When you Love the Story, but are Really Bad at the Gameplay

[Rein_eon_Osborne]

People might try to claim this or that, but in regards to control setup, there is no one optimal way to play. People have different sized hands, different comfort levels with things like a keyboard or mouse or controller, and different behaviors and ways they hold their hands or position things around them. That's why it's so important we all find what works best for us and why it's challenging to explain the benefits of our setups to someone else.

This is probably one of the most overlooked issue in this topic on hand.

I've got people telling me "Are you crazy???" when I show them my UI: my hotbar having several Alt+hotkeys that people find awkward to use in mid-combat like Alt+Z/X/C/F, etc. But I rarely had issue with this (thank you, 'Piano fingers' lol). At the same time, I'm also amazed when I saw my friend playing on console with their controller. I saw all those hotbar swapping etc and I was like "How did you do that so far?!"

People can probably give general tips like "Don't put your important, frequently used buttons too far away." but ultimately it's up to us to figure out ourselves which setup works the best.

[Ceridwenae]

This is probably one of the most overlooked issue in this topic on hand.

I've got people telling me "Are you crazy???" when I show them my UI: my hotbar having several Alt+hotkeys that people find awkward to use in mid-combat like Alt+Z/X/C/F, etc. But I rarely had issue with this (thank you, 'Piano fingers' lol). At the same time, I'm also amazed when I saw my friend playing on console with their controller. I saw all those hotbar swapping etc and I was like "How did you do that so far?!"

People can probably give general tips like "Don't put your important, frequently used buttons too far away." but ultimately it's up to us to figure out ourselves which setup works the best.

Oh, definitely this too. This is the first game where I felt I just had to acquire a gaming mouse; it's been a life saver. Plus my keyboard has these extra macro keys on the left side, and the combination has allowed me, a shorter-than-average woman with small hands, to be able to manage well enough to my satisfaction. Add in using similar skills in the same place where possible (like, Esuna is always in the same place regardless of healer), and I have a fairly decent system running. My kid comes and looks at my hotbars and basically screws her face up, "I hate your hot bars. How do you even play?!" Teenagers: judgy brutality is their schtick.

[StriderShinryu]

People might try to claim this or that, but in regards to control setup, there is no one optimal way to play. People have different sized hands, different comfort levels with things like a keyboard or mouse or controller, and different behaviors and ways they hold their hands or position things around them. That's why it's so important we all find what works best for us and why it's challenging to explain the benefits of our setups to someone else.

I saw someone's stream once where she was getting flack for mouse clicking some abilities and it was like "Does it work? Yes? Then let her play the way that's most comfortable". It's silly what people judge others on sometimes.

Oh for sure. I know that there are probably some people out there who would throw up a little if I said that I actually clicked some of my skills instead of using hot keys for them, but that's just how it works for me. What would actually, truly be "un-optimal" for me would be to assign my skills to keys on my keyboard then have to look away from the screen to try and find the key or key combination I had set up (because I was told it was "optimal").

[Carin-Eri]

As have admitted, I sometimes resort to using gamepad (using the directional stick for movement) + mouse, as find that to be the most 'efficent' way of maintaining movement and reaction speed. I just don't seem to be able to 'gel' with keyboard only play. My hands just don't seem to react as they should.

It's not ideal - a bit sloppy really I guess, and I kinda feel like I'm doing something wrong (even though it does actually work for me) but I'd have to concede that it has helped me blunder my way through the game thus far.

[vormela]

I have run into a group or two that were having a lot of trouble figuring out mechanics. One was the last trial of the game's MSQ. I was so happy to see people go through it for the first time. This seems to be a common attitude so hopefully everyone can assemble a group to run content if duty finder people get flighty.

That mission and certain parts of the game are tricky. For example, I get carried through Dun Scaith first boss any time it comes up. I have played games a long time and I don't know how people keep up with more than one or two jobs. I also can't tell where any boss is facing and my vision is nearly perfect in one eye. I am getting better but still get tankbustered!!

We are all special in our own ways and have different weaknesses/strengths. When lacking in battle prowess and physique, some of us are forced to become jesters or tragedians or bards to earn our keep. Welcome to the show.

[TaleraRistain]

I've got people telling me "Are you crazy???" when I show them my UI: my hotbar having several Alt+hotkeys that people find awkward to use in mid-combat like Alt+Z/X/C/F, etc. But I rarely had issue with this (thank you, 'Piano fingers' lol). At the same time, I'm also amazed when I saw my friend playing on console with their controller. I saw all those hotbar swapping etc and I was like "How did you do that so far?!".

I target people in my groups with function keys and I have since the 90s in EverQuest and it's like second nature for me but I get that reaction from people, too. I play tons of console games but I'd probably struggle with a controller for MMOs, too.

