[Suggestion] Implement Practice / Test Dummy

[RemVye]

If there is one thing I consider valuable that you could implement from another MMO, it's World of Warcrafts practice dummy.

For those who didn't play WoW:

Practice dummies were in each city and had varying ranges (level 60, 70, 80, heroic boss level). They were stationary targets that didn't attack or move and just allowed any person to target them and blast away spells, melee attacks, items, whatever you wanted to do. They never die and mainly serve the point to practice your class rotations, parse and measure dps with different gear sets, testing out macros or items, and whatever else you can think of.

I think this would be an invaluable tool for the players of FFXIV. It would help players practice there combo's and test how different stats affect them, and in the future when 3rd party add-ons can be used in the game there could be a lot of additional use that helps people to play at a higher skill level.

I'd suggest putting them in every city, maybe in an area that doesn't have as much traffic to help spread people through the city more. And I'd also suggest making several different levels (e.g. 25, 50, 60, 65 [primals]).

It would be great if this could be seen before 2.0, however unlikely that is. Maybe it's possible to implement a temporary solution (e.g. a Goobbue that doesn't move or attack and never dies). It doesn't have to be fancy.


Anyway - this is something I think would help a lot of players learn to play all classes and help with learning combos.



EDIT: JP makes a post a week after me, rep post the same day. I make this post... no comments for 2 weeks, then a rep post and BOOM! this blew up fast. Only took a rep post! and a 2 weeks.

[Raldo]

I love this idea!

[Sanlord]

Very good idea +1.

[Opabinia]

I think the dummy should fight back. There should also be different 'kinds' of enemies that use the techniques you see 'in the wild'. So you can adapt your strategy and check what works best agains what kinds of enemies.

[NoctisUmbra]

I think the dummy should fight back. There should also be different 'kinds' of enemies that use the techniques you see 'in the wild'. So you can adapt your strategy and check what works best agains what kinds of enemies.

No, no, no. If you want practice against kinds of enemies, you practice on those enemies. The point of the dummy is primarily number-crunching. Increase certain stats and see how they effect your offensive ability.

That being said, if the player had control over whether or not the dummy attacked it I can see it being useful in testing defensive ability. No need for making them simulate actual enemies though - the enemies themselves do that just fine.

+1 for this idea.

[Griss]

Something i would love to see is following.

Incapacitation zones based on mob types so performing these would become second nature.

Second the ability to toggle on or off the ability for the dummy to rotate be it to always face the player or to simulate a hate shift to a second or third party for a "real wold" practice of combo's.

[Saiph]

Do not want!
If you want to test your dmg then go out of the city and start figting mobs.

[NoctisUmbra]

Do not want!
If you want to test your dmg then go out of the city and start figting mobs.

... and a test dummy gets in the way of you doing that how?

[RemVye]

Do not want!
If you want to test your dmg then go out of the city and start figting mobs.

Testing damage isn't the only reason...

Practicing combo's on a stationary mob is easier than one that can move.

Macros

Attack range

Ability Rotations

A more consistent gauge for dps. (Mob level can vary in areas and you can't really solo Ifrit can you?)
-Not to mention its hard to test DPS on mobs that die in 15 seconds.


*You may not want this, but if you read the suggestion it would be to put it in an under used part of the Cities, so chance that you would "stumble" across it are low. You would have to go to the area they are housed.*

[Saiph]

Testing damage isn't the only reason...

Practicing combo's on a stationary mob is easier than one that can move.

Macros

Attack range

Ability Rotations

A more consistent gauge for dps. (Mob level can vary in areas and you can't really solo Ifrit can you?)
-Not to mention its hard to test DPS on mobs that die in 15 seconds.


*You may not want this, but if you read the suggestion it would be to put it in an under used part of the Cities, so chance that you would "stumble" across it are low. You would have to go to the area they are housed.*

you can that that all in a real fight too. And you will learn more then just hitting on a dummy.
dont you want to explore your own skills and stregth through a real fight rather then hitting a dummy and see what kind of dmg you do.
I also wonder if you will get any good results, because you have to count in so many factors when calculating dmg. lvl of mob, defense, vit and maybe even more. Mobs have diffrent stats so what stats would you give the dummy?