I Love This Game! Well... Except...

Hi, I'm Borfin, Rijda and Punchdrunk and I am an avid fan of Final Fantasy. I've run through every FF besides 11 (and 13, although I came close to beating) including all available optional content. I played WoW for 8 years and tanked for a World 100 guild, having raided every expansion besides Vanilla. I ran endgame content in SWTOR, Tera and RIFT. In short, I've played a LOT of MMOs and a LOT of Final Fantasy.

Admittedly I'm still leveling - 49 now, but will be 50 by tonight - but there are some core issues with FFXIV that I feel could ultimately be its downfall. Some things are just frustrating enough to make me want to stop playing. While I haven't sampled endgame content and can't speak to that yet, these issues are prominent enough through leveling to be an irritation and I see no evidence to suggest they will disappear at 50.

I don't WANT to stop playing. I love this game. It's WoW gameplay + SWTOR storyline awesomeness + FF flavor. It's the wet dream of a nerd like me. But here's the pure stone-cold fact: It's dated, it's flawed and it's boring, but World of Warcraft plays better, more responsively and more smoothly.

After browsing the forums and having some discussions of my own I know many of these aren't just limited to me, but after seeing several of these so-called "WoW killers" go the way of the dinosaur I certainly don't want them to be what gets in the way of FFXIV being my new favorite MMO.

- Server lag. Well, not really. It doesn't exist in the way a lot of people complain about it, but the way the game checks player positioning is severely flawed. I'm no expert, but based on the way my computer works I gather that information is compiled player-side long before the server gets ahold of it. When my rig is having trouble, I'll frequently be able to cast entire rotations without a single animation going off. This is great for players with faulty connections - not so great when it comes to avoiding mechanics, as anyone who has done Titan, whether HM or otherwise, can likely attest. (DAMN YOU LANDSLIDE)

Interestingly, the workaround involves "tricking" the server into checking your physical position more frequently than it normally would using an instant-cast spell. Once I started to hold onto an Aetherflow charge so I could Energy Drain on-the-go without worrying about the GCD, Titan instantly stopped Landsliding me off the platform. In some cases I've even taken to pre-emptively rolling Sprint JUST IN CASE a cast goes off, since I know casting it mid-run will have little if any impact on whether or not I avoid a mechanic.

This makes Duty Finder groups -especially- frustrating because even if a player has the reflexes to avoid a mechanic, for many of them you almost have to be moving before the mechanic even triggers in order to avoid it if you don't use this workaround.

I don't honestly know how this can be fixed as I don't know how the game checks player positioning, but it's a core issue and makes MANY fights incredibly frustrating, even for people with lots of experience in GTFO THE GROUND mechanics.

Speaking of GCDs...

- Off-GCD abilities and their animations. This drives me bonkers when I'm trying to get a series off off-GCD abilities fired at once. As a SMN, popping Rouse, Spur, Aetherflow, Bane, Energy Drain and Fester - not optimal, but as an example - takes me roughly 3 full GCDs worth of spells. During this time I can't cast anything else or risk the animation locking me out of more spells. This isn't due to lag - you simply can't cast an off-GCD spell until roughly half a GCD worth of time has passed since your last spellcast. If this is intended I'm at a loss to explain why (aside from limiting server workload) as again, it destroys the fluidity of the game and causes controls to feel unresponsive; for tanks, it can mean the difference between being able to use that cooldown and save your life or - oops, you're dead. Shouldn't have cast that last ability!

Possible solution: Dual-GCD timers, one for typical spells (e.g. Ruin, Bio, Bio II) and one for off-GCD spells (Aetherflow, Bane, Fester). Knowing WHEN you can cast another (currently) off-GCD ability would be extremely helpful in making running rotations feel a lot smoother and would eliminate a lot of the frustration of button-mashing when you're trying to get that GODFORSAKEN SPELL OFF OH MY GOD JUST CAST ALREADY.

- Server-based DoT timers. This can be frustrating because it makes it difficult for a player to really pull out the maximum potential of his class. Since we don't know when the DoT is going to tick for damage, the line between a good SMN (or any other class really) and a great SMN, for example, is significantly more blurred than it otherwise could be. Should I refresh that Thunder at 3 seconds or begin my cast at 3 so it refreshes the instant it drops off? Dot clipping is ambiguous at best. This is a very minor gripe and I suspect it's due to the servers being unable to handle the load of so many players all sending requests for DoT damage ticks at the same time, but it's still there.

- Pet AI. It's a core SMN mechanic and micromanagement is necessary. Alright, fine. I get that. What irks me is when my pet switches from Obey to Sic or from Steady to Guard without my input. In addition, when giving pet orders it can take 2-3 attempts - unsure of the cause, but I think automatic pet orders (or autoattacks) override manual pet orders - for the pet to respond. This is especially evident when trying to Place your pet out of harm's way - sometimes it'll flat-out ignore the order. There's enough micromanagement in pets already without them ignoring commands. This combined with the "server lag" described above means my pet is probably going to die if I do anything other than Heel, and probably even then.

Heel is a workaround, but Place is far more flexible. Please, let me Place when I run away from a mechanic so I can keep my pet away from me and keep the boss from targeting ME when he wants to target my PET with a mechanic.

