Data Centers/World Locations Info from the LIVE Letter

[Jynx]

It's very hard to explain fast paced combat and the importance of regional data centers when people assume XIV or XI's combat is fast through no fault of their own.

I understand WoW is bassically twitch based combat that relies on you mashing keys for hours on end (Or having programs do it for you lol) I really just hope that's not what 2.0 turns into I rather enjoyed the more slower paced deliberate combat.

[drivendawn]

Yeah played WOW button mashing is the word for it,don't want it that way either and don't think it will.

[Priya]

I understand WoW is bassically twitch based combat that relies on you mashing keys for hours on end (Or having programs do it for you lol) I really just hope that's not what 2.0 turns into I rather enjoyed the more slower paced deliberate combat.

Yeah played WOW button mashing is the word for it,don't want it that way either and don't think it will.

It's not button mashing unless you're bored or unsure of what to do; it's also not for "hours on end." There are breaks in between pulls-- WoW doesn't subscribe to the 45minute+ fight system that XI did. Also, being fast-paced does not mean combat is not deliberate. If you are actively trying to progress, it's more about maintaining your rotation (for optimal DPS) while timing your longer CD's during the fight for maximum up-time on them. You need to plan beforehand who is going to use what CD when-- be it defensive or offensive. While juggling all of these things, you need to be aware of and react to what is going on in the environment around you. This may feel or look chaotic, but it actually ends up being just an awful lot of micro-managing once you are used to your class and the fight; some people don't like that aspect.

I will use Heroic Madness of Deathwing as an example, and I will use a vodka video since they were the ones linked with H. Rag. This isn't a guide-- this is their kill (H. Deathwing is also notoriously easy compared to the other end-of-expansion bosses):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=65GtZcqoyns

If you watch the video, the general premise is you kill each "foot" and large tentacle across 4 platforms-- while killing adds and standing in proper locations. As you kill them, you lose buffs so the fight gets progressively harder. Healers and tanks need to decide who is going to use what defensive cool down at each point in the fight, while the DPS will be doing the same with offensive CDs. Without getting into too much detail, most of the important CD's have timers that are too long to use per-platform; there is a lot of alternating your own CD's and coordinating with other people for theirs. You need them consistently to beat the enrage timer-- so blowing your load, or holding back is detrimental to success. You have to pace yourself.

Again, it's going to be INCREDIBLY difficult to explain how this all pans out to anyone who has never been an active progression raider in WoW. The differences between it and XI/XIV just get lost in translation.

SE will never be able to design fights in XIV that test all aspects of a player's skill if they are limited by the difference in latency and the advantages/disadvantages given to players because of it. I do not think anyone has to worry about this stuff yet, though. I don't think SE is going to dive right into craziness; my guess is they'll do things gradually-- otherwise it would exacerbate the shock many people are already dealing with during the game's transition-- such as losing the people with whom they play to the regional server system.