Oh for sure. I know that there are probably some people out there who would throw up a little if I said that I actually clicked some of my skills instead of using hot keys for them, but that's just how it works for me. What would actually, truly be "un-optimal" for me would be to assign my skills to keys on my keyboard then have to look away from the screen to try and find the key or key combination I had set up (because I was told it was "optimal").

Exactly! The only true "un-optimal" with control setup is purposefully sabotaging yourself because you follow what works for someone else but would be able to manage just fine if you found you own way that works for you.

Like Rein said, we can give general tips "Don't put Repelling Shot next to things you hit all the time unless you want to backflip off E12" but the implementation should be what is going to allow us to perform our jobs the best.

As have admitted, I sometimes resort to using gamepad (using the directional stick for movement) + mouse, as find that to be the most 'efficent' way of maintaining movement and reaction speed. I just don't seem to be able to 'gel' with keyboard only play. My hands just don't seem to react as they should.

It's not ideal - a bit sloppy really I guess, and I kinda feel like I'm doing something wrong (even though it does actually work for me) but I'd have to concede that it has helped me blunder my way through the game thus far.

It's only not ideal if it doesn't work for you. And it's a process. I will fiddle with my hotbars to see if it makes this or that in a rotation easier. I certainly don't use the same setup I did in ARR, as with changes and ability additions my setup has had to change by necessity to maintain my same functionality. There's absolutely nothing wrong with using a gamepad if that's what works.

[Carin-Eri]

I have run into a group or two that were having a lot of trouble figuring out mechanics. One was the last trial of the game's MSQ. I was so happy to see people go through it for the first time. This seems to be a common attitude so hopefully everyone can assemble a group to run content if duty finder people get flighty.

That mission and certain parts of the game are tricky. For example, I get carried through Dun Scaith first boss any time it comes up. I have played games a long time and I don't know how people keep up with more than one or two jobs. I also can't tell where any boss is facing and my vision is nearly perfect in one eye. I am getting better but still get tankbustered!!

We are all special in our own ways and have different weaknesses/strengths. When lacking in battle prowess and physique, some of us are forced to become jesters or tragedians or bards to earn our keep. Welcome to the show.

Thank you - appreciate how open you were about this.

I have eyesight issues too; amblyopia (lazy eye, or the eye's failure to properly 'communicate' with the brain) on the right side, which means my left eye has to compensate - however, since I'm long-sighted in my left eye which sometimes makes things challenging! Its one of the primary reasons I find keyboard-only play challenging.

Anyway, I digress. Whilst not exactly here to write some sort of game review, I can't praise the game's story highly enough. I've played a few MMO's in my time but nothing that even came close to what FFXIV offers. Whilst I'll probably continue to struggle with the gameplay, although I'm assuming am not too far from the end of 'Endwalker', it's been one heck of a ride so far!

And after seeing that part of the story, the lyrics to 'Answers' certainly found context :'(

[Enkidoh]

Congrats on beating 'Mama'! (again) And yes, that scene was all feels.... (especially

if you called her Venat, which made her cry.... ; ;

However, sadly you still have quite a way to go til.. the end. And there is a lot more heartache, despair and suffering to go before you do so. But still, don't give up even when all hope seems lost (both story and meta wise), you've come this far! Keep going and you will persevere Warrior of Light!

[LeonKeyh]

What MMORPG that is made for you people in the past three years or five years or even ten years that was made for you people is still one of the most top played games today?

Games made for you people do not sell well at all. In fact FF11 was lucky because it had a brand name and came about before WoW success. Sadly though that is what killed FFXIV 1.0 when they tried to make the game again for you people and they had to completely shut it down and make a new game.

What the hell... show me where on the doll the "hardcore raiders" hurt you man.

That is an extremely silly argument to make because the MMORPG market hasn't been successful AT ALL in the last 10 years. What MMORPG that is made for "you people" in the past three years or five years or even ten years that was made for "you people" is still one of the top played games today? Maple Story? Club Penguin? Second life?

Games that are made for only one type of person don't sell well at all. You need to have hardcore/difficult content for people that want to challenge themselves as well as casual content to keep casuals around. You also, need to be lucky. That's the only way you have a game that sells well at all.

[Moonsprite]

One problem ffxiv has with old dungeons and content is that new players don’t get enough introduction to mechanics in the earlier dungeons. It isn’t that the player is necessarily bad just that they haven’t had practice and seen the mechanics before or even a glimpse of them. Most of us have been doing them for years so we just mow through everything.

Soon trusts will be enabled for a lot of content in the MSQ leveling up. You are already in shadowbringers so you can go with your trusts for now, but you’ll still have to group for trials. Most players don’t mind at all helping others through content. Just tell them it’s your first time.