I was very excited when I heard about this game and saw some of the photos. What the new developer is doing all sounded great like it's going to be an amazing game but after watching, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjDnM0uf0O8  I'm unsure about how I feel. The combat looks really slow and boring IMO. I know it's only alpha testing but do you think they are going to keep it like this?

It's a game that worries more about combat positioning, timing, and combining group members abilities to have an increased effects.

Sure, you could stand in one place the whole time, and be terrible. Most abilities work better / combo in a certain position or condition. 

There are tanks, healers, support, and DPS classes. If you prefer running around in circles spamming attacks, you won't find that in FFXIV. FF games have always been more about tactical combat than spammy combat.

Do not be too alarmed by the combat videos. Many Alpha testers were rather upset with the people who filmed the video as it purposely AVOIDS showing what the combat is like in the game.I can assure the combat is MUCH better than the videos they released. I just wish I could release my own videos, sadly I'm still under NDA.

Timing, position, and movement are critical to the more difficult fights. All of the videos feature the players just statically standing in one spot, which is nothing like the combat in the game at all. Trust me, you have to keep moving and it's important to do so. The only time a player is rooted is if they are a mage-type casting a spell, otherwise they should be actively moving around.

Originally posted by TemperHoof

Do not be too alarmed by the combat videos. Many Alpha testers were rather upset with the people who filmed the video as it purposely AVOIDS showing what the combat is like in the game.I can assure the combat is MUCH better than the videos they released. I just wish I could release my own videos, sadly I'm still under NDA.

Timing, position, and movement are critical to the more difficult fights. All of the videos feature the players just statically standing in one spot, which is nothing like the combat in the game at all. Trust me, you have to keep moving and it's important to do so. The only time a player is rooted is if they are a mage-type casting a spell, otherwise they should be actively moving around.

You seem pretty sure of yourself so I'll hold you to this. I'm on the same boat with a few people here concerned about the dull combat system that was shown in the videos. I hope I get into beta so I can experience for myself exactly how it's like. But if it is tab-targeting (or just targeting in general) then I fear it's not going to be that much better for me personally, especially if it's like WoW or SWTOR where you can still move around, but in the grand scheme of things it's pointless since you're still targeted anyway (lol...)

Originally posted by maxg314

I was very excited when I heard about this game and saw some of the photos. What the new developer is doing all sounded great like it's going to be an amazing game but after watching, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjDnM0uf0O8  I'm unsure about how I feel. The combat looks really slow and boring IMO. I know it's only alpha testing but do you think they are going to keep it like this?

Action shooter MMO this 'aint.

If that's what you are looking for TERA is just one click away...

Me though? Loving the look of it- feels like nicely updated old school, which suits me.

Originally posted by FallguyArmy

You seem pretty sure of yourself so I'll hold you to this. I'm on the same boat with a few people here concerned about the dull combat system that was shown in the videos. I hope I get into beta so I can experience for myself exactly how it's like. But if it is tab-targeting (or just targeting in general) then I fear it's not going to be that much better for me personally, especially if it's like WoW or SWTOR where you can still move around, but in the grand scheme of things it's pointless since you're still targeted anyway (lol...)

Look I can't give details. But let me try to sum this up without breaking NDA. There was a boss in Alpha, if you just stood still and bashed on him you'd lose the fight because he would repeatedly go invulnerable if you didn't do something specific.

Originally posted by Wraithone
That looks like pretty standard Final Fantasy combat.  Its more about knowing what sequence and combination to use your abilities and spells in, for a given situation, than bouncing around like a mad superball.

What strikes me so strange is I thought Square-Enix had one of the best RPG combat systems in Kingdom Hearts I/II and the Dissidia titles. You can argue it was a little spammy at times, but bosses that required you to parry, dodge, find openings and even bombard with spells real time, merging both reflex and tactics... it made for a great system that was almost as exciting to watch as it was to play.

The first draft of this game had a combat system that was just completely panned for being so slow-paced and unexciting. Why did they opt for slightly faster pace but just as unexciting? 

