Target Lock, Back Pedal & a Prayer?

[OwlchemistVile]

I've spent the past few days off and on looking all over the internet, performing an exhaustive search for any possible solution, even looking to see if the less than savory elements of the community have found a work around or solution to this annoyance. Alas, no solution has presented itself.

The problem in short is that if you "Target Lock" something in FFXIV, your character is permanently forced to face that target, until you release the lock or cancel target; in conjunction with the fact that for some reason whilst target locked even while in legacy movement mode, you back pedal instead of turning and running away at full speed.

This might not seem like an "issue" per say, and you're right. But it is an annoyance. And here's a few reasons why.

1: I want to increase my awareness while fighting bosses, especially raids. As someone with poor eye-sight, especially involving movement, moving to avoid or perform mechanics sometimes causes me to "whip" my camera around, often losing sight of the boss or my target. Solution would naturally be to not be blind, don't whip your camera, set the target to focus and or simply watch their cast bar. But that doesn't solve the other "issue" I was hoping to address.

2: A better viewing experience. I'm not a streamer, youtuber or anyone. but sometimes I like to record or share my screen with my friends. Being able to keep myself and my target in the focal point of the screen, is much more aesthetically appealing.

Like I said, I performed an exhaustive search. I saw answers ranging from
"Just wait", "Sounds like a you problem", "Git gud", "Ctrl + arrow key up/down to pitch camera", "Lock and remove lock", "Swap control to legacy [duh...]", "Have you tried turning off face target?" and many more. Some of these posts are from 2013! So this has been a long standing.... pain point for all 5 people who want a more dynamic camera and viewing experience.

In truth, I actually only want to make 1 request from 2 possible solutions.
A> While using Legacy Movement + Target Lock, just don't punish the backpedal speed.
B> Have it be "Camera Lock" and not "Character Target Lock".

Like really, it's a simple change for a really niche group of people who want it and while I know I'm wasting everyone's time asking for something that isn't a pressing issue [Like Hrothgar hair lmfao] I am still going to make this one, singular post, and hope it gets changed, cause I want it.

[Jeeqbit]

I remember that when I tried target lock it made the game unplayable so I would suggest that you disable it and not use it.

1: I want to increase my awareness while fighting bosses, especially raids. As someone with poor eye-sight, especially involving movement, moving to avoid or perform mechanics sometimes causes me to "whip" my camera around, often losing sight of the boss or my target.

This is a problem with the standard type movement settings. I suggest using legacy type movement settings, which allow you to avoid attacks without turning the camera at all. While using legacy, the camera rotates unless you uncheck "activate standard type auto-fly/auto-dive".

[OwlchemistVile]

I remember that when I tried target lock it made the game unplayable so I would suggest that you disable it and not use it.

This is a problem with the standard type movement settings. I suggest using legacy type movement settings, which allow you to avoid attacks without turning the camera at all. While using legacy, the camera rotates unless you uncheck "activate standard type auto-fly/auto-dive".

Ah yes the "Just don't use it" suggestion. The goal is to fix the problem, not ignore it but I appreciate your time in reading and understanding that this is truly a feature that makes the game unplayable as it is.

[LianaThorne]

Ah yes the "Just don't use it" suggestion. The goal is to fix the problem, not ignore it but I appreciate your time in reading and understanding that this is truly a feature that makes the game unplayable as it is.

Yeah this is not the response to give to someone trying to offer you advice/help. Good luck with your endeavors.

[OwlchemistVile]

Yeah this is not the response to give to someone trying to offer you advice/help. Good luck with your endeavors.

Thank you for your support on the matter. Your input is valuable and appreciated.

[Jeeqbit]

Ah yes the "Just don't use it" suggestion. The goal is to fix the problem, not ignore it but I appreciate your time in reading and understanding that this is truly a feature that makes the game unplayable as it is.

So why does legacy not fix your problem? It prevents the camera from moving.

[Tigerlilley]

I might be wrong here but...

I think target lock is a feature of another age, 2.0 and a little of 3.0, to be precise. Back then, all auto attacks only went off if your character was directly facing the target. Paladin 2.0 also had another caveat, they would only block with their shield if directly facing their target, then later Warrior got a mitigation button that worked face on but would penalise in greater damage hits if you got hit from the side or back.

The auto attacks thing meant legacy players were at a disadvantage over standard and players came up with a few ways to counter it, the most popular being using a 3rd party program to repeatedly spam Face Target as you did the fight, because, as you've found out, switching target lock on and off sucks.

Eventually, the all of the forward facing restrictions were deleted. Everyones auto attacks became 360 and tanks didn't get hit harder from another direction.

Target lock never really changed as the game did which is why its left as a clunky, useless option. I mean, it was clunky at the time also, don't get me wrong, lots of the early game was. I just think it's a forgotten feature they never really went back and looked as the reasons people had for using it were no longer in the game.

I realise none of this is helpful in solving your actual issue, being the run speed backwards. I just don't think this is something SE is going to look at again. Hope you find a configuration that works out.

[Padudu]

Ah yes the "Just don't use it" suggestion. The goal is to fix the problem, not ignore it but I appreciate your time in reading and understanding that this is truly a feature that makes the game unplayable as it is.

I mean he gave you a suggestion lol. What you're asking for just really isn't there because it's archaic and borderline useless. SE just leaves features to die really. No need to be snarky because he didn't give you a response you wanted to hear

[OwlchemistVile]

I might be wrong here but...

I think target lock is a feature of another age, 2.0 and a little of 3.0, to be precise. Back then, all auto attacks only went off if your character was directly facing the target. Paladin 2.0 also had another caveat, they would only block with their shield if directly facing their target, then later Warrior got a mitigation button that worked face on but would penalise in greater damage hits if you got hit from the side or back.

The auto attacks thing meant legacy players were at a disadvantage over standard and players came up with a few ways to counter it, the most popular being using a 3rd party program to repeatedly spam Face Target as you did the fight, because, as you've found out, switching target lock on and off sucks.

Eventually, the all of the forward facing restrictions were deleted. Everyones auto attacks became 360 and tanks didn't get hit harder from another direction.

Target lock never really changed as the game did which is why its left as a clunky, useless option. I mean, it was clunky at the time also, don't get me wrong, lots of the early game was. I just think it's a forgotten feature they never really went back and looked as the reasons people had for using it were no longer in the game.

I realise none of this is helpful in solving your actual issue, being the run speed backwards. I just don't think this is something SE is going to look at again. Hope you find a configuration that works out.

This pretty much summarizes a decent chunk of the origin of the feature most posts I came across mentioned. Course yes it doesn't actually help, cause there isn't a solution outside of SE actually fixing it. I've had a perfectly fine configuration for the last 2 years, but using the lock on function to create a more dynamic and enjoyable camera sounds exactly like something SE has been looking into lately, hence me bringing this up. Post was never about finding a solution which is why I'm deriving some humor from the suggestions on how I can at the user end fix it. But thank you, it does like I mentioned, confirm some of the origin of the jank.

[OwlchemistVile]

I mean he gave you a suggestion lol. What you're asking for just really isn't there because it's archaic and borderline useless. SE just leaves features to die really. No need to be snarky because he didn't give you a response you wanted to hear

Didn't ask.