Clarity is key, let's fix tooltips.

It wouldn't kill anyone if tooltips give more exact numbers or even correctly stated what the ability does (heres lookin @ u provoke).
Some examples;

• Quelling strikes: Reduces enmity generation.
• Provoke: Gesture threateningly, increasing enmity in the target.
• Limit Break: dont even get me started

Some suggestions;

• Stats (Crit, Spell/skill speed, parry, etc): Should state your chance to crit, cast time reduction %, etc on mouseover in the character sheet. Accuracy should state chance to hit on the mob you last killed.
• Astral Fire/Umbral ice: State % damage increase/decrease, MP Cost % reduction/addition.
• All DoTs/HoTs: Would be nice if it included total damage/healing over time potency. (cool fact, regen is 1050(!!) potency over 21 seconds)
• Quelling Strikes: Should properly state the 50% enmity reduction.
• ALL "INCREASED ENMITY" ABILITIES: Should include their enmity multiplier, rather than "increased enmity".
• Flash: Should properly state its enmity potency of 500.
• Provoke: The ability that inspired this post. Should state that it brings you to the top of the enmity list, and grants you ONE additional point of enmity, and should state that it does nothing if you already have aggro.
• Limit Breaks: Limit Break info that does not pertain to your current class should be removed. Also cast time and radius should be included where applicable.

• Tank: Should state exact amount of damage reduction for each level.
• DPS: Should include potency for each level. Also should state that damage is calculated with the group's combined weapon damage. Include the range for the caster version also.
• Healer: Should state exact % of MaxHP healed for each level.

• Vitality/Piety: Should state HP/MP granted per point at current level.
• Total Block Strength/Rate: Should probably appear.... literally anywhere??? it's totally missing from the character sheet
• Total Parry Strength: see above

Finally, last and most certainly least:

• Poisoning potions (all ranks): should state their damage dealt, i guess.

tl;dr: please change provoke's tooltip to not be a weird newbie trap. also for a good time, count how many times i typed out "should state".
also if i missed any bad tooltips, please post them, as i have already written over a thousand words about tooltips in a video game. thanks.

Edit breaks that meaningless limit.

Tooltips really are either lacking entirely (stats) or pretty much useless for the most part.

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Originally Posted by Tiraelina

Edit breaks that meaningless limit.

Tooltips really are either lacking entirely (stats) or pretty much useless for the most part.

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oh my god thank you.

If you edit your post you can go past the 1K character limit :) Edit: Someone beat me to it lol

I'm all for detailed abilities- no reason you should have to crack out your abacus to know what and how your ability will work.

yes please, +1

Regarding Flash, it is very definitely not 500 potency if you're lower than level 50. Is the equation "level x 10" or something, if 500 is what it actually is at 50?

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Originally Posted by Donjo

Regarding Flash, it is very definitely not 500 potency if you're lower than level 50. Is the equation "level x 10" or something, if 500 is what it actually is at 50?

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they should state what is the effective AoE radius of flash as well.

I don't think every little thing should need exact numbers on it, really, but...

I do agree though that Provoke could use a clearer description, especially for the people coming off FFXI who are used to it working in a completely different way.

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Originally Posted by Dano

they should state what is the effective AoE radius of flash as well.

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Isn't that actually stated to be 5 Yalms? I'll have to check on it tomorrow :/

I find it more interesting the way it currently is. You try a certain ability once or twice to learn its effectiveness.

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Originally Posted by ajx

I find it more interesting the way it currently is. You try a certain ability once or twice to learn its effectiveness.

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Except Provoke, apparently. I've seen countless numbers of Paladins who open with Provoke as if it worked the same way as it did in FFXI. It doesn't.

Provoke, I'd argue, has one of the worst tooltips imaginable. It doesn't build any aggro, really. It just pushes you to the top of the aggro list, but does it by such a small margin that even a regen tick from medica II is enough to peel mobs away, which is why you follow up with a shield lob or similar.

I agree that some of the tooltips probably need to be revised.

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Originally Posted by Fynlar

I do agree though that Provoke could use a clearer description, especially for the people coming off FFXI who are used to it working in a completely different way.

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If it makes you feel better, those of us coming from WoW expecting the 6-second target lock we got used to for taunt abilities were also in for a rude awakening. >.>;

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Originally Posted by Lemuria

Except Provoke, apparently. I've seen countless numbers of Paladins who open with Provoke as if it worked the same way as it did in FFXI. It doesn't.

Provoke, I'd argue, has one of the worst tooltips imaginable. It doesn't build any aggro, really. It just pushes you to the top of the aggro list, but does it by such a small margin that even a regen tick from medica II is enough to peel mobs away, which is why you follow up with a shield lob or similar.

I agree that some of the tooltips probably need to be revised.

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Yes, it is not clear in the english text.

In german it is "Du lenkst die größte Feindseligkeit auf dich."
You channel the greatest enmity to you (I hope the translation is accurate)

An add: Fist of Wind, Doesn't enhance your attack speed. (i've saw to much low level MNK using this over Fist of Earth/Fire thinking it will enhance theirs attack speed)

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Originally Posted by Nexxus

An add: Fist of Wind, Doesn't enhance your attack speed. (i've saw to much low level MNK using this over Fist of Earth/Fire thinking it will enhance theirs attack speed)

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It say "increase movement speed". No word about attack speed.
Changing the text here would not help people who can't read.

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Originally Posted by Felis

It say "increase movement speed". No word about attack speed.
Changing the text here would not help people who can't read.

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It did state draining MP to increase attack speed for the longest time on the buff. Same went for Fists of Earth stating it caused earth damage for MP. It's one of the few things that did actually get fixed.

