Please focus on giving console players more hotbar space, instead of removing actions

[Sjol]

I do think that FFXIV relies too much on ST/AoE symmetry. It creates the illusion of variety while not actually producing it. AoE rotations tend to be shortened versions of the ST rotations, but otherwise identical. I've wondered why they don't create more unique AoE and Cleave Abilities (i.e., 2 target)

MNK does a channeling tornado kick for 5s with 30% mit
NIN does a dash strike hitting up to 5 enemies in range as long as each one isn't more than 10 yalms from each other
BLM drops a fire tornado in a designated location doing damage over time to enemies in proximity
BLM drops a lightning storm over a targeted enemy that follow them randomly striking OTHER mobs
DRK gets a shield that absorbs damage and then does an AoE burst after it takes X damage doing Y% of damage absorbed.

Some of these might feel familiar from other games because there's a wide design space that's doable that SE isn't using. I would love to see some variations here.

[Daralii]

I do think that FFXIV relies too much on ST/AoE symmetry. It creates the illusion of variety while not actually producing it. AoE rotations tend to be shortened versions of the ST rotations, but otherwise identical. I've wondered why they don't create more unique AoE and Cleave Abilities (i.e., 2 target)

The most confusing thing about that to me is that they will add new abilities that do ST damage and then falloff AoE, but also keep adding unnecessary AoE or ST versions of existing ST or AoE skills. SAM has two very blatant examples in Shoha II and Senei when they could have just added AoE to Shoha and adjusted the numbers on Guren.

[Sjol]

The most confusing thing about that to me is that they will add new abilities that do ST damage and then falloff AoE, but also keep adding unnecessary AoE or ST versions of existing ST or AoE skills. SAM has two very blatant examples in Shoha II and Senei when they could have just added AoE to Shoha and adjusted the numbers on Guren.

I'm pretty sure this is because they feel the need to give you something every even level during an expac. Honestly, if they had abandoned that approach a long time ago, we could probably have much better feeling advancement.

I think WoW handled it with your primary kit being done by 50 or something and then talents coming in after that, but it's been a long time since I've played.

[Taranok]

The most confusing thing about that to me is that they will add new abilities that do ST damage and then falloff AoE, but also keep adding unnecessary AoE or ST versions of existing ST or AoE skills. SAM has two very blatant examples in Shoha II and Senei when they could have just added AoE to Shoha and adjusted the numbers on Guren.

The worst thing is the devs already made this mistake. HW was plagued with massive button bloat, and one of the first major reactions in stormblood was to consolidate useless buttons. Some of the buttons added, such as Guren and Foul, were combined single target/aoe skills. So, of course, the literal next expansion, Foul and Guren are now aoe-exclusive, and xenoglossy/senei were added for single target only. Frankly I'm surprised it took this long for the bloat to get completely out of hand again since they already were bad as of ShB.

[GrizzlyTank]

Sound design has literally nothing to do with how many decisions go into playing your job.

Don't underestimate the effect of good sound design. It really turns what might very well be something generic into something that feels good to use.

[4clubbedace]

theres no reason any job should usee more than 36 buttons

[Darkstride]

I can't do the WXHB. All that double tapping hurts my fingers after only a single duty. I just use it to show the same hotbars that LT+RT and RT+LT use so I can always see my cooldowns. Cycling hotbars with RB is fine for non-combat stuff, but it's a nightmare in combat constantly being on the wrong hotbar. So I'm pretty much stuck at 32 buttons in combat.

I use the double tap for situational abilities like self heals/potions and tank stance rather than stuff I need regularly. I also have 1 standard hotbar placed below my crossbar just to have skill cooldowns visible.

[lolicon09]

More space? we already have more slots on all Cross-hotbars than on all normal keyboard hotbars.

[angienessyo]

Agreed, it would be extremely easy to just drop in another WXHB hotbar set on top of the current ones by using a combination such as hold R1+R2 or L1+L2 or perhaps a double click of one of those although the double clikc is already used they could make it an option to change it to a 3rd set.

I think the better solution would be for controllers to start having the extra bumpers that the Xbox Elite and PS5 Edge controllers have on the back. Holding R1+R2 or L1+L2 would really fatigue my small hands. I just tested how it would feel on a PS5 controller and the R1+R2 or L1+L2 combination adds a lot of stress to holding the controller. It's probably a non issue for bigger hands, but would be too much for mine.

[Iscah]

Agreed, it would be extremely easy to just drop in another WXHB hotbar set on top of the current ones by using a combination such as hold R1+R2 or L1+L2 or perhaps a double click of one of those although the double clikc is already used they could make it an option to change it to a 3rd set.

L1 and R1 already have their own function while the hotbars are active, which is to allow quick targeting left and right through enemies visible on the screen. I wouldn't want to give that up, and especially just to pile in an unnecessarily large amount of additional skills.