Increase range/change animation of Auto-attack with Staves/Rods/Books

[Jonnycbad]

Please increase the range of auto-attack with THM,CNJ,ARC,BLM,WHM,SCH,SMN weapons. Instead of being melee swings, let the player shoot tiny little balls of aether from their weapon at the target. For those who don't know, auto-attack on mage jobs, while seemingly impractical, is not an insignificant amount of DPS. In fact, look at the DMG rating on Midan Grimoire (3.12 Delay 84.24 auto attack), compared to Midan Spear (2.88 delay 77.76 auto attack). This is pretty significant, except 98% of the time a mage would not be in range to deal any autoattack damage. Letting Books and Staves have a 10-15' auto attack animation would be awesome! Hells, in FF Tactics, Books had pretty good range for attacking!


Besides, it looks dumb to swing a Book at a mob, and would make more sense if a little ball/beam fired out of it instead, and no, Ruin doesn't count.

This is how BLM/THM/WHM/CNJ's 2handed auto-attack animation could look, taken from Dragon's Dogma:

[Powe]

But why would any Mage use auto attack?

[Jonnycbad]

Curerently, they can't because they need to be in range, but a BLM or SMN still has their weapon drawn when casting anyway. A WHM or SCH still has their weapon drawn when they cast heals, and could remain targetting the boss to deliver ranged auto attacks while using mouseover cures. If you are targetting something while casting Bio II or Fire IV, between casts, you could swing your Staff and auto-attack from afar by shooting a little bolt. Just saying Mage weapons have good auto attack, but mages are rarely ever in range to use it, so why not give it range and let auto-attacking work that way for mage weapons like how BRD and MCH auto attacks have range.

[DarthVella]

Pros: slight easy-to-balance increase in mage damage, a practical use for auto-attack on caster characters.

Cons: removal of the amusing ability to deal a deathblow on a low health mob or boss with a booksmack.

[Tint]

i don't need an auto attack for my mage, thanks. it would just lead to a nef of all spells and / or the magick base stat of the weapon. so you are just transferring the attack power from your spells to the auto attack, wich is automatic and does not improve the gameplay at all.

[SpiritMuse]

Are auto attacks even possible when you're constantly casting?

[Hasrat]

Are auto attacks even possible when you're constantly casting?

I don't know the answer, but I can say there are plenty of spells that cast instant, leaving a couple seconds before you can start the next. Possibly time enough to register an auto-attack.

[Nekotee]

Yes they are

The auto attack Land right at the end of your cast and is not sync or locked by any skill or animation
You can see a very little tiny number popping out saying you're auto attacking

As black mage it's not really relevant since they got the worse str (i do crit around 80 per staff stab on NiddEX)
As smn or healer... that could be
I know i dis use it on hummelfaust as AST that gave a little boost to grab more place in the ranking XD

[Xenosan]

SMN has the mobility capable to move in for AAs, and at least in 2.x it was regular to stay in melee range as much as possible for that boost. BLM, any mobility is a nerf to output so you won't see that.

Obviously, it depends on the encounter and other factors. But in solo/fate or whatever, turn that AA on for the extra damage. Unlike DoW jobs, using Weaponskills/Spells with casters does not auto-activate AAs, casters need to double click the enemy to enable AAs. They just added the [ o>>> ] to the target display UI. It's not melee that need to worry about whether they're AAing or not, since their attacks turn on AAs automaticaly. It's for caster/healers/rDPS. So, if/when permitted they should be AAing I believe.

I think a ranged auto attack for casters would be a fun addition and a welcome update for those jobs,

including WHM/AST/SCH.

[Dualblade]

Pros: slight easy-to-balance increase in mage damage, a practical use for auto-attack on caster characters.

Cons: removal of the amusing ability to deal a deathblow on a low health mob or boss with a booksmack.

Just have it where they still melee hit when in range and there you go.