Question bout controller

This pertains to my girlfriend as I've stated before she has issues (lupus iron deficiency so on). She is swapping to a Playstation controller today actually later today I'm wondering how good is the gameplay in controller, we're going to do dungeons eventually, we looke to be forming a static (possibly have 5 members now), alliance raid and gold saucer mostly and to be fair I haven't played on a controller ever in the MMO so I just wondering how well it does, is it a little bit slow responsive, how bad is the targeting on it just general pros and cons she's got a video on how to set it up or I guess it's three videos from somebody I found on YouTube I don't know his name that has 3 vids pertains to controller. At the moment she's a dancer main I don't know I guess any extra advice or any foreseeable future problems we might have with this would be appreciative knowledge as this is something I've never considered.

It's fairly responsive? I've never had issues with that. Targeting is a bit annoying. I have an issue with certain npcs sometimes getting targeted even when in combat. People have given me advice on how to filter it, I've tried said advice and nothing works, so I end up in places like the dead ends and having to deal with meteion sometimes getting targeted over the mobs.

Also towards the end game controller gets a bit crazy. There's a lot of jobs that end up with 2 and a half crossbars full of abilities. You can work with that because you have L2+R2/R2+L2 and then the double taps to access those bars, but there's no option to see both of them up on the screen to see your CDs. Like I can see my regular bars and my double tap bars on screen, but I usually have to hit L2-R2/R2-L2 periodically to check the CDs on those. My solution to that was just to use a regular hot bar(I'm on PC), and just put all of those abilities on it, and shrink it so that I could see the CDs. It's extremely tedious to set up for each job though.

I also have two other regular hotbars on the side since again I play on PC and I don't mind using my mouse for things. One of them is job specific and it keeps things like stances, dance partner, carbuncle, kardia on it, because you really only use that once anyways.

Anyways, being able to play with a controller is still amazing even with all the faults.

People have cleared some of the hardest fights on controller. Controller just like mouse and keyboard she will have to find a set up that works the best for her. Dancer isn't that bad when it comes to swapping hotbars. Now I personally don't use the W cross hotbar due to how it feels weird to use. For me the worst jobs is Paladin and Dragoon. I would also say ninja, but I put all of my ninjitsu on the hotbars that make use of needing to use both L2+R2 as either a hold or a toggle. Targeting for me I find is a bit harder.

I've been playing on controller in this game since the PS3 was relevant. Never had a problem. I think that your gf will be fine. Getting proficient at using it will come with time as she learns the jobs that she wants to play. Enjoy the ride! :)

Controller targeting can get a bit messy in big groups of enemies but I don't have a problem with it most of the time. I feel like the best way to target enemies is to use the L1/R1 buttons while you are holding L2 or R2 to activate the hotbar, which makes the target cycle through all enemies on the field while ignoring other objects and allies.

I've been using a controller since Day 1. It works great. Since I'm on a PC, I still have access to all the regular hotbars, in addition to the cross hotbars; I put non-critical things on those and activate them with the mouse.

I try to keep similar abilities in the same place across jobs, making muscle memory easier. I also have a regular horizontal hotbar with some normally hidden OGCDs so I can watch the reset timer easier. Some jobs, like RPR, I struggle with action placement, but most jobs aren't bad to set up.

The in-game help and text aren't very intuitive, but it is an easy system once you get the basics down. Targeting can be an issue, but KB/mouse players also complain about Tab targeting, so I'd call that a wash.

I've done Savage+Ultimate level content on controller and it typically is not an issue. There might occasionally be a single mechanic that's a little harder to perform with controller, but it's pretty rare. I had issues with snakes in P8S because I was lifting my thumb off the analog too quickly which would cause my character to turn, but 99% of the time you're not going to have problems. Adds phases are the only thing that actually sucks on controller but I don't think tab targeting on m&kb is any better.

The controller design is built into the game and it works pretty flawlessly, in my opinion. I prefer it, but it does take some finesse with the expanded hotbars, especially on jobs with ton of skills.

Ok thanks for replying everyone. Like I said I haven't used controller for MMO ever so I was concerned about what awaited us and how good it actually was. Hopefully she will be able to adjust fairly effectively.

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Originally Posted by NekoMataMata

It's fairly responsive? I've never had issues with that. Targeting is a bit annoying. I have an issue with certain npcs sometimes getting targeted even when in combat. People have given me advice on how to filter it, I've tried said advice and nothing works, so I end up in places like the dead ends and having to deal with meteion sometimes getting targeted over the mobs.

