Cross / Hotbar idea: setting combos to one button to save space

[Niwashi]

I have somewhat mixed feelings about this suggestion. On the one hand, I don't like the over-simplifying effect, where you don't even have to think of which skill to use next. But on the other hand, for controller players in particular, being limited to only 16 available actions before having to switch cross-hotbars is awkward enough on some classes that anything that condenses them better could be a real improvement. Overall, I think wanting to conserve cross-hotbar space wins out, so I'd like this change.

[ObliviousFool]

PS4 beta this past weekend was the first time I had used a controller and I actually really like it. I'm used to using a naga with 12 buttons on my thumb, so by either pressing shift, control, or neither that gives me access to 36 different moves all on my mouse hand thumb.

I really did not think anything would come close to that level of efficiency. The controller actually comes a lot closer than I though. Yes, at first glance it seems like you have only 16 actions easily accessible, but when you press R1 you can move between 8 sets of 16. Now that is a lot, but it takes a bit of time to get to each set. However, there are two different ways around this. One is two only set up two sets. By doing that it allows you to move between the two sets by just tapping R1 once, greatly increasing the speed and efficiency of being able to use 32 moves. However, IMO still not as good as the naga set-up. Then right as beta was ending I found an option in the cross hotbar options. Basically it lets you access your alternative 16 moves buy pressing both L and R triggers at the same time. The 8 moves you get access to changes depending on whether u press L or R first. It is REALLY REALLY slick and once you get the muscle memory down you can do things just as fast as with a gaming mouse.

Once you understand how it works you can do some really cool things. Like for instance, you can have swiftcast set to R trigger plus X button. So you hold R trigger, press X, swiftcast goes off, you continue holding R trigger, but now hold L trigger too, it changes that move set to another set where you can for instance have Resurrect also on X. All of which was done without ever losing movement control of character.

So despite what I originally thought, a controller can compete with a gaming mouse/keyboard, and IMO can even do a few things better.

[Knives]

-Snip-

I don't disagree with you at all, I can make use of cross-hotbar as it is and it works fairly well, but I feel it can be improved upon. I don't think the controller is faster than M+K setup, it can contend but it is behind imo.

With that said, this isn't really about competing with the M+K hotbar, but improving both (not that the M+K needs it). It's about having more flexibility with your hotbar, and pre-emptively easing space issues well in advance of level-cap increases and the subsequent addition of weaponskills and abilities. I personally would hate to go beyond 2 cross-hotbar sets (even with the dual-button bar). It's slick now, but it'll get really clunky for people like me later down the line.