Job action combos one button

[Esmoire]

Worth mentioning is, just because an ability is used, that doesn't mean I think it's justified. This game has a bunch of buttons where you have a ST button, then an alternative AOE button, and that's fine. For CDs 30sec or less I do think having to think about whether or not to use it is OK. Then I look at something like SAM where we have a 2m CD with a ST and AOE version. At that point I rather just have a ST version that cleaves. There is also stuff like Cure 1, Medica 1, and AST equivalents, where yeah there are environments Cure 1 and Medica 1 are merited but I rather they just tweak the abilities to make them upgrades. You can make Cure 2 just have the cast time and MP economy of Cure 1 and it will be fine. Having to use a GCD heal at all is punishment enough.

[Shurrikhan]

We've built up a narrative of "depth" for having to hit up to 7 buttons for a single separable decision; where would all that "depth" go if we stopped wasting meaningfully using those 6 buttons on traps that only really affect those with motor skill issues or the occasional spike of hand-flinching panic?

[Canadane]

God I hope not.
It is the absolute worst design.

Every time I play White Mage now I just die a little on the inside. Single button gameplay is not fun.

[Shurrikhan]

God I hope not.
It is the absolute worst design.

Every time I play White Mage now I just die a little on the inside. Single button gameplay is not fun.

"Single button" does not necessarily encapsulate "single action".
Healers are both.
PvP combos, Gnashing Fang, Continuation, and the like, are only the first.

[Absurdity]

"Single button" does not necessarily encapsulate "single action".
Healers are both.
PvP combos, Gnashing Fang, Continuation, and the like, are only the first.

That does however require SE to actually add new actions/combos when they consolidate our 1-2-3 into a single button, something that is absolutely not guaranteed.

[Shurrikhan]

That does however require SE to actually add new actions/combos when they consolidate our 1-2-3 into a single button, something that is absolutely not guaranteed.

No, it just requires that they don't reduce the number of actions or their technical affordances. It doesn't require that DRG, for instance, suddenly get 7 ST and 3 AoE combos.

If there is never any point at which it's worth restarting, or rushing ahead in, a particular combo, then turning it into a single button will cost no affordance.

[Pallero]

Well yes, we're already living that life on the PC world of plugins and it's great for those who want it.

[Wolwosh]

This again.. Some jobs barely have any buttons, so just play those. If you're not going to make an attempt into getting to know a job, don't ask to make them easier >_>

[Shurrikhan]

This again.. Some jobs barely have any buttons, so just play those. If you're not going to make an attempt into getting to know a job, don't ask to make them easier >_>

Because hitting 2 after 1 and before 3 was ever so difficult and engaging a mechanic as to be worth losing n-1 buttons per combo, and whatever actual complexity could have filled that space, for?

No, it would be like any action that changes to another action while under some effect. Just to pick something off the top of my head, when RDM has 20|20 gauge the action Moulinet upgrades to Enchanted Moulinet. WHM could easily be changed so that when you have one or more lilies, Cure II is upgraded to Afflatus Solace and Medica is upgraded to Afflatus Rapture.

This, on the other hand, would cost WHM some actual functionality. Want to save mobility for the likes of O4S Black Hole mechanic? Too bad; you're forced to burn lilies before you can again access your basic heals. Want that handy weave-space for later? Nope. Gotta use it now or be locked out of basic heals.

There are ways to, without adding button cost, still consume those opportunities only when one wants to, but simply hot-swapping a spell that provides more than mere MP efficiency over a basic capacity (thereby making its affordances impossible to bank) is not a good idea.

[Canadane]

"Single button" does not necessarily encapsulate "single action".
Healers are both.
PvP combos, Gnashing Fang, Continuation, and the like, are only the first.

PvP too was also more engaging on the gameplay level before they did this.