Long post, I know. 49 NOT 50 AMGZ, I know I know. Argue the content, not the poster. Keep things civil please. I LOVE this game AND I WANT TO KEEP PLAYING IT. It's the first MMO I plan on quitting WoW for.

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I have been playing smn since day 1 and never have i seen this happen. Once I give one of these orders, it stays in that mode until I order it into a different one.

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When combat ends, pets default to Guard. If you attack a target without giving the Obey order, it will then default to Sic regardless of what orders you gave previously.

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It's a core SMN mechanic and micromanagement is necessary. Alright, fine. I get that. What irks me is when my pet switches from Obey to Sic or from Steady to Guard without my input.

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I have been playing smn since day 1 and never have i seen this happen. Once I give one of these orders, it stays in that mode until I order it into a different one.

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In addition, when giving pet orders it can take 2-3 attempts

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It never takes more than one attempt. However, pet actions won't activate immediately if the pet is in the middle of another action. When you order it to use one, it is queued up to happen as soon as the current action finishes (including its animation)

Pet functionality is to be addressed in patch 2.1, but it remains to be seen just how much that improves. Otherwise, valid complaints are valid.

(Though I get the sneaking suspicion a good number of people will completely ignore everything you say and pretend it's all perfect simply because you mentioned playing WoW before. This community, man...)

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Originally Posted by Borfin

.- Server lag.

- Off-GCD abilities and their animations.

- Server-based DoT timers.

- Pet AI.

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So, basically I agree with the majority of your post. I actually have a separate post devoted entirely to the "server lag" issue, and why it's in SE's court to fix, even if some of it is related to latency. Note: I'm not asking them to fix the latency itself, that'd be impossible.

The Off-GCD abilities and animations thing was addressed by a community rep as working as intended some time back. If I remember right it had to do with the animations and SE wanting the animations to go off. Not disagreeing with you as I don't think that's how it should be, more just wanted you to know it'd been responded to by SE.

I don't know much about the other two, other than that they're a thing and I hate when Garuda knocks things back in my dungeon runs.. but that SMNers don't have the ability to disable just that skill.

I had felt that those commands of pets not always work on certain circunstances, so yah It had to be pressed like 2-3 times so that he finally do it.
Also there are times in which the pet sit still and do NOTHING like in my last Behemoth fight... Titan-egi didnt want to atk or get close to him.

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Originally Posted by Ronyx

I had felt that those commands of pets not always work on certain circunstances, so yah It had to be pressed like 2-3 times so that he finally do it.
Also there are times in which the pet sit still and do NOTHING like in my last Behemoth fight... Titan-egi didnt want to atk or get close to him.

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Yeah that happens when the server is on lag mode. took me 2 -3 times in order for pet to follow the command.

I never could figure out why but sometimes when I click "Place" it doesn't seem to clue in, the AoE placement isn't visible and I'll have to click it sometimes up to 3 times.

Definitely agree with the rest of it, I'll try to do an instant cast and it doesn't seem to clue it, I wasn't aware of the animation requirement.

The people who complain about off GCD animations, here's an idea: adapt.

Great post and You hit it out the ballpark. No one should defend square on your points .They all equal same the same problem, server infrastructure. That forcing us to have unnecessary delays. That hamper the experience. It just feel like a lack of experience on running a mmo for square nowdays. They hid in a shell on ffxi for 10 years. While the rest of the world was creating new things and advancing the gaming community and developments. All your points have been fixed on every MMO in the last 5 years. Let just hope they have been listening to there fans. They also are in the middle of a restructured of there company. To be more open , and Let hope they will lead the next decade of gaming. I do not want see some of there good franchises falling off the face of the earth.

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Originally Posted by wormed

The people who complain about off GCD animations, here's an idea: adapt.

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I've had no trouble adapting. That's not even remotely the issue. Just like adapting to the way the game checks your position- it isn't difficult. But the problem is that in a polished modern MMO which intends to see mainstream success, these are gameplay issues which turn a lot of people away. As such, they need to be addressed. Period.

Can nothing but agree to this. Down to its core, it's the same issues that has annoyed me in practically every MMO I've tried apart from WoW: The gameplay is nowhere near fluid.

Sadly to me, FFXIV ranks at the bottom. During the times I've used a good VPN and gotten near acceptable ping, the clunkiness is probably right on par with how SWTOR feels, if you don't account for the frustration of getting your off GCD abilities off.

I don't really hold much hope things will change. These are all base framework mechanics in the game, yet to see a developer do something about such things. Both SWTOR and Rift remain clunky despite being active for years with supposedly large budget backing and/or dedicated developers. Yet the same, most basic things that turn people off at first sight are still there.

I've come to terms though. Appearantly fluidity is just very hard to get right as a developer. I enjoy the game at large and the gameplay isn't deterring me, even if I agree it can be a very off putting thing for a new player trying the game.

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Originally Posted by Alhanelem

I have been playing smn since day 1 and never have i seen this happen

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you've never seen a pet switch from Steady to Guard?

before you comment, actually test it lol..

if you have a pet on steady and then tell it to cast something it will switch to Guard

edit:

Well i say to Guard.. its probably top whichever stance you had it in prior to pressing steady

I just don't get posts like this. If it's so boring then don't play?

