Opinions on Positionals

[Grimoire-M]

I feel like positionals need a complete rework. Static positionals only work if used sparingly like they are on NIN and SAM.

I'd like to see MNK use positionals to unlock chakra (specifically 1 back & 1 flank = 1 chakra), with the current bonuses put on their weaponskills baked into those skills baseline. I'd still try to preserve the back and forth gameplay, but through the use of Chakra generation primarily.

For DRG I'm fine with their debuff combo (and even their filler combo) having a ton of positionals but I'd like it if they have the ability to pick how they have to position based on where they start their combo from.

[Flatopia]

I think they're necessary to make the melee stand out- that said I'm okay with the dependence of them varying from job to job.
Monk just simply gets insane damage if they nail it all, but samurai gets no direct damage boost, but rather more meter from them.

Honestly, I think they're fine as is. If you as a melee player don't like positionals, think they should not effect your damage output, and wish to be able to move freely while doing damage with no worry about it affecting your DPS, it sounds like you don't like melee and would probably have more fun with BRD or RDM lmao.

[Arkdra]

I personally hate them. Only having two positionals is a big reason I play Sam, and it was why I went with Nin over drg when nin launched and drg over monk back in arr. I don't miss them at all when I get sync'd down to 50 or under on samurai and I wouldn't miss them if they got cut either. Would make monk tolerable instead of my 3rd least liked class to play.

[Crushnight]

Personally i'm fine with positionals in group play though Seiryu and Omega(beetle) are really bad for maintaining positionals throughout but that is a challenge melees deal with just like casters having their cast times, but for solo instances and non A or S rank mobs absolutely get rid of them melees shouldn't be forced to hit less doing solo content

[JunseiKei]

Curious to see what thoughts of positionals are going into the next expansion. This last raid tier was extremely bad for positionals, often forcing hitting the targets from the front, yet, mechanically the fights are a lot more fun than any of the previous tiers (imo).

So the question I am asking. Do you enjoy positionals and why?

I'm really on the fence about positionals.

When the game was blander, which let's face it, ARR's combat was MUCH blander, slower and more straight forward, I'd have said, yes, positionals are absolutely necessary. Most of the fights didn't require going to the front of the boss, outside of maybe Nael (that's really the only fight I can think of that you spent a prolonged amount of time at the front).

However, as the game ages, more and more fights have you do more mechanics that move you (it's becoming more of a challenge to reduce your time not hitting the boss than simply get your correct positional while correctly resolving Y mechanic). More and more bosses abruptly turn and go where they want (Seiryu is really bad about this, but things like handling Pantokrator exist, too, or even God Kefka's stack to Futures Numbered / Pasts Forgotten, in correct circles, etc.). Even with fights tuned to knowing players will be handling these mechanics and positional potencies lost, I'd rather they'd forgo those adjustments and slowly moved away from positionals in light of fights being scripted to have bosses face around willy-nilly or have mechanics force you to miss them.

Would like some expansion for the Ranged classes, though instead of direction, have it be distance.

You mean like in PvP that was then removed? BRD and MCH did less damage the closer to a target they were.

[Kabooa]

You mean like in PvP that was then removed? BRD and MCH did less damage the closer to a target they were.

No, I mean like on specific abilities, or mechanics that make use of their ability to be literally at any point on the arena.

[JunseiKei]

No, I mean like on specific abilities, or mechanics that make use of their ability to be literally at any point on the arena.

>_< The only thing that keeps coming to my mind is "BUT MY DEEPS!" *stands in Narnia like a BLM that refuses to move.*

[Brightamethyst]

No, I mean like on specific abilities, or mechanics that make use of their ability to be literally at any point on the arena.

Problem is that often you can't be at literally any point in the arena. Many fights, especially as you get farther into the game require standing in very specific places, or have bigger or smaller arenas. Melees at least get a free pass on positionals on certain fights (Shinryu) but where is ranged supposed to go in situations where the safe zone shrinks to almost nothing?

[Lumadurin]

Positionals are fine. The game just needs to give more feedback as to when you actually land them. An audio cue, a change to the damage text popup; anything, really.

[Phoenicia]

I'm indifferent. I don't hate positionals nor like them.

I don't hate them because True North exists. True North has a short enough CD that it's always up for when I need to land that one or so odd positional into the boss's face when mechanics force you to. Otherwise I don't mind them even if I believe they're being overused on some jobs (*cough*monk*cough*).

That said, only melee I really enjoy is monk. I do SAM and/or DRG from time to time but melee is never a choice a default to when I want to DPS.

Positionals are fine. The game just needs to give more feedback as to when you actually land them. An audio cue, a change to the damage text popup; anything, really.

Other than monks, jobs that have positionals only get the "combo cue" sound if they land that part of the combo in the correct positional. So it's already there.

Would be nice if the MNK got something other than: "Oh bootshine didn't crit" because you can't tell unless you have a good sense of what damage your abilities should be doing.