Also towards the end game controller gets a bit crazy. There's a lot of jobs that end up with 2 and a half crossbars full of abilities. You can work with that because you have L2+R2/R2+L2 and then the double taps to access those bars, but there's no option to see both of them up on the screen to see your CDs. Like I can see my regular bars and my double tap bars on screen, but I usually have to hit L2-R2/R2-L2 periodically to check the CDs on those. My solution to that was just to use a regular hot bar(I'm on PC), and just put all of those abilities on it, and shrink it so that I could see the CDs. It's extremely tedious to set up for each job though.

I also have two other regular hotbars on the side since again I play on PC and I don't mind using my mouse for things. One of them is job specific and it keeps things like stances, dance partner, carbuncle, kardia on it, because you really only use that once anyways.

Anyways, being able to play with a controller is still amazing even with all the faults.

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There is a way to show your regular bars and the L2+R2/R2+L2 bars at the same time. I'm not online right now to check it, but it's in the settings as I used to do it but found it to be too much clutter on the screen for my liking.

There are a couple fundamental things I would like to point out with using a controller.

The first is utilizing displayed hotbars in order to monitor the cooldown timers on your abilities. The crossbar is insufficient for this since it can only display one set at a time.

The second is mapping out your skills in a way that 'makes sense'. Accessing your sets involves using L or R; L followed by R; R followed by L, and double pressing of L or R. The skills you use the most like those on the GCD should be given priority of access. Furthermore, you will need to assign skills to both the face keys and the directional buttons. Again, priority should be given to the face keys due to ease of access. You will need to use your left thumb for both movement as well as accessing the directional buttons. This means movement is sacrificed for the skills you assign the the directional buttons. Assign them wisely. It will take trial and error to get things the way you want, and striking dummies and boss FATEs are awesome for this.

Just make sure they enable expanded crossbars (which they can configure even further as far as assigning which "half page" of a crossbar you pull up with the selected input combinations). They can also have traditional horizontal or vertical hotbars in conjunction with a crossbar should they want a "persistent" bar with common traveling actions or to keep key timers in view at all times.

Dpad lets ya cycle through party list fast if healing. Can tab target with L2/R2/equivalent + L1/R1, and as with kb/m you can specify further tab target behavior in the character config tab.

I play FF XIV solely with a controller despite having access to a keyboard and mouse. It's a lot easier on my hands since I have my own set of issues, and it is very responsive and feels "right" to me.

I started as a PS4 player and i can say that the customization for controllers is fairly impressive even more so than Keyboard and Mouse but it takes a while to tune it up so just be curious and try every setting you find, it can be confusing and tedious but you can pretty much do anything and more than a keyboard, i actually prefer the targeting on a controller than Keyboard (being a healer main in those days) and the movement is also better but is subjective. Downsides not many but i needed to add an extra hotbar just to see my cooldowns, did savage and extremes on controller too with no issue and 2 in my current static plays with a controller

It's very confortable to play with controller I started playing on ps4 and then moved to pc but still using the controller, the only issue I saw before endwalker wiht a ps4 controller (playing on pc) some times my character move by itselft this was a little annoying because some fights you need to stay in one place and with that problem some wipes happneded... xD
But after endwalker the issue seems to be resolved then I bought a ps5 controller and it was good for a couple of months and then the joystick started to have drif... bought a new one and the same in a few months but this is sony issue and not the game.
Then I bought a Xbox controller and I'm so happy with it no problems encounter, I have been used for 6 months in a row.

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Originally Posted by Gemina

The first is utilizing displayed hotbars in order to monitor the cooldown timers on your abilities. The crossbar is insufficient for this since it can only display one set at a time.

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You can do that, but if you don't like screen clutter, you can also put cooldowns of similar length on separate cross bars. When the one you can see comes off cooldown, you'll know that the other is also off cooldown.

I've played strictly with controller and the game has spoiled me to the point that any MMOs going forward should have a controller mode if people want to use it.

I put single target attacks on R2 and AoEs on L2. Important but less used abilities on the directional keys for both R2/L2. Then I do buffs on when I hold both R2/L2 at the same time. For most classes that's all I need. I put things like sprint, mounts, and LB on the 2nd Crossbar. I can switch between cross bars pretty quickly.

I basically treat each ability like a special move on a Fighting game. R2 + Triangle for this move, L2 + Left for this move. L2 + R2 and X for this move.

It gets to a point that I can have all my abilities hidden and can still fully function with a very minimum HUD.

