Just a list of thoughts

[Allendar_Makenshi]

Dear Square Enix,

I'm currently enjoying the game together with a friend. We're really reliving our FF historical adventures and are pleased with the general experience so far.
Yet, as we off course already noticed, the game experienced some difficulties in different areas of the game experience. So that last few days, each time we played together we listed everything we thought was not very satisfying concerning the gameplay or interfacing experience. It's maybe a bit of a fuzzy list because of the fast comprising, so please ask for details when points are not clear :-).

Gameplay/Interfacing
• It's disturbing to constantly lose your skill bars due to class swapping. Maybe you can add saved skill bar state for each class a character has?
• It's hard to find out what skills you can and can't still use cross-class in the Skills & Traits window. Maybe add some clarifying GUI/text?
• Can we see amounts in skills' their buff/debuff/damage/heal/regen/degen descriptions?
• Damage over Time durations are unknown (how long does Stone's DoT take?)
• Stoneskin reduced damage but also get's removed when the damage line is crossed. Can we get more details in description of the skill and other skills like this?
• A skill follow-up system would be nice to see the next skill you ready above the current activating skill
• Drag-and-drop skill icons. It's a big hassle to constantly browse all the skill lists and putting them al together
• A raster view for skills and inventory (with a mouse-over for item information)
• Illogical initial targeting of different types of skills; let's say I want to heal myself or a party member, it's starts sometimes start on the enemy I last cast a damage spell on. The other way around it's the same; I want to cast Stone on a Stuffed Dodo, then I target myself initially. Can there be restriction added that just doesn't make it possible to target a curing or buffing skill on an enemy and vice versa (damage skill on yourself or allies)?
• It would be nice to see in the attribute screen how each attribute is comprised in total. Let's say Strength is 20 and get's a bonus from a ring (+1) and a sword (+1), that it would say (20+1+1) in the attribute screen when you hover over that certain attribute
• You currently see the stats that are better when (for example) viewing a different sword then you have equipped. Maybe the boost (or loss) you get from that item can be shown (the difference), instead of going way back to your inventory and having to note some things down to see the differences
• A special bubble above the Behest NPC's would be nice
• Can Guild task NPC's get other bubbles above their head then the quest sign? It's pretty misleading
• Can the blue (with stars) quest "completed" bubble also be shown likewise on the map?
• Some NPC's/interactive items hold like Lore- and game-specific texts. Maybe they can be marked so they are more easily to be found when you get near them?
• Can NPC's that give leve-quests be marked too with a special card-like bubble. This would be handy and convenient
• Chatting while loading (black "Now Loading" screen) would be handy. I often experience loss of lines when chatting and entering a loading screen. Or either keep the text you typed after the loading is done
• Can the game (in-game) describe a bit more about the Astral and Umbral damage type and how it's resisted? Maybe in a NPC and/or in the skills/attribute screen
• The description of synthesis/mining/bait/etc. items doesn't always show what classes it is for. Can that be shown on these items just like "arm" and "sub" items?
• Can you please show the real map while viewing in quest mode? The default maybe may be crowded sometimes, but it's more difficult to find often when not showing anything at all (except the target place/NPC). Maybe just give that bubble an extra radiant glow on the quest map?
• Clearer details on active buffs/debuffs/facility-effects?
• Clearer details on what Guardian's favor buffs actual give you?
• The Wait function in Synthesis is off course fairly obvious, but still, it would be nice to show a bit more detail in the description what it's good for
• Showing ranks of the recipes while performing Synthesis would be great. It's still a bit vague at the moment
• Its not clear at all "why" crystals are needed and why it shows the required skills (that you don't see anywhere else in your character's profile or skill list?)
• More then four slots while trading would be great. Exchanging ingredients with friends takes forever
• The positions of party members on the map only get's updated if you actually move yourself for a moment. This isn't very convenient
• Battle Regiment is very vague. I tried it some times together with some people, but we didn't seem to get it right. Maybe this can be tutorialized and/or documented better?
• A bit more tutorialized texts at the nodes would really help a lot. I try to read everything that's possible, but still feel like I know so less. It's hard to get your head around things in-game
• Casting seems to sometimes have great lags, sometimes resulting in unnecessary deaths. I compared this in real life with two clients (PC's) next to each other (2 players in the same party), but on both player's perspective the casting was greatly lagged, canceled or not cast at all (without any restriction of gameplay effects being met or notifications of that being given)

