Should HUD Add-Ons Be Allowed By Square Enix?

[galbsadi]

That's been my experience in WoW with add-ons like DBM.

In all fairness, I don't see that as so different from groups here with "must have seen to X" or "must have cleared" or "must watch video x/y"

In both cases, those 'requirements' exist largely because those running the group find it easier to manage when people do those things. Also, in both cases, if you don't like it, you're not required to join those groups, and can even make your own without said requirements.

I've led groups in WoW, and while I've never made it a requirement for people to have certain addons (outside of one that made managing loot easier for a regular raid team in WoW)...I've also found that 99.999% of people who have a problem with said addons tend to drag the whole group down. Exceptions exist, of course, but they are just that: exceptions.

I've also helped lead groups in this game, and repeatedly seen players who didn't have a clear yet cause problems (again, not always), and sometimes that's not what a group is going for.

Further, this may be selection bias to a degree, but I've noticed far more people interested in and doing high-end content since these addons have become mainstream in WoW, and have found it significantly faster to find people interested in high-end content there as well (still find people here, just takes a bit longer). It's arguable that this might be due to said addons making the content easier (or at least appear such) to unlock the idea of such to a wider base of people.

[RoyalBeef]

In both cases, those 'requirements' exist largely because those running the group find it easier to manage when people do those things. Also, in both cases, if you don't like it, you're not required to join those groups, and can even make your own without said requirements.

That's the main point I don't get. People whine because they got kicked from groups, or are not allowed to join. So why don't they just make their own party, without any "elitist jerks" and their requirements? Simple answer: They know that they need these elitist jerks to get a clear clear, bc in a party full of people who perform like they do,l they'll never clear. So around three corners all the complain threads are basically just subpar players trying to enforce rules that force better players to carry them by a) either hiding their bad performance or b) making it so that calling them out or removing them is a bannable offense, so you'd rather keep your mouth shut and drag their dead weight to a clear.

[Nemmar]

If i'm honest, it doesn't seem necessary.

As much as i loved Weak auras and Tellmewhen in wow to customise my UI, it is also something that put a player at an advantage compared to other players.

I think the game already gives you plenty of UI options. I don't see more customisation as necessary.

[galbsadi]

it is also something that put a player at an advantage compared to other players.

Irrelevant, honestly.

I mean...

I'm potentially at an advantage over other players because I have a better internet connection (thanks Google Fiber!)...meaning I often have higher throughput and lower ping rates.

I'm potentially at an advantage over other players because I have a solid state drive in my PC...meaning I can literally load the game faster.

I'm potentially at an advantage over other players because I have a PC with two monitors...meaning I can literally have guides, etc. up while doing content.

I'm potentially at an advantage over other players because I have VoIP communication software (Discord)...meaning I can communicate things more quickly than they might otherwise be able to.

I'm potentially at an advantage over other players because I can afford to buy specific devices for my PC (such as a gaming keypad) that allow me to have a key layout that's easier to work with vs. a traditional keyboard.

I'm potentially at an advantage over other players because my mouse has more than 3 buttons...or potentially at a disadvantage vs. other players because it doesn't have 30.

I'm potentially an advantage over other players because my primary monitor is an ultrawide display (meaning I have about 30% more in-game screen real estate).

Note that all of these things are perfectly fine and valid per SE, as well. In fact, the most questionable of the entire bunch is likely the keypad at first glance...until you realize that SE themselves sells one (https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...d2ae26066c9412).

TL;DR: the 'advantage' line is, quite frankly...garbage.

[Zsplash]

I personally believe they just have no idea how to manage technical issues related to an API for players and that they're using the DPS meters as an excuse, there will never be add-ons for most likely more inept reasons. They promised to have add-ons with 2.x in the future, no way they'd have just stopped that just for a dps plugin which I'm sure if every last member of SE's FFXIV dev teams knows exists with or without their efforts.

So it's pointless to argue the little bits when it'll probably never happen.

[xJimmehx]

I would rather have SE flesh out the HUD layouts more. So that I could do things like placing hp, mp, and buffs above peoples heads instead of dedicating a spot for them on my screen at all times.. This way, it would look like FFXII crossed with an actual mmo..


Im not a big fan of the party menu. Its annoying having to look at a 2d window in the middle of a fight. its unnatural. Its tucked away to the side of the screen out of focus. Putting it in the middle near my character looks awful. I want to watch animations and such. I want less active UI elements at a time.

Of course this is just a general concept. Im aware its hideous as is. Imagine if it had been drawn out by SE instead. lol.

[galbsadi]

I personally believe they just have no idea how to manage technical issues related to an API for players and that they're using the DPS meters as an excuse, there will never be add-ons for most likely more inept reasons. They promised to have add-ons with 2.x in the future, no way they'd have just stopped that just for a dps plugin which I'm sure if every last member of SE's FFXIV dev teams knows exists with or without their efforts.

So it's pointless to argue the little bits when it'll probably never happen.

This is fair, and I do agree that it's not likely to happen due to API reasons, especially at this stage in the game.

That said, there is an advantage to the 'no API for it' factor...specifically being that we have more leeway to try and request the developers make the changes that we'd use addons for in other games to achieve.

For example, if I could get a nicer way to track my cooldowns and/or DOTs and/or buffs (rather than a tiny fraction of the screen), etc....I'd prefer it to be built-in rather than needing to hope an addon might cover that functionality.

Addons are, and always will be...a stopgap where the default UI doesn't cover what players are looking for.