Targeting improvements [dev1026]

I've two ideas that would significantly improve playability of the game.

(1)
Auto-target (Idea from Star Ocean (PS2))

Since this game is all about positioning, we need a better way to target. The new targeting system addition was in the right direction though me like others have found a problem with it. I use to press down to target myself then choose an alternated target from there by selecting left of right.

To counter this problem simply make an Auto-Target function.
This could be modeled after Star Ocean: Till the end of Time (I don't have the new one atm though I think it was the same).
When either the target party, target friendly or target enemy targeting group is selected, the target cursor will automatically appear over the nearest of that target type.
You will still need to lock onto target to bring up the action bar, though it'll be much easier to make position. Simply run towards a target, the cursor will appear above them, then select them to bring up the action bar.
(***If you make this targeting feature mostly related to line of sight, it'll be easier to work with and will help you avoid complaints)

(2)
Sub-Target for all actions.

As it stands now it is very tough for a tank or anyone else to keep hate during multi-enemy battles.
This same fix would also greatly improve the use of abilities such as Shield bash and puncture.

Basically during battle it would be very convenient if we could bring up a sub-target cursor to change the target of a single attack.
This could/should be done by holding an action on the action bar, doing this would in turn pop up the purple sub-target cursor, allowing you to select a new target for this attack (without needing to go through the clunky unlock, switch target, relock on new target process).

I think they should add the targeting lines from FF12 into this game. I see nothing wrong with seeing a ton of red and blue lines to targets all over the place (Only for party and yourself!)

I always liked those targetting lines. I'm sure someone will come in shortly complaining that any change will be "easy-mode", but I think this is the best way for a tank to manage hate in group situations, among other things.

Sub-targetting was an awesome feature in FFXI and I wish the implementation was a bit better in this game.

Haha I am sure someone would complain about it... But it will help seeing where your targets are too with the target lines.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ESAR

(2)
Sub-Target for all actions.

As it stands now it is very tough for a tank or anyone else to keep hate during multi-enemy battles.
This same fix would also greatly improve the use of abilities such as Shield bash and puncture.

Basically during battle it would be very convenient if we could bring up a sub-target cursor to change the target of a single attack.
This could/should be done by holding an action on the action bar, doing this would in turn pop up the purple sub-target cursor, allowing you to select a new target for this attack (without needing to go through the clunky unlock, switch target, relock on new target process).

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I Like your idea's even if I do see some problems with it. Not going to say what they are because there's not need to start an argument about it.

I would like to point of as a tank there is work arounds for the sub target issue.
I macro all My hate actions. You can sub target with macro's and with the new
target system it's very effective. I will point out I'm a keyboard player. this would be more steps for a gamepad player. I would rather not see all actions going into sub-target by default. but having the option to turn it on or off would be great for everyone.

I started a thread for this a long while back but it never went anywhere so I guess I'll just post my two cents on targeting improvements here :3

1. Distance to Target. In Aion there was an option to turn on Distance to Target which would, as the name implies, tell you how far you were (in meters) from a target once selected. This was especially helpful for Rangers and mages who had skills that were only effective at specific ranges or had minimum ranges. These ranges were put into the tooltips for most skills.

This is by no means dumbing down the game, it is simply making some things more convenient. I can't tell you how annoying it is trying to use a throwing weapon only to see "The target is too far away." and having to inch forward only to see it again.

2. Variable targeting icon. Supplemental to, or in place of the above suggestion having the targeting icon change to designate in range, out of range, etc... would be infinitely useful as well. Again admittedly a luxury function but a convenient one.

3. AoE Range. Please give us some way to determine the range of certain AoE skills easily. This isn't a problem with some actions but with things like Arrow Helix and Iron Tempest, it's hard to find reason to use them since their range seems so ridiculous.

I'd suggest two different ways to fix this:

1. Show a translucent colored mark on the ground for the radius of any AoE action. Some kind of UI indication of where this action is going to hit would help things greatly. It would make things a great deal more convenient especially for mages and Marauder.

2. List the AoE range in the tooltip. Along with the Distance to Target, knowing the range of the AoE action would be incredibly useful.

I like in ffxi where you press up and down on the dpad and the cursor goes down the names of party members. They need to put target mode to a different button on the controller, and maybe put a lock on it if it stays on the dpad.

I just want them to fix the claim glitch where you can hold an NM just by targeting it while you are dead. There is nothing worse than trying to claim a NM while some jerk corpse holds the mob. But hey, atleast the NMs can still pawn you while you try to get the claim!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wild

I just want them to fix the claim glitch where you can hold an NM just by targeting it while you are dead. There is nothing worse than trying to claim a NM while some jerk corpse holds the mob. But hey, atleast the NMs can still pawn you while you try to get the claim!