Week 1 P8s and P4s, quad legend (top phase 6 enrage), im playing with controller

I even know some friends that did world prog with a controller (top 10-15)
so yeah, definitely not an issue

Controller actually works pretty well, it can be weird at first trying to figure out how to get around the menu's, but it is actually pretty intuitive when you do. Now, there's many setting you will need to change or enable to make using a controller actually good, there's tons of videos about this so I recommend looking them up.

For casual content, and some light high end content I'd say a controller is actually superior to M&K. With a controller you have access to 32(max 48) ability slots that can be easily accessed using just your triggers and left/right dpads, this is a massive QOL improvement over stretching your hand around a keyboard. I actually originally used to play FF14 and other MMO's with M&K, but FF14 with it's constant and plentiful ability rotations starting to cause my joints to hurt and my carpal bone to burn, so I had no choice but to make the switch.

Other benefits is that it can make keeping track of combo's easier IMO, I find keeping track of Ninja's mudra' super easy on controller, much more so than on PC.

Now controller isn't perfect, there's still many issues, I'll go over many I've come across.

The big one is targeting, precise targeting with the controller is basically impossible, which can make healing with multi alliances or non party members extremely frustrating, though this is less of a problem for healers in standard 4 to 8 player activities. The problems with targeting can also affect you if you are required to quickly switch to a precise target in a group of hostiles, this is mostly a problem for me in PVP, where sniping low health players is important. Now one thing I will say, I find simple tab targeting easier on controller, it's just precise targeting that is bad.
Customizing your Hud and assigning abilities to your Hotbars is super annoying with a controller. seriously, if you have a mouse just use it for these, it's so much easier just to drag and drop.
Another big, and annoying issue I've come across is when pressing left Dpad up or down abilities whilst switching between your stacked Hotbars can cause you to target yourself. For example, if you press R2/L2 twice to access your secondary cross hotbar and press left Dpad down and quickly let go of the trigger you will use the ability on your original target but then end up targeting yourself, which is annoying asf and will happen to you constantly in higher level content.
Another issue with controller is that you are kind of limited to the slots assignable to buttons, yes you can activate the cursor mode with a controller, but in combat that isn't really an option. Whereas with M&K you can assign emotes, raid symbols, macros, etc to slots that you can just easily press with your mouse.

All in all, it's very viable for most content, but in more demanding situations and high level playing a M&K is kind of required.

I din't read any answer from others, so sorry if I'm double typing anything.

Personaly, I like to play using a controller for some reasons:

- to target party members you just need to press "down" the D-pad. This is awesome when you play as healer.

- you can configure the HUD in a way you can see all skills/spells on screen (WXYB or whatever it's the name in the crossbar configs. Just allow them to be always displayed and pick them to show the second crossbar. Then, put all skills/spells between bar 1 and 2). To access the second bar, just click and hold L2 or R2 two times :)

- it's take a time to master precision of moviments (for jumpings especially), but it's great after you understand it.

- all the other aspects is the same as keyboard in terms of gameplay. Some people like to use controller even using PC (myself included).

- you can combine the use of mouse/keyboard and controller as well as more tabs from the keyboard configuration allowing you the use of more bars than regular keyboard only users.
- there are some videos for tips about using controller to play FFXIV in a really competitive and functional way for high end content. Look for them on youtube :)

Also, a nice protip if you are using a controller. You can still use kb+m hotbars. Even though I use a controller for the game I will still keep important, high cooldown skills on a hotbar to keep an eye on the cooldown. It's real nice when you have those skills tied to L2+R2 or R2+L2/doubletaps and you want to keep track of those skills.

Controller has been so great for me, I can't see myself using the keyboard/mouse in this game honestly...

Just a matter of getting used to it

I absolutely love controller play in this game. One of the reasons I switched from WoW was the native controller support this game has and is mostly praised for how well it works. I use an xbox series X controller on PC and cant imagine playing any other way.

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Originally Posted by Mcg55ss

This pertains to my girlfriend as I've stated before she has issues (lupus iron deficiency so on). She is swapping to a Playstation controller today actually later today I'm wondering how good is the gameplay in controller, we're going to do dungeons eventually, we looke to be forming a static (possibly have 5 members now), alliance raid and gold saucer mostly and to be fair I haven't played on a controller ever in the MMO so I just wondering how well it does, is it a little bit slow responsive, how bad is the targeting on it just general pros and cons she's got a video on how to set it up or I guess it's three videos from somebody I found on YouTube I don't know his name that has 3 vids pertains to controller. At the moment she's a dancer main I don't know I guess any extra advice or any foreseeable future problems we might have with this would be appreciative knowledge as this is something I've never considered.