You can argue Final Fantasy has always been somewhat turn-based slower pace, but then again, you also commanded between 3-5 people at the same time, depending on the title. Imagine how dull it would have been if you only controlled one character? Click fight, click target...then spend 15 seconds watching your "initiative" bar fill up.

Why Square thinks that that's good MMO gameplay for players to stare at the screen for 75% of the time and not do anything is beyond my understanding. 

I would actually love to see an awesome tactical turn-based combat system in an MMO, but that's another subject.  I was heavily critical of FFXI's combat.  I found almost no redeeming quality in it when I played from vanilla through COP.  Skillchains and magic bursts created the necessary group coordination, but it just became the same sequence for hours.  Rinse and repeat.  Fill the gaps with auto attacks.  

I don't know enough about the new FFXIV's combat system to make an assessment, but I can safely say that if it's anything like XI's, there's no way I'd be able to get into the game.  

Originally posted by drivendawn
Its your basic tab target but it has positional combos and group skills called limit breaks. If you are looking for action play this is probably the wrong game for you.

Pretty much sums it up.

If you want traditional combat like Everquest 2 or World of Warcraft, the game will appeal to you, if you are looking for action combat along the lines of TERA, Neverwinter or GW2, then you will be disappointed.

It has a few tweaks to the traditional system, but don't expect anything radically different. This reboot is set to make a safe FF MMO, I wouldn't expect anything overly innovative.  

Originally posted by TemperHoof

Originally posted by FallguyArmy

You seem pretty sure of yourself so I'll hold you to this. I'm on the same boat with a few people here concerned about the dull combat system that was shown in the videos. I hope I get into beta so I can experience for myself exactly how it's like. But if it is tab-targeting (or just targeting in general) then I fear it's not going to be that much better for me personally, especially if it's like WoW or SWTOR where you can still move around, but in the grand scheme of things it's pointless since you're still targeted anyway (lol...)

Look I can't give details. But let me try to sum this up without breaking NDA. There was a boss in Alpha, if you just stood still and bashed on him you'd lose the fight because he would repeatedly go invulnerable if you didn't do something specific.

 

That's more scripting like EQ2 or WoW, not really action based.

Originally posted by evilastro

That's more scripting like EQ2 or WoW, not really action based.

That's because I can't give details! You can easily assume it's something entirely different than what it is.

Originally posted by TemperHoof

Originally posted by evilastro

That's more scripting like EQ2 or WoW, not really action based.

That's because I can't give details! You can easily assume it's something entirely different than what it is.

No he is actually right, the type of combat he is refering to "action combat" is when you don't have any targeting so you are limited to area attacks (short range frontals form the normal "attack").  It could also mean other "features" like a lack of an aggro system etc.

In these games combat consists of aiming your attacks at the mob, and dodging the attacks.  So they are more action packed I guess somehow.

In traditional MMO's of course you also aim your attacks from certain directions or distances (you are also required to move to avoid many attacks), generally have more abilities (with actual variety), and mobs react differently to different scenarios according to their scripting.  This has not really changed since FFXI/EQ though the tools the developers can use have improved and they can create more complex encounters like in FFXIV.  So it is still traditional MMO combat, it isn't like Skyrim or the new Fallout games.  I think that is the kind of MMO he would like to see.  You know games that are known for their awesomely challenging and deep combat /eyeroll

FFXIV is "action packed" in that there is a ton to do in challenging content, but I don't think it is the kind of "revolutionary combat" he is looking for.  To each their own, no MMO can be everything to everyone.

Honestly I don't get the whole "action combat revolution" it seems to use things that traditional MMO combat already had while just simplifying everything else and taking a lot away from the challenge of encounters by limiting what all combat entails.  I'll take traditional MMO combat and an encounter designer on the caliber of Matsui any day over some MMO version of Mount and Blade. 

Nothing Revolutionary about FFXIV's combat. It's fun, it's functional, and it's a mixture of a lot of things which give it a classic Final Fantasy feel brought to the modern MMO.

Don't look for something "new" with FFXIV. A Realm Reborn is just a fun game, and that's what is important. They aim to please with what works, and they do just fine. Sure a heck of a lot more fun for me than Guild Wars 2, but that's just me.