Global Cooldown Syntax

Let's assume Square Enix chose the term Recast rather than Global Cooldown for marketing or branding purposes. If new players to MMORPGs read the "help" boxes using words like Recast, Duration, and Combo, then why use slang terms? While I stare at the screen reading Recast: 2.49s, someone on the headset keeps repeating the words Global Cooldown. Is it correct, if any Devs are in here, that Recast is similar to Global Cooldown phraseology used in other MMORPGs? Whenever I role play, I keep the writers'/devs' story line at the forefront. Would it be easier to explain the concept of recast/global cooldown using the word that matches the spelling of "Recast" while playing FFXIV?

Developers don't reply here and they are mostly just fluent in Japanese anyway, so wouldn't understand your post. There are community teams and GMs but they rarely post here either.

Recast is an easy thing to understand. It's the time it takes to be able to re-cast it. "Recast" is the same thing as "Cooldown" but is not necessarily the same thing as "Global Cooldown" or "GCD".

The reason people need to use "GCD" is because a lot of things share this same "Global Cooldown" and it's the way you would normally explain it in other MMORPGs as well. Any other term doesn't properly articulate that it's globally shared.

For the ones that aren't shared, you could really use Cooldown and Recast interchangeably and people would probably understand what you mean.

The concept of a Global Cooldown I don't think is really explained. I think you just sort of "figure it out" from playing when you press one attack and the other is unavailable as well. However, I can give you an easy way to distinguish the two:

• GCDs are Weaponskills or Spells.
• Non-GCDs (with unique cooldowns/recasts) are Abilities.

If any Ability actually shares the GCD for some reason, it states this extremely clearly in the tooltip.

Please forgive Beu Blass' persistence. Beu Blass is disabled & neurodivergent. I'm just helping with typing. Here's Beu Blass understanding without using words like global cooldown or off global cooldown. The focus is on the language written "In Game", not slang. If Square Enix wanted FFXIV to sound and act like EverQuest or World of Warcraft, they would have written the "Help" and "Action" boxes in popular terms. Perhaps this is simply a way for Square Enix to help people immerse themselves in the role play of FFXIV as a stand-alone game. As a neighbor I do not play these types of games so again, thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any thoughts, Beu Blass would appreciate hearing them.

Action types are separated into three categories: weaponskills, spells, and abilities.

Weaponskills are instant attacks that trigger the recast timer,

Spells usually have a cast time, but also trigger a recast timer.

The recast timer is about 2.49 seconds for weaponskills and spells.

Abilities are instant actions with a longer recast time. These are generally buffs, instant attacks or other special actions.

Abilities, however, are "Actions that do not share the recast timer." This means that you can use a weaponskill or spell then use one or two abilities in between uses or another weaponskill or spell, without going over the recast timer.

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Originally Posted by BeuBlass

If Square Enix wanted FFXIV to sound and act like EverQuest or World of Warcraft, they would have written the "Help" and "Action" boxes in popular terms.

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While many new players have played other MMORPGs such as EverQuest or World of Warcraft, this game attracts a lot of people who have never played an MMORPG before. Not just because it's an "FF" franchise game, but also because of players spreading word to their friends and pressuring them to play and also because it has a reputation for being inviting and a top MMORPG.

Before unlocking the first dungeon, it does have an optional area called Hall of the Novice outside Aleport, which bluntly explains a lot of MMORPG terms they will encounter while playing.

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Perhaps this is simply a way for Square Enix to help people immerse themselves in the role play of FFXIV

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It definitely is and I've seen a lot of games do this.

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Action types are separated into three categories: weaponskills, spells, and abilities.

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That is correct.

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Abilities, however, are "Actions that do not share the recast timer." This means that you can use a weaponskill or spell then use one or two abilities in between uses or another weaponskill or spell, without going over the recast timer.

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Also correct.

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The recast timer is about 2.49 seconds for weaponskills and spells.

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It's actually 2.50. Weaponskills are reduced by the Skill Speed stat, while Spells are reduced by the Spell Speed stat. So you most likely have a bit of one of these stats on your gear.