[dev1123] Reordering, Placing actions on bar with drag and drop

[Buuul]

When I change class, the set of abilities I was using the last time as that class need to be automatically equipped. This has to happen soon. Yes, I can make macros to do this, but I shouldn't have to - in addition, it takes forever to execute.

[Bayohne]

We'll be addressing drag and drop along with the upcoming action bar adjustments. In the future we are planning on making various adjustments and we are looking into additional features such as increasing the amount of actions displayed and being able to set items and macros directly on the bar.

[Chiz]

We'll be addressing drag and drop along with the upcoming action bar adjustments. In the future we are planning on making various adjustments and we are looking into additional features such as increasing the amount of actions displayed and being able to set items and macros directly on the bar.

Why haven't these problems been addressed sooner? We heard very early on with Yoshi-P's first few roadmaps they would be revamping the action bar, UI, and class-change menus with the hope the core functionality would be brought up to speed with superior implementations in just about any MMO or even single player RPG. Now two major patches released or roadmapped and still nothing about this? Very disappointed.

To recap the main gripes I have with current implementation, and echoed by just about everyone I've spoken to or read comments from on the topic of UI/action bar:

1) Actions & Traits menu settings do not save or remember history when changing classes. This means users are constantly fumbling with a very slow and clunky UI when performing very simple core aspects of the game like switching classes. This is particularly frustrating when you swap from a higher class to a lower class, then back to the higher class as actions and traits will be bumped from your bars and you once again have to fumble around to try and remember what was switched. Macros help this situation somewhat, but I currently use 3 out of 5 macro pallettes solely for swapping out actions. This could all be solved by simply allowing users to save and set "Presets" or "Profiles" for action bar and traits settings on a per-class basis. Population of actions and traits should be instantaneous, not the current slow/clunky implementation.

2) Drag and Drop UI/Action bar. Action Bar and Abilitys should be accessible without having to interface the Main Menu overlay so that you can drag and drop or even click and cycle through abilities directly in the main UI. For example, if you could bring up actions with a single button like the new Config menu, then allow Abilities to be directly selectable with the Action Bar, this would cut out the need for having to bother with the Action/Traits Menu for changing abilities on the action bar.

3) Visibility of multiple Action Bars #1-3. Even if the other action bars aren't directly selectable when not in focus, displaying them in some kind of graphical representation allows users to keep track of vital recast timers. Implementation could be like a 3D wheel where the two non-focused bars are de-emphasized in the background.

4) Macro speed for changing gear and abilities/traits. This is still unacceptably slow, yet still no comment about this ever. Very discouraging.

Every time I see SE wasting time with non-essential changes and fixes like hiding main hand weapons/tools???? and /targetmode ABCDEFGH, but neglecting core issues like the ones above, it really makes me wonder where they are placing their priorities.

Stop breaking core functionality that people actually enjoy, fixing things no one care about, and please start addressing the main problems that have been around since Day 1. Thanks.

[Misha]

Definitely need an option to save abilities set on bar PER class!!! This is a no brainer... yet I've never heard a single dev comment about it :S

[Sorel]

We'll be addressing drag and drop along with the upcoming action bar adjustments. In the future we are planning on making various adjustments and we are looking into additional features such as increasing the amount of actions displayed and being able to set items and macros directly on the bar.

Thanks for the update, Bayohne! We do appreciate these updates from you, though we may have a gruff way of showing it.

Keep the info coming!!

[Kiote]

Why haven't these problems been addressed sooner? We heard very early on with Yoshi-P's first few roadmaps they would be revamping the action bar, UI, and class-change menus with the hope the core functionality would be brought up to speed with superior implementations in just about any MMO or even single player RPG. Now two major patches released or roadmapped and still nothing about this? Very disappointed.

To recap the main gripes I have with current implementation, and echoed by just about everyone I've spoken to or read comments from on the topic of UI/action bar:

1) Actions & Traits menu settings do not save or remember history when changing classes. This means users are constantly fumbling with a very slow and clunky UI when performing very simple core aspects of the game like switching classes. This is particularly frustrating when you swap from a higher class to a lower class, then back to the higher class as actions and traits will be bumped from your bars and you once again have to fumble around to try and remember what was switched. Macros help this situation somewhat, but I currently use 3 out of 5 macro pallettes solely for swapping out actions. This could all be solved by simply allowing users to save and set "Presets" or "Profiles" for action bar and traits settings on a per-class basis. Population of actions and traits should be instantaneous, not the current slow/clunky implementation.

2) Drag and Drop UI/Action bar. Action Bar and Abilitys should be accessible without having to interface the Main Menu overlay so that you can drag and drop or even click and cycle through abilities directly in the main UI. For example, if you could bring up actions with a single button like the new Config menu, then allow Abilities to be directly selectable with the Action Bar, this would cut out the need for having to bother with the Action/Traits Menu for changing abilities on the action bar.

3) Visibility of multiple Action Bars #1-3. Even if the other action bars aren't directly selectable when not in focus, displaying them in some kind of graphical representation allows users to keep track of vital recast timers. Implementation could be like a 3D wheel where the two non-focused bars are de-emphasized in the background.

4) Macro speed for changing gear and abilities/traits. This is still unacceptably slow, yet still no comment about this ever. Very discouraging.

Every time I see SE wasting time with non-essential changes and fixes like hiding main hand weapons/tools???? and /targetmode ABCDEFGH, but neglecting core issues like the ones above, it really makes me wonder where they are placing their priorities.

Stop breaking core functionality that people actually enjoy, fixing things no one care about, and please start addressing the main problems that have been around since Day 1. Thanks.

Oh look another person who has absolutely no Idea what he's complaining about.. Ever Built a UI? Doubt it. Ever had to rebuild a UI someone else made? Doubt it. Get a life and quit being a Jerk. Some UIs have been known to take multiple years to make. You should be kissing their feet that they're even willing to consider it. And in case you were unaware, reading another persons code is like knowing Spanish and reading Portuguese, you'll get it done eventually but it's gonna take twice as long.

They said we are fixing it. Be happy.

[Inaaca]

Definitely agree with needing to have action bar skillsets saved for each class. Same goes for equipment. I'm really tired of needing to have 3+ macros set just to change my class once, and having to wait as each macro line executes one by one.

FFXI did this wonderfully with equipment between job switching. With custom skill equips now on top of it, we need it even MORE here in FFXIV.

[Bayohne]

Our friendly neighborhood Japanese reps talked with Minagawa about all this setting action-related stuff.

We are currently working on addressing this so that actions for each class will be remembered when you change classes. When this feature is implemented it will remove the need to fix your action bar every time you change classes, as well as the need to set actions via text commands.

I'm sure you are all dying to know when this feature will be ready... We're currently aiming to implement this during patch 1.19, but depending on how development and testing progress, there is a possibility that it could be pushed back.

Sorry we can't make a concrete promise for 1.19, but hang in there just a bit more!

[Roaran]

Nice! Glad to hear it, even if it doesn't get done for 1.19 I'm happy to hear this is HOW the system will end up being. Now just get them to let us map all our gamepad/KB buttons to all sorts of crazy things!

[DoctorMog]

I would wait an extra few days for this to be included in 1.19. thats for sure.