Make UI layout and PVP action sets saved separately for each Gear Set

[Zirael_Foxfire]

[...] I don't want to have to manage 30-some different layouts, and make any updates to each of them individually.

You could have a toggle to use 'custom UI' or default 'shared UI' in each Gear Set, just like now each Gear Set remembers if you want you head gear and weapon shown or not. That's not difficult to code.

Some people may find a different layout for PVP useful, or a separate layout for different roles. But there's no need for the UI layout to change just because you change your cosmetic outfit, nor in most cases when changing class/job. Just give us options like "/UILayout save <layout_name>" and "/UILayout load <layout_name>".

Just add a menu command to the Gear Set menu (Equip set/Display set/Preview/etc) to copy UI settings from one Gear Set to another.

As for the skill bars, they're at least considering an option (and I'm hoping they decide to follow through with it) to enable different skill bars when you enter PvP (sort of like how you can now set certain bars for use when your weapon is drawn and others when it's sheathed). That sounds like a better solution than tying those to gear sets. (In any case, if the change of gear sets involves a change in class or job, the skill bars change already based on that. The only thing missing is the PvE/PvP distinction.)

Separate skill bars for sheated/unsheated weapons are available only for gamepad. You shouldn't be using gamepad for anything besides fishing/gathering anyway. Also, how would it know which skillbar version you want to use on the Wolves Den Pier? Your idea is doable, but I would like to have more control over what skill bars I use with each Gear Set. I'm not entirely against your idea in this point, it looks fine.

No negative impact on their servers, nor on a PC, where they can store whatever they want. Apparently they've got some significant issues though with keeping the save game files within the size limit that Sony allows on PS3 and PS4.

FFXIV is developed primarily on PC and then ported into consoles with some functions castrated out. I don't mind PS3 and PS4 missing some quality of life features as they are inferior systems already in many areas - you shouldn't use console for anything beyond crafting/gathering and simple solo play. So if developers can't figure out how to store character data on a console system, they should just omit the feature from that system. If you want full experience, you need PC already anyway.

EDIT:
Found the source both about the PvP hotbar settings they're considering and about the PS3/4 size limitations. Check out this post:
http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/t...=1#post2269436

Thanks for that, that's very disappointing underestimation from developer side.
Also, at launch developers promised us addon support six months after game release. And any features brought in through addons found to be popular/helpful would be hardcoded into the game itself for console users to take benefit. This has not been delivered yet, but if save data on consoles is so limited, I'm worried the developers will choose to hold back game feature development and ultimately do a great harm to the game. Just like FFXI has not yet reveived HD remake and is missing a great deal of features due to 'PS2 limitations'.