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That glitch has been reported in the In-Game bugs section and was acknowledged ^^ no worries

my two cents is have AOE spells stake claim on mobs. And have the curser targeting from ffxi. I mean geez it was easy to use and make macros for. .>.> I played ffxi on console and targeting was never hard for me.

add a target macro command and a battle target command.

targeting should be
take your mouse
you click the monster and press the attack option.

for game pad just use ffxi target system

Sorry i'm not being mean Just why the heck did they just complicate the target system. that all partt mob toggle looks complicated to me. And wonder how welll it will play on the ps3.


Also ff12's glowing ropes were annoying and not all that helpful. Sorry but seeing 8 or more glowing ropes would clutter the screen and cause lag.

I like the Aion distance idea That was a god thing about Aion.
I also like the AOE marking. It does help seeing the radias of spells.

Auto-target is a bad idea imho, i didn't see any game which implemented it in the way it wasn't annoying. Example, you are targeting mobA, while mobB runs between you and mobA -> target might or might not switch to mobB.

Star Ocean is a great game and I like his targetting system, but i don't think we can use that system in FF14, because it was inaccurate.
I prefer the second idea, but this means a click for every skill.

Another simple idea, be able to change a target with up/down, even if we have a locked target (before we choose a skill).

It becomes R1+ Up/down= target
left/right skills
R1+ start = party/enemy/all/friendy rotation.

edit:
or better
If we press X (without releasing) we can target another monster/player (all target mode?); releasing the X button the skill is activated.

What I normally do:
1- Lock a friendly target with "party" on (tanker).
2- click on an offensive skill. I'll have a subtarget.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mr_Gyactus

Star Ocean is a great game and I like his targetting system, but i don't think we can use that system in FF14, because it was inaccurate.
I prefer the second idea, but this means a click for every skill.

Another simple idea, be able to change a target with up/down, even if we have a locked target (before we choose a skill).

It becomes R1+ Up/down= target
left/right skills
R1+ start = party/enemy/all/friendy rotation.

edit:
or better
If we press X (without releasing) we can target another monster/player (all target mode?); releasing the X button the skill is activated.

What I normally do:
1- Lock a friendly target with "party" on (tanker).
2- click on an offensive skill. I'll have a subtarget.

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It wouldn't really be the same as star ocean, just similar.

It would be what we have now, but rather then needing to make that initial press down to get the circle on me (which is what has been effected by this change), my character would automatically target the nearest of the target type. From here I could select another target if desired.

For what you normally do, I do the same as a mage, but when I tank that style would be impossible. I need to stay locked onto the mob. Any action not related to the monster or be is just not worth it to try and execute.

I'm also basing this off the last system, I haven't tanked in awhile. Could be a little easier now with the target groups. Still we need that sub-target.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Soukyuu

Auto-target is a bad idea imho, i didn't see any game which implemented it in the way it wasn't annoying. Example, you are targeting mobA, while mobB runs between you and mobA -> target might or might not switch to mobB.

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It wouldn't lock on just go over the target, so you would only be effected by what you say if you locked onto another target as it ran past your line of sight, this would be very rare and avoidable, it shouldn't be a problem.

Some good ideas in this thread. My idea is.... a little more simple but i think it would make a huge differance in game play. my idea is that say your fighting two mobs, you kill one... instead of waiting 30 sec and then finally fumbling with the up down left andf right keys to target the next one (i use game pad) meanwhile hes beating the shijesus out of you, should it just automatically target the next *Engaged* enemy in line?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ArtworkGnome

Some good ideas in this thread. My idea is.... a little more simple but i think it would make a huge differance in game play. my idea is that say your fighting two mobs, you kill one... instead of waiting 30 sec and then finally fumbling with the up down left andf right keys to target the next one (i use game pad) meanwhile hes beating the shijesus out of you, should it just automatically target the next *Engaged* enemy in line?

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I think they did something like this, the problem was it kept targeted on the dead mob. That's probably just some bug they need to work out, possibly some server related lag.

I had an idea awhile ago that they should designate a button to switching quickly between enemies without ever needing to unlock. I imagined square on a ps3 remote. Holding this would bring up a subtarget arrow which would allow you to select a new target to be locked onto.

This would be a great way to switch targets right before then end of battle. Let's say I"m tanking and the monster is down to HP<20%, I could quickly switch to the next target.
Any position in battle could quickly use this strategy at the end of battle to do the same thing.

My biggest complaint is for melee targeting combat you should never have to target a mob to attack it sorry to say but this is just pretty big broken game mechanics on their part. I know a lot of mmo are like this but it still doesn’t make it ok or right! I was never a big age of conan fan but the combat system game mechanics, graphical range for aoe & simple close and far targeting system they have, they nailed it right on the head.