as a queue when to jump back in front of a mob while tanking. I use the cast bar. When its done, I go back in without missing a beat and the mob never moves.

I know you don't like the new system, but it has been implemented and while asking for change on the forums is a good idea, it is also a good idea to try to adapt. Consider trying what I said about watching the enemies cast bar to see when the attack has finished to move back into position as opposed to staring at something that distracts you and see if that helps you.

We'll from reading everyone's posts, everyone has seen the newish aoe markers. Working as intended. I personally have no problems seeing the new effects and had no problems seeing the old ones either.

I like them and the pulse is a great way to catch our attention that it is about to go off.

I dont like the color since I think it's weird and doesn't match or something (isn't there any other colorblind friendly color?) but it does the job and is even really noticable on purple poison floors in ct for me, unlike what others have claimed.

Being that one of my friends cannot see red, and complains about this kind of thing in videogames all the time, I agree with the change.

However, as someone who has been playing this game and dodging red circles for nearly 6 months now, these new markers do feel weird to me. Maybe it's the yellow color or the fancy animated effect, but the "danger" flag doesn't go off as well in my brain now. For the first time in a long time, I find I have to consciously think to move out of the way, rather than do it by reflex.

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Originally Posted by EasymodeX

Just logged on last night and noticed that AOE indicators have now been switched to a bright yellow-orange and pulses constantly. This is extremely noisy and distracting.

Specifically, the worst part about the indicator is that the pulses are completely independent of the actual ability being cast -- they are not synchronized in any way. It would make way more sense if the pulse inside the AOE marker hit the edge at the same time as the spell finished casting, e.g. if the pulse were sync'd with the spellcast.

It's not. It pulses essentially randomly. This interferes with player timing of the actual AOE effect.

It's also too bright in general. I would appreciate an option to revert to the old style red AOEs. Optimally, I would prefer a red (or orange-yellow) AOE indicator of the same brightness as the old indicators, with the pulse synchronized to the spellcast. This sort of pulse can be observed with Wildstar telegraphs, for example.

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Don't head into the light!

I'm picturing players running uncontrollably into the AoE cones of enemy abilities like the bugs flying into the beacon in Wreck It Ralph.

I enjoy the new AOE indicators. I think they're easier to see. In fact, several people in my FC stated in our CT run last night that they thought it was more pleasing to the eye now.

Plus, I really appreciate that SE is being so accommodating to those with color-blindness.

They are harder to see against orange backdrops. Like Pharos Sirius and T1 Coils.

Other than that they look good imo :).

In some areas of the map like in CT its a bit harder to see, and in Coil in turn 1. That's my only complaint is that it blends well with an orange floor.

I am having the problem that the new AOE color is too similar to waymark color..... but really like the wave indicator.

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Originally Posted by Oscillate_Wildly

In some areas of the map like in CT its a bit harder to see, and in Coil in turn 1. That's my only complaint is that it blends well with an orange floor.

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I think BC was ok, since floors are blue. But CT I'd agree it's "blending" in. I was tanking King Behe yesterday and I was a little reaction lag when the small AoE cone for "trounce" appeared and I was wondering what the heck was it, then I realized oh shit it's time to move lol (thanks to the wave indicators that gave me the subconscious hint that it's attack incoming).

I think some people just like to complain and can't accept any kind of change.

The color change doesn't impair you dodge ability in anyway and for some people it's an improvement.

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Originally Posted by EasymodeX

It's not a slight animation. It's the game visually shouting at me at max volume.

Except the random strobing line which is shouting in my face is telling me a different timing to run back in than the significantly more subtle fade-out of the circle.

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Lol...

Idunno about you, but I doubt the wave indicator was meant to be any sort of "timing" indicator as you are now using it as. When I first saw the new AoE markers I was impressed by the change. It catches your attention, which is what it's supposed to do. For you to use it as a timing gauge of any sort is pointless, that's what the "cast bar" is for if you haven't noticed.

And I really don't see how it's any more distracting than circle of scorn on paladin for example. I think you're just way too easily distracted...