From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

[Sanura~]

I'm thinking of coming back to FFXI for a short break from WoW until 3.2 comes out.

But, after playing WoW so long I grew accustomed to a high level of standards for how I expect my game to act/preform as far as managable UI and speed is concerned... I remember FFXI being extremly horrible in that area. The only difference is Blizzard welcomes add-ons that improve the UI, and FFXI bans them. But I'm sure they exist, and while I'm not interested in hacking in any way shape or form (I don't cheat), I would like to have a functional UI if I come back.

So my question is:
What, if anything, can I do to reduce/remove the delay on menu load times?
Is there something that will let me add to or improve my hotkey bindings?
Can I increase macro length (assuming gear swapping is still an ugly necessity)?
Is there something to show durations of buffs, cast times, etc... standard UI functions.
And while I plan to heal, is there something of a damage meter I can look at?

I'd love to know where to find this stuff, and I'm sure I'll have things to add to the list once this is done installing.

[Takelli]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

Damage meter is teh Health Bar, Unless I don't understand what you are saying.

For most of that stuff there is a 3rd party program called a windower. I don't know the link as I don't use one. It will show you distance from the mob, Spell duration, recast and everything of the like, which FFXI should include an option to see the recast of spells with out having the /recast command all the time.

I wont recomend using the windower though as you can get baned if you do use it.

As for the delay on the menue (Macros), all you need to do is hit the Alt, or Ctrl Key, then hit the corrosponding number to the macro, and the macro will go off before the macro bar even loads.

[Sanura~]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

Damage meter is teh Health Bar, Unless I don't understand what you are saying.

For most of that stuff there is a 3rd party program called a windower. I don't know the link as I don't use one. It will show you distance from the mob, Spell duration, recast and everything of the like, which FFXI should include an option to see the recast of spells with out having the /recast command all the time.

I wont recomend using the windower though as you can get baned if you do use it.

As for the delay on the menue (Macros), all you need to do is hit the Alt, or Ctrl Key, then hit the corrosponding number to the macro, and the macro will go off before the macro bar even loads.

Ok thanks, I'll try lookin for a windower. Can't say I'm too concerned about getting banned, they should be more concerned about fixing their UI tbh.

And as for damage meter, I meant something that shows how much damage per second party members are doing, but now that I reflect back on FFXI's gameplay... that hardly matters. Things move so slowly it's pretty obvious when someone is or isn't doing their job, their output hardly matters since beyond that it's all just gear.
Thanks for the help though.

[Armando]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

The short answer is that, save for the "damage meter" question (which I assume is sort of a DPS meter for the damage dealers), all the things you're asking for can be done, but not with FFXI's UI.

The key word here is "FFXI Windower." Since it's a 3rd party tool (as well as the forum rules, if I remember right), I can't endorse it, even if it's true that a large portion of the player base uses it, and even if our UI fails. Google around, it's not hard to find. Obviously understand that if you get caught you're screwed, but unless you enable Japanese text on your English client, you shouldn't get caught unless you open your mouth unnecessarily. The choice to use it is yours.

Good luck.

EDIT: Ah, looks like I was a bit too slow. Oh well.

[Balfree]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

Different game, different UI.

Pretty much?... :\

[Feba]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

Which is sort of like saying the US and Niger are 'different countries, different diets'; that doesn't mean one of them isn't starving.

[reaver84]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

The more and more I play FFXI I notice that the game mechanics all the way down to the UI interface are in place to:

1) Keep the experience of play the same across the 360/PS2/PC
2) Keep the Final Fantasy experience that you may be accustomed to if you played a lot of the RPGs.

[Takelli]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

Ok thanks, I'll try lookin for a windower. Can't say I'm too concerned about getting banned, they should be more concerned about fixing their UI tbh.

And as for damage meter, I meant something that shows how much damage per second party members are doing, but now that I reflect back on FFXI's gameplay... that hardly matters. Things move so slowly it's pretty obvious when someone is or isn't doing their job, their output hardly matters since beyond that it's all just gear.
Thanks for the help though.

They havent changed their UI in what... 8 years now? I doubt they will even change it as FFXIV is coming out soon. So I won't have to deal with it much longer. I actually like the UI, I grew accustom to it, and its a decent UI IMO.

As for the damage meter. DPS doesn't really matter that much any ways. If a job has decent gear, and uses their abilities, you will know it. If not, then you will know it as well. You will see a huge difference in kills from a DD that is geard to DD, or a DD that is geard in lower lvl gear.

[DakAttack]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

What exactly are standard UI functions and who is setting these standards?

[Raydeus]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

Don't bother, just go back to WoW.

You'll thank me for the advice, I swear.

[Tickmeoff]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

What exactly are standard UI functions and who is setting these standards?

Every MMO that is not FFXI.

[Yellow Mage]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

I can't endorse it, even if it's true that a large portion of the player base uses it, and even if our UI fails.

Subtle.

[Kailea]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

I like the FFXI UI, just for the reason, that its not like the other MMORPG interfaces, and I love the fact I can use a controller to play.

the only thing the UI is missing for me, is a better macro system, and counters for effect duration and spell/ability recasts

take the same UI as FFXI and add these things to the new one in FFXIV and I would be a happy camper.

[Ziero]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

My only problem with the FFXI UI is the delay in macro use. That's it, that's the only thing wrong with it imo. While other things may be nice additions, to me they're far from needed and should be able to be dealt with by the player normally. The less junk I have cluttering up my screen the better. But again, that's just me.

[Mhurron]

Re: From WoW to FFXI, how can I make this UI suck less?

My only problem with the FFXI UI is the delay in macro use.

That is also my only complaint about the UI. I don't want a busy screen.