Arrow keys, the action bar and targeting

Is it possible to give us an option to completely remove targeting from the arrow keys and instead keep them bound to the action bar only?

I never use the arrow keys to target anything. I also find it very frustrating when 1 mob dies and then the arrow keys no longer control my action bar and I have to re-target another mob, hit enter, then select my next action.

My weapon skills are on a different palette than my normal attacks, and it gets very, very annoying to have to keep doing this when I finish one mob with normal attack then want to WS the next.

actually if you use ur mouse to change perspective now after 1.18 you cannot use the action bar, you have to click off the mob and re target -.- I change perspective a lot (aka move ur camera).

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Originally Posted by RisaCooper

actually if you use ur mouse to change perspective now after 1.18 you cannot use the action bar, you have to click off the mob and re target -.- I change perspective a lot (aka move ur camera).

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I play with keyboard only, but damn, that sounds even worse o.o

I guess this setup came with 1.17 and yes, it's horrible and needs to go. I don't understand what they were thinking when they came up with this.

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Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

Is it possible to give us an option to completely remove targeting from the arrow keys and instead keep them bound to the action bar only?

I never use the arrow keys to target anything. I also find it very frustrating when 1 mob dies and then the arrow keys no longer control my action bar and I have to re-target another mob, hit enter, then select my next action.

My weapon skills are on a different palette than my normal attacks, and it gets very, very annoying to have to keep doing this when I finish one mob with normal attack then want to WS the next.

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SRSLY ME TOOOOO I RAGE ON THIS!

thanks for bringing it up :)

Just to clarify a little bit more on what I mean so there's no misunderstandings:

• Give us yet another option for target modes (target mode d? lol).

• In this mode, remove all forms of targeting from the arrow keys.

• Allow the arrow keys to control the action bar only.

• Allow us to cycle through actions with arrow keys at any time, without having to first target something and "activate" the action bar. (The only exception here is when we have a menu open, just like it is now.)

This will help a TON for the keyboard and keyboard/mouse players that don't use the arrow keys to target.

*I realize this option will lead to the help texts for actions to remain displayed on our screen at all times in its current state. If possible, also let us toggle help texts on/off (I think you've mention that you will be adding this soon?) and/or have help text "fade" away after 5-10~ sec of action bar inactivity.

EDIT (for sake of keeping this to the point):

I'm really tired of accidentally changing target with arrow keys, as well as the action bar 'deactivating' when a monster dies.

Please permanently bind arrow keys to action bars or copy World of Warcraft already or something. (i.e. 1-9,0 ; Ctrl+1-9,0 ; Alt+1-9,0 for action bar)

This is really my biggest issue with the game currently.

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Originally Posted by Iryu

Please permanently bind arrow keys to action bars or copy World of Warcraft already or something. (i.e. 1-9,0 ; Ctrl+1-9,0 ; Alt+1-9,0 for action bar)

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WoW lets you bind your own keys. What you're suggesting here has nothing to do with WoW.

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Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

Just to clarify a little bit more on what I mean so there's no misunderstandings:

• Give us yet another option for target modes (target mode d? lol).

• In this mode, remove all forms of targeting from the arrow keys.

• Allow the arrow keys to control the action bar only.

• Allow us to cycle through actions with arrow keys at any time, without having to first target something and "activate" the action bar. (The only exception here is when we have a menu open, just like it is now.)

This will help a TON for the keyboard and keyboard/mouse players that don't use the arrow keys to target.

*I realize this option will lead to the help texts for actions to remain displayed on our screen at all times in its current state. If possible, also let us toggle help texts on/off (I think you've mention that you will be adding this soon?) and/or have help text "fade" away after 5-10~ sec of action bar inactivity.

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Yes, they need this ASAP.

