Cross Bar IS NOT good!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Aegis]

I agree the crossbar take a bit of getting used to, but I prefer it over 1.0 or FFXI's control. But as a PC gamer using a controller I use the crossbar for combat skills and line bars for skills that you I use less often like buffs Protect and Stonekin, as well as things that you don't use often unless necessary like Raise or Resurrect. I should show a Screenshot of what my cross and hot bars look like to make total sense of it.

I do the same, I think.

I have a normal bar above the cross hotbar for infrequent actions (protects/raises, food, items etc) that varies by class and I can access by taking my left hand off the controller long enough to hit Ctrl+#.

I also have a vertical bar on the left for stuff I almost never use (or use in out of combat scenarios) such as target marking, gysahl greens, chocobo stances etc that is shared across all classes. I generally mouse click this.

[Wilksha]

I do the same, I think.

I have a normal bar above the cross hotbar for infrequent actions (protects/raises, food, items etc) that varies by class and I can access by taking my left hand off the controller long enough to hit Ctrl+#.

I also have a vertical bar on the left for stuff I almost never use (or use in out of combat scenarios) such as target marking, gysahl greens, chocobo stances etc that is shared across all classes. I generally mouse click this.

Very much so, but since I'm a dual gamer and Sometimes My controller might not be available I have 3 horizontal bars 2 for skills, first row are common skills that you'd see on my crossbar and cntl+# for less used skills. The third bar is a shared bar for food and potions, my emergency bar. I also have 2 shared vertical bars one on either side of the horizontal and cross bar. one side is mounts, summoning companion, dye, materia melding and Limit break. The other side is quick job change icon so i can quickly change classes. especially useful if I'm applying to a duty on SCH but I'm soloing on SMN. You can drag the icons from you equip lists onto a bar, making it very useful. I do not put my crafting classes here as there's no big reason for me to Quick change to them.

[Bjinc]

I was fully planning to use m&k before launch, i never bothered to test the gamepad in ph2 or 3 beta. But once i tried it in ph4 i was amazed. Its a fantastic implementation of gamepad support into an MMORPG imo. I think its really really good. I like the cross bar setup, kudos SE.

[Iecerint]

I personally love the crossbar, but what it could use is a third set of 8 (L2+R2) as at 50 with some classes it would be great to not have to switch cross bars to access skills you use on a regular basis. If I recall correct they will be adding in the future, just was not ready for launch.

Really? I would find this very useful.

Please implement this. All my dreams will have come true.

[Soukyuu]

Because it's stupid to have abilities on your D-Pad when you have multiple targets? Or when you have other players to sustain?

It is silly to hold down R1 press up/down/left/right or O X Square Triangle and guess about 100 times until you are able to finally memorize one of eight sets of abilities.

Where is the problem? up/down cycles through your party members. Have your offensive skills on set 1, healing skills on set 2. Press R1 to switch between set 1 and 2, I have a fully set up WHM with 2 sets only, and have no problems attacking and healing at the same time. As far as "guessing" goes, you have to set up the 1.0 bars and remember where you put which skill as well. Point invalid.

[Soukyuu]

Umm no because the way it is now you have to cycle your Hotbar with R1 if we had the option to use the straight bar to me and it seems like to others it would be easier.

How is having to travel the whole horizontal bar (in the worst case 10 key presses) to execute one single skill be easier than having (again, in the worst case) 3 key presses to do exactly the same thing?

I'd say I enjoyed 1.0's action bar... on 1.0... primarily because battle was slower paced than it is now. I don't think I'd be able to keep up at all if my D-pad got locked to moving around the action bars instead of scrolling through party members and targets.

Exactly. You had to actually cancel out of navigating the skill bar, pick your target, then navigate to the skill again. It's insane anyone would actually want to have that hassle back.

[Arkista]

How is having to travel the whole horizontal bar (in the worst case 10 key presses) to execute one single skill be easier than having (again, in the worst case) 3 key presses to do exactly the same thing?

For some people it may be easier to use the Crossbar and to others it may be easier to use the straight bar. I don't see why some people are bashing others about how they would like to play the game, not saying you are but there are a few people on here that are. If we had the option to use either one for PS3 no one would be forcing anyone to use any single one, it all comes down to preference. They are going to have to do something to enhance the crossbar at the very least as another has already said adding a crossbar set to holding L2+R2would do wonders. I just wonder how many people who enjoy the crossbar now are going to feel once the level cap increases to lets say 75 when we have an extra 10-15 skills to use? That would be 3 crossbar sets you would have to cycle through.

[Soukyuu]

I know having more bars wouldn't matter to me, it's the same problem of arranging your skills efficiently as we already had in 1.0 It's either going to be pressing R1 quicker, or going the shortcut of R1+button. It's not really any different than pressing up/down to navigate from bar1 to bar2/3/4...

Mind you, I played with gamepad in 1.0 as well, and it was no handicap for me, whether healing or DD (tanking is not really my thing).
I still would not want to go back to the bars.

I guess an option could be fine, but to be honest the game already offers more options than any other I know.

[Candykiss]

My question is why was anyone playing 1.0 at all in the first place lol...think someone forgot to tell the few that stuck around that it was bad =)

[seikenflash]

HA I have mastered the cross bar and will no longer fell comfortable using the archaic straight line macro, so many skills with just the flick of a switch and push of a button
But to each his own, if you enjoy straight bar macro good, but don't bash the cross bar because you are no good at using it

My question is why was anyone playing 1.0 at all in the first place lol...think someone forgot to tell the few that stuck around that it was bad =)

And this reply is just stupid