Why is there a delay after I try to use an ability?

In FFXI, when you used a macro for an ability, that ability was executed immediately. But in FFXIV, it seems like the game always waits around for a few seconds after I hit the button before it decides to actually do what I just told it to do.

Why is this? Why can't abilities be executed with more precision like they were in FFXI? What gives with the delay?

happens to me constantly also and I have high speed internet

Simple Answer: Server lag because they are in Japan

Yep, animation delay + servers in Japan = unfun. :(

Not necessarily. While that certainly could be part of the problem, maybe the code is written for a purposeful delay in actions. Strange, but possible.

The entire UI was completely unresponsive at launch, I think this is classed as "under construction." We only have another couple of months anyway before the new battle system is live, hopefully this will make the difference.

The delay from skills here come fro 2 points:

1- Usually players use heavy stanmina cost skills without having any stanmina so you have to wait the gauge fill.
2- The game use a action pile of 3 actions. If you send too many actions you will have some stored that will need to be executed before the one you actually want.

I already suggested them that the pile start giving newest actions priority over older ones so the response to actions would improve alot. Hopefully they will listen to this.