"Favor melee autoattack" instead of "force melee autoattack"

[Gilli]

<p>I was happy to see autoattack preferences added in a recent update.  It almost gets me to where I want to be.</p><p>What I’d really like is a proximity-based setting. Both of my mains have ample reason to melee but often they need to be in the back for one reason or another. I’d hate to be be doing nothing because I am using “force melee” and need to get out of harm’s way.</p><p>So for me the least micro management would be a setting that says “favor melee” meaning I would still spell autoattack when I happen to be out of range but no amount of spellcasting will cause me to switch to spell autoattack when I’m in the mob’s face.</p><p>Now that the programming is in to force one or the other, could the feature be evolved to allow us to "favor melee" or "favor ranged" autoattack?</p>

[Talathion]

<p><cite>Gilli@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I was happy to see autoattack preferences added in a recent update.  It almost gets me to where I want to be.</p><p>What I’d really like is a proximity-based setting. Both of my mains have ample reason to melee but often they need to be in the back for one reason or another. I’d hate to be be doing nothing because I am using “force melee” and need to get out of harm’s way.</p><p>So for me the least micro management would be a setting that says “favor melee” meaning I would still spell autoattack when I happen to be out of range but no amount of spellcasting will cause me to switch to spell autoattack when I’m in the mob’s face.</p><p>Now that the programming is in to force one or the other, could the feature be evolved to allow us to "favor melee" or "favor ranged" autoattack?</p></blockquote><p>Spell Autoattack does not warrant enough damage to ever be useful.</p>

[jester0770]

<p>or maybe just give my inqy a symbol I can use in the ranged slot that has as good of stats as the ranged weapon's I can get.  But seriously I wish I could make it so unless I hit ranged attack my inqy would stay in melee no matter what spells or ca's I hit.</p>

[Weyre]

<p>Spell autoattack is good for procs so it's pretty much always worth using if you're out of melee range.Mostly I'd prefer a "favor ranged" setting for my guardian though.  I'd like to get the damage/delay from a bow while still being able to use a shield, but on the other hand I don't want to lose autoattacks altogether if the monster refuses to get properly positioned 2-5m away.</p>

[ShadowMunkie]

<p><cite>Talathion@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Gilli@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I was happy to see autoattack preferences added in a recent update.  It almost gets me to where I want to be.</p><p>What I’d really like is a proximity-based setting. Both of my mains have ample reason to melee but often they need to be in the back for one reason or another. I’d hate to be be doing nothing because I am using “force melee” and need to get out of harm’s way.</p><p>So for me the least micro management would be a setting that says “favor melee” meaning I would still spell autoattack when I happen to be out of range but no amount of spellcasting will cause me to switch to spell autoattack when I’m in the mob’s face.</p><p>Now that the programming is in to force one or the other, could the feature be evolved to allow us to "favor melee" or "favor ranged" autoattack?</p></blockquote><p>Spell Autoattack does not warrant enough damage to ever be useful.</p></blockquote><p>Tyrax fight in Tallon Stronghold [Challenge] doesn't allow mages to use Melee Auto Attack, meaning it literally will not work on anything. So for this single fight it is worth using, also like a poster above me its worth it if you aren't in melee range. Lets face facts, if you are a melee character you're gonna learn how to stay in melee range and if you aren't, well no reason to worry then.</p><p>I think this is a good idea but, I also thing it should have been posted in the thread rather than here for feedback on the function. It was brought up in the thread a couple times, and I made one observation about this, what would happen if both overlapped? IE: Ranger/Chanters, Chanters of course want melee and Rangers of course want ranged.</p>

[Talathion]

<p><cite>Senkai@Splitpaw wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Talathion@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Gilli@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I was happy to see autoattack preferences added in a recent update.  It almost gets me to where I want to be.</p><p>What I’d really like is a proximity-based setting. Both of my mains have ample reason to melee but often they need to be in the back for one reason or another. I’d hate to be be doing nothing because I am using “force melee” and need to get out of harm’s way.</p><p>So for me the least micro management would be a setting that says “favor melee” meaning I would still spell autoattack when I happen to be out of range but no amount of spellcasting will cause me to switch to spell autoattack when I’m in the mob’s face.</p><p>Now that the programming is in to force one or the other, could the feature be evolved to allow us to "favor melee" or "favor ranged" autoattack?</p></blockquote><p>Spell Autoattack does not warrant enough damage to ever be useful.</p></blockquote><p>Tyrax fight in Tallon Stronghold [Challenge] doesn't allow mages to use Melee Auto Attack, meaning it literally will not work on anything. So for this single fight it is worth using, also like a poster above me its worth it if you aren't in melee range. Lets face facts, if you are a melee character you're gonna learn how to stay in melee range and if you aren't, well no reason to worry then.</p><p>I think this is a good idea but, I also thing it should have been posted in the thread rather than here for feedback on the function. It was brought up in the thread a couple times, and I made one observation about this, what would happen if both overlapped? IE: Ranger/Chanters, Chanters of course want melee and Rangers of course want ranged.</p></blockquote><p>That would be stupid if they bother overlapped, do it. Lol.</p>

