Gauges, HUD, and other attempts to bring the DPS floor up, won't work

[Kaurie]

@ Kaurie


As you so pointedly called me out: Fine, lets address this. Yes, this will help some people, it will provide feedback, and will do as stated to provide increased visibility. However, I still have, serious doubts that they will close the 'extreme DPS disparity' by any significant margin, as the given size of the particular demographic that this would actually help is unknown to me, whereas I have personal experience with large numbers of stupid people. So as long as the number of currently derp, but otherwise trainable players who just need a big shiny meter to watch is larger than the demographic of netflix afk'ing/botting/stupid people, then YES, this will fix the problem. There. I said it.

I appreciate the effort to have a good discussion, but the part of my post you quoted was in response to another player. It was directly addressing the feasibility of a parser improving play, rather than the gauges.

[Xylas]

How about we see it in action before we declare it won't work, eh?

This. Also I'm tired of staring at the top of my screen while I'm fighting.

[semc]

So what's the issue? It will possibly close the gap for people who aren't AFK or have read a tooltip (Stupid people), but you can't fix (stupid people) without making the system itself stupid. So it may help those it can, it probably won't help those who no system could help. That's a successful thought in my eyes.

You know what...the fact that I even have to do a visual explanation of my reasoning, is perhaps the only convincing argument I need that you are ALL correct, and that I'm VERY VERY wrong.

[Greedalox]

You know what...the fact that I even have to do a visual explanation of my reasoning, is perhaps the only convincing argument I need that you are ALL correct, and that I'm VERY VERY wrong.

I think you're essentially missing the point that the system was never meant to remove the skill gap, but to lessen it. No, the system won't make all non-afk MCH do 3k DPS. It might help a MCH who would normally do 1500 do 2000. Is the gap closed? No, but it's better than it was. That's the claim people are making.

If it does help the bottom of the barrel DPS who are actually trying, that's a GOOD thing because it does bring them closer to higher end DPS. It won't make all DPS identical in their output.

[RaijinSupreme]

Exactly. This is the wrong solution to this problem. It might help some, but it won't shrink the DPS gap. They're trying to compensate for player stupidity by making big blinking glowing indicators. It'll help other people though.
I guess you could say that this is the fidget spinner for modern UI design.

Then what is the right solution? the only thing that can indefinitely help all of the player base get good is if they make it so that this game essentially plays itself. I don't want this game to become so hand-holding that all the challenge of mastering the jobs or the fights are nonexistent. There are already many tools in game that people can use to get better if they desired. and while I would love if more people were better at the game, I don't want SE to take the responsibility solely in their hands. If that happens, I don't think I would be able to play this game anymore, everything would be so easy and boring. We have to meet them halfway.


But I like the effort SE is making though. Its not overbearing, but its still intuitive and aesthetically pleasing. They certainly make the jobs more interesting and easier to understand, but they are still challenging. Its a really good step.

But if you have a solution that will hit all bases, and still keep the game interesting to play, I would love to read it.

[RaizeGraymalkin]

Less buffs, and less DOTS to worry about means the floor is raised a bit for newer players, which is good. Part of the problem now is players forgetting to use their buffs and leaving their DOTS off and losing out on all that damage. It's not gonna take a beginner to Savage level, but it doesn't have to.

[Leigaon]

Pardon my oversimplification, but is this really going to work? Has anyone ever thought, man, my DPS would suck less if I only had a giant graphical representation of my skill timers taking up a chunk of the middle of my screen! Are the rere's really going to stop being really bad at their job just because some logo starts flashing red and blinking screaming 'use your damn cool-down/combo abilities now!'?

I don't think it will make the gap close as much as they think it will but it will do something. By how much, I don't know. Mixed up with the other adjustments? Yes, by a larger number I hope but we have to wait to see.

So I agree things will hit a wall, and it won't solve all the issues. Your list..seems to go off the rails a little bit. If we're talking about pure gameplay? No, if we're talking about reducing the damage dealing gap? Then I don't see how someone who knows how to teleport or use their chocobo is going to hinder a run. Don't know much about Savage content but if it involves finding an auction house..maybe I've been missing out?

What it will do is help people who aren't able to keep their buffs up because they can't watch the fight along with the numbers & icons for their buffs. There's times when you have so much going on or so much on you that you need to track down the icon. Say a Ninja who needs to keep up their buffs. Some people will play WAR and get used to knowing how much moves take away from the gauge, others will be comfortable with the number.

I'm not saying this is the only reason, but there's reasons behind it. Now whether it benefits that person, depends on them. The other things they are doing in this game is going to help with the damage dealing from those that lack the numbers, this could very well contribute but it won't be the main factor.

[Ama_Hamada]

The hudd itself is not the thing that helps the DPS gap be less. It is the overhaul in the battle system in general. Like BLM and enochian, "Do i use this on this trash pack or save for boss? is the time spacing enough to be used on both? *insert mechanic that causes boss to vanish or something dying before blizzard IV* all of a sudden you are a mediocre DPS for losing enochian. YOU NEED enochian up 24/7 to be able compete. If you did not need it up 24/7 to compete and more like bonus damage maybe there be no need to change it.

BRD got an overhaul it its rotations, we have no idea how big the skill gap will be with the changes, same with MCH. (These jobs, by far had the biggest skill gaps, see one BRD i270 AOE damage for 1200 dps, another 4000 dps? a bit much don't you think?) So when you see a change like that it shows me SE is aware of what jobs have the biggest skill gaps as far as DPS. It is not going to remove the gap completely and I do not think any system should otherwise the experienced will be board to tears. At the same time however it shouldn't be so diffcult for most people that you find yourself failing DPS check on a1s with 20% echo because 1 or 2 brd/mch don't know the proper rotations.

In general we do not know how the changes effect needing to have split second timing where 40 ms and 100 ms effects your rotations to cause the skill gaps to begin with.

[Cadmar]

Badies gonna bad.

OP. I agree with every single thing you said. Don't let the terrorists win.

[LunaFaye]

I don't think it will change something, in fact I do believe that now people have a other excuse, when it comes to dodging because they needed to pay attention to that gauge. For me it's an cosmetically touch they added, but wasn't necessary at all. However I do like to look at pretty things, and sometimes you do have some battles, that make you miss a GCD or refreshing of buff/dots etc. That might help some people, but it's not going to make dps hit higher numbers, might even create the opposite or as mentioned, lead to more chaos on the field. I still think it's an great optical/visual touch added to the overall hud layout, that's about it.

Any other battle system changes weren't necessary either, however I am excited because it gives the feel of a brand new game to it, we will see how it turns out in the long run tho.