IMO not having Auto-Attack has been the best part of the game for me....

[Dreamer]

Pressing 111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111
is only fun for the first 30 minutes or so, but leves and grind parties usually last 2.5-6 hours and nobody says anything because if they do, people will die. Think about driving for 2.5-6hours at a time every day or two with 8 people in your car and nobody ever says a word. Is it fun? Can you stop yourself from falling asleep? Don't you feel like you're being smothered and suffocated slowly that you just want to scream? So yeah, auto attack so people can chat is not a stupid idea because it lightens out the mood and makes the grind a little more fun.

If this is actually how you're playing the game, it's a problem with the player, not the combat system.

[Renshi]

Rather than that, I can't see a better fun facerolling the keyboard in other MMO games =)

[Dyne]

If this is actually how you're playing the game, it's a problem with the player, not the combat system.

No, thats not how I play, I play with a controller, so I don't press 1. But anyways, the point is, which you missed, it is very boring to go 2.5-6 hours every day with 8 people without saying a word, it makes the day to day grind much worse. Like you want to snap any minute now and start punching babies rage.

[Hikozaemon]

imo not having auto-attack in this game from the get go totally ruined the social aspect of the game for most. I really dont need people to hear my RL voice so they can ask me for my telephone # and personal info because im a chick and spamming 1111111111111111111111111111111111111111111 to attack is moronic. I would like to avoid gettin carple tunnel as long as possible.

[Andrien]

AA is a basic feature that FFXIV did not have. People that are against it are perhaps into button smashing? In this case that button is 1. I'm sure spamming a single button in combat might work in other games but it doesn't do justice in FFXIV. The point of the matter is AA will allow better team work for this specific type of game play, especially when you level up you'll have many abilities, and spells to sort through the list. I'd be so happy I wont be needing a space reserve to spam the 1 button to attack. A basic feature that should be automatic.

It is mind blowing to me how people defend the current battle system that does not work effectively 100%

[Anty]

AA is a basic feature that FFXIV did not have. People that are against it are perhaps into button smashing? In this case that button is 1. I'm sure spamming a single button in combat might work in other games but it doesn't do justice in FFXIV. The point of the matter is AA will allow better team work for this specific type of game play, especially when you level up you'll have many abilities, and spells to sort through the list. I'd be so happy I wont be needing a space reserve to spam the 1 button to attack. A basic feature that should be automatic.

It is mind blowing to me how people defend the current battle system that does not work effectively 100%

i think the only reason some defend it because they actually think that the few hits before stamina gets low and you have to wait for the next hit anyways (welcome autoattack) is dynamic and is fun and more challenging. This system is for zerg only.
8 ppl and you zerg everything. 3-4 hits X 8 ppl VS perhaps 1 hit from the mob. Its unbalanced and easy mode as hell.
Automode can fix that problem much easier and leaves room for proper communication.

Its fun how this stamina feature which wasnt ever fully developed or thought through is to be defended.
Speeding up the autoattack i think is one thing they wanna do anyways so i think the fights can finally get more interesting and more difficult.

The system as it is now is fun for me only solo or duo, perhaps sometime 4 people but as soon as it gets more the easy mode kicks in big time... So i hope it changes since the mindless 8 people leve grind or mob grinds are far from being fun. Duo atm is what i enjoy the most. But thats not why i play an mmo, i enjoyed the party aspect and meeting more people.

[Dubont]

If this is actually how you're playing the game, it's a problem with the player, not the combat system.

If you're a mage, this IS how you play the game, essentially.

[Dreamer]

If you're a mage, this IS how you play the game, essentially.

DoTs, debuffs, attack spells. Far more effective than mage weapon spam. The only time attack spam is useful is against lower level enemies.

However, even if it WERE more effective, why would you do it? All the effectiveness in the world is useless if it bores you to death.

[Cendres]

We didn't need auto-attack we needed a more visceral combat system (faster, functional, intuitive). Now we are just going back in time. Let me grab a sandwich while I auto stab these crabs I'm farming... Bleh...

[Dubont]

DoTs, debuffs, attack spells. Far more effective than mage weapon spam. The only time attack spam is useful is against lower level enemies.

However, even if it WERE more effective, why would you do it? All the effectiveness in the world is useless if it bores you to death.

Attack spells? I'm sorry, you haven't actually fought anything yet. Let me lay this out for you: Cast Fire 2=deal around 50 dmg. Use Spirit dart=deal around 50-55dmg. You can use 3 spirit darts in the time it takes to cast 1 fire2. Unless in a BR, attack spells are useless. Ancient Magic is ALWAYS useless. DoTs are nice, yes, but only on NMs and when you have 3 mages in a NM party, you don't need to continuously cast DoTs so the 1111111spam will still happen. Debuffs? HA! The only useful debuff is paralyze and that's a THM spell. If you have a thm in the party, the CON will still be 1111111111111111.