[Leawyn]

<p>There's no reason for this. Lets not take all form of skill out of the game. Its not that hard to swap your auto attack if you have to move out to ranged or when you move close. Do we REALLY need the game to change it automatically for you?</p>

[Neiloch]

<p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There's no reason for this. Lets not take all form of skill out of the game. Its not that hard to swap your auto attack if you have to move out to ranged or when you move close. Do we REALLY need the game to change it automatically for you?</p></blockquote><p>Kind of all over the place there. Say you don't want it. Then say don't take skill out of the game. then proceed to say its not that hard. So....what? Your position is lets keep annoying little things that take little to no skill in the game?</p><p>Really getting sick of people calling 'easy mode' for things that aren't hard in the first place. We don't need things that are 1 or 2 out of 10 'difficulty.' Just make it 0 and be done with it.</p><p>I'd much rather they just get rid of the ranged minimum range 'dead zone' myself since they can't seem to agree on hitbox sizes with any sort of logic or consistency.</p>

[feldon30]

<p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There's no reason for this. Lets not take all form of skill out of the game. Its not that hard to swap your auto attack if you have to move out to ranged or when you move close. Do we REALLY need the game to change it automatically for you?</p></blockquote><p>I guess you don't have a Ranger?</p> <p><cite>jester0770 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I wish I could make it so unless I hit ranged attack my inqy would stay in melee no matter what spells or ca's I hit.</p></blockquote><p>This exactly describes the feature that has just been added.</p>

[ShadowMunkie]

<p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There's no reason for this. Lets not take all form of skill out of the game. Its not that hard to swap your auto attack if you have to move out to ranged or when you move close. Do we REALLY need the game to change it automatically for you?</p></blockquote><p>Let me ask you something, why should we have to change something manually that should have been done that way from the beginning?</p><p>You shouldn't try to swing with a melee weapon if you are not even close to the mob, all it does is clutter the servers with useless combat actions; yes it does actually send a command to the server to determine if you actually hit the mob while not in range. This would reduce raid lag some, not a lot but some. Also Rangers have been begging for this forever, its about time they were heard; they don't get much after all.</p>

[Leawyn]

<p>I just don't see a need for it, and with the caliber of dev we have, I am afraid what they will screw up along the way. I just think some things should be left for the player to decide.</p>

[CoLD MeTaL]

<p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I just don't see a need for it, and with the caliber of dev we have, I am afraid what they will screw up along the way. I just think some things should be left for the player to decide.</p></blockquote><p>It SHOULD be left to the player to decide, HOWEVER currently as an illy when I cast a spell it <strong>automatically</strong> turns on ranged.  You see I want it under my control, you are actually voting AGAINST skill and player choice.</p>

[Seiffil]

<p><cite>Senkai@Splitpaw wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>There's no reason for this. Lets not take all form of skill out of the game. Its not that hard to swap your auto attack if you have to move out to ranged or when you move close. Do we REALLY need the game to change it automatically for you?</p></blockquote><p>Let me ask you something, why should we have to change something manually that should have been done that way from the beginning?</p><p>You shouldn't try to swing with a melee weapon if you are not even close to the mob, all it does is clutter the servers with useless combat actions; yes it does actually send a command to the server to determine if you actually hit the mob while not in range. This would reduce raid lag some, not a lot but some. Also Rangers have been begging for this forever, its about time they were heard; they don't get much after all.</p></blockquote><p>What they're putting in on test is good enough assuming it continues to work properly. </p><p>I don't think maewyn is talking about removing this entire option they are now finally implementing long after they said they were going to. It's the option that automatically swaps you between melee and ranged attack based on how close you are to the mob that I agree with not being needed.  In that case, I don't think it's too big of an issue to activate ranged or melee autoattack as you're repositioning or jousting out.  If it's due to an issue with a raid or group being unable to control aggro and keep a mob positioned properly, this is just something that forces people to pay attention so they don't miss attacks because some enterprising wizard, conjuror, ranger, or whatever moved the mob around.</p><p>That being said, I'd really love to see what Neiloch suggested and have them just remove the minimum range.  They say they'll make hit boxes more managable so we don't end up with a fight like phara dar where in order to even use a ranged attack, a ranger is outside of the range of their group's buffs and heals.  However they still design hitboxes occasionally where as a ranger, you still have to stand halfway across the room in order to even use ranged auto attack and all of your ranged CA's.</p>

