(trying)Looking at the game as a new player

[Blitz0309]

Well i just came back to this game after a long absence. Figured that i could possibly give some perspective on it. And before i try and go all rambo making threads in the appropriate areas.. i thought i'd post some of the things i've found that i believe are downers and see what you guys think.

I actually did a little journal, but i won't bore you with that at this point. I intend on eventually doing a review and am keeping notes on everything as i progress through from 1-50. I'm doing this in hopes of getting my friends to try the game again. But enough about my goals.. here are some things that i think are worth mentioning to the dev's to look into. I am trying VERY HARD to not compare this game to any other MMO i've played (ffxi, wow, warhammer, age of conan, guild wars.. you get the idea). I am basically ignoring everything i've played and looking at this as a guy who just picked up his first MMO. (also not googling/reading the forum... so some of the stuff i complain about might be fixed or fixable.. i had a whole list on the gui that i found i could customize my second day playing when i had more time to play).

UI related:
-The chat log will automatically go to the bottom of the log if you click off it after trying to see something that happened in the past. Couldn't it stay at least till it gets another update?
-Key binding, can't you rebind a key and have it say "key X is no longer bound to *what it was bound to*" as opposed to saying "its already in use" and making you track it down
-Can we have an option to get rid of the level/agro indicators (even when disabled in the UI, when targeting a mob they are still displayed) and get a /check function back? (sorry i'm old school.. yes i know a newbie wouldn't know this but damnit... i like a challenge)
-Can escape work as a universal auto out on all menus. For instance when you get asked on the guardian of aspect, the first dialouge box you have to hit enter then you can escape out. Hitting escape on the first diolouge does nothing.

Level related
-If i'm doing a level where i need items from mobs (say teeth from rats), and i'm fighting a set of rats and get the last drop... why does the other rat stop attacking and despawn. Its more of an immersion thing, but it was kinda shocking when it happened (not to mention i was looking forward to destroying the bugger).
-"enemy appears" message is sort of missleading at times. I had this happen when the mob was a great deal away from me. I looked around to see if i could find it locally before realizing it meant it spawned on the other side of a ravine by looking at the map.
-Battle leves seem sort of pointless. I know the idea behind them. But they feel impersonal, its not like you're doing it for someone unlike the crafting leves. You're not doing this for a person, sure there is back story on the tablet but its the same leves for the same camp.
-Not sure if i like the "hand holding" of spawning mobs specifically for a player and having an arrow point to them... where is the adventure? I mean, i did get these at the adventures guild :P.

Death
-When you die, why not have a popup as opposed to a message in your chat log telling you to return in the menu? Just a "Do you wish to return y/n"? I kinda missed the message (as i sorta butchered the chat windows/ui to be more to my liking)

Battle related
-If you don't have TP a move isn't highlighted because you can't do it. Why is this different with feint where its highlighted, but you can't execute it till you miss an attack? Either way the "requirements aren't met".
-Not being able to remove class specific actions from your action bar. I just moved them to another bar.. but why can't i just take them off if i don't plan to use them?
-When fighting 2 mobs, and i use an ability to kill the first one. I see its health go to 0, i see that i got xp and drops from it.. but i still have a delay before i can target the second? Its not a long delay, but it feels like it when you still have another mob smacking you around. Its not game breaking, but its annoying and worth mentioning.
-Even fighting 2 mobs in "active" mode, if i kill one and another attacks i target it, but won't auto attack it until i hit enter/select it. The same thing occurs when a mob goes underground(mole) or a bogy does a phase out attack. I have to reselect to attack a mob i'm already attacking... shouldn't the auto attack kick in if you're in active mode and have something in range targeted?
- Clicking your mouse, such as moving a window or looking at the chat log, can untarget even a "locked" enemy causing you to stop attacking.
-Why is it on the action bar if you use a spell you have to select a target, but if you use a weapon ability it goes on the target you're attacking? Shouldn't these be the same?
-Active/passive mode, is a key press nessicary? If i want to attack something in passive mode i have to make 2 actions. Go into active (press f), then select the mob to attack (or pick an ability), unless i'm a mage in which i can kill in passive. Why not make active mode itself passive and kick in when you attack a mob, then end when combat ends?
-The action bar dissapears when you don't constantly give an input.. its a little annoying especially if you just moved stuff around and dont remember where you put it. (Granted i'd prefer to do things macro based like in ffxi.. but i've never played that) Could there be an option not to have it go away?
-Can mages not get interupted casting spells by melee attacks? I kinda screwed up and agroed 3 mobs as a conjurer that were 3 levels higher than me... never once got interupted. This might be the way its intended... but if you're trying to cast something with 3 people stabbing you... i'd think it would be difficult.
-How is claiming supposed to work? I attacked a sheep, hit it once, was about to swing again and it fell over dead because a level 50 ranger was one shotting them (this happened 3 or 4 more times despite me asking him to leave me some close to the 4 star mobs i was attempting to get TP to take on).