System
• Can we get a free rows macro system so we can easily copy multiline text from other places?
• Can we get a few more macro rows. Maybe sacrificing some max. macro's possible? Most macro users use like three macro's because they can't all the actions in one
• The DirectX crash bug while performing ALT+TAB in fullscreen or minimizing in windowed mode is a bit disturbing for people that do a lot of multi-tasking :-)%

[KRose]

• It's disturbing to constantly lose your skill bars due to class swapping. Maybe you can add saved skill bar state for each class a character has?

YES PLEASE.

• It's hard to find out what skills you can and can't still use cross-class in the Skills & Traits window. Maybe add some clarifying GUI/text?

I don't think it's incredibly difficult to be honest. When I'm on Pugilist I can clearly see that I'm unable to use Speed Surge, a Lancer technique because it says "Requires: Polearm" where Skull Sunder II, a Marauder technique, says Discipline of War or Magic.

• Can we see amounts in skills' their buff/debuff/damage/heal/regen/degen descriptions?

Yes please.

• Damage over Time durations are unknown (how long does Stone's DoT take?)

I actually think there's some BG testing for this... floating around... but it would be nice to know.

• Stoneskin reduced damage but also get's removed when the damage line is crossed. Can we get more details in description of the skill and other skills like this?

Stoneskin's description clearly says it absorbs a certain amount of damage. You can pretty much infer that if it absorbs 500 damage and you get hit for 534 that you're gonna take 34 damage. Mind you, you know know that you took 534 unless you know that Stoneskin actually absorbs 500 damage if that's what you're referring to. I don't know what other skills you mean =/

• A skill follow-up system would be nice to see the next skill you ready above the current activating skill

Is this really necessary though? I think the only skill with any sort of activation required is Rage of Halone (my GLA is only 32 so I don't know).

• Drag-and-drop skill icons. It's a big hassle to constantly browse all the skill lists and putting them al together

I wouldn't use this, but it'd be a nice option.

• A raster view for skills and inventory (with a mouse-over for item information)

I don't know that this is necessary lol.

• Illogical initial targeting of different types of skills; let's say I want to heal myself or a party member, it's starts sometimes start on the enemy I last cast a damage spell on. The other way around it's the same; I want to cast Stone on a Stuffed Dodo, then I target myself initially. Can there be restriction added that just doesn't make it possible to target a curing or buffing skill on an enemy and vice versa (damage skill on yourself or allies)?

Don't hold me to this, but I believe this has to do with Main/Sub targeting. It would be nice to see a fix though. When I'm healing I tend to just ready the Cure and then click over in the party window whoever I want to get healed. You can do the same thing for abilities like Accomplice.

• It would be nice to see in the attribute screen how each attribute is comprised in total. Let's say Strength is 20 and get's a bonus from a ring (+1) and a sword (+1), that it would say (20+1+1) in the attribute screen when you hover over that certain attribute

You mean instead of it just showing your allotment + gear at once? Yeah, I suppose that'd be useful. XI did it like that.

• You currently see the stats that are better when (for example) viewing a different sword then you have equipped. Maybe the boost (or loss) you get from that item can be shown (the difference), instead of going way back to your inventory and having to note some things down to see the differences

YES PLEASE.

• A special bubble above the Behest NPC's would be nice.

But it specifically calls him the Battle Warden.

• Can Guild task NPC's get other bubbles above their head then the quest sign? It's pretty misleading

ACCURATE.

• Can the blue (with stars) quest "completed" bubble also be shown likewise on the map?

YES PLEASE.

• Some NPC's/interactive items hold like Lore- and game-specific texts. Maybe they can be marked so they are more easily to be found when you get near them?

I'm not sure what you're asking... you could just talk to them. NPCs are pretty amusing.

