Area of Effect: Display Markers

[syntaxlies]

But that would take so much longer than just knowing where your AoE is supposed to land and either going to people or having people know to stand close at certain points for buffs

yea i know it would take longer but that would be the penalty of trying to cast farther. I know they wouldn't do it so i don't care.

basically have them all instant cast and the timer would be cast range, for buffs you could have the circle start with a 5-7 yalm radius so you can still speed buff.

[Alhanelem]

Except that it will not work with controllers so that option is pretty much out. There isn't much need to AoE things without hitting others and mobs move so targeting the mob is often better imo. Nothing more frustrating than to target the ground and actually end up hitting nothing.

It would work with controllers. Just show the splat on the ground and move it around with one of the sticks. It wouldn't be as quick or slick, but it would work.

Better to hit nothing than to hit too many mobs and get killed, I say. Honestly, this would be even more important for PvP so you can lead a group of targets instead of targeting someone specifically and that person runs away from everyone else.

[Preypacer]

Totally understand what you're saying, but it seems like you want the system to adapt to you rather than you adapting to the system. TBH they may change the way AOE works in ARR entirely (e.g. you might cast Blizzara at a target rather than around yourself, who knows), but that is rampant speculation.

I find the bolded bit to be the case in many instances. Many people don't like change, they don't like to adapt and they'll put far more energy and effort into preventing change than they ever would into adapting to it.

That's been the case in MMOs for years now.

Personally, I love experiencing something new. Going to a new game and finding it to be "old and familiar" is always a disappointment to me. I like having things to wrap my head around and figure out.

[Preypacer]

No thanks, it's like automating or visually removing the necessity for skill. If I were to give an analogy it's like calling yourself an artist but needing a ruler to draw a stick figure. I much prefer my gaming to be one where I hone my skills as an artist

Very good analogy! I like it.

[Alhanelem]

Knowing where you're casting your AoE and being able to manually target a location adds skill, not takes it away. It gives you more freedom and control.

I understand how some would feel about the boss AoE radius being marked, but at least it would remove doubt as to whether or not you really got out of range or not. I can't tell you how many times at Ifrit where I saw "WTF I wasn't even standing on it!"- Sometimes the graphics are very vague as to what they are affecting.

They could always make it an option such that you can turn it off if you feel it unduly takes challenge away.

[Jynx]

Knowing where your spells are going to land while casting them is fine, mainly due to it being you casting the spell. So in turn you are visualizing the area of effect for your spells, it just always seems off when you see what the monsters AOE is. Some things like big long-cast spells sure it's fine to see a visual representation of where is going to get messed up but if it's everytime a arhiman uses air vacume or a crab uses bubble shower....bleh.

[Preypacer]

Knowing where you're casting your AoE and being able to manually target a location adds skill, not takes it away. It gives you more freedom and control.

I disagree.

Scenario 1: No AOE Marker
Through trial and error, you learn to gauge distance and develop an intuitive "feel" for what or who your AOEs will affect if you cast them from any given spot. You're likely to make mistakes, but you learn from those mistakes and, over time, you become proficient, at it and it becomes almost second nature. There's a tangible sense of growth and improvement in your skill as a caster.

In the case of dealing with mobs with AOE markers, same thing. You develop an intuitive sense of where the damage radius is through practice and experience.

In terms of having an aoe range marker for targeted spells, I would agree only in so far as choosing where the center-point of that spell is, not for its full radius.

Scenario 2: AOE Marker
You select your spell, a marker shows up letting you know exactly where the spell will affect. No intuition required. No guesswork. No chance of making mistakes or misjudging... nothing to improve in because the game is telling you exactly what's going on. For offensive creatures, the marker shows you precisely where you need to be, there's no work, no learning the radius. Everything is displayed for you. Training wheels.

I understand how some would feel about the boss AoE radius being marked, but at least it would remove doubt as to whether or not you really got out of range or not. I can't tell you how many times at Ifrit where I saw "WTF I wasn't even standing on it!"- Sometimes the graphics are very vague as to what they are affecting.

The problem with getting out of range in FFXIV has nothing to do with a lack of a visual. It has everything to do with the lag/latency in the current server and engine tech. Having a marker on the ground would make absolutely no difference. You'd simply see a marker on the ground, with you outside of it and still taking damage. ARR is (ostensibly) addressing this.

They could always make it an option such that you can turn it off if you feel it unduly takes challenge away.

True. They could.

[Rex]

Cracks under your feet is an indicator, yet people still die from eruptions.

People die from eruptions because of server lag.

[bobbygunz]

Knowing where you're casting your AoE and being able to manually target a location adds skill, not takes it away. It gives you more freedom and control.

By the way, SE aren't going to let you manually target a location. They explicitly stated they will not add ground-based targeting in 2.0.

The most theyre going to do is let you tab target an enemy and show the AoE range around the target. It doesn't really add freedom, much.

[syntaxlies]

Knowing where your spells are going to land while casting them is fine, mainly due to it being you casting the spell. So in turn you are visualizing the area of effect for your spells, it just always seems off when you see what the monsters AOE is. Some things like big long-cast spells sure it's fine to see a visual representation of where is going to get messed up but if it's everytime a arhiman uses air vacume or a crab uses bubble shower....bleh.

i dont really like the idea of being able to see a mobs spell range, seems pretty easy mode. i can picture it now on coin-counter or something, "ok guys stand outside the circle, why did you get hit, oh... i thought you said in the circle"