Each expansion I get hyped and also worried about more skills.

[Nyarlha]

Because every time someone mentions it, there is always this blind assumption if we just consolidate the combos suddenly we'll get brand new innovations and wicked new abilities to replace everything despite there being absolutely zero precedence. In fact, they've shown the precise opposite. The far more likelihood scenario is like Shurrikhan said: a job like Dragoon losing several buttons and getting back maybe two that you actually use with regularity.

I'd be far more open to combo consolidation if I actually believed they would give, again Dragoon, five new abilities (both GCD and oGCD) I'll actually press frequently. I don't want them removing the combos just so people can fit more mounts on their hotbars.

From how they've been going, you're going to lose something anyway. Might as well go with combo consolidation rather than remove things like Life Surge and Spineshatter Dive just to make room for new things. You could have kept Phlebotomize and Heavy Trust if they consolidated combos earlier.

[Kyrj]

For sam I really hated Shoha and the whole meditation system. When it first came out it was the worse, and yes they at last made it better. I still..don't really like it.

New expansion time comes more skill bloat, and changes. It makes me nervous.

I have great respect for people who play SAM with all its buttons and ability names. Every time I get someone to explain SAM in detail to me I immediately get lost in the names "You're gonna do your Hinganbanana for the dot dont forget your Hissatsu Kaiten which comes after your Gekko" and I'm just sitting there like why tf does a Geko have a banana?

[Juun]

I have great respect for people who play SAM with all its buttons and ability names. Every time I get someone to explain SAM in detail to me I immediately get lost in the names "You're gonna do your Hinganbanana for the dot dont forget your Hissatsu Kaiten which comes after your Gekko" and I'm just sitting there like why tf does a Geko have a banana?

I have that too trying to look up class guides rather then using icons most guides just say the name and I get so lost whenever they do. Im a very visual person and guides that only uses names and lots text lose me very quickly.

[Kahnom]

Less skills ? more skills ? It doesn’t matter to me.
I just have to adapt to it and that’s it.

[MagiusNecros]

As a gamepad user I would more then welcome the PvP combo system so I can do more with less. Not my fault M/KB players want new ways to get carpal tunnel.

It could be presented as a control option rather then something that's forced down your throat.

[Ultimatecalibur]

You could have kept Phlebotomize and Heavy Trust if they consolidated combos earlier.

I'm pretty certain those would have both been removed even if button bloat wasn't a problem.

Phlebotomize was pruned in StB with a lot of other non-rotational single gcd DoTs (i.e. Fracture, Touch of Death, Leaden Shot, Scourge, etc.) due to the shear number of debuffs and DoTs in HW causing problems when fighting World Boss FATEs, S-rank hunts and Alliance Raid Bosses. Jobs like SMN could not effectively participate as often their DoT could not be applied.

Heavy Thrust was likely removed due to them only wanting Dragoon to deal with 1 maintenance buff and Blood/Life of the Dragon which lets you use additional abilities is much more engaging than +10% damage dealt.

[ForteNightshade]

From how they've been going, you're going to lose something anyway. Might as well go with combo consolidation rather than remove things like Life Surge and Spineshatter Dive just to make room for new things. You could have kept Phlebotomize and Heavy Trust if they consolidated combos earlier.

Which I'd honestly prefer if given the choice. Why? On average, I'll press my combos anywhere from 15-20 times per fight; more if longer. I'll use Life Surge and Spineshatter Dive half as frequently if not even less. Therefore, combo consolidation worsens my gameplay as it'll reduce most of my activity to spamming 1222111112. Furthermore, Dragoon really doesn't need any abilities pruned. I already have four Dragon Sight macros because of the available hotbar space. So there is plenty of room for new abilities, especially if they only add one or two. On top of that, this also assumes they don't simply go the upgrade route. Jump became High Jump. There's no reason to believe they won't do something similar to Spineshatter.

As for Heavy Thrust and Phlebotomize. Neither's removal had anything to do with button bloat. They specifically said they removed Heavy Thrust (and Straight Shot) because far too many casual players weren't utilizing them, thus causing a larger gap between players. Basically, they dumbed it down again after already nerfing Heavy Thrust in Stormblood. Phlebotomize was dropped due to their dislike of DoTs as it causes issues in large scale raids as bosses can only display 30 effects of any kind.

[Shurrikhan]

Phlebotomize was dropped due to their dislike of DoTs as it causes issues in large scale raids as bosses can only display 30 effects of any kind.

Which is turn only because they can't be bothered to manage more than three-fourths of what a 2004 MMO could, let alone its fixes...

But, yes, let's just remove most DoTs rather than actually do anything about that beyond geriatric code.

[Lunalepsy]

For sam I really hated Shoha and the whole meditation system. When it first came out it was the worse, and yes they at last made it better. I still..don't really like it.

New expansion time comes more skill bloat, and changes. It makes me nervous.

The problem is not having a lot of skills—it's having a lot of skills that are completely useless and redundant.

[Kolsykol]

It just depends on the Job.
BLM and MNK for example I think could use more buttons as part of their rotation to make it less repetitive.
I also think that NIN could use another ability in their filler phase, it's just 123 + Ninki spender.

Jobs like DRG and SAM tho I think are in a really great spot.
I wouldn't mind another button on SAM like maybe a third hard hitting ability in your burst phase.
But overall I wouldn't be disappointed if it played the same either and the new skills were defensive or something.

In the end of the day tho I like FFXIV because the rotations have a lot going.
When you oversimplify things too much it becomes boring long-term, if they remove a skill it needs to come with some other building block on top of that to fill the gap and then some.