Incoming changes to global cooldown UI Blog Discussion

Glad they listened and are making it user defined. Cant ask for much more in the way of UI except for what has already been addressed about making it scalable which they are doing and maybe down the road user created UI interfaces.

A definite improvement. I am pleased with this. However, there are still some fundamental readability/usability issues with this UI that need to be addressed, and letting us move elements around won't fix them. Here goes:

• Buffs/Debuffs are hard to see, debuff types are hard to identify unless you mouse over them. Durations are hard to see. Add a numerical countdown overlay (60m, 10s and so on), and add a white border to debuffs we can dispel. If that makes it too obvious in your opinion, at least color-code the borders by debuff type (blue = Force, red = physical and so on) so we can make the judgment call.
• Usability for healing is simply bad. It's usable, but cumbersome. Add mouseover functionality at least. Since healers can (and often do) DPS during encounters, an 'attack target-of-target' feature so we can target a friendly tank/DPS and attack more easily would be a welcome addition. It would even make assist trains easier.
• Allow us some macro functionality. Nothing automated, but at least the ability to tie more than one ability to the same quickslot (especially reactive abilities off the GCD). There's too many abilities that get constant use for some classes, and prime real estate on the UI is very limited.

I'm honestly surprised that lots of this feedback didn't get back to you on the PTS. I just think that given the lack of pre-mades or transfers (and even selective beta testing pre-release), you're making testing your game way too difficult to get a proper sample size.

I'll use myself as an example, since I'd rather not assume about anyone else. I don't mind helping you test, but I'm paying to play for keeps, not to play in half-empty test servers where my character could get wiped any second. You could get away with it when this game wasn't out, because I jumped at the opportunity to play the game to adjust my expectations for release. But now? You'd need to make testing a helluva lot easier/more convenient for me to hop on the PTS.

I know I strayed a bit from the topic, but hopefully the overall feedback still reaches you.

If this works as advertised (trust is a little sketchy with you guys nowadays) then all I will have to say is:

Woot!

I will be more the satisfied with GCD for the first time playing this game. And if this is a preview of the lvl of control in customization that you’re going to be building into the other area’s (buffs/debuffs, sizing windows, raid healing window, etc.) then I feel positive about looking forward to it.

Granted this is not overdone but its more then satisfactory until they open up to addon systems. <--positive assumptions

Bravo, bravo! This is a small but useful addition. Performing a mouseover to check a CD timer is less than ideal. Thanks!

Actually this is both an easy change and is very important for people who are not used to games with GCD. Depending on the artwork and what an individual finds noticeable, the current GCD animation can be hard to notice. The announced changes allow people to adjust to what they find useful without devoting a lot of developer resources to it.

I am glad to see that they are listening and doing things like this to better polish the game.

As much as I appreciate you guys working on things like this.. I don't understand why a cosmetic issue is more important then some others like server balance and evening out the classes etc....

I'd personally prefer that stuff to get fixed over making something look better.

I have to agree with what he said. I like the options but I am fine with the current UI. More choice is always good though.

I would like a GCD in a color other than blue. You know, cause all my icons are f***ing blue.

I don't understand why people assume that because one fix is announced, that's the ONLY thing BW is working on. BW likely has multiple teams working simultaneously on multiple projects with things being rolled out when ready.

Because they had to. The current UI was making some folks physically ill to the point they couldn't engage in any combat, and other couldn't tell which abilities were off cool down due to the gcd changes. In all likelihood all they did was push the UI change forward. It's not like the programmers in charge of the UI change were pulled off of Quest bugs. They were already working on it.