E3 live letter

[Risvertasashi]

Q: It feels like a lot of role actions are mandatory (protect/shirk) - will the devs remove these so it feels like role actions are more of a choice?

A: There were talks and debates about this - with any big update or expansion, discussions were had about if we change or revise things. There is a current discussion about this to address in 4.4. Nothing has been finalized, but once we have a thought on the direction we want to go we will talk about it at that time, perhaps a future live letter. We understand the frustrations and we are trying to address them

Devs.

Please. PLEASE. Do this. Get protect and esuna out of the role shared actions system.

[Cabalabob]

I feel like role actions would be better if we just learned them by level and had them, without having to set them, basically the same as learning a normal ability on a job but shared across all jobs in that role.

E.G. learn esuna at level 5, learned protect at level 10, clerics at 15, etc. etc.

[Exiled_Tonberry]

Agreed. It makes no sense to put completely mandatory spells in the cross role. I like Cabalabob's idea of just forcing the abilities on you once you unlock the role action.

[Squintina]

While I can live with Protect being a role action (though I'd certainly prefer to NOT have to choose, I just use a macro to swap in and out and if you die during battle - well, I'll just adlo you more),

Esuna being a role action is just so ugh. It's fine for content I've already done because I can make sure it's there, but I shouldn't -have- to waste a role action slot on a blind run of new content just in case it's needed - and then that awful feeling when I realize it's not.

There are 2 solutions (that are complete opposites of each other):
1. role actions need to be only things that don't feel necessary
2. they should just all be allocatable to the point that it's just another set of skills we earn. I'd love to be able to take all of them (even Break - it's one way to throw out some deeps while progging something if I'm afraid of using up too much MP on rezzes, but it's only worth it if nothing else is given up).

[Lambdafish]

I feel like role actions would be better if we just learned them by level and had them, without having to set them, basically the same as learning a normal ability on a job but shared across all jobs in that role.

E.G. learn esuna at level 5, learned protect at level 10, clerics at 15, etc. etc.

I'd much rather have this current system than that one. This one allows a degree of choice, as opposed to having a cookie cutter skill option. For fights where specific role actions are needed, I have to make the decision to sacrifice other skills to make room, and I feel like this system has the potential to be really interesting from that point of view. What they need to do is remove the mandatory skills (shirk is not mandatory, but protect and provoke are) and think up some new role actions, even damaging abilities would allow for more interesting choice.

Some role actions that could exist:

Increased movement speed for X seconds (its extra sprint)
Some limited form of Aetherial Manipulation
Remove Onslaught and move Plunge to role skills

and that's just off the top of my head

[LalafellDown]

Might as well get rid of all the buff spells and skills while we’re at it. Just add them to the stats. That way all we have to hit is 1-2-3 all day.

[popotaro]

GIVE ME MY SHIVA EGIGLAMOUR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Mesarthim]

Esuna being a role action as far as I'm concerned did more harm than good. It's always great if you did like... Deltascape 4.0 normal and your healers not only don't have esuna equipped on a role slot, but not even on their hotbar.

Yes this happened.

[Maeka]

I've also done runs where the healer (or healers) did not have Esuna on their role/hotbar, and people are running around with curable (but very detrimental!) status effects.

I hate having to Erase people because the healer couldn't be bothered to grab Esuna, and they think something stupid like Cleric's Stance is more important than Esuna or some dumb crap like that.

IMO, we should just get rid of role actions altogether -- get rid of the actions nobody uses and bake them into the default ability list. Role Actions are like the old WoW Talent system -- full of no-brainers and very seldom an actual choice or preference.

[Miles_Maelstrom]

Esuna being a role action as far as I'm concerned did more harm than good. It's always great if you did like... Deltascape 4.0 normal and your healers not only don't have esuna equipped on a role slot, but not even on their hotbar.

Yes this happened.

The worst part that burns my biscuits with that fight. Is esuan is used for 1 mechanic that happens once during that whole fight. Better that its esunable doom which is very detrimental not to deal with. It's there just to burn the slot.