[dev1062] Targeting Mechanics: Adjustment to target cone!

[Jesi]

Ok, this is hard to put into words, but to put it simply, I'd like to see the "targeting cone" used when cycling through targets to be narrower, like it is in FF11.

When I say targeting cone, I mean the targets that you would cycle through when you hit (Tab / numpad 0), or whatever button it is on gamepad. The reason I say this is because the current cone is absudly wide and makes it harder to target things.

In FF11, the target cone seemed to be pretty narrow and was very predictable... meaning if you face your character/camera in the right direction, then hit Tab to start cycling through targets, you had a good idea what would be the first target (always the left most item in the target cone). Most FF11 veterans got good at this and could easily target something with just 1 or 2 Tabs since we knew which way to face our character/camera to target what we want.

Here's a ascii diagram since I know this is hard to understand.

Legend
& = character (facing north)
x = indicates target cone
- = not target cone
number = a targetable item


FF11 Target Cone (1st person view)

xxxxxxxxxxxxx
-xxxxx3xxxxx-
--xxxxxxxx4--
---xxxxxxx---
1---x2xxx----
------&----5-

If you had no target, then hit Tab to start cycling through targets, this would be the order of what gets targeted:
2 >> 3 >> 4 >> repeat

If you changed to third person view, it would sort of be the same, except it would be more based off the direction the camera was facing rather your character, but it was still VERY predictable and quick for targeting.



FF14 Target Cone

xxxxxxxxxx4xx
x2xxxxxxxxxxx
xxxxx3xxxxxxx
xxxxxx&xxx5x
xxxxx---xxxxx
x1x-------xx6

No target then tab, cycle would be:
1 >> 2 >> 3 >> 4 >> 5 >> 6 ... it should be 3 first!


In 14, the target cone seems to be MUCH wider, which often gives priority to targets you really didn't want to target. Most common example... the market wards! You could be facing a retainer RIGHT IN FRONT of you that you want to target, but when you hit Tab, the first target is some retainer WAAAAY behind you in some obscure corner... wtf? There are plenty of other examples in other situations (particularly battle), where the target cone is very inefficient and results in alot more "tabbing" than neccessary.

Yes, I realize the new "target mode a/b" was implemented to help with targeting during battle, but honestly, I don't like target mode B. It's more time & work to have to cycle through different "target modes" than it is to just target everything with a more predictable target cone. I mean, it worked fine in FF11, why not here?

God only knows how many times I'd try to target a mob that I'm staring down point-blank, only to have some enemy WAAAAAAAAAAY in the distance get targeted when I hit tab. I have to use a "/targetnpc" macro whenever I want to target an enemy because otherwise I'll be targeting everything but the mob I want. And even then, "/targetnpc" only targets the right mob the first time when I'm practically inside it. Is this really how these features are supposed to work?



Anyway, I digress. I know some people will say, "its fine the way it is, get used to it", but I am really having a hard time doing so. I played FF11 for 6-7 years and found the targeting system to be very efficient and fast. So having to deal with 14's target cone is extremely awkward. The fix to all this targeting frustration is so simple, I can't believe the dev team came up with "target mode a/b" thinking that would do it. I mean it's a neat feature, but it just makes things more complicated without fixing the core problem.

I can't be the only F11 veteran who feels this way....

[RedAffinity]

P E R F E C T ! ! ! ! ! ! ! !

Unfortunately I can only "Like" this once. I really really hope developers take notice of this. The same issue resides with simply hitting "Enter-Key". In FFXI it would target the most logical thing, the object directly closest, and in front of you. In XIV it'll often target something farther behind and to the left for example. I've pointed this out, only to be told it's the same system as in XI which is clearly isn't!

Certainly I don't see this as a priority over many other changes, but I hope developers definitely do take notice.
Your ascii sample was superb !

[Valkyriesin]

Along with this, they need to add the /assist <t> (with <t> being someone's name) command so we can attack what another person is currently targeting. This would work in conjunction with the whole icon usage thing, especially if we have multiple party members aimed to attack specific mobs as opposed to others. If they would add the PC battle commands from 11 they'd be fine. It would also be an easier transition for those 11 players or those who play them both simultaneously.

[Melina]

This really needs all the support it can get. I don't know how many times I've ended up shouting at the game because I'm trying to target the mob right in front of me and for some reason the target cycle starts as far away from my character as it can get. This is completely counter-intuitive. Also, when a mob spawns right on top of you (think when doing Necrologos, and you pop the light and the mob spawns on top of your character) you often times can NOT target it at all using the tab key. I am a player who uses the keyboard exclusively, therefore I never target with the mouse. I would like to see the targeting system adjusted to more like it was in FF11.

[ChiefCurrahee]

need a dev response!

[Raldo]

Press F10~12 (or whatever your 'target nearest enemy/PC/NPC' button is configured to)? Granted, it's not a full target cycle, but as it targets the thing nearest to you within your target cone, it's sufficient for my purposes.

Keyboard targeting is the same as it was in FF11, as far as I can tell. I have no experience with mouse targeting though.

I'm not against any additional targeting options to players, but I'm throwing my voice in here to say that I like it how it is and if something is changed, please allow us to choose between the two.

[ChiefCurrahee]

live once again!

[Arcell]

Edit: nvm, read incorrectly.

Honestly, the cone is fine. They're going to allow us to actually see it in the future so less guesswork involved.