While we're on the subject of tooltips, it would be nice if they didn't appear next to your mouse and instead had a static position to appear on the screen. Or is there an option for this that I'm unaware of?

Since I'm a hybrid clicker/button-masher, sometimes when I mouse over things, the tooltip box covers up other things that I really need to see. I'd prefer my tooltip box to always appear, say, in the bottom right of the screen regardless of what I'm mousing over.

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Originally Posted by Tiraelina

It did state draining MP to increase attack speed for the longest time on the buff. Same went for Fists of Earth stating it caused earth damage for MP. It's one of the few things that did actually get fixed.

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This sound more like the 1.x descriptions. They drained MP over time during 1.x. But also there Fists of Wind only gave you increased movement speed and gave your attacks wind element.

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Originally Posted by FritoBandito

While we're on the subject of tooltips, it would be nice if they didn't appear next to your mouse and instead had a static position to appear on the screen. Or is there an option for this that I'm unaware of?

Since I'm a hybrid clicker/button-masher, sometimes when I mouse over things, the tooltip box covers up other things that I really need to see. I'd prefer my tooltip box to always appear, say, in the bottom right of the screen regardless of what I'm mousing over.

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Character Configuration -> UI settings -> General

Under Help you find "Display action help". Change there the setting from "Next to Cursor" to "Fixed" or to "Fixed (Reserved)"

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Originally Posted by FritoBandito

While we're on the subject of tooltips, it would be nice if they didn't appear next to your mouse and instead had a static position to appear on the screen. Or is there an option for this that I'm unaware of?

Since I'm a hybrid clicker/button-masher, sometimes when I mouse over things, the tooltip box covers up other things that I really need to see. I'd prefer my tooltip box to always appear, say, in the bottom right of the screen regardless of what I'm mousing over.

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It's an option in your settings. Character Config > UI Settings. There's a little drop-down box with three settings: Next to Cursor/Fixed/Fixed (Reversed).

Next to Cursor of course makes it appear next to your mouse. Fixed makes the tooltips appear where your UI elements (Item help, Action help) are placed. Fixed (Reversed) does the same as Fixed, but makes the tooltips appear on the opposite side of the screen from their element's position.

Not all numbers are necessary - for instance, I doubt knowing the radius on Flash is actually going to make a difference to you because I seriously doubt you have an exact mental measurement of how far the game's units of measurement are.

However, I do agree there's quite a few abilities in the game that could use a cleanup/revision to their tooltip text.

While I think some bits are debatable, the Provoke description is definitely misleading, and contrary to some people's misconceptions, does not seem to be clarified by just trying it out 1-2 times. That seriously needs to get fixed.

The only reason I didn't fall into that trap was because someone explained it to a tank who didn't understand the way it actually worked and I learned it before I even started tanking, but that just instantly showed me that there was something wrong about it. The class quest for GLD also does nothing to teach you its uses, so the tooltip should at least be correct.

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Originally Posted by Duelle

If it makes you feel better, those of us coming from WoW expecting the 6-second target lock we got used to for taunt abilities were also in for a rude awakening. >.>;

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This. I'm used to a taunted target being locked for 6 seconds and getting highest threat + 10% (so it can be fluffed into a rotation to keep boosting threat).

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Originally Posted by Felis

It say "increase movement speed". No word about attack speed.
Changing the text here would not help people who can't read.

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Movement speed may interprete otherwise.
For thoses that are not used to MMO and movement speed, they could think it's movement of yours attack.

I've seen to much MNK using them, like... almost everyone using them in the Lv.30~

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Originally Posted by Nexxus

I've seen to much MNK using them, like... almost everyone using them in the Lv.30~

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So you're aware, Fists of Fire is the level 40 Monk ability. They literally don't have it until then; and once you have the choice of Earth vs Wind it really is up to the player.

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Originally Posted by Kydi

This. I'm used to a taunted target being locked for 6 seconds and getting highest threat + 10% (so it can be fluffed into a rotation to keep boosting threat).

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That's how Provoke worked in FFXI during PvP. It locked the target on you as well as spiked enmity. Not sure what use the target lock would have in PvE though unless it ensured that randomly targeted abilities targeted you. That would be kind of situational in XIV and you wouldn't want certain things hitting you as MT anyways. Would suck to Voke on Ramuh EX and bait Chaotic Strike onto you or on Ifrit EX and wind up with Searing Wind lol.

With the crafting abilities that have static results(quality and progress increases), the tooltip should show you exactly how much you'll get by using it adjusted for your current buffs.

Lustrate could use some clarity to get across why it's useful versus other heals. Provoke is obviously a big one, I learned what it really does while browsing these forums one day and it changed the way I play. When they add beginner's hall you will get not just clarity on all the moves but also hands-on testing to teach you.

Yeah, I still have no idea what Quelling Strikes really does. Does it reduce my current enmity, does it reduce the enmity generated by further attacks, or do further attacks generate negative enmity? NFI, I just pop it if I accidentally grab hate D:

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Originally Posted by Sammich

Yeah, I still have no idea what Quelling Strikes really does. Does it reduce my current enmity, does it reduce the enmity generated by further attacks, or do further attacks generate negative enmity? NFI, I just pop it if I accidentally grab hate D:

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50% hate generation for the duration.

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Originally Posted by Sammich

Yeah, I still have no idea what Quelling Strikes really does. Does it reduce my current enmity, does it reduce the enmity generated by further attacks, or do further attacks generate negative enmity? NFI, I just pop it if I accidentally grab hate D:

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It's a flat enmity reduction for all actions taken during the buff's duration. A full 50% I believe. It actually makes it more useful as an opening ability allowing you to go full out even though the tank is still building enmity.

Thank-you both for clarifying! It still cracks me up when I remember times that popping Quelling Strikes would pull the Scourges in T5...