Combat System

Maybe I'm just too used to GW2 (almost 2900 hours now) but I'm having problems with the Combat system in FFXIV.  I don't know if its because the noob areas are crowded and people are tagging mobs before I can get to them, or what but it seems like I can't get my attacks off in time before someone steals my target.  I've noticed that if the target name is pink, that I get no credit for ... anything, not hunting log, XP or quest.

I'm also having problems ensuring that autoattack is active.  The Help tip says something like right-click then approach, but it feels "off" and I've noticed that autoattack doesn't turn on if I just use skills to initiate combat, I still have to right click to engage AA.

Anyone have any advice or other input?

The problem is the insanely long cast times (2.5s for most spells), the 2.5s global cooldown and the amount of damage you have to get for contribution toward killing a mob.

It's not just you, I'm having the same problem with my casters during FATEs....usually by the time my spells finish the mob is either dead or almost dead so it doesn't count towards the FATE.  But mostly I don't get to tag the mobs because they have long since been dead.

Autoattack is just insanely slow.  The animations are hard to notice or see in between moving and combat, using your skills etc. 

Granted  I do believe some of this would be fixed once the servers are up and running and everyone isn't in the same area doing the same quests and when there aren't quite so many people zerging the same FATEs over and over....but nothing is going to fix the GCD and long cast times, not even the spell/skill speed modifiers.

Its funny, because a few hours after I posted this, I was perusing the Beta forums and noticed quite a few threads from people complaining about the combat system, which I guess is officially called the "Battle System".  Someone had even included a quote from Yoshi where he discussed that mostly indicated that he was not happy with the current design, but they were going to release with what they have now and re-work it afterwards.  No ETA, of course, and that prompted quite a few posts expressing concerns about a repeat of the 1.0 disaster.

Its not that bad of a system, its just slightly frustrating and I don't think its going to tank the game or really affect its sales or continuance, but they will need to get working on it ASAP.

if you have something fast to cast, like aero...it should help with contribution in fates and tagging. i always start with aero and then just spam stone until the mob dies. i have managed to pull mobs back to me this way. however, you should still get credit for hunting log and quest, if you managed to hit it. i did not have the problem with that, unless it was almost dead when i attacked it. as for design, i believe what they have is 100% better than the way it was 1.0. they do still need to work on the targeting...like not being able to get out of the aoe circles, even if your character has moved out of them. lancer also has an issue where the stun doesnt actually stun that they need to get fixed. if they launch the game and then immediately begin find tuning the battle system, i dont see much subscriber loss. i wish they would tweak these things in the betas first tho, for sure.

Concerning Mob tagging and Credit:

1. If the mob goes pink, it doesnt mean it's owned, it means whoever is attacking it currently is holding aggression

2. Even when pink, if you contribute at least 15% damage you will get credit, including quest and hunting log

The same goes if someone attacks what you are attacking, basically, if your able to tag a mob with a dot or aoe damage during a fate, you get great contribution for smaller damage across more mobs, where as melee's without spammable aoe's get the same credit for high single target damage and etc.

As a casting class, even with longer casting times, continue to plow into any mob your jointly attacking and you should see more credit for your work. The system (playing as my monk\pug) has been greatly benefitial, but alot of my attacks are instant and only reflect the GCD.

When I played at the mage and conj, I tended to use any instant cast or dot spell I could find, but also realize as a conj you also get great credit for healing members who are taking damage from fate and dungeon mobs.

Hope this helps!

Sekker I didn't notice this at first, but if you look above the mob there is a little pair of rotating arrows that shows your auto attack, and it will be active even if you start the fight with a skill. The battle system has been a bit of a learning curve for me because it is different from what I am used to, but this is the first beta I made it into so I have spent most of my time trying different things and seeing how it works and I am really enjoying the combat now.

Don't forget that healing counts at contribution during FATEs. I find it easier to heal players as a conjurer than to try to land damage spells.

Yeah, when I do fates on my Conj, I heal and use Stone when I can get a mob thats at 100%. I always get full contribution at the end.