Customizable or not, I think the Default HUD/UI needs some improvement

I love FFXIV, so this is not an attack on the game. However, the simple truth is that the default HUD/UI layout is... well, it's pretty rough. Depending on screen size, there are often TONS of overlapping elements, things positioned awkwardly, and let's be real; the Job gauges/bars are way too chunky and positioned RIGHT in the middle of your screen.

And how's this for super annoying; even when you convert them to use "simple job gauge", while they look SIMILAR to the HP and MP bars on your screen, they ARE NOT, in fact, IDENTICAL. They're a couple of pixels different. And even when moving them around with grid-based placement, they don't line up perfectly either, but are still a couple of pixels off-center.

Now yes, you CAN move things around or resize them (to an extent, anyways; but you can only SEE windows when they're actively displayed, and some things can't even be moved). And obviously, everyone will have their own personal "best layout".

But that's still no excuse not to try and improve things where possible.

Personally? I think what would go a LONG ways is simply to have options to quickly and easily scale the size of text and windows. A small laptop screen has different needs than a large living room TV. So maybe a couple of "presets".

Or to be able to have a more "minimalist" look while playing solo, whereas in group content, a more robust presentation.

Again, nothing dramatic needs changing, no need to reinvent the wheel here, just offer a default UI layout (or presets) that better showcase the game, with all the information you NEED visible,

Beyond that, personally I still think on the Character-sheet window, both the Job Crystal and the Off-hand slots should be moved to the top of the screen It would make things much more symmetrical.

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Originally Posted by Terin

Beyond that, personally I still think on the Character-sheet window, both the Job Crystal and the Off-hand slots should be moved to the top of the screen It would make things much more symmetrical.

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Nono, just the job crystal needs to be moved up, and the main weapon needs to be moved down. i'll make a quick mockup to show you. I grabbed some random persons inventory off of google because I'm too lazy to login right now ahah

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...62/unknown.png
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Originally Posted by MilkieTea

Nono, just the job crystal needs to be moved up, and the main weapon needs to be moved down. i'll make a quick mockup to show you. I grabbed some random persons inventory off of google because I'm too lazy to login right now ahah

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...62/unknown.png
'

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Yes that, but just remove the stone slot altogether. Have it auto-equip with the weapon equipped, save up more slots for more important things.

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Originally Posted by SeverianLyonesse

Yes that, but just remove the stone slot altogether. Have it auto-equip with the weapon equipped, save up more slots for more important things.

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Stone slots aren't actually taking up space, they act more like a "yes/no" toggle, similar to the key items slots. I'd prefer keeping the stone because taking it off allows for some nifty macro hotbars :P

It doesn't need improvement. All the things I see people say about it is nitpicking. But improvements are still welcome.

What needs improving most are the default settings. A new player has to endure a sub-optimal layout and settings which make content harder for them and some of them actually quit the game over it, unaware they can be changed.

The one part of the HUD I've always been disappointed in is the party frame. Coming over from WoW as a healer main used to using Grid, it continues to drive me nuts with the poor layout 6 years later.

I don't need to know how much mana any party member other than a healer has, buffs/debuffs could be made clearer (remove display of buffs/debuffs that have no impact on other party member choices, add display of duration remaining in the party frame rather than forcing party members to target the affected party member to get the duration). Tighten up the display with HP bar stacked on top of mana bar so the frame takes up less screen space.

Other improvements/options always welcome but updating the party frame would be far above the rest in importance to me.

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Originally Posted by MilkieTea

Nono, just the job crystal needs to be moved up, and the main weapon needs to be moved down. i'll make a quick mockup to show you. I grabbed some random persons inventory off of google because I'm too lazy to login right now ahah

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...62/unknown.png
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I like the concept, but the soulstone system is dumb. It's a relic of when they first thought all jobs were going to be baby jobs and then evolve into something else later with the stone. A needlessly convoluted system, and I guess they realized this by the time HvW rolled around. But now we're left with this item that should be equipped by default always, but isn't.

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Originally Posted by MilkieTea

I'd prefer keeping the stone because taking it off allows for some nifty macro hotbars :P

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If you're relying on the class hotbars to do your hotbar tricks, you should revise your hotbar tricks. Hotbar tricks that use the class hotbars are a side effect of the class-job system and not an intended design consequence and as such should not be used as consideration for adjustments to the class-job system.

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Originally Posted by Rongway

If you're relying on the class hotbars to do your hotbar tricks, you should revise your hotbar tricks. Hotbar tricks that use the class hotbars are a side effect of the class-job system and not an intended design consequence and as such should not be used as consideration for adjustments to the class-job system.

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Hot bar tricks?

Using unused hot bars as hot bar storage to copy them to hot bars you actually use via macro/text comnand. The classes give you an extra 90 hot bars to built intricate menus with.

I would rather that job stones are enforced past a certain MSQ level and then option to run without be given like min ilevel, unsynced, etc. That way you have no classes in roulette content at level 90, but if you can find like minded people you can run level 90 content as all class.

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Originally Posted by MilkieTea

Nono, just the job crystal needs to be moved up, and the main weapon needs to be moved down. i'll make a quick mockup to show you. I grabbed some random persons inventory off of google because I'm too lazy to login right now ahah

https://media.discordapp.net/attachm...62/unknown.png
'

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Well, the reason I suggest moving Weapon AND Off-hand to the top, is because there's literally only ONE Job in the entire game that uses the Off-hand slot. So to me, my character always feels "incomplete" when I'm not running PLD, because you've got this glaring EMPTY slot. Instead, I would "hide" the slot entirely EXCEPT when you're actively using it as a PLD.

Because of that, it winds up still making the window LOOK a little lop-sided. Yes, there are the same number of slots on both sides of the window, but when one slot is perpetually empty, it begins to feel like it isn't even there. So move both Main-hand and Off-hand to the top, right next to the Job Crystal, and simply hide the Off-hand on jobs besides PLD.

Also, as far as "removing Job Stones entirely"... I could go either way, honestly. There's a part of me that still feels like they're kind of cool, but I also acknowledge that it's still a form of inventory space that you could honestly just do without. Just like the MSQ supposedly has you carrying around a "certain other stone" towards the end of Shadowbringers, I'd honestly be fine simply removing them, if it does indeed free up space in some capacity for the devs to work with.

Bumping, because I honestly just think a better default UI would make the game a LOT more newbie-friendly.

And lord knows I love me a nice, clean UI, too!