Camera
-In first person when attacking something such as a rat which moves a bit during the attack the camera tries to follow it, and its pretty annoying. Why not have the camera lock on where the creature physically is and not follow its short attack motion?
-Is there a way to lock the camera behind you? If not, could there be? (sorry, haven't played long and messed with it, which is why i generally go to 1st person)

Enviroment/immersion
-Can we bring life to the town? Have NPc's do something aside from just stand there staring off into the distance? Maybe some ambient wildlife sounds, or bustle of a city? Maybe have some walk, look like they are conversting? The towns feel dead.
-Music.. the battle music just strikes me as odd. Its dramatic and full of energy.. to kill a rat. I could see something of that "energy level" for a boss fight, but not for someone slaughtering sheep.. it gets old, and fast. Same thing with the music when you start a leve.
-The darkness that accompanies every action (weapon ability, spell, ect..) its actually pretty annoying. And seeing how you can spam abilites, i don't see a reason for it. The first time it happens you think "ah, i'm doing something special".. then the weapon skill hits for 3 more damage than an auto attack.
-How it in certain spots i can scale a 6ft wall (assuming my elvaan (yes, not using the new names so :P) is about that tall), but in others i can't get over a 1ft wall?
-Mobs seem too clustered and segragated. It would do a lot for the world if they made it seem more like an ecosystem... hell even have a food chain that "could" be observed if you watched them long enough. (sorry i'm a dork)
-Teleporting.. why? You guys spent a lot of effort making this game pretty. Why make it where you can just jump to any crystal?

Items
- How is it that a single mob dropped 4 soups and 4 cookies? Did i slaughter someones waiter? It just seemed off to me that anything in the wild would carry that much crap.
- Why do i have a loot list... if i'm alone.. by myself.. killing poor sheep?

This is my list as of 2 days of playing (for short periods... damn work and dota2). I edited out most of the things that i think a new person wouldn't complain about.. but its hard when you've been playing mmo's since you were 12 (the old days of dialing in to my sisters boyfriends account at college to telnet out to a MUD... god i'm old).

So... what do you guys think? Valid input or i'm wasting my time? And please try to think about this from the perspective of a new player, not someone who has played since beta.. as the point now is to bring in newbies.

Oh yeah, and if anyone want to play with or talk to a newbie on selbina let me know.

[Coldfire]

Hmm that's a long list and there are some good points. People will probably say "wait until 2.0 and it will be fixed" but I doubt that. SE will most likely do the same mistake and priorize anti-RMT over usability, model details over world details and complexity over stability.

[Masamune1004]

-The action bar dissapears when you don't constantly give an input.. its a little annoying especially if you just moved stuff around and dont remember where you put it. (Granted i'd prefer to do things macro based like in ffxi.. but i've never played that) Could there be an option not to have it go away?

Configuration>System>General>Action Bar Display

[Sarchy_Warchy]

Its a great list and small things go a long way. Attention to detail is important but its still something that seems to lack in this game. FFXIV still has a lot to offer and has some great things going for it, but you helped point out the things that lots of us have already forgotten or gotten used to. Sadly your list will be ignored and/or flamed by proudsmen.

[Alzelia]

- How is it that a single mob dropped 4 soups and 4 cookies? Did i slaughter someones waiter?

Funniest thing I've seen this year!!

[Tempestmoon]

This is a great list, I think you should recreate the points into shorter bullets and post it in the suggestions forum directed to the DEV's

Few Comments. The claiming system works, it goes off who attacks if first so as long as you get the first hit, you get the exp. Even if a 50 comes along and one shots it.

The targeting I am pretty sure is intentional. It gives us the ability to pick our targets and not attack something by mistake that we did not want to. It adds another element to combat in the case of the Moles and gnats as well, if they disappear, why would targeting remain? in real life you would have to franticly look around hoping it does not pop behind you and get your barrings on it again.

[leomike35]

Good list. However, I would add a few things they did right so they dont change those too. Would help the devs out so the old SE with adding one thing that works but take away something else that noone complained about. I made an alt to see how a "new" player would experience ffxiv and from a content standpoint (meaning things to do) I felt slightly overwhelmed.

So I think once 2.0 hits and they can focus on nothing but adding content per se things will be good to go eventually. Depends on how much time folks are willing to wait on the game to mature.

All in all good post.

[Mikita]

Many good observations there.
Just a few I wanted to comment on for the sake of discussion -- not trying to start an argument.

-Why is it on the action bar if you use a spell you have to select a target, but if you use a weapon ability it goes on the target you're attacking? Shouldn't these be the same?

For mages the sub-targeting is very useful.

For attacking, you can remain locked on one enemy while casting a spell on another to inflict it with certain debuffing effects.

For buffing, you can stay locked on an enemy for attacking but choose to cast your buff on different party members.

For healing, you can lock onto the tank to avoid re-targeting hassles, but if the opportunity to attack arises you can sub-target an attack spell onto an enemy.

It may be confusing or even a little frustrating at first, but it becomes very useful once you see how it works.