I don't understand why everything in this entire game is over complicated... Just leave it open customization... I'm honestly not even sure if there's a easier way to change my keys, currently I'm trying to set things in game, and unless I find an unused key, its impossible to change it... like wtf? I'm the commander of this ship, I'll will change my key to whatever I want, and if I don't want something used, why cant I take the hot key away? And is there not a way to make arrow keys control the camera like in FFXI? Its simple and helps so I don't have to use the stupid mouse...

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Originally Posted by Frein

WoW lets you bind your own keys. What you're suggesting here has nothing to do with WoW.

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If you want to get literal, the i.e. was an extension of the '' ...or something."

Adding to MeowyWowie's suggestions.


Single right click targeting which functions as double left click targeting.

Sticky targeting where left or right clicking on anything other than another enemy doesn't deselect your current target.

A targeting option which disables self targeting via left or right clicks.

A UI option to disable your own name display.

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Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

Just to clarify a little bit more on what I mean so there's no misunderstandings:

• Give us yet another option for target modes (target mode d? lol).

• In this mode, remove all forms of targeting from the arrow keys.

• Allow the arrow keys to control the action bar only.

• Allow us to cycle through actions with arrow keys at any time, without having to first target something and "activate" the action bar. (The only exception here is when we have a menu open, just like it is now.)

This will help a TON for the keyboard and keyboard/mouse players that don't use the arrow keys to target.

*I realize this option will lead to the help texts for actions to remain displayed on our screen at all times in its current state. If possible, also let us toggle help texts on/off (I think you've mention that you will be adding this soon?) and/or have help text "fade" away after 5-10~ sec of action bar inactivity.

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Since this still won't be addressed in 1.19 (or did I miss something?) it's time for a bump!
I very much agree to the above and it would increase my enjoyment of the game by OVER NINE THOUSAND!

Really hoping they add this..

The problem becomes extremely apparent when fighting ghosts in R45 dungeon.

So...freakin...annoying...lol...

Considering how long things take to get fixed (ambient audio anyone?), here's hoping it'll be done before the years end :(

Agreement on this issue. Being forced to target something and press enter, in order to get to move action bar up or down without touching the mouse is a serious limitation.

I could see an implementation that perhaps doesnt even change the way things currently work...provide ctrl/alt-shift and up and down for Action Bar up down. Or Ctrl-PgUp or PgDn... I mean there are many ways, including some mentioned above that could work. Just pls put this specifically on the list.

Agreed as someone suggest above the ghosts are annoying when they disappear and leave you completely disoriented and many time frustrated because you can't do what you want to, considering Ifrit also have a warp style move i think this needs to be addressed.

Add some automatic targeting that allows a player to target the lowest or next red named monster would be helpful as well, this would also fix the problem when monsters go underground or warp.

Bring back the /target command at the very least... then a macro could be used with some of the newer targetting subcommands <stenemy> <stenmity> etc etc...

ugg there macro and targeting system sucks so bad they should know mmos are moving away from target options and moving towards the more action based play style. the macro bars should be our optional action bars also, simple fix dont see why it hasnt been done yet.

Being a keyboard only kind of player, I'd like to streamline the act of targeting a monster and initiating combat. As it stands, having to target your intended target with Tab, F10 or T, then hitting enter to "engage" the target and then hitting enter again to lock the reticle and making sure your weapon is drawn with F seems like a bit much. I'd like to tab to my target, hit enter to engage and draw my weapon at the same time, and possibly use another key to lock my reticle, like the (*) key in FFXI. Having only really played Gladiator, I don't know how this would affect other classes, but having to walk myself through a checklist of commands before I can hit a target with my swords is a bit clunky.

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Originally Posted by Kirth

Being a keyboard only kind of player, I'd like to streamline the act of targeting a monster and initiating combat. As it stands, having to target your intended target with Tab, F10 or T, then hitting enter to "engage" the target and then hitting enter again to lock the reticle and making sure your weapon is drawn with F seems like a bit much. I'd like to tab to my target, hit enter to engage and draw my weapon at the same time, and possibly use another key to lock my reticle, like the (*) key in FFXI. Having only really played Gladiator, I don't know how this would affect other classes, but having to walk myself through a checklist of commands before I can hit a target with my swords is a bit clunky.