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As someone who has played this game for over 6 years with a controller. (first PS, then Xbox), it is perfectly doable and easy to do any of the content in the game once you get used to it. I have even done Savage MINE level raids AS a healer and had no issues with targeting and such.

Others on here have already said how to set things up so I won't go into that. But yes, it IS slower than K/M. The sooner you deal with it, adjust to it, and accept that it is what it is, you will be content.

As for playing dancer, it is VERY easy with a controller. Hell, you can fit nearly everything you need on one hotbar. In fact, those twin sticks make it super easy to move an agile job like that around the arena effortlessly and adjust to things quickly. The only skill I don't have on the first hotbar is the one when you stand in place and heal, but it is just a shoulder button combo away.

Thanks everybody for replying. She has tried it out and likes it a lot better it feels a lot better for her hands. We're now just working out where to place stuff for her to optimally play and get it down we spent this weekend unlocking and doing alliance raids for her to get a little more practice into it and get used to it more. The only problem now is she constantly forgets to apply her dance partner

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Mcg55ss

This pertains to my girlfriend as I've stated before she has issues (lupus iron deficiency so on). She is swapping to a Playstation controller today actually later today I'm wondering how good is the gameplay in controller, we're going to do dungeons eventually, we looke to be forming a static (possibly have 5 members now), alliance raid and gold saucer mostly and to be fair I haven't played on a controller ever in the MMO so I just wondering how well it does, is it a little bit slow responsive, how bad is the targeting on it just general pros and cons she's got a video on how to set it up or I guess it's three videos from somebody I found on YouTube I don't know his name that has 3 vids pertains to controller. At the moment she's a dancer main I don't know I guess any extra advice or any foreseeable future problems we might have with this would be appreciative knowledge as this is something I've never considered.

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cons:
- write in the chat,
- place marks /banner / ground abilities (mouse is faster for these things)
- no more than 32 abilities (almost every job has less even with sprint and limit break included). I know there are 8 cross bars, but she need to switch between 1 and 2, and she can do that with R1 (click -> 2 (16 abilities) click -> 1 (16 abilities) if you add more abilities it's 2->3->1 OR press R1+triangle, R1+circle, R1+X ....

Pros:
- she can move the character, move the camera AND something else (for example change target in the party list or use an instant ability).
- she can filter targets rotation (thus you don't target a mob instead of a character using mouseover or wrong click on the list)
- less bars in the GUI -> less "things" hidden behind them. She can let the cross appear only when she clicks L2 or R2.


hint:
- legacy control movement
- cross hotbar Controls: HOLD
- remove the lock on button and first person view (it's easy to click L3 or R3 and in the worst possible time)
- organize abilities: most used -> easy to click with your thumb; cooldown/mount/limit break -> difficult to click; panic buttons -> half way (you'll understand with experience where).
- switch crossbar pressing R1 during the 2.5 sec cooldown.

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Originally Posted by Mr_Gyactus

cons:
- write in the chat,
- place marks /banner / ground abilities (mouse is faster for these things)
- no more than 32 abilities (almost every job has less even with sprint and limit break included). I know there are 8 cross bars, but she need to switch between 1 and 2, and she can do that with R1 (click -> 2 (16 abilities) click -> 1 (16 abilities) if you add more abilities it's 2->3->1 OR press R1+triangle, R1+circle, R1+X ....

Pros:
- she can move the character, move the camera AND something else (for example change target in the party list or use an instant ability).
- she can filter targets rotation (thus you don't target a mob instead of a character using mouseover or wrong click on the list)
- less bars in the GUI -> less "things" hidden behind them. She can let the cross appear only when she clicks L2 or R2.


hint:
- legacy control movement
- cross hotbar Controls: HOLD
- remove the lock on button and first person view (it's easy to click L3 or R3 and in the worst possible time)
- organize abilities: most used -> easy to click with your thumb; cooldown/mount/limit break -> difficult to click; panic buttons -> half way (you'll understand with experience where).
- switch crossbar pressing R1 during the 2.5 sec cooldown.

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I do things a bit differently. I never use R1 to switch to crossbar 2. I feel using R2+L2/L2+R2 then the button of the action I want, to be faster. Like on Dragoon my jumps are on the right side of bar 2, high jump on square. So I would hit R2+L2 then square then let go either of R2 or L2 depending on which where I am at in my rotation to get back to bar1. Also you can have 40 abilities. The 16 on bar 1, 16 on bar 2, 4 on double L2 tap and 4 on double R2 tap.

the controller is fine for playing. She'll just have to get used to it.
The biggest problem would be in game chats.
You might wanna buy a keyboard for that