DREAM MMO

[MrPresident]

More intriguing battle system from the beginning. I know levelling up from level 1 now is very different to ARR, but even then it was a chore. You have like two moves or one combo you use over and over going through the first three dungeons or so.

I enjoy the battle system at higher levels, but it’s far too boring when you’re a low level.

[Shurrikhan]

Give everything a bit more oomph. I hit the button, I unleash an attack, not a flurry of cinematic blows with a single damage number coming out of the enemy. One button press, one attack ((It can hit multiple times if the attack is a spin or whatever, just no thrust, followed by a slice followed by another stab and telling me that's all one attack)).
Knock me back when the enemy hits me. Make me feel like trading blows with the enemy is more than a numbers game. Make me regret being hit by the enemy, not just the healer regret me being hit by the enemy.

I want a game with a living, breathing, seamless and open world that is actually relevant and gives you a sense of adventure. I do not mind instanced content but FFXIV focuses on it too much, which leaves the open world abandoned and incredibly boring in design.
Action combat with weight and button efficiency. Personally I'm tired of tab-targetting combat and SE could go with something different if they're going to develop a new FF MMO.
Encounters that feel organic and not scripted. More on enemy movement predictions with no lazily highlighted enemy attacks that just look ugly. Crowd control being more relevant to help you with fights.

More intriguing battle system from the beginning.

Whatever more ambitious plans I might want, these first bits are essential.