Why Does TP Exist in this Game and How Does it Enhance it?

[Jubez187]

Not a rhetorical question. I seriously want to know if anyone really understands the logic of this "resource." Resources can be fun to use under a few circumstances:

1. There is a sort of ebb and flow to the gameplay/resource

2. Mastery of this gameplay is greatly rewarding and almost essential to the success of the game.

Example: Tales of Xillia came out this past summer, in the game there are 2 resources. One that limits how many actions you can do in 1 combo, and pretty much a standard MP resource (that is used for skills). Normal attacks replenish MP; while blocking/dodging/weakness exploiting increases the amount of actions you can do in 1 combo. I use this example because this game had TWO active resources but I never felt like "zomg I can't use my skills" (which is why developers try to have resources that aren't binding, they want the players to use skills and have fun).

On to FFXIV and TP. TP pretty much fails on all accounts to try to give any interesting form of gameplay. The system is ONLY there to bind you in long fights. "Ebb and Flow" does not exist (I don't really know of any great ways of replenishing TP). The only ways TP can be used in this game are as follows:

1. Short fight; TP consumption was completely irrelevant.

2. Long fight; eventually TP got low and you just had to use your skills less (binding with no resolution).

3. If you wanted to "manage" your TP you would have to use LESS skills at the beginning of a fight (which honestly isn't practical seeing as you need to pour enmity and/or DPS onto the target).

(So pretty much it's either: irrelevant, annoying, or impractical to try to not make it either irrelevant or annoying)

So my question is....why? Why would someone think it's a good idea to put a mechanic into a game that can really only hurt the player with 0 sense of resolve. The worst part is that they have the nerve to say "Tactical Points" when there is no "tactical" way to go about using them. It's just a ticking time-bomb of almost inevitable frustration.



EDIT: After a couple of days of people saying TP is fine, or not, or that it could be like this or that..I just want honest an honest answer of: Has TP ever enhanced your gameplay experience?