Quote Originally Posted by Eldaena View Post
1)
Please stop trying to patronize people into thinking you are the sole proprietor of truth in this argument. People are posting here out of concern for the game that YOU are playing. It's not a sole person's effort to make this game happen, but everyone, including the players. If there wasn't an argument against auto attack then why didn't they have it in the beginning? I'm going to go with Reika on this and tell you that the doors to XI are still open. This is not XI-2 with improved graphics and a better crafting system. It's Final Fantasy XIV.
You are correct this isn't FFXI-2.
Adding auto attack doesn't make this FFXI-2 either.
There is a lot of unrest with the current battle system. Proven by the fact that the dev team is making it one of their top priorities in turning the game around. Further proven by the player polls, the players 2nd biggest issue with the battle system is the "spamming of abilities".

How do you go about reducing the spamming of abilities (pressing buttons) ?

I can think of 4 things:
1)Make attacks more powerful so less input is needed per battle.
2)increase stamina use per attack to slow down rate of attack
3)slow down stamina regen rate again to slow down rate of attack
4) implement basic auto attack reduce the input load of building TP

Now you just can't slap in Auto attack and call it a day. It has to be balanced. It can't be an option as your main DD source (unless you are farming mobs way under level) It needs to serve a main purpose of automated TP gain, and low DoT. As not to distract from the other skills and abilities you acquire through ranking up. Battle will be just as involving, it will be just as fast. It just won't be as tedious.

Of all the people that are against Auto Attack, have you taken into consideration of how the console gamers (PS3) will receive this current battle system? I've pointed out several times that the input needed to navigate and select attacks takes at least twice as many inputs on a gamepad than does on a keyboard? Simply adding in AA can reduce the needed input.

I've seen ideas such as an extended battle cue instead of basic AA. This still does not reduce the required inputs. You are just front loading your strategy. What if you miss an attack? Your cue is worthless. What if you're shield arm falls half way through the cue? What about all the conditional abilities and skills? Plus this type of system falls more in line with AUTO BATTLE than AUTO ATTACK.

Thats another thing. AUTO ATTACK doesn't mean AUTO BATTLE. You are still behind all the other actions your character makes. You are just not reconfirming mid fight yes attack the monster it's not dead yet, yes attack again please. Yes once more I'd like a little more TP. Yep I know, attack again my WS missed I need more TP...

Now there was an estimated ~300k+ players at launch, now there is an estimated ~30k players left playing. If a huge portion of those 30k players feel that the spamming of abilities (pressing buttons) is the #2 issue with battle, I think it's safe to say then other 270k players that left probably feel the say way. If Auto Attack can reduce the need of required inputs (pressing buttons) and bring back people I think it's worth it, regardless of the few people who feel taking one attack and automating TP gain will ruin involvement/immersion/freedom/the game.

But the main point I really want to drive home is. AUTO ATTACK does not mean AUTO BATTLE. The fundamental system doesn't allow for a person to simply get by w/o other inputs.