• Can NPC's that give leve-quests be marked too with a special card-like bubble. This would be handy and convenient

You want a lot of these bubble things. If such a thing was implemented (which it probably will be to be honest) it'd be nice if they made it so you could toggle it off for those who don't want more clutter.

• Chatting while loading (black "Now Loading" screen) would be handy. I often experience loss of lines when chatting and entering a loading screen. Or either keep the text you typed after the loading is done

Chatting needs fixed anyway. Your chat lines being lost between synthesis actions, window changes, etc is ridiculous.

• Can the game (in-game) describe a bit more about the Astral and Umbral damage type and how it's resisted? Maybe in a NPC and/or in the skills/attribute screen

This is ingame. Umbral is Water/Ice/Earth and Astral is Fire/Wind/Lightning.

• The description of synthesis/mining/bait/etc. items doesn't always show what classes it is for. Can that be shown on these items just like "arm" and "sub" items?

Not sure what items you're referring to.

• Can you please show the real map while viewing in quest mode? The default maybe may be crowded sometimes, but it's more difficult to find often when not showing anything at all (except the target place/NPC). Maybe just give that bubble an extra radiant glow on the quest map?

That'd be amazing.

• Clearer details on active buffs/debuffs/facility-effects?

Buffs/Debuffs are pretty straightforward. Facility effects are getting the boot I believe so I wouldn't really worry about those. UNTIL that happens though, stick with the recommended facility for crafting. Tests showed that using higher than the recommended didn't actually do anything beneficial.

• Clearer details on what Guardian's favor buffs actual give you?

It's an SP Bonus regardless of your guardian. It might be changed in the future though... that'd be pretty cool.

• The Wait function in Synthesis is off course fairly obvious, but still, it would be nice to show a bit more detail in the description what it's good for

...how do you go into detail about waiting? haha

• Showing ranks of the recipes while performing Synthesis would be great. It's still a bit vague at the moment

Instead of thinking you have a chance in hell to attempt that R43 synth that the game lets you attempt to R33 and you don't find out how difficult it is until you attempt it and start bombing? It kinda doesn't make sense for your character to attempt to make something and already know the degree of difficulty you know? Although you can kind of guess based off the mats. For example, Sheepskin is used in the R13 Harness, Dodoskin in 23, Buffalo in 33, Toad in 43, you can pretty much assume that Raptor will be used for the R53 harness. Now as far as reward recipes... those should have a rank attached.

• Its not clear at all "why" crystals are needed and why it shows the required skills (that you don't see anywhere else in your character's profile or skill list?)

If this is talking about what I think it is, mess around with the main story some more =]

• More then four slots while trading would be great. Exchanging ingredients with friends takes forever

YES PLEASE.

• The positions of party members on the map only get's updated if you actually move yourself for a moment. This isn't very convenient

ACCURATE.

• Battle Regiment is very vague. I tried it some times together with some people, but we didn't seem to get it right. Maybe this can be tutorialized and/or documented better?

Once you get a hang of it it's amazing, but the chance of you using it very often is pretty low. They're also about to get rid of it during their battle adjustments so I wouldn't worry about it too much. If you do still wanna do it though, PM me and I'll go into detail about it.

• A bit more tutorialized texts at the nodes would really help a lot. I try to read everything that's possible, but still feel like I know so less. It's hard to get your head around things in-game

I don't know what at nodes it is you'd want.

• Casting seems to sometimes have great lags, sometimes resulting in unnecessary deaths. I compared this in real life with two clients (PC's) next to each other (2 players in the same party), but on both player's perspective the casting was greatly lagged, canceled or not cast at all (without any restriction of gameplay effects being met or notifications of that being given)

I've heard about it, so it's definitely a big enough issue to be addressed.

System

• Can we get a free rows macro system so we can easily copy multiline text from other places?

Yes please.

• Can we get a few more macro rows. Maybe sacrificing some max. macro's possible? Most macro users use like three macro's because they can't all the actions in one

Yes please.

• The DirectX crash bug while performing ALT+TAB in fullscreen or minimizing in windowed mode is a bit disturbing for people that do a lot of multi-tasking

ACCURATE.

Sorry if this was too long OR if anything seems harsh/abrasive. I assure you, I didn't mean to come off as rude in any of the responses!