Controllers, hotbars, cycling... Worried for the future

[Teraluna]

To be fair, they've done a damn good job with the controller options they provide.

They have.
The OP's concern is reaching the limit of it's capability v any new skills/cycling mechanics that come along.
As a pc player I share that concern
Not in regard to the capability of the keyboard - but for this: just how many skills does a class need to make it interesting?
For example 5 x hotbars full of marginally different skills wouldn't be it.
Quality over quantity any day.

[The_Last_Dragoon]

There is something that they could do to make it even easier for Controller users, and that is to set which Cross Hotbars get cycled when you tap R1. This would essentially allow you to fill up ~3 hotbars with strictly battle actions while still maintaining a single tap R1 cycle and using the extended hotbars to access the 3rd set. You could then make a 4th set with all of the more generic actions such as Mounting, teleporting, and Returning.

[TaranTatsuuchi]

There is something that they could do to make it even easier for Controller users, and that is to set which Cross Hotbars get cycled when you tap R1. This would essentially allow you to fill up ~3 hotbars with strictly battle actions while still maintaining a single tap R1 cycle and using the extended hotbars to access the 3rd set. You could then make a 4th set with all of the more generic actions such as Mounting, teleporting, and Returning.

That option is already available.

You can turn on settings for which bars it will cycle through when the weapon is drawn, or sheathed.

[The_Last_Dragoon]

That option is already available.

You can turn on settings for which bars it will cycle through when the weapon is drawn, or sheathed.

Is that under Hotbar settings? I don't see it.

[TaranTatsuuchi]

Is that under Hotbar settings? I don't see it.

Character -> Hotbar -> Custom

Enable auto hotbar switching when drawing/sheathing weapon
Enable customization when weapon is sheathed.
Enable customization when weapon is drawn.

[Mycow8me]

just how many skills does a class need to make it interesting?.

This is a pretty important statement IMHO. I have alot of fun on my chars already, having new skills added sounds important at first since your character is progressing but there are other ways to go about it and still have something new to look forward to. Alot of ideas have been mentioned already... traits, enhance current skills, new skill animations and FX, or even empowering combos with temporary buffs/debuffs>mobs.

I myself would be ok with 1 or 2 new skills but thinking progressively, if this game gets up to the lvl 99 range similar to ffxi (with gear ilvl somewhere over 9000, lol no really though) how many skills will we have by then and is it necessary to have that many? Will our job be any more fun with a bunch more skills to use? The more skills we receive the higher the curve for player skill will need to be in order to be "gud" and fully utilize every class's skills. It will create a larger gap between highly skilled players and the people who are atleast trying their best.

[Zari]

On my controller settings I have my first bar as usual, then my second bar uses the extended cross hotbar L2>R2 for left side and R2>L2 for right side. If I need a 3rd hotbar it is fine as well.

One tip I would have is learn to cycle hotbars with holding R1 then pressing the corresponding face button. I got used to it and can now easily cycle through all of my hotbars easily without having to press R1 a bunch of times.
Want to go to the 3rd? R1+X, use the ability, then just R1+triangle back to first hotbar. Dont have to press R1 multiple times to get through to different hotbars

[Zari]

(Cant edit on mobile)

Oh and forgot to mention
For important cooldowns and such that are not on my first cross-hotbar I set up one of the keyboard hotbars on my screen (with the "only show used slots" function on so the empty slots dont clutter my screen) and put those cooldowns in there as well so i can always see when they are available

[Mattelot]

I think SE should do ability crunching like WoW did with success. Some abilities should be combined.

[RaizeGraymalkin]

Solution is simple. Don't add more abilities. We don't need them. Just modify existing ones and add traits. Done.