Why can't we just have combo chains?

[artlessknave]

yes, there are too many buttons that seem to exist for the sole reason of creating the appearance of more depth than there actually is. completely redundant or unneeded that do nothing more than need require more hotkeys than are humanly possible to use

[Arohk]

Okay, here is what it looks like for samurai on 80, just look at this mess.

this is just the normal damage rotation i need to do for single target. try to follow the line

Red>Orange>Yellow>Green


+offcooldown skills in between.
And the stuff in my Crossbar i have to click because there is no space left for my hotkeys i can handle.

[Tlamila]

Okay, here is what it looks like for samurai on 80, just look at this mess.

this is just the normal damage rotation i need to do for single target. try to follow the line

Red>Orange>Yellow>Green
+offcooldown skills in between.
And the stuff in my Crossbar i have to click because there is no space left for my hotkeys i can handle.

Mh about that, totally unrelated to the OP but have you considered settings your skills differently? I have them so tidely ordered that I never had such a...order groove.
Also honestly, samurai is one of the classes with the least skill bloat.

[Arohk]

Mh about that, totally unrelated to the OP but have you considered settings your skills differently? I have them so tidely ordered that I never had such a...order groove.
Also honestly, samurai is one of the classes with the least skill bloat.

i am constantly optimizing the keybinds when ever i find something uncomfortable, i arrange them by priority and how often i use them, if i need to use something quick i can not click it.

It is impractical, because it's too many hotkeys...

[Maeka]

i am constantly optimizing the keybinds when ever i find something uncomfortable, i arrange them by priority and how often i use them, if i need to use something quick i can not click it.

It is impractical, because it's too many hotkeys...

You mention clicking.... this implies you're on a PC and choosing to use controllers, or you have a mouse hooked up to your PS4?

Ever considered using a keyboard instead of a controller? That just sounds like that would be far, far better IMO. Heck, I think even a PS4 lets you hook up a keyboard to it (friend of mine mentions having a keyboard hooked up to hers), don't see why you couldn't do the same for a mouse.

That way, you would have 36 buttons which is enough for every job in the game, at your disposal with only two button presses (shift+ and ctrl+) and it's only a matter of mapping them to where you'd memorize them and all of the buttons would have equally fast access, except for the first 1 through = being just a smidge easier.

To be quite honest, a game like this just doesn't lend itself well to a controller IMO. I've tried it, and it's just too cumbersome IMO. It's neat that they made a way that it is possible to use a controller, but yet one should accept the fact that it is going to be less optimal than using a KB/M. The same goes for first person shooter games.

But then on the flipside, before anybody accuses me of starting a PC/Console war, most side-scrollers are way better on controller (at least the ones that don't require precision aiming).

It simply comes down to picking the best tool for the job, and that's what controllers, keyboards, and mice are for; they are tools to interact with your computer/console/whatever. Use the right one for the right application, really.

EDIT: So I looked at your screenshot again, closely and this baffles me...

You have a combination of 1 through 7,
Numpad,
Controller buttons,

And that's just making me go wtf?

How are you even playing the game with that setup? Not to judge you or anything, but... how are you swapping your hands between the leftside of the keyboard, a controller (because you have things bound to LT) and on the right side, you're swapping between the controller (RT), the Numpad, and I would assume the mouse (unless you're using left stick to turn the camera instead of the mouse)?

Do you have, like, four arms and hands or something? lol.

I can't imagine any scenario in which you're not furiously swapping your hands between the controller and the keyboard... that has got to be uncomfortable as frick, surely? Is there something I'm missing?

EDIT2: So let me get this straight... the green line...

7 on the keyboard with left hand
RT+Square with right hand
Numpad 1 with right hand (swapping it from the controller to whatever it is that you're hitting those keys with, keyboard, Nostromo, etc)
Keyboard 6 (having to grab the controller with the right hand so you can use your left hand to hit the button)
F4 (which is quite a decent reach which tells me you're not using WASD for movement)

..... just.... no wonder you think SAM is so hard. I'll post a screenshot of mine using full keyboard setup later.

[Kuroka]

Not everyone has the same... uhm... workflow? Some ppl just cant play like others, my wife cant handle my bars and neither can i deal with hers, when making suchs things you should consider ppl arent all the same, like i usually have some skills 2-3x on my bars so i dont need to switch the layer (like stun etc).

[Tlamila]

Not everyone has the same... uhm... workflow? Some ppl just cant play like others, my wife cant handle my bars and neither can i deal with hers, when making suchs things you should consider ppl arent all the same, like i usually have some skills 2-3x on my bars so i dont need to switch the layer (like stun etc).

For sure, I only said that because they themselves seem to find their current layout impractical.
I would never suggest to make their bar like mine, I didn't even say what mine looks like :P

[Maeka]

Oh. I saw the Numpad bindings and the crossbars and it made it look like you were using a controller. I didn't know you could bind cross hotbar buttons to KB/Mouse... odd they still show up as LT/RT etc.

I've tried using a naga for that kind of stuff and it just doesn't jive with me, lol. I just use straight up keyboard myself.

If I can ever figure out what is causing the crashes one of these days I'll get one of those programs that speedrunners use that show keyboard inputs and stream a dungeon or something.

And yeah that's what was confusing me, you mentioned clicking but yet you had a mixture of cross hotbars and keyboard shortcuts, I was like "whaaaaat?" lol.

[Arohk]

So, i tried out Macros for the first time now and managed to create three small things on Samurai , that saves 4 hotkeys in total and makes it a lot more comfortable to play.


Can be used three times in a row , casts Shoha if possible, or else it will use Iaijutsu and then Tsubamegaeshi , you will never waste any Shoha stacks with it, i tried it out and is really reliable.
(saves two hotkeys)


Uses Third Eye, and if used again will use the small heal.
(saves one hotkey)


Makes You jump backwards, if pushed again, uses Enpi, If you're too far away, uses Enpi.
(saves one hotkey)

[WigglesTheWiggly]

For a number of reasons actually.

1. It would be more controller friendly.
2. It would be more arthritis friendly.
3. It would help prevent and alleviate repetitive strain injuries from Ulnar Deviation for Keyboard users.
4. Level Sync Learning Curves would be reduced since combos wouldn't have you pressing keys that have been disabled when you've dropped 40 levels. They'd simply reduce the number of actions a combo has, allowing you to essentially press the same keys to operate your character just fine, regardless of what level you are. (note: some independent skills might still be an issue but the benefits outweigh them by leaps and bounds)
   
   and
   
   
5. Less focus of the interface would mean more focus on the fight. There would be less of an unnecessary learning curve to enjoy the game, thus making FFXIV more approachable to an even broader audience.

It makes too much sense.

Not to mention a legacy mode could be preserved for individuals who's prerogative is to play the piano. You wanna press all those keys, go ahead.