Battle Command Design -PLEASE FIX IT

[Arcell]

In FFXI, to compensate for the lack of visible UI concerning recasts, people resorted to the windower 'recast' plugin. Without this the player would be VERY disadvantaged, and because the game was so heavily based on damage and DPS competitiveness, it became the standard. The action bar at the bottom eliminates the need for this, it's a perfectly viable option, and it also (arguably) eliminates the need for ability and spell macros.

Agreed. The only skill I have on a macro is Sentinel and that's simply for ease of instant use no matter what else I'm doing at that second.

[Elexia]

In FFXI, to compensate for the lack of visible UI concerning recasts, people resorted to the windower 'recast' plugin. Without this the player would be VERY disadvantaged, and because the game was so heavily based on damage and DPS competitiveness, it became the standard. The action bar at the bottom eliminates the need for this, it's a perfectly viable option, and it also (arguably) eliminates the need for ability and spell macros.

Guess I'm the only person that used echo /recast, an already in game function.

[Buddhsie]

Guess I'm the only person that used echo /recast, an already in game function.

Yes, you are. That system was horrible.

[Rokien]

Gosh, I can't have this, all you guys are doing is wanting to relive your childhood memories. I can't have this in the game because it has been used before! Can't you guys be creative! THINK OF HOW IT WILL EFFECT THE GAME, WHY WOULD THIS BE GOOD? Clearly you people who want text base ui, nothing is running upstairs. I don't want something in the game that is not creative! Though, I will keep saying this and not give any creative feedback ever!
tl;dr
>Don't want, reliving the past!
>Don't want, not creative!
>Don't want, upstairs not being used!
>Don't want, not original!

Inspiration provided by: Mr. Bingband and Mr. Thevcard.

[OranGemeo]

I am not entirely sure why anyone would hate the UI that's currently in place. I find it MUCH easier than XI, and I'm on a controller. (always). I only touch the keyboard to type really.

In XI, yes. You did have the Attack/Magic/etc. But really, did you actually play with this? Chance are, you probably didn't. You likley had macros for everything (I absolutely did) which if you think about it... looks ungodly similar to the action bar we have now. It has... 10 actions, and you can push a button and boom, it goes off. We also can use macros too. If XI had only been playable with that list, I would have likely been the worst player ever when playing a mage.

If this was a turn-based game, I'd feel differently.

[Natabant]

I am not entirely sure why anyone would hate the UI that's currently in place. I find it MUCH easier than XI, and I'm on a controller. (always)...

In XI, yes. You did have the Attack/Magic/etc. But really, did you actually play with this? Chance are, you probably didn't. You likley had macros for everything (I absolutely did) which if you think about it... looks ungodly similar to the action bar we have now. It has... 10 actions, and you can push a button and boom, it goes off. We also can use macros too...

If this was a turn-based game, I'd feel differently.

I get where you're coming from; I sorta feel the same way too. But, I don't think the OP is really trying to say that he wants the action bar replaced. He just wants the option to substitute the traditional menu style... Not to mention, we have to keep in mind that there are plenty of ppl out there, especially future ps3 players, that will not like this UI.

I agree that ppl probably didn't use the menu list much in XI, except to examine (/c) ppl; and maybe to do a ranged attack. But that still doesn't change the fact that the current one seems clumsy. There's lots of scrolling back and forth, up and down, button-smashing, and so on.

[Riv]

I dunno, i don't have any problem with the current design. Been using a controller since day one too, can't imagine a keyboard and mouse for this either. I actually like the action bar, it's not hard at all to select actions even with a controller. There is ample time between skills to navigate and select what you want. It's not like XI where you had access to tons of magic spells and such. There's no need for a menu choice of weapon skills etc when you have so few to choose from anyway. And if you did have many to choose from, wouldn't most ppl end up making macros for using their skills anyway? A macro bar is basically the same as the action bars, lol.

So no, don't get rid of the action bar in favor of menu based selections.

[Natabant]

I dunno, i don't have any problem with the current design.... I actually like the action bar, it's not hard at all to select actions even with a controller. There is ample time between skills to navigate and select what you want. It's not like XI where you had access to tons of magic spells and such. There's no need for a menu choice of weapon skills etc when you have so few to choose from anyway. And if you did have many to choose from, wouldn't most ppl end up making macros for using their skills anyway?....

At least with XI, when you entered a certain category, you wouldn't accidentally hit something completely random, like a 2-hour or something while trying to cure or "weapon skill." I can't tell you how many times I've accidentally hit Rebirth w/o Chainspell up cuz I was trying to scroll through and hit something else.

And as for the ease of access, honestly, XI was much more accessible -both in terms of macros and random selections.

The current macro system doesn't toggle, so you can accidentally hit some other action, while you're trying to hit a macro, if you don't hold down the L2/R2 triggers very well. And it blocks the action bar, which is really annoying.

Categories make it easier to access whatever action you have equipped...and 30 slots is a pretty substantial list of actions. And the only issue I ever had w/ XI's macros was the 7-line limit per macro.

[Rydin]

Don't get me wrong.. the UI is not broken. Although some people will argue that it is using hyperbole like:
The UI makes me want to tear my eyes out with wolverines claws...

Those people over exaggerate. The UI is fine... is it the best UI ever? no.... but its useable and functional.
It is sluggish.. but I don't know if thats the design of the UI or the server structure.
the "Please Fix it" threads are a little over the top because they imply that the system is broken.
If it was "Broken" it wouldn't be useable at all.

Since the UI is being redone from the ground up, I'd like to see multiple options that would accommodate everyone.
So the current UI would be one option. Or an up to date 3D version of the old "Secret of Mana" UI could be another
Who knows?
Think of all the RPG's you played on console? which ones did you love? which ones were annoying?
Which ones have elements that could be used in an MMO?
And lastly its about a personal preference.
Nested menus? hot keys? combination shortcuts (i.e. R1+Square on a PS style controller)? radials?
I don't know the perfect UI... If I did, I'd be a game developer.
SE is tasked with giving us a UI that doesn't hinder us, that becomes almost transparent and lets us explore Eorzea without fail
Im interested to see what comes up

[Alcide]

I really fail to understand how you guys think you can play the current battle system with a text based menu...
It's just too fast for something like that, how do you think you can perform positional combos and reactional ws while browsing through menus? o.O