Losing target during encounters

[HumanNinjaToo]

Forgive me if I'm posting this in wrong place.

I have searched on google on the forum, maybe I am missing it, but I am not seeing an answer to my problem that works.

I play on PS4 with controller. Whether I have a hard target or not, I seem to lose the target reticle randomly in the middle of my rotations. The reticle switches to targeting my own character, and suddenly I've wasted a casting time (I'm playing BLM atm) and it screws up my rotation and often times throws my whole timing off because I've got to sort out what I was targeting. It gets to be quite annoying trying to cycle through targets and get back to the one I was on, plus I may lose AF or Thunder because this happens at inopportune times.

I have turned off the 'click on background to lose target' option because I though I may have been brushing the ps4 controller pad and clicking on something accidentally. This has not stopped the issue, and I have at times made absolutely sure I was not randomly hitting the pad or flicking a joystick while doing a rotation, and it still happens.

I have also adjusted my target cycle when weapon is out to only cycle through enemies, quest enemies, etc. I've tried various combos, and this does not affect the outcome either, I keep having the issue of the target reticle defaulting on my own character seemingly randomly.

This is causing me a lot of grief. My luck, it's probably something simple that I am ignorant of... Please, if anyone has experienced this before or knows how to fix this, enlighten me. Thank you.

[MaraD_]

I cant say what you are, or are not doing, but one example that comes to mind, was certain keybinds based on button combinations.
example;
ALT+S switches you to /say chat.
When I was assigning all my keys to work with alt, it would occasionally stop me from moving, and I was getting really confused.
It wasnt until later, that I realized its when i was trying to access my secondary bar with ALT, and trying to dodge a mechanic by running backwards with S at the same time.

Look to see if it happens during certain "modifier" key presses, and if any keys you have set for "cancel" or "switch to target X" such as alliance members, or previous targets, or target of target, etc. (I think T is set to target of target by default)

EDIT: read the post too early in the morning, somehow missed every bit about being on PS4 lol. (Doesnt help i use keybord on PS4 myself)

[HumanNinjaToo]

I am not using a keyboard/mouse, I am using the controller. However, the ps4 controller has the pad that enable a mouse-use function. I have made sure to not be accidentally engaging that function, and I still have the issues. I have also made sure to have cancel-clicked the mouse function so that the mouse reticle is not visible on the screen, and I am still experiencing the issue.

Also, I am still low level BLM, so I have all my skills for battle on one toolbar at this time, I am not needing to use the controller shortcuts (like L1+O) to swap targeting modes or even to swap toolbars. So I don't think that would be the problem.

Thank you for your input, but if I am understanding you correctly, I don't think that is the issue because I am not using any keybind functions. When I get back home, I will double check to see if the controller has any setting for the "cancel" or "switch to target x" thing that you mentioned; but off the top of my head I don't believe so.

[Deathgiver]

Pretty sure what's happening based on your description is either you're occasionally not depressing the trigger fully when using a d-pad up or down skill or you have a dead spot on the trigger. This will cause you to cycle through the party list rather than using your skill. I do this occasionally when I'm not really paying attention in fates or side quests, almost exclusively with d-pad up + l2 in my case due to hand postioning.

[HumanNinjaToo]

Pretty sure what's happening based on your description is either you're occasionally not depressing the trigger fully when using a d-pad up or down skill or you have a dead spot on the trigger. This will cause you to cycle through the party list rather than using your skill. I do this occasionally when I'm not really paying attention in fates or side quests, almost exclusively with d-pad up + l2 in my case due to hand postioning.

Hmm.. I did not think of that. I have another controller that I rarely use, so I will test on that one when I can. I did not even think about worn out hardware though. Thanks for the idea, when I have had a chance to test, I will post.

[Risvertasashi]

Chances are you are pushing a button somewhere that causes this. For example, though I am KB/M, sometimes simply accidentally clicking on an empty space causes me to lose target. I'm betting there is an equivalent for controller.

So the trick may be to find that button (it might be a combo) that's trying to change target, and be careful to avoid it or even to change it.

[MaraD_]

ok, rereading this, while awake, there's 2 possibilities
(1) the most likely, you are pressing L1, and up/down or L1 and left/right.
That switches between alliance members, and enemy list
(2) the middle pad can click on yourself, or other targets, no matter what setting u have set. (I tend to bump it occasionally, if playing with controller on an occasion)

[HumanNinjaToo]

I think I discovered the issue. Dpad up/down switches reticle to myself. So the issue is me either not fully depressing the trigger button before I select a skill assigned to dpad up/down, or it’s the split second “lag” involved with using a wireless controller. Since I’ve discovered the issue it’s happening less, but it still happens occasionally. User error + minor wireless technology error.

I just need to be more deliberate when pressing buttons and slow down a bit during my rotation button presses. Thank you everyone for helping me figure this out.

BTW, I can’t find a way to disable this feature of dpad up/down changing target reticle to self. Is it possible, and I’m just missing it? Or is that just hard wired controller command?

[KRIPTICON]

I think I discovered the issue. Dpad up/down switches reticle to myself. So the issue is me either not fully depressing the trigger button before I select a skill assigned to dpad up/down, or it’s the split second “lag” involved with using a wireless controller. Since I’ve discovered the issue it’s happening less, but it still happens occasionally. User error + minor wireless technology error.

I just need to be more deliberate when pressing buttons and slow down a bit during my rotation button presses. Thank you everyone for helping me figure this out.

BTW, I can’t find a way to disable this feature of dpad up/down changing target reticle to self. Is it possible, and I’m just missing it? Or is that just hard wired controller command?

Target cycling party members by pressing up/down on the d-pad is a primary built in controller function and I'm pretty sure it can't be turned off. It may seem annoying now, but it's actually a great feature and if you ever decide to take up healing you will immediately understand what I mean.

[HumanNinjaToo]

Target cycling party members by pressing up/down on the d-pad is a primary built in controller function and I'm pretty sure it can't be turned off. It may seem annoying now, but it's actually a great feature and if you ever decide to take up healing you will immediately understand what I mean.

Yes, thank you, I have realized this now that I've been playing for a while. While I haven't started a healer class yet, I can see how this will be a blessing when I do. Right now I am just focused on getting used to how the controller handles the button presses. I don't have near as many mistakes as I used to now that I know what the issue is. Happens rarely now!