Weapon Skill Animations.. Really?

[God]

Dancing edge sucked?

[Orophen]

There were a few notable exceptions in the early levels of FFXI, but for the most part, low level WSes were all the same or similar animation. The main defining factor between low level WSes were the visual effects. Go look at Fast Blade to Spirits Within. Go look at Ranger. How many low level dagger weapons skills are just a stab or a slash? Most of them. There isn't really much deviation in what your character is doing. It's just that you might do it one or two more times. With a few exceptions all low level weapons skills are like that in FFXI. FFXIV mimics FFXI in this way perfectly. Most are the same animation with a few exceptions that are unique. That's completely clear if you're actually looking.

That being said, it doesn't take away from the fact that people would be a lot happier with more distinct animations for all their weapons skills. I would also have to say that I would expect a bit more from a next gen game, too. But that just isn't feasible with the way the armory system works. Skills need to be able to be used across different classes. If every Gladiator weapon skill is doing crazy slashing twirls with a sword, how is that going to translate to your Pugilist or Archer? The only remedy for this with the current battle system is a different animation for every single weapon skill for every single class in the present and the foreseeable future. That's not going to happen.

Best you can hope for is that the upcoming battle system changes dump a core mechanic of the armory system and remove cross class skills entirely. Otherwise, you're just complaining about something that nothing can be done about. Which seems kinda pointless.

[vax]

Dancing edge sucked?

DE is attached at level 60 with an A weapon (at least when the level limit was 75) and 57-58 putting merits on dagger.
I think sidewinder is the first good looking ws on xi and it's a level 55 one.