Quick Slot - Biggest UI fail in the game? Or is there something worse?

daneyulebub17_ESO

Since the Q-slot radial control is so mind-blowingly lame when it comes to switching items (requiring a long Q press, a mouse selection, then another Q press to use a newly selected item) I'm wondering if anyone who's NOT using an addon (like Greymind's Quick Slot Bar) ever take advantage of anything but health potions in battle.

I bet the very, very large majority of players don't, as they haven't mastered the control, or don't use addons. What a waste. And a market killer for Alchemists.

I don't even see how console users will like it--and they won't have addons to fall back on. Of all the questionable but "working-as-intended" (non-bug) UI flaws in this game, this has to be the biggest.

What were they thinking?

mips_winnt

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

Since the Q-slot radial control is so mind-blowingly lame when it comes to switching items (requiring a long Q press, a mouse selection, then another Q press to use a newly selected item) I'm wondering if anyone who's NOT using an addon (like Greymind's Quick Slot Bar) ever take advantage of anything but health potions in battle.

I bet the very, very large majority of players don't, as they haven't mastered the control, or don't use addons. What a waste. And a market killer for Alchemists.

I don't even see how console users will like it--and they won't have addons to fall back on. Of all the questionable but "working-as-intended" (non-bug) UI flaws in this game, this has to be the biggest.

What were they thinking?

Agreed, the quick slot interface (without addons) is a fairly clunky UI design in my opinion, hopefully once ZOS gets past all the current bug fixes they'll take a look at implementing something more user friendly because the current one definitely discourages variety in potion use.

Exarch

I can't think of anything worse off the top of my head; I just use health+magicka potions and sell anything else.

DogFaceInBananaPatch

I mostly attempt drink beer in combat because I forgot to switch back to the potion.

Samadhi

I'm just thankful for Greymind Quickslot add-on and Macros on my Razer stuff.

Ziz

It's a