Please reconsider how you fix the autoface bug.

[VivianInfinity]

To those who don't know, I'm referring to the issue outlined in this Lodestone post: https://na.finalfantasyxiv.com/lodes...12a0624aeedb4d

■ Under certain conditions, targeting actions with conal or linear area attacks are initiated in the direction in which the character is facing while also hitting the selected target.

* To clarify, this issue does not initiate two separate area attacks; rather, an area attack is initiated in the direction the character is facing while also hitting the selected target regardless of its position to the character.

Our investigation thus far has revealed that the issue is related to a fundamental system process related to targeting and actions and has existed since Patch 4.2, though the timing at which this process has taken effect has varied depending on the content. Resolving this issue will require modifications to the fundamental process in addition to detailed adjustments for affected actions, which will require an extended period to address.

However, we will be prioritizing addressing PvP and Limit Break actions, which are believed to be particularly affected, as soon as possible; we will then address other affected aspects in order.

▼ Patch 6.31
・ PvP Actions
Frontal area attacks will initiate and deal damage in the direction of the selected target even when under the aforementioned conditions.

・ Limit Break
Under certain conditions, area attacks will still initiate in the direction in which the character is facing; however, tentative measures will be taken to prevent attacks from hitting targets outside of the initiated direction.

While being able to hit targets that aren't standing in the actual AoE is undeniably problematic, one of the consequences of the bug is that players are currently able to aim line skillshot AoEs.

The wording of the current fix looks as though that instead of removing the ability to hit an otherwise invalid target, the developers will remove the ability to aim line skillshots entirely.

Coming from games like League of Legends and Overwatch, the ability to aim a line skillshot in an optimal way is a fundamental, core way to express skill in an ability-based PvP gamemode, and CC is undeniably that. This is an avenue of expression that shouldn't be removed, but instead made more accessible and given native support.

Considering every map in the game mode is currently designed around careful positioning around corridors (be it the leadup to the checkpoint on Palaistra, Volcanic Heart's entire design, the tight hallway before the checkpoint on Cloud Nine, and the entire design of Clockwork Castle), it is fairly obvious that the designers want players to think about how their line AoEs will affect the map. Please continue on that trend.

[Valence]

I disagree on line skillshots being a workable thing in pvp, because they're inherently flawed and generate inequality based on 1) player latency and 2) the very netcode of the game that never clearly gives a picture of the actual positions of players server side vs what you see on screen. Overall, it only encourages taking a shot in the dark and hoping you hit anything with it, which sounds to me the exact opposite of skillplay.

Just seeing how it already is a problem to aim someone properly in a specific direction with a pushback skill should show how inaccurate everything is in real time on your screen.

[Myon88]

Yeah it'll be a shame if we lose the ability to manually aim skills like these. With the WHM PvP limit break for example, there are situations where enemies in a staggered line won't all be hit if you happened to snapshot your facing towards a target to the side. Being able to manually fire straight down the middle is a major boon for skills like these.