[Leawyn]

<p><cite>CoLD MeTaL wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I just don't see a need for it, and with the caliber of dev we have, I am afraid what they will screw up along the way. I just think some things should be left for the player to decide.</p></blockquote><p>It SHOULD be left to the player to decide, HOWEVER currently as an illy when I cast a spell it <strong>automatically</strong> turns on ranged.  You see I want it under my control, you are actually voting AGAINST skill and player choice.</p></blockquote><p>The change for this is already on test and working great. You spend enough time on these forums, you should know that.</p>

[feldon30]

<p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>CoLD MeTaL wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I just don't see a need for it, and with the caliber of dev we have, I am afraid what they will screw up along the way. I just think some things should be left for the player to decide.</p></blockquote><p>It SHOULD be left to the player to decide, HOWEVER currently as an illy when I cast a spell it <strong>automatically</strong> turns on ranged.  You see I want it under my control, you are actually voting AGAINST skill and player choice.</p></blockquote><p>The change for this is already on test and working great. You spend enough time on these forums, you should know that.</p></blockquote><p>You post that you "don't see a need" for the feature, and then you ream someone out for explaining to you why the feature is needed. Bravo.</p>

[Leawyn]

<p><cite>feldon30 wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>CoLD MeTaL wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Maewyn@Unrest_old wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>I just don't see a need for it, and with the caliber of dev we have, I am afraid what they will screw up along the way. I just think some things should be left for the player to decide.</p></blockquote><p>It SHOULD be left to the player to decide, HOWEVER currently as an illy when I cast a spell it <strong>automatically</strong> turns on ranged.  You see I want it under my control, you are actually voting AGAINST skill and player choice.</p></blockquote><p>The change for this is already on test and working great. You spend enough time on these forums, you should know that.</p></blockquote><p>You post that you "don't see a need" for the feature, and then you ream someone out for explaining to you why the feature is needed. Bravo.</p></blockquote><p>I'm not reaming anyone. He is clearly talking about spell auto turning on when he casts spells so he can't melee, which is already fixed. This post is about further changes that would swap between spell and melee auto based on how far you are from the mob, which I think is unnecessary.</p>

[Oxie]

<p>Everytime I see Mae's sig, I think "Hobbit Zombie Army"...or something like that. =)</p>

[Yimway]

<p>'Favor melee' is not something I have any expectation of being able to be implimented in a reasonable and working manner.</p><p>Please, don't attempt this.</p>

[feldon30]

I agree that this extra degree of automaticness called "favor" is not needed. People should still need to switch from ranged to melee depending on their range from the mob. EQ2 doesn't breathe for you. Yet. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Neiloch]

<p>Of course its not <em>needed</em>, nothing here is, its a video game. But neither is making people manually switch. Given this, it seems the more desirable option of the two should be the one implemented.That is if they just don't get rid of the silly 'minimum range' completely.</p><p>No ones asking that all flanking attacks suddenly be usable from any position. We are asking that auto attack work properly <em>automatically</em>. This doesn't seem unreasonable to me.</p>

[Mermut]

<p><cite>Neiloch@Butcherblock wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Of course its not <em>needed</em>, nothing here is, its a video game. But neither is making people manually switch. Given this, it seems the more desirable option of the two should be the one implemented.That is if they just don't get rid of the silly 'minimum range' completely.</p><p>No ones asking that all flanking attacks suddenly be usable from any position. We are asking that auto attack work properly <em>automatically</em>. This doesn't seem unreasonable to me.</p></blockquote><p>Currently, on live, it does... it 'automatically' uses the auto-attack style linked to the type of art/spell you last used. They're (thankfully) allowing us (if it ever moves off test to live) overwrite the mechanic that has been the bane of rangers 'forever' and of priests and chanters sicnce spell ranged auto attack came out.</p><p>My only complaint is that the feature, which from my experience and that of those who have posted her, is working very well, is still locked over on test. I guess the rule is 'if it works well right away, keep it on test longer'. if it's buggy as all get out, push it to live sooner <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/2786c5c8e1a8be796fb2f726cca5a0fe.gif" border="0" /></p>

[Gilli]