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The * key locks the target just like in FFXI. You don't actually have to press "enter" to engage, either. Simply mash an attack move and you'll initiate auto-attack even if you're too far away or the ability is on cooldown.

May you forgive the necro bump, but... is there still no way to change ability bars without targeting something? There have been a lot of great changes to the keyboard configuration in 1.19, but I can't see anything about ability bars.

I died at least once during Ifrit because I was on the wrong set when he teleported to use hellfire, and I couldn't switch to my first bar in time to use sentinel. Sure, there are macros at cetera, but that's beside the point!

If it's indeed still not fixed, it would be really really great to get some information about when this is going to be addressed. Since it should be a really really REALLY easy to let us assign our own keys to switch bars!

you can set the ability bar to be "always active" in the config menu ingame. I always run with it on nowadays

It doesn't let you switch active bar with a key, but at least you can see which slide you have active and the button to change it is always up

Well, when I do "/actionbar on" command, I can select action bars up or down without having to target anything. But I have not tested if this would work during battle (like, when you're busy and engaged to an enemy, or have your target lock) or not.

Oh, that seems to work indeed. Switching the action bar to always visible and removing "arrow up/down" from whatever it's bound to in the keyboard config lets me switch at any time. Visually not too pleasing to have the bar displayed all the time, but it's a start.

Thanks for the help ~

edit: Err, actually, that doesn't seem to work at all. I guess I had something targeted without noticing.
I can press up/down all I want - if I don't target and lock on to something, the bar won't move an inch.

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Originally Posted by MeowyWowie

• Allow us to cycle through actions with arrow keys at any time, without having to first target something and "activate" the action bar. (The only exception here is when we have a menu open, just like it is now.)

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This.
I hate it when I have to click an action before I can scroll down to my second line. It slows things down big time.
The action bar should have an option where it's active at all times. If I click 1-10 I can cast/action whatever I have there without the need to "activate it".

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Originally Posted by Efrye

Oh, that seems to work indeed. Switching the action bar to always visible and removing "arrow up/down" from whatever it's bound to in the keyboard config lets me switch at any time. Visually not too pleasing to have the bar displayed all the time, but it's a start.

Thanks for the help ~



edit: Err, actually, that doesn't seem to work at all. I guess I had something targeted without noticing.
I can press up/down all I want - if I don't target and lock on to something, the bar won't move an inch.

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I figured just now....

First hit ESC all the way out of everything and don't target anything.
Then use command "/actionbar on" and the action bar pops up.
When it pops up, your cursor will always highlight something in the action bar, thus you can arrow key up or down to change between action bars all right.

BUT if you move your mouse or cursor, or hit TAB key, or maybe something else too, the highlight goes away from actionbar, and now you can't do anything with it anymore =_=;;

But you can still point at any action bar button and click on it, that will again select the action bar and allow you to use arrow key to go up and down on action bars again.

I think they should add an option to make the toggle between target types (friendly, party, enemy, all) and the toggle between action bars easier. Now it's a bit hard yeah. (But I got used to it and now can manipulate both thing with ease.)

This is what makes people quit FF14. The targeting and combat is frustrating and causes needless deaths because it is still over complicated.

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Originally Posted by Crux

This is what makes people quit FF14. The targeting and combat is frustrating and causes needless deaths because it is still over complicated.

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I feel the pain as well Crux! Unfortunately, its hella complicated to try to give everyone with so many different play styles and combinations a not-so-complicated interface. I think they might do it better with modes, such as they have with the Targetting modes. Mixing styles has produced an interface that pretty much forces the use of macros, but then there arent even enough macro slots... considering that Macro barss arent remembered with Class as are the Action bars.

And then macros are gimped by the lack of support for naming your target. EG: /target "name"