Option to unlock content without mandatory MSQ

[SamRF]

FFXIV's combat doesn't get interesting at all.

Even once you've slugged out to max level, all you have left is predetermined rotations that are set in stone.

To the point where, if the Macro system wasn't utter garbage, most jobs would be able to make a 1 button macro that does an entire boss fight's worth of optimized skill usage.

Compare this to more action orientated MMO's like BDO or ESO, even Astellia as another tab target MMO has more interesting combat and it's like night and day.

You can't really compare FFXIV combat system to BDO or ESO imo. I greatly prefer FFXIV/WoW type of combat with lots of abilities and slots used. Games like ESO, BDO, GW2 are more action game-ish with their limited amount of abilities, BDO & ESO don't even have tab targeting so it's something else entirely (action combat). In GW2 and ESO you also need to weapon swap to play optimally to make up for the ability shortage. Personally greatly dislike the idea of weapon-swapping in combat.

I do wish more jobs in FFXIV were using procs more often cause also don't like the idea of predetermined rotations set in stone. Still, except for some jobs perhaps (healers), FFXIV combat isn't that bad imo right now. There are few (polished) MMO's I think that use as many slots as FFXIV, even most WoW specs use way less. And that's something I personally like about combat system of this game, which I won't find in many other polished MMO's at the moment. Also, I think the lack of macros get sort of compensated by the amount of abilities and length of some rotations.

[Kalise]

You can't really compare FFXIV combat system to BDO or ESO imo.

You can easily compare them.

Action and tab target based systems do exist and they can be implemented in different ways.

The aforementioned action based systems lend themselves to being more engaging.

However, there also exist tab targeting MMO's with more interesting combat. B&S, CoH/V, Astellia and GW2 have tab targetting systems that are more interesting than FFXIV's.

WoW manages to escape this list because even though it uses a more engaging "Priority based system" as opposed to a "Set in stone rotation" it has the ability for classes (Sans Feral Druid which is complex to maximize DPS due to buff and DoT timers) to macro a single button with all their skills in priority order and then mash that ad infinitum...

In GW2 and ESO you also need to weapon swap to play optimally to make up for the ability shortage. Personally greatly dislike the idea of weapon-swapping in combat.

Weapon swapping isn't the biggest deal in those games, especially depending on how you have spec'd (Moreso for Tanks in ESO where you're basically stuck with SnB forever because of how much stronger its block skill is and the fact that you either need SnB or that single other skill set for access to Taunt which you need to use every 15 seconds due to how aggro works in that game)

There are few (polished) MMO's I think that use as many slots as FFXIV, even most WoW specs use way less.

Though, it's not entirely about the number of skills. But how you USE those skills.

In FFXIV, a lot of skills are fluff ones. Like, your filler rotation of 123 for melee characters is no different to other games (Or other jobs) filler rotation of 111. Only you need extra keybinds for no reason. Heck, this is made more apparent when PvP and the RP fights will condense this 123 rotation down to a single button...

In a game like Astellia, my Assassin has a core DPS skill set of about 6 buttons. But the way those buttons are used are really interesting, making use of DoT uptime, combo point generation and usage, positioning and even mana management. With those 6 buttons, I actually have so much going on, I don't even use my filler skill.

Throw in the added complexity in that game of managing your Astels (Both their skills as well as your resources for summoning and maintaining them) as well as CC skills which are actually useful to set up for situational damage skills and you get a lot of interesting combat, without having a ton of fluff skills that are often excessive (I.e. Healers with too many heals and not enough places to actually use them. Tanks with a billion CD's but only infrequent TB's to use them on. Extra filler skills to seemingly just add more buttons for the sake of having more buttons etc)

[SamRF]

Though, it's not entirely about the number of skills. But how you USE those skills.

In FFXIV, a lot of skills are fluff ones. Like, your filler rotation of 123 for melee characters is no different to other games (Or other jobs) filler rotation of 111. Only you need extra keybinds for no reason. Heck, this is made more apparent when PvP and the RP fights will condense this 123 rotation down to a single button...

In a game like Astellia, my Assassin has a core DPS skill set of about 6 buttons. But the way those buttons are used are really interesting, making use of DoT uptime, combo point generation and usage, positioning and even mana management. With those 6 buttons, I actually have so much going on, I don't even use my filler skill.

Throw in the added complexity in that game of managing your Astels (Both their skills as well as your resources for summoning and maintaining them) as well as CC skills which are actually useful to set up for situational damage skills and you get a lot of interesting combat, without having a ton of fluff skills that are often excessive (I.e. Healers with too many heals and not enough places to actually use them. Tanks with a billion CD's but only infrequent TB's to use them on. Extra filler skills to seemingly just add more buttons for the sake of having more buttons etc)

You have a valid opinion and I have heard other people have about the same complaints as you have. In the end I think it's subjective and comes down to personal preference. I may be in the minority, but I kind of like having button bloat and get creative with my slots and keybindings to get all abilities in convenient reach, I wouldn't mind to get some more buttons for all jobs in ffxiv right now, even if they're not part of the core rotation.

[SturmChurro]

You can't really compare FFXIV combat system to BDO or ESO imo. I greatly prefer FFXIV/WoW type of combat with lots of abilities and slots used. Games like ESO, BDO, GW2 are more action game-ish with their limited amount of abilities, BDO & ESO don't even have tab targeting so it's something else entirely (action combat). In GW2 and ESO you also need to weapon swap to play optimally to make up for the ability shortage. Personally greatly dislike the idea of weapon-swapping in combat.

I do wish more jobs in FFXIV were using procs more often cause also don't like the idea of predetermined rotations set in stone. Still, except for some jobs perhaps (healers), FFXIV combat isn't that bad imo right now. There are few (polished) MMO's I think that use as many slots as FFXIV, even most WoW specs use way less. And that's something I personally like about combat system of this game, which I won't find in many other polished MMO's at the moment. Also, I think the lack of macros get sort of compensated by the amount of abilities and length of some rotations.

Same. I prefer FFXIV combat as well. ESO is hot trash. BDO has decent combat, but ruins it with trash grind, cash shop garbage, overall uninteresting theme, etc. FFXIV is the premier MMORPG right now.