I get what you're saying, that you're an FF fan so want to persevere because of that, but if you're bored now then just wait until you get to level 50. If you're not enjoying it then you're best just trying to find something that does entertain you.

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Originally Posted by TeganLaron

I just don't get posts like this. If it's so boring then don't play?

I get what you're saying, that you're an FF fan so want to persevere because of that, but if you're bored now then just wait until you get to level 50. If you're not enjoying it then you're best just trying to find something that does entertain you.

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You misunderstood the OP. Nowhere does he say he's bored. In fact, he says he loves the game and enjoys it very much, but that there are some very serious problem with how the game plays that he would like to see fixed.

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Originally Posted by TeganLaron

I just don't get posts like this. If it's so boring then don't play?

I get what you're saying, that you're an FF fan so want to persevere because of that, but if you're bored now then just wait until you get to level 50. If you're not enjoying it then you're best just trying to find something that does entertain you.

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I don't think you read his post...

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Originally Posted by StarMarmot

You misunderstood the OP. Nowhere does he say he's bored.

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Originally Posted by Borfin

it's flawed and it's boring

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Nope, didn't misunderstand at all.

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Originally Posted by SynMaris

I don't think you read his post...

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I don't think you read his post. Maybe double check things before criticizing others :)

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Originally Posted by wormed

The people who complain about off GCD animations, here's an idea: adapt.

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The people who skim posts and then reply to them, here's an idea: actually read.

I have no problem adapting, I have a problem with the fact that I need to adapt to something so absurd in the first place.

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Originally Posted by TeganLaron

Nope, didn't misunderstand at all.

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Yes you do.

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Originally Posted by TeganLaron

I don't think you read his post. Maybe double check things before criticizing others :)

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I wrote the post. Do I qualify to tell you what the context is intended to mean?

Read that sentence again, then read that whole paragraph (daunting task I know, 5 sentences, I believe in you!)

Then tell me which game I'm calling dated, flawed and boring, and which game I'm saying I love.

Because I'm quitting a game I've heavily raided on for 8 years in the middle of a raid tier right as they announce a new expansion for a game I think is boring, right?

Remember when I said to keep things civil? Try it.

Your post Borfin, almost mirrors my mentality about the game a month ago. However, after no developer responses to the obvious flaws despite a plethora of video evidence presented by users, inclines me to believe that they will not fix the problems in a timely manner if at all, making it very hard to want to stick with the game long term. As it stands now I would not recommend FF14 to any of my friends as saying, the game has a lot of potential and would be really good if they fixed some key issues but I don't think they actually will, is a pretty poor enticement.

a MMO is often not as smooth as a FPS or some other game where multiple functions can be initiated at once. They want you to take into account having time delays and limitations like GCD's, and obviously they want animations to be accounted for as well. I dont really see the issue there, its just you wanting to do things faster..well you cant, so work with what you can do. This is not a fighting game or an adventure game, its a 3-d simulation of a tactical turn by turn game and thus your abilities are locked down within an economy of of gcd's, casting times and animation delays to represent turns. Otherwise everyone would be leaping and casting like flying light spawning monkeys from all over the battlefield.

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Originally Posted by Bladenite81

This is not a fighting game or an adventure game, its a 3-d simulation of a tactical turn by turn game and thus your abilities are locked down within an economy of of gcd's, casting times and animation delays to represent turns.

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I must admit, I always enjoy these "it's a turn based game" responses.

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Originally Posted by Bladenite81

a MMO is often not as smooth as a FPS or some other game where multiple functions can be initiated at once. They want you to take into account having time delays and limitations like GCD's, and obviously they want animations to be accounted for as well. I dont really see the issue there, its just you wanting to do things faster..well you cant, so work with what you can do. This is not a fighting game or an adventure game, its a 3-d simulation of a tactical turn by turn game and thus your abilities are locked down within an economy of of gcd's, casting times and animation delays to represent turns. Otherwise everyone would be leaping and casting like flying light spawning monkeys from all over the battlefield.

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It's also a rarity in the MMO genre to have these problems. Which is why it's frustrating.

Go play some other MMOs and come back to FF. The clunkiness of these issues will surprise you.

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Originally Posted by Borfin

It's also a rarity in the MMO genre to have these problems.

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On top of quite a few of the things listed being a rarity.. at least one of them is non-existent outside of SE. I have never, not once, been hit by an AOE when I was clearly out of the targeted area on time in the past decade I've been playing MMOs. Nor have I been able to find another MMO that had this issue after doing several Google searches, or asking the community to provide such an example from another MMO.

Definitely with you on all points, but the AOE "lag" thing (which I assume is also tied to skill delay) especially. It's game breaking for many people (1.0 helped to prove that), and if not corrected will likely result in many lost subscriptions.

Agreed. I've not seen this issue in any other MMO I've played.

I've also not seen the devs turn such a blind eye to it. That is the most depressing thing for me.

Hopefully once PvP comes out they will no longer be able to ignore it.