The problem with "Instant OFF GCD" abilities makes combat feel less rewarding.

[Stryker]

I think it happens to a lot of the oh shit abilities. I know that I've tried to use hallowed grounds but because it takes so long to activate even as an "instant" ability I end up dying before it goes off. The worst part is that I'll die and the ability will then proceed to go on CD. VERY NOICE. Shenanigans indeed.

[sasakusaku]

This is hands down the most annoying thing for a healer

Benediction is so useless right now I want to take it off my bar as to the dozens of time it let me down. This is suppose to be a panic button so when the tank suddenly dips to 10% I can Smash the button and it tops him off... not take 1.5s of animation crap over his head just to see him keel over waiting for that heal to go off....

This does not throw off the balance of the game that is a ridiculous answer. complete nonsense

When I throw out a heal and it costed me MP, GCD went off but since the animation was still running its course my party member still dies I call shenanigans on that

So much this. Perfect example of how 'instant' abilities are not actually instant. Instant my fanny.

[Malitias]

The stuff about UI is somewhere in the middle of this text:
http://www.secrets-eorzea.com/en/new...rets-of-eorzea
He says in the first 6 months he wants to have the game's UI improve based on feedback and then give players the tools to make their own add-ons.
If that is gonna happen, you can be sure someone is gonna do that sooner or later if SE doesn't do it.
I'll wait and see if they improve the UI to represent animation-locks. If they don't it wouldn't be a problem for me, but it seems there are quite some ppl having a huge problem with multi-tasking GCD and the animation of the character (pardon me if it sounds insulting or offensive. I do not mean to. Edit: Not anymore.).
So they should implement a cooldown timer for the animations. But, again, not change the mechanic, in my opinion.

Edit2: For targeting stuff etc. check the Dev-Tracker

[sasakusaku]

What animations lol. As WHM I have a total 2 when it comes to casting: nova and then everything else. Only difference is the colors.

All I can say, they must have saved a ton of money when it comes to animations while making WHM.

[Dano]

the animation seems to be a waste since most of the time you're either looking at enemies's HP bars or being blinded by AoEs going off everywhere.

That said, they do need to make it so the effects of the ability activates immediately upon pressing instead of after the animation finishes.

[TaranTatsuuchi]

What animations lol. As WHM I have a total 2 when it comes to casting: nova and then everything else. Only difference is the colors.

All I can say, they must have saved a ton of money when it comes to animations while making WHM.

I've actually cross classed physik from arcanist on my conjurer to use for a change of animations XD

[Pavise]

I love how the developers are saying deal with it and formulate a strategy around clunky unresponsive mechanics.

So it's fine that one person becomes a dead weight auto attacking the whole fight just to interrupt a certain ability that could cause devastating damage to the party thus causing boring game play the for person involved in.

There is a reason why WoW has one of the best combat systems compared to all MMOs since it is much more responsive to a keypress and off the GCD abilities are actually off the gcd not on the HGCDWIDFATDCD (hiddenglobalcooldownwhichisderivedfromaterribledecisionfromcombatdevelopers).

[Naks]

unfortuantely, due to these issues, ive put paying sub on hold I really enjoy this game for the most part but the awkward combat system makes this unplesant to play

[RaphaelDDL]

Why that was Square Enix "intention" is beyond me (they have stated that this is working as intended and is not going to be addressed).

The lag between activating and the actual effect is bad.

But people also raging against GCD, when it's actually simulating ATB without having a 'bar' to show us our turn. This is a MMO, but this is Final Fantasy, not a world of lolcr4p

[Asri]

Spell/skill speed should effect animation speed instead of gcd speed. This would make it a somewhat better stat to stack and make our ins5ant skills feel a little more instant while not breaking the game. Though I agree it does feel rather clunky at times as is.