Please add toggles to modify/disable special effects for dungeons and bosses.

[102delta]

With the release of Dawntrail, Yoshi-P and the team noted hiring outside consultants to ensure that in regards to MSQ, cultures, places and practices were researched and displayed in more positive ways than they were prior to its launch, most notably Stormblood. I believe it's a good step forward for the community as, regardless of how someone might personally feel about MSQ, the care put into the environment and lorebuilding of Dawntrail for the cultures and peoples it entails is plain.

I wish I could say the same for the combat.

While fun and engaging mechanically at every level, the arbitrary use of flashing visual effects in currently released content makes it so that some players are unable to fully enjoy the content provided, and in some cases engage with the content at all. This was also an issue with P12 Normal and Savage's "Superchain Flashbangs". Over the longer periods of time that it takes to learn and progress, photosensitive players and players with certain disabilities are unable to enjoy the difficulty of fights as the developers intend because of the extra, oftentimes unnecessary, visual stress. If the team can hire cultural consultants to ensure players of certain cultures are accurately represented, I do not see why they cannot hire medical consultants to ensure that mechanical effects are safe for as many players as possible.

I understand that for those who do not suffer from disabilities that affect processing, these effects are part of what makes fights interesting and fun. That's why I believe it should be toggleable, the way party effects are. As an example, EX1's Mountain Fire. It is the consistent fast-paced flames erupting from each tankbuster that disabled players are struggling with most from discussions I have seen. A lightly-tinted, static conal marker on the ground to mark the unsafe area as the attack occurs would serve the same visual purpose for players who need that, while players who do not can still enjoy the cool fiery flames.

Despite what the team and others here may think, if done correctly and with care, this will not detract from the beauty and experiences of players who need these kinds of accommodations vs. players who do not. These accommodations are not "simplifying the game" mechanically, and that is not what we are asking for - if a fight is engaging because of its visual bloat and not because of its mechanics, it is not good fight design. The team talks about how important it is that players maintain good health while playing, but it's hard to do that when even MSQ is now putting disabled players at risk.

Though I know not to expect a full retroactive overhaul of current/older content to accompany this, I do believe these accommodations can be made possible with content going forward, and I truly hope it will be considered.

[Ainariel]

The thread's OP was very well written! Couldn't have worded it better myself.

These eye strain/flashing issues have also been discussed in this thread: https://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/...ate-Eye-Strain

If anyone wants to reach out to SE with feedback, you can reach them via the support center and their Accessibility team email (don't know if they have a similar address for NA/JP): contact-accessibility@eu.square-enix.com

[AddictedToWitches]

I'm sure they'll be tweaking visuals. When ARR released they would periodically do visual updates, biggest one I think was for the standard orange AOEs to be more clear at the time
considering they just did a huge graphical update they almost certainly will be taking another passthrough
On the flipside I also think sometimes they overdo it with visual effects. Thankfully, it's not as bad as a certain other MMO I've played *cough* Lost Ark *cough* but it does get annoying
A "simple effects" or "toned down effects" setting would be a welcome addition

[elioaiko]

They didn't tweak the visual effects for Demi-Phoenix or Lime Cheeto Garuda/Ifrit. They have a tendency to go overboard with visual clutter.

Though they were quick to fix Mt. Gulg's blinding white color scheme so maybe they will.

[102delta]

They didn't tweak the visual effects for Demi-Phoenix or Lime Cheeto Garuda/Ifrit. They have a tendency to go overboard with visual clutter.

Though they were quick to fix Mt. Gulg's blinding white color scheme so maybe they will.

But that's precisely the issue. It isn't like I want the developers to be barred from making visuals that may be a little overboard but still fun for people who can handle that. I just want people who need those effects toned down to have the option to do so. Developers plan out detail by detail where most attacks will go and program the NPCs/fights accordingly, so if the simplified versions of boss telegraphs are already on hand for testing purposes, just let users toggle them instead of scrapping it entirely.

[Rekh]

I have a friend who struggles to play xiv because the boss's light/magical effects are too strong for his eyes; I'd appreciate if square enix could introduce OPACITY options so that they can still see the magical effects but not at the intensity that most of us can handle. An ON and OFF toggle on top of OPACITY would also be a great approach.

But that's precisely the issue. It isn't like I want the developers to be barred from making visuals that may be a little overboard but still fun for people who can handle that. I just want people who need those effects toned down to have the option to do so. Developers plan out detail by detail where most attacks will go and program the NPCs/fights accordingly, so if the simplified versions of boss telegraphs are already on hand for testing purposes, just let users toggle them instead of scrapping it entirely.

Thank you for saying this.
A lot of us enjoy magical effects in rpgs; it's one of the things that make rpgs funner than photo-realistic games. I would be highly disappointed if they stopped doing creative and fun magical effects; if they did that I would just stay in Guild Wars 2 forever.

[Granyala]

I understand that for those who do not suffer from disabilities that affect processing, these effects are part of what makes fights interesting and fun

As someone who does not suffer from disabilities that affect processing:
Needless flashing annoys the CRAP out of me in many games.
Especially "dimming screen to white".

Ugh... some of us like to play in dark rooms and on big screens, thank you very much! :<

[Fiel_Tana]

I struggled with this in previous expansions but now I get headaches and nausea far quicker and worse in DT.

I saw someone post a suggestion to add an opacity slider to the current combat effects settings. If that could also extend to the boss effects that may cover many people's needs. I'd also love an option to only see required player effects (heal circles etc.).