How would you *fix* battle content?

[AmiableApkallu]

I would wish more trials and raids would include a bit of randomness to what mechanic they are going to use on each cycle.

I was doing the On the Hunt CE in Occult Crescent (a.k.a., the Oracle CE) when the server decided to skip 11 beats and start the fight off with the combination of rotating line and circle AoEs… going off at double speed. It was absolutely hilarious and turned what would have been my millionth boring run of the CE into something memorable.

[Kirutsuki]

Yup I bet. And there's so many mechanics they could just put all of them into like a package that bosses can randomly choose one (not that we need more packaged content),
but the notion that some generic boss could throw us a mechanic from like an ARR dungeon sounds incredibly fun to me.

Or doing like an ARR dungeon and suddenly you gotta solve numerations for no reason. :'D

[Mawlzy]

I agree with that but I don't know how they could pull off skill checks in a tab-targeting MMO.

You don't have to tab target?

[Uzephi]

I agree with that but I don't know how they could pull off skill checks in a tab-targeting MMO.

I... Cannot find this tab button on my controller... That being said, targeting isn't 'that bad' of an issue. There are many ways to target, even different options in the menu. I'm all for other options, but tab and the f keys aren't your only options. Soft targeting is a thing... At least for controllers.

[Hallarem]

Huge overhauls to the overworld, how they treat loot and job identity and gearing would be on the top of the list, but a lot of it only works if they work on all of it.

But definitely top of my list is that the overworld needs to stop being a fate/hunt simulator with a sprinkle of flavor quests. It needs to matter, farming items, drops for glams, anything.

SE is so mortified of change though, so I doubt we'll see anything except more flashier effects on 8.0

[XtremePrime]

Sadly even games that do require skill ultimately boil down to perfect memorization.
But randomness in enemy AI does allow skill expression, or atleast expression of experience.

I would wish more trials and raids would include a bit of randomness to what mechanic they are going to use on each cycle.
that alone would help a bit even on a tab targeting game.

On normal atleast, it still needs to keep the fight intro where they have a fixed pattern to allow new players to learn what a mechanic does in a "safe" showcase, and once all mechanics are presented it can start going randomly somewhat.
But I don't think just randomness in the cycle is enough to add skill, just which part of the memorization script I need to account for and show that I'm paying attention

1. Some form of job "specialization system" to give jobs identity.
   
   White Mage could specialize into Green Mage or Illusionist OR stay as White Mage.
   choosing either one would give you 2 abilities that are highly specific to situations, but do not add damage,or more heals or mitigation.
   

Honestly I really like this idea in particular. We already have something like this in PvP except it's role based instead of job based, but I think it'd bring a great deal of personality to each person's job if they can get to choose between a few abilities!

I... Cannot find this tab button on my controller... That being said, targeting isn't 'that bad' of an issue. There are many ways to target, even different options in the menu. I'm all for other options, but tab and the f keys aren't your only options. Soft targeting is a thing... At least for controllers.

I don't have an issue with the tab-targeting (as opposed to skill targeting where every swing has a collision mesh on the weapon's trajectory or arrows are actual projectiles as in other games). The issue is regarding how do you add skill checks on attacking to a game where you're always targeting the enemy and can't miss your attack swing (unless underleveled).

[Masekase_Hurricane]

I think it's clear that it can't change

[MeanDragon]

I... Cannot find this tab button on my controller... That being said, targeting isn't 'that bad' of an issue. There are many ways to target, even different options in the menu. I'm all for other options, but tab and the f keys aren't your only options. Soft targeting is a thing... At least for controllers.

If you are using a PS5 controller, holding L2 or R2, you can tab targets with L1 and R1.

[Raikai]

I know fights in every MMORPG are scripted to some degree... I just wish XIV's were a bit less than currently are.

Less scripted fights, more surprise elements and damage profiles encourages players thinking on the go and that makes fights more entertaining, especially during the boring reclear phases.

Battle content would be better with jobs less homogenized around a 2min meta.

[ShadowyZero]

honestly there is no real way to solve the issues cause no matter what they do there is always complaints always uproar thats why they stopped doing job change updates in live letters an in media tour cause people will always get angry at them an as far as job identity they just need to really focus in on what they want that job to do an not fuss over balances or timing windows or casts just let people f*** around an find out how things work, things do not need to work perfectly they just need to have synergy and be fun to play.
as for encounter design i agree this needs to change its boring to all hells dancing around in a box or circle the whole entire fight i want to see them bring in more unique scenario's an have these places have more depth to them. not just be an fancy game of tag
overworld stuff is little tougher to say i dont know what else they could possibly do, you have mobs to wail on for materials, you have elite hunt marks which can be challenged alone or with a party, the fates can feel repetitive but i think the only way to make it less boring is to mix up how the events operate i remember in some older areas there were chain events that would sometimes happen they could bring that idea back for example, an then we have world boss fates such as ixion which require an alliance of players to bring down an award tokens for unique rewards etc. only thing i can think of would be open map duels but people seem so adamant to even that cause they feel like it would lead to harassment but that wouldnt be the case if it opt in meaning two people have to agree to duel to trigger the battle status effect etc.