What if damage numbers were not displayed ?

[Reynhart]

Sometime, I really feel like I have not much to do in FFXIV. Instead of complaining about the lack of content, I usually take that time to play another game, and the last one is Black Desert Online.

After several hours, I realize one thing very different between those two games : damage is not displayed on-screen.

And it got me thinking...what if the same was applied to FFXIV ?
Every time someone suggested skill trees or special abilities on weapons and armor, the answer will always be "No, because people will always determine what's the best option, and will refuse anyone who doesn't follow that".
Problems are : first, the "best option" is always intended as "the more DPS option", and second, those people are actually far more restricting than the game itself. It's because of this that we had "Sorry, no PLD" in 3.0-3.1, despite the fact the job could bold well enough in every content.

But, if damage wasn't displayed, suddenly, you can't nail down this absolute best solution (Which is probably not always the "absolute" best, anyway...), and would give far more room to tests and experiences. Of course, we'd still have the potency of our skills, so the best rotation could still be theorized based on potency par second (Especially so, since they've confirmed that the potency/damage ratio is linear), and we'd also still have Stone Sky and Sea to train our rotation on a 3 minutes countdown.

[Gatzamus]

In black desert, the devs did their best to prevent min-maxing by obscuring nearly everything relating to combat just so people can feel better about their casual special snowflake builds.

This game doesn't have build variety, and even if it did, it's far better to know exactly how much damage you're doing.

Limiting everyone's ability to optimize and min-max just because some shitters want to pretend like they're worth as much as those who use proper builds is ridiculous.

[Ashelia_Ferron]

The only thing not displaying numbers would do is prevent gear optimization.

Skills still have potency values, which is all one needs to calculate optimal rotations. That's why parsers have a "potency only" option so you can calculate PPS, not DPS.

So unless you mean you want to remove potency values from skill descriptions (which, would be stupid) then it wouldn't change anything

[xJimmehx]

Limiting everyone's ability to optimize and min-max

You can still min/max..

Of course, we'd still have the potency of our skills, so the best rotation could still be theorized based on potency par second (Especially so, since they've confirmed that the potency/damage ratio is linear), and we'd also still have Stone Sky and Sea to train our rotation on a 3 minutes countdown.

Theres always the battle log in the chat as well. I dont have a preference personally. I do think i would like to try playing this game with less HUD and immerse myself in the world a little more. I dont get the same feeling i would in a single player game. I dont really look at monsters. Too busy perfecting my DPS to make everything die fast to notice how pretty anything may or may not look. So i would be ok with this option. If it isnt already possible to hide pop up text. Ive actually been trying to learn to play with my hud off except for the party list and some macros for mounting/enabling hud components when needed. Even chat is hidden normally.(Fc is set to audio alert me.) XD

[Ashelia_Ferron]

Also note that even if damage is not displayed, it's still calculated internally.

And since parsers go off internal data..... You change nothing except annoy non-parsing players since they can't even get a rough estimate of their damage

[Reynhart]

This game doesn't have build variety, and even if it did, it's far better to know exactly how much damage you're doing.

No, actually, it's not that important. This mentality is what creates insane situation like people requiring a Relic to invite you to Titan Hard mode back in 2.0, or asking a Gordian weapon to join a static in 3.0.

Limiting everyone's ability to optimize and min-max just because some shitters want to pretend like they're worth as much as those who use proper builds is ridiculous.

You make it sound like proper build is miiiiiles away from other where the difference is minimal once you've obtained the highest ilvl you can. Secondary stats have so little impact compared to primary stats that we should have far more option to equip ourselves outside of "Crit + Det build only".

So unless you mean you want to remove potency values from skill descriptions (which, would be stupid) then it wouldn't change anything

Actually, it's the exact opposite. You could work on your rotation all you want by calculating potencies, and it would be the same wether you want focus your gear on parry, skillspeed, Det or Crit.

Theres always the battle log in the chat as well.

No, actually, I'd remove damage even in the log. The idea is really to remove any way to see the damage.

[xJimmehx]

No, actually, I'd remove damage even in the log. The idea is really to remove any way to see the damage.

Ah, I would only be ok with hiding my damage from others(optionally) and pop up text tends to flood my screen so a option to toggle that would be cool too if it is not already in game.(I should look :P) Theres no reason to hide damage from yourself really. Unless your going to yell at yourself for not meeting your own goals.(lol) Though, I do understand why youd want to hide it from other people, and/or for immersion purposes if that is your thing as well.

Edit: Actually there is a reason to hide it from yourself. If you can see dragoon dps with a certain gearset while your a dragoon, then you no longer need to see others damage to know what theyll do with the same conditions/set on the same class.. so theres that. But This also requires you having identical rotations. Either way i dont support losing the ability to see my own damage.

[Reynhart]

Ah, I would only be ok with hiding my damage from others(optionally) and pop up text tends to flood my screen so a option to toggle that would be cool too if it is not already in game.

The problem is that if they have a way of seeing their own damage, they'll still theorycraft exactly what is the best (And thus, only...) option, on their own. They'd still be able to determine the weight of each stats, post this on Arilaya, etc...
This would be enough for everyone to bash you on the head on how such setup is better even if they just heard it from their elite friend...exactly like even non world-firsters were eager to jump on the "PLD sucks" wagon even though it made absolutely no meaningful difference for them.

[xJimmehx]

Yeah. im not sure youll solve that particular problem even if you did hide damage. People single out classes in Black Desert too, even without the information on screen. It was a good idea though and I cant blame you for trying.

[Ashelia_Ferron]

No, actually, it's not that important. This mentality is what creates insane situation like people requiring a Relic to invite you to Titan Hard mode back in 2.0, or asking a Gordian weapon to join a static in 3.0.

You make it sound like proper build is miiiiiles away from other where the difference is minimal once you've obtained the highest ilvl you can. Secondary stats have so little impact compared to primary stats that we should have far more option to equip ourselves outside of "Crit + Det build only".

Actually, it's the exact opposite. You could work on your rotation all you want by calculating potencies, and it would be the same wether you want focus your gear on parry, skillspeed, Det or Crit.

So wait, is this thread about gear or skills?