Option to disable the new icons next to damage numbers?

so, for the past decade we've had the same damage numbers in the game. today, however, the numbers had an icon added to them to indicate whether the damage is done by physical, magical or unique attacks. typically changes like these come with an option to turn them on or off, but not this time. this is the first time in almost 10 years of playing that i have had to turn off the damage numbers completely, because i just hate how these icons look.

i think damage indicators should be as clean and minimal as possible, and i've always been happy with the way the numbers look in FFXIV. just recently i happened across a livestream of a different game, i think it might have been New World or something, where they had little icons just like the ones added to FFXIV in today's patch - and i thought "man am i glad FFXIV doesn't have damage numbers like that! that's hideous to look at!"

well, guess what...

i've played MMOs for over 20 years, and looking at the damage numbers has always been a satisfying part of the experience. i know a lot of people don't care about stuff like this, but to me it's a big part of the visual experience. could we at least get an option to turn the icons off?

also, a side-effect of turning off the damage numbers is that the damage my character takes also gets turned off, not just the damage i deal.

i don't really understand why these icons need to be there in the first place - who is it useful to? why were they added? i'm a very casual player and i certainly don't care whether my damage done is physical or magical to the point i need a little icon showing me that information. and i doubt the most hardcore players need it either, don't they already know that stuff?

forcing this kind of change upon players is really upsetting to me. again, i understand that most people probably don't even notice changes like this - but a lot of us do. i don't know why this change was made 10 years after the game came out, but please, for the love of hydaelyn, give us an option to turn the icons off!

thanks for reading :o

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seabreeze

i don't really understand why these icons need to be there in the first place - who is it useful to?

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You're a Red Mage. You have a skill that helps against magical damage.
You are who it's useful to.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Seabreeze

so, for the past decade we've had the same damage numbers in the game. today, however, the numbers had an icon added to them to indicate whether the damage is done by physical, magical or unique attacks. typically changes like these come with an option to turn them on or off, but not this time. this is the first time in almost 10 years of playing that i have had to turn off the damage numbers completely, because i just hate how these icons look.

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why would yout even WANT to turn this off? this is a vital information to know when to use mitigation.
And yes, there should be an option to turn it off somewhere. people have been using plug-ins for years to show magic or physical damage, this addition is long overdue.

I absolutely love the change. That being said, I thought it was a toggle. It usually is, isn't it?