<p>Thanks for the comments everyone.  My suggestion came about because I'm confused about how to use spell autoattack once I've selected "force melee."  This choice sounded rather absolute and I can think of lots of situations where I need to run out of range of the mob to avoid being hit or whatever.  So if I am set to "force melee," run out of range and then I cast a spell.... will I do nothing, or will I shoot my wand? </p><p>If I do shoot my wand, then no need to fix a problem that doesn't exist, of course.  If I don't shoot it because I'm set to "force melee" and now out of range then I'd prefer it to fallback to ranged autoattack.   Otherwise, what should I do, and will that reset my force melee option or just temporarily override it?  Sorry in advanced for the confused questions of one who can't currently try it out for himself.</p><p>And RE the easy-mode comments, I had a chuckle.  It's called autoattack because it happens automatically.  I simply want it to do what it says on the tin.  IMO the debate ought to be whether having autoattack at all is easymode, not whether or not autoattack is in fact automatic.  <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[Mermut]

<p><cite>Gilli@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Thanks for the comments everyone.  My suggestion came about because I'm confused about how to use spell autoattack once I've selected "force melee."  This choice sounded rather absolute and I can think of lots of situations where I need to run out of range of the mob to avoid being hit or whatever.  So if I am set to "force melee," run out of range and then I cast a spell.... will I do nothing, or will I shoot my wand? </p><p>If I do shoot my wand, then no need to fix a problem that doesn't exist, of course.  If I don't shoot it because I'm set to "force melee" and now out of range then I'd prefer it to fallback to ranged autoattack.   Otherwise, what should I do, and will that reset my force melee option or just temporarily override it?  Sorry in advanced for the confused questions of one who can't currently try it out for himself.</p><p>And RE the easy-mode comments, I had a chuckle.  It's called autoattack because it happens automatically.  I simply want it to do what it says on the tin.  IMO the debate ought to be whether having autoattack at all is easymode, not whether or not autoattack is in fact automatic.  <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>In the joust senerio you mentined, you would have to manually (via the character/persona window or a macro) switch to the spell ranged focus attack if you wanted.. and then switch back to melee when you jousted back. For quick jousts, it's probably not worth the effort.</p><p>Non-ranger scouts have the same issue. The small amount of time you're out for a joust isn't worth the effort to switch back and forth, especially since you can't switch auto-attack types (even with the automatic setting) until after the current 'timer' for your last type finishes.</p>

[Terrogaunt]

<p><cite>Mermut wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p><cite>Gilli@Blackburrow wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>Thanks for the comments everyone.  My suggestion came about because I'm confused about how to use spell autoattack once I've selected "force melee."  This choice sounded rather absolute and I can think of lots of situations where I need to run out of range of the mob to avoid being hit or whatever.  So if I am set to "force melee," run out of range and then I cast a spell.... will I do nothing, or will I shoot my wand? </p><p>If I do shoot my wand, then no need to fix a problem that doesn't exist, of course.  If I don't shoot it because I'm set to "force melee" and now out of range then I'd prefer it to fallback to ranged autoattack.   Otherwise, what should I do, and will that reset my force melee option or just temporarily override it?  Sorry in advanced for the confused questions of one who can't currently try it out for himself.</p><p>And RE the easy-mode comments, I had a chuckle.  It's called autoattack because it happens automatically.  I simply want it to do what it says on the tin.  IMO the debate ought to be whether having autoattack at all is easymode, not whether or not autoattack is in fact automatic.  <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></p></blockquote><p>In the joust senerio you mentined, you would have to manually (via the character/persona window or a macro) switch to the spell ranged focus attack if you wanted.. and then switch back to melee when you jousted back. For quick jousts, it's probably not worth the effort.</p><p>Non-ranger scouts have the same issue. The small amount of time you're out for a joust isn't worth the effort to switch back and forth, especially since you can't switch auto-attack types (even with the automatic setting) until after the current 'timer' for your last type finishes.</p></blockquote><p>Actually, there's an additional comment to make here. If you push either the Melee Attack or Ranged Attack buttons, it will force you into that attack mode regardless of which "forced auto" setting you're under until you cast another ability. </p><p>So if you walk out too far and aren't going to be using abilities, just click on the Ranged Attack button. If you are, then you could macro it like the previous poster suggested.</p>

[Wentil]

<p>This is silly. Why isn't there a "no autoattack" option??? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /></p><p>I'm a conji and often like to click around while my pet is finishing up the dirty work. Since this stupid auto attack has been turned on it's gotten me into more trouble than I care to mention!!</p>

[Rhymers]

<p><cite>Wentil wrote:</cite></p><blockquote><p>This is silly. Why isn't there a "no autoattack" option??? <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" /></p><p>I'm a conji and often like to click around while my pet is finishing up the dirty work. Since this stupid auto attack has been turned on it's gotten me into more trouble than I care to mention!!</p></blockquote><p>Umm, stop attacking befor you start clicking around maybe? But yea, no reason not to have a no autoattck. Options are a good thing.</p>