-Can mages not get interupted casting spells by melee attacks? I kinda screwed up and agroed 3 mobs as a conjurer that were 3 levels higher than me... never once got interupted. This might be the way its intended... but if you're trying to cast something with 3 people stabbing you... i'd think it would be difficult.

You can have your spells interrupted.
Maybe level has something to do with the chance of interruption, but at level 50 I still get interrupted if I'm taking a lot of damage.


-How it in certain spots i can scale a 6ft wall (assuming my elvaan (yes, not using the new names so :P) is about that tall), but in others i can't get over a 1ft wall?

Some people complained about the environmental obstacles being a nuisance so SE deactivated many of them.


-Teleporting.. why? You guys spent a lot of effort making this game pretty. Why make it where you can just jump to any crystal?

You still have to get there the first time -- either by yourself, or have someone take you there.
If you don't like the easy route, you can refuse to accept teleport offers to places you haven't reached yet... or just don't touch the Aetheryte.

Or simply use teleporting and your anima judiciously.
It is extremely useful, but I still like to run, ride a chocobo, or even use the ferry as well. ^^

There have been many heated discussions about teleporting, but this is something that is 100% under the control of the player to use it or not.

[Blitz0309]

Many good observations there.
Just a few I wanted to comment on for the sake of discussion -- not trying to start an argument.

-Why is it on the action bar if you use a spell you have to select a target, but if you use a weapon ability it goes on the target you're attacking? Shouldn't these be the same?

For mages the sub-targeting is very useful.

For attacking, you can remain locked on one enemy while casting a spell on another to inflict it with certain debuffing effects.

For buffing, you can stay locked on an enemy for attacking but choose to cast your buff on different party members.

For healing, you can lock onto the tank to avoid re-targeting hassles, but if the opportunity to attack arises you can sub-target an attack spell onto an enemy.

It may be confusing or even a little frustrating at first, but it becomes very useful once you see how it works.


-Can mages not get interupted casting spells by melee attacks? I kinda screwed up and agroed 3 mobs as a conjurer that were 3 levels higher than me... never once got interupted. This might be the way its intended... but if you're trying to cast something with 3 people stabbing you... i'd think it would be difficult.

You can have your spells interrupted.
Maybe level has something to do with the chance of interruption, but at level 50 I still get interrupted if I'm taking a lot of damage.


-How it in certain spots i can scale a 6ft wall (assuming my elvaan (yes, not using the new names so :P) is about that tall), but in others i can't get over a 1ft wall?

Some people complained about the environmental obstacles being a nuisance so SE deactivated many of them.


-Teleporting.. why? You guys spent a lot of effort making this game pretty. Why make it where you can just jump to any crystal?

You still have to get there the first time -- either by yourself, or have someone take you there.
If you don't like the easy route, you can refuse to accept teleport offers to places you haven't reached yet... or just don't touch the Aetheryte.

Or simply use teleporting and your anima judiciously.
It is extremely useful, but I still like to run, ride a chocobo, or even use the ferry as well. ^^

There have been many heated discussions about teleporting, but this is something that is 100% under the control of the player to use it or not.

You can argue if you want, i won't get offended. When i first posted i was expecting to be called a troll and have the topic derailed (which is the custom of internet forums) so i'm pleasantly surprised

What if i want to use a weapon skill one an add or something? Shouldn't weapon abilities need to have their target confirmed as well? When i was doing a leve i linked a chigoe(or whatever they are called), i wanted to kill it while still engaged to the level target. I dunno, the targetting seems messy to me.

The interruption thing could be level related. It just kinda shocked me. I wouldn't think that a mage could survive agroing 3 higher level mobs. Though it is fun able to blast through things without having to worry about timing your spells between attacks, it just takes out some of the strategy.

As for teleporting... it just seems like it makes everything too accessible. I feel like this game is basically trying to rush me, and from reading the posts, to end game... i've never been a fan of endgame activities as a reason to login. I rather party with people and socialize (as i'm anti social in person lol). This is why i had a ton of level 75's in ffxi (before taou), and turned down recruitments for a lot of shells and generally only did merit burn parties with friends (as they got old so fast as a means to exp). To me, endgame is a job. And after reading the drop rates... i'll likely never go after ifrit or the moogle. That just doesn't seem fun to me.

Hell, as it stands now, i fear this game is going to suffer from what ffxi does now. Don't get me wrong, ffxi went much more solo/casual friendly now(for better or worse). But when you start you can't find any gear low level, the economy is crap ect...(not that you need good eq anymore.. but i digress) With everyone playing this before the "rerelease".. i fear the same thing is going to happen.

And everyone screaming to add more endgame content... its like people don't realize that people are going to come in with level 1 chars... and they are going to want content and things to do as well..

Sorry for the rant there. I kinda go off on tangents every now and then :P.

[Alkoun]

Excellent post OP. Remove the action bar disappearing thing as that's been addressed (and pointed out in a reply in this thread already) and then copy/paste the rest into the suggestion forum with bullets and paragraph breaks or however else you'd feel it would look more professional.

Thank you for taking the time to post this.