Auto attack: A complete battle system

[cataclysm]

ok Reika time to get over it.

Lets get back on topic. I'm reposting my OP to try and get things back on track.

All basic attacks are now auto attacks. Attack and be turned on/off (while weapon is drawn) as not to break sleep or bind or other forms of crowd control. The rate of attack is based on weapon type. So 2 handers attack slow but hit hard, and one handers attack fast but light. Auto attacks generate TP which is used for abilities or weapon skills. the Rate of attack can be augmented through the use of food, spells or gear.

Stamina remains in place and is used to govern the amount of Spells/Skills you can use in a time frame. Stamina is regenerated at a steady rate which can be augmented through food, spells or abilities.

Spells, Weapon skills, and abilities consume TP and/or Stamina and can be used at will as long as you have the available TP and/or stamina to do so.

Battle regimens abilities can be cued up (TP and stamina for skill consumed) Auto attack continues until regimen is completed or canceled. No WS or abilities can be used while cued for a battle regimen.

What determines which are the "basic" attacks that are utilized during auto attack in the AA system you described? All DoW/DoM have multiple "basic" attacks, which each serve different purposes currently. How will things like "Multishot" work? With the horrendous sluggishness of the macro system, how do you integrate things like "Hawk's Eye" or "Raging Strike" into an attack? How will reactive abilities like "Phalanx" operate if you happen to auto-attack at the wrong time?

[Reika]

What determines which are the "basic" attacks that are utilized during auto attack in the AA system you described? All DoW/DoM have multiple "basic" attacks, which each serve different purposes currently. How will things like "Multishot" work? With the horrendous sluggishness of the macro system, how do you integrate things like "Hawk's Eye" or "Raging Strike" into an attack? How will reactive abilities like "Phalanx" operate if you happen to auto-attack at the wrong time?

Oh i am sure most of the people calling for auto attack most likely didn't take into account that almost every battle class has at least 4 basic attacks, each usually having a different effect. Heck, there are some people demanding auto attack that haven't even reached the rank to obtain higher basic attacks...

But it will be interesting to see what they do with all of these. Maybe they will have to scrap all but one for each class and do a 'stance' system.....

[Joe_Cool]

Oh i am sure most of the people calling for auto attack most likely didn't take into account that almost every battle class has at least 4 basic attacks, each usually having a different effect. Heck, there are some people demanding auto attack that haven't even reached the rank to obtain higher basic attacks...

But it will be interesting to see what they do with all of these. Maybe they will have to scrap all but one for each class and do a 'stance' system.....

Yeah what about all of the different attacks that the jobs have? I liked having that as well but I guess they'll scrap that too....

[ChiefCurrahee]

What determines which are the "basic" attacks that are utilized during auto attack in the AA system you described? All DoW/DoM have multiple "basic" attacks, which each serve different purposes currently. How will things like "Multishot" work? With the horrendous sluggishness of the macro system, how do you integrate things like "Hawk's Eye" or "Raging Strike" into an attack? How will reactive abilities like "Phalanx" operate if you happen to auto-attack at the wrong time?

Much of the system stays the same. Hawk's eye and Raging strike are "buff" type abilities and have no reason to change, you activate them and use them. If you are concerned about an AA eating the buff, either AA aren't augmented by some "attack enhancing" buffs or thats where AA toggle on/off comes in handy.

Phalanx again has no need to change, it's a reactive ability and when conditions are met you activate the skill.

as far as additional "basic" attacks you gain from rank up. Those are either situational skills like Heavy thrust. It's a skil thats on a short cool down, with high accuracy and potent "bind" type effect.

Attacks like "Pierce" which adds an AoE component can become slotable upgrades so all your AA have AoE capability (at your choice, since you have to slot it maybe under "traits")

Or "Pierce" becomes an alternative attack, or a "stance" like Reika suggested. you activate this as you AA, or your stance, it adds slight delay, slight attack loss, but hits multiple mobs.

great changes don't need to be made to the battle system to include AA. Balance of TP gain and weapon delay are the pivotal aspects that need to be largely taken into account.

I'm excited to see what they have in store of us ^^

[cataclysm]

Much of the system stays the same. Hawk's eye and Raging strike are "buff" type abilities and have no reason to change, you activate them and use them. If you are concerned about an AA eating the buff, either AA aren't augmented by some "attack enhancing" buffs or thats where AA toggle on/off comes in handy.

You cannot have it "stay the same" and add AA. It is a fundamental game change.

Phalanx again has no need to change, it's a reactive ability and when conditions are met you activate the skill.

For many reactive abilities, it will not allow you to execute if you step over them with another attack or ability even if you previously met the requirements. Although Phalanx seems to be the most forgiving of those. But again, what about abilities like "Multishot"? That particular ability absolutely cannot function or exist in the AA system you have described.

as far as additional "basic" attacks you gain from rank up. Those are either situational skills like Heavy thrust. It's a skil thats on a short cool down, with high accuracy and potent "bind" type effect.

Attacks like "Pierce" which adds an AoE component can become slotable upgrades so all your AA have AoE capability (at your choice, since you have to slot it maybe under "traits")

Or "Pierce" becomes an alternative attack, or a "stance" like Reika suggested. you activate this as you AA, or your stance, it adds slight delay, slight attack loss, but hits multiple mobs.

I really don't understand the term "basic" attack. There are many attacks in the game right now that serve different purposes. Often times within the same battle. If a button needs to be pushed to enable a different type of attack, then isn't that then just the exact same system we have now?

great changes don't need to be made to the battle system to include AA. Balance of TP gain and weapon delay are the pivotal aspects that need to be largely taken into account.

I'm excited to see what they have in store of us ^^

Not only is AA a great change in itself, great change is a REQUIREMENT for an AA system to be included at this stage. To be quite frank, they can't even figure out how to add a targeting system that has any resemblance to a usable functioning system, and all of a sudden they will add AA that is going to work? Forgive me if I have my reservations or concerns.

Will those that have been clamoring for this finally sit down and play this game without reservation? Or will they leave again at the drop of a hat when they level up and find the games true issues, frustrations, and shortcomings? Those very same issues that are being delayed or outright ignored due to these limited resources being allocated to working on things like AA?