Limit Break is cool, but what if we had Dual/Triple Techs?

[Zenza]

Watching the End of an Era video, I always get a kick out of seeing the Warrior roll across the charging Paladin's back and seamlessly flow into a Steel Cyclone. It's a great image, and it speaks to the teamwork theme that the narrative pushes so vigorously.

It's not a Final Fantasy staple that immediately springs to mind, but that maneuver reminds me of a Dual Tech from Chrono Trigger. Fair legal ground! How could it be implemented mechanically? You could introduce another common resource bar like Limit Break, but that's clunky... but with 'hybrid' jobs teased, I start to wonder about supportive roles players can take in an MMO.

What if a hybrid job could, either as an ability with a long cooldown or as their own Limit Break, target a player and unleash a specialized Dual Tech? Target a tank, he uses you as a pivot and sweeps his weapon across a horde. Target a dps, you vault her into the sky where she rains arrows down.

Thoughts?

[Maku]

Impractical without some form of voice communication. If someone triggered the LB that threw me in the air while I was on BRD I would freak out unless I had ample warning. Then you have to take into consideration that the hardest fights in this game are only hard because of the massive emphasis on dodging mechanics. Cool idea and this game totally needs some kind of interaction since for the most part it feels as if you are playing solo in a party.

[Zenza]

...

If they ever make a Mime job, as impossible as that sounds to balance, their Dual Tech could be taking the shape of the targeted party member, doing a big arena-wide effect appropriate to the partner, and then slip back into their original form without ever taking control away from the targeted party member. Tank partners get the generated aggro.

For other hybrids, you could take a few approaches:
Granting temporary invincibility is obvious, but exploitable. Development has been understandably reluctant to use it.
Providing a hotkey or specific controller input to confirm activation of a Dual Tech, once a hybrid approaches you and activates his own ability. This is a bit clunky.
Ensure that the participating team member retains full mobility while executing the Dual Tech. Possibly integrate that into the ability itself, like "everyone I run by gets healed with radiating pulses of holiness". The problem here is that it still takes away player agency regarding what he can do - even if his attacks in the Dual Tech are stronger, he might have needed that time to stun or silence an enemy!

It's definitely a tricky problem.

[cearka]

Impractical without some form of voice communication. If someone triggered the LB that threw me in the air while I was on BRD I would freak out unless I had ample warning. Then you have to take into consideration that the hardest fights in this game are only hard because of the massive emphasis on dodging mechanics. Cool idea and this game totally needs some kind of interaction since for the most part it feels as if you are playing solo in a party.

It could be that the initiator gets some sorta marking on their head, and then its up to another player to ready that marking and initiate on their end to finish it off. It really wouldn't be that hard....fancier players wouodl even macro it with text and <se.#>

I mean c'mon...people in ffxi initiated multiple player weaponskill chains with out voice chat....

[Maku]

It could be that the initiator gets some sorta marking on their head, and then its up to another player to ready that marking and initiate on their end to finish it off. It really wouldn't be that hard....fancier players wouodl even macro it with text and <se.#>

I mean c'mon...people in ffxi initiated multiple player weaponskill chains with out voice chat....

I will give you that point but I was mainly talking about the being thrown in the air part. The "difficult" part of the battles is movement and that kinda movement would be so hard to time properly. More than likely it would just be another "we must use this at this time because it is the only time we can and it is most effective". It really wouldn't add anything but yet another scripted timing feature in battle that would become boring in a matter of days because it will become standard practice like all the other scripted battles.

[TheHomieData]

If someone triggered the LB that threw me in the air while I was on BRD I would freak out unless I had ample warning.

legitimately lol'd

[Varhaatus]

Incase anyone is wondering what bit OP is talking about it starts at 2 mins and it looks epic

[Orophin]

Having cooperative combos in battle would bring a new dimension to the battle system. I'd like to see it.

(Please make each class/job's LB have a unique animation first though! DRG/MNK doing Omnislash and Braver? ugh...)

[Kabooa]

Wtb Twin Magic.