Quote Originally Posted by Shurrikhan View Post
Presumably because if one thinks of only GCDs, then the number of GCD buttons reduced would seem to have a large impact on depth, rather than merely QoL.

But, step-by-step changes in GCD buttons has never been all there is to buttonflow, nor to what requires one to keep track of what GCD they are on. Even minimizing movement to the smallest possible single-press bursts thereof, a DRG, SAM, etc., will still have to move per average combo while oGCDs, including GCD-synergetic ones like Life Surge, have always been pretty prevalent.

It's kind of like is someone looks at a change in gas price increase and calling it an equal change in the cost of driving, while ignoring all other periodic costs which have not increased to nearly the extent of said gas. When the price per gallon is all that's being discussed, things will quickly seem that way, but it's only a part of the whole -- even a large part, and the largest for some.

If you make the claim that consolidating combo keys "automating away the attention you needed to spend" on following one's combo, it is perfectly valid to point out that, no, resource management (not overcapping), positioning for the next step in your combo, synergetic abilities, and the like all still require you to pay attention to your combo progress.

The only part really affected is the nodding off, or getting a lag spike or especially clipped animation while distracted, and forgetting what step you did most recently, and only to the degree that you can still screw up surrounding timings or your positioning but now cannot accidentally reset your whole combo.

That said, I'm also not certain that stacked keys are a boon in doing one's full burst; I imagine that'd be rather player-dependent. It's been pretty net-neutral for me, as each unique GCD button hit was a tactile reminder of where to go / what to hit next. I can do without, but I wouldn't say it's easier; probably the opposite, very faintly. That's why I don't think everyone would go for that option (combo consolidation), even if they took the time to try to adjust to it.
Where did I claim it automates the entire rotation? Genuinly curious if I just straight up cant type anymore. oGCDs require attention, positionals require attention and combo steps require attention and dropping combo is often times much more punishing than missing positionals or drifting oGCDs.
Not a lot of GCDs even have positionals at this point and only on SAM do they actually matter for resources. None of the tanks have positionals at all.
Resource management has you pay attention to your resources mostly not really your combo steps.