Auto-attack not auto-attacking

[Eekiki]

World: Besaid
Name: Kiki Eekiki
Class/Rank: Lancer/15
Location Thanalan - Camp Drybone
Time: between 9:45pm and 10:15pm EDT today (7/21/2011)

Twice this happened. I was fighting Dodos (first the stray dodos for the levequest "Revenge of the Dodos" and after that a regular free range dodo). I don't know if it had anything to do with them putting me to sleep, but just when I was one hit away from finishing them off, I ended up suddenly standing there with my weapon drawn, fully awake, able to move, and able to use abilities, but not auto-attacking. I was facing the right direction, and I was close enough to attack (nothing appeared in the chat log that suggested I was not in the correct position). I cleared my target, and re-targeted thinking it would re-engage, but it did not.

One thing I did not try was putting my weapon away and drawing it again. I'm willing to bet this would've worked, but it obviously should not be working that way.

I ended up getting KO'd both times because I wasn't auto-attacking, and I didn't have enough TP to execute an offensive ability.

[jones6]

I had the exact same issue.

[Fixy]

detarget them while slept. ez

[GalgierRex]

I dont even have auto attack in my list. any clues. i've swapped class many times, even to blacksmith

[Coldfire]

Lol... auto-attack is as the name implies automatic. You don't have to activate a skill for it, you just target a monster and draw your weapon.

[Xophious]

Greetings Eekiki!

We appreciate you contacting us the auto-attack problem you encountered twice before. In order to make sure it is investigate thoroughly, we'll need for you to fill out the entire template. Thank you!

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[Zenaku]

Have you lock on the target? maybe that the issue.

[Qaxo]

I am having the same issue with two of my characters, marauder and pugilist. This seems to occur right after I cast a spell. I can get it restarted by "forcing" an attack with broad swing, etc., but if those attacks aren't available, you have little recourse. At this point I will probably stop playing. I have put up with a lot of changes for this game, but putting out this patch with what appears to be little if any testing of the auto-attack causes me to reconsider if this is worth it.

[Hotohori]

I was going to make this topic myself after some more playing around and now I'm sure that it's actually programmed like that. The auto attack simply stops after the death of any monster, even if the monster was in a party and the next monster is targeted and claimed or even attacking you. There is an additional condition that must be met to begin auto attacking which is that you must start with another action or attempt to try an action of any kind.

Normal conditions for auto attack to begin are...
1) Be in action mode
2) Be close enough in range
3) Be facing the target

Additional conditions for auto attack to begin on a new monster (regardless of claim)
4) Reactivate the action indicator to begin auto attack

I made a post about the action indicator disappearing after the death of a monster here.
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...t-of-a-monster

Basically if you are fighting multiple enemies, don't expect to be able to stand there just targeting them one by one as auto attack continues to beat them down in a efficient manner. It won't do that and all you need to do is try to preform a battle action of some sort to make it continue. (cure, weapon skill, buff, etc) Sadly this system combined with other mechanics as promoting many versus one or one versus one battle while penalizing one versus many combat styles with things like the claiming system and AoE battle, this mechanic is harder to recognize.

There is possibly one possitive to this system which would be under the idea of a crowd control measure. For example if a few melee players were in the middle of a large group of monsters that were slept, it would be horrific for them to continue auto attacking onto another monsters and waking them all up.

In terms of auto attack modes in FF XI, the mode could be seen as turning the /autotarget function off so that the next hostile monster is not engaged automatically when the current one dies. What probably needs to happen is for there to be a way to toggle it on so that people do not stand around thinking auto attack will just start on claimed monsters that are beating them while targeted properly. If you ever played major events where crowd control was a vital strategy, this was an important mechanic to the game which all melee were encouraged to use. In FF XIV though, since we are still in active mode the whole time, it looks very strange that the auto attack is not resuming onto the next monster while conditions seem to be all met. 11 showed very clearly that auto attack was not continuing by always removing the weapon from action mode but 14 does not do such a thing.

I have a similar experience to the OP with a levequest "Where's the Meat" where they spawn 3 goats at a time. The current class I was testing was Marauder and as I killed the first goat, I then stood there stupidly as the next 2 were hitting me while I was facing and targeting them with my axe out. I stood there as my HP dropped from 1700 to 300 while watching myself not attack once in probably 15 seconds of time. Of course I popped a cure to survive and auto attack would resume.

Basically if you want to start hitting the next target, pretend that you have to claim it all over again or just make the action indicator return with a attempted skill use of any kind. Yeah I know it sucks though and needs a lot of work.

[Eekiki]

Platform: Windows 7
ISP: AT&T
Type of Internet Connection: DSL
Internet Connection Speed: 6mbps
Date & Time: 7/21/2011 ~10:00pm
Frequency:twice
Character Name: Kiki Eekiki
Race: Lalafell
World: Besaid
Class/Skill Rank: Lancer/15
Physical Level: 11
Area and Coordinates: Thanalan, south of Camp Drybone
Party or Solo: Solo
Monster Name: Stray Dodo / Dodo

I was fighting Dodos (first the stray dodos for the levequest "Revenge of the Dodos" and after that a regular free range dodo). I don't know if it had anything to do with them putting me to sleep, but just when I was one hit away from finishing them off, I ended up suddenly standing there with my weapon drawn, fully awake, able to move, and able to use abilities, but not auto-attacking. I was facing the right direction, and I was close enough to attack (nothing appeared in the chat log that suggested I was not in the correct position). I cleared my target, and re-targeted thinking it would re-engage, but it did not.

One thing I did not try was putting my weapon away and drawing it again. I'm willing to bet this would've worked, but it obviously should not be working that way.

I ended up getting KO'd both times because I wasn't auto-attacking, and I didn't have enough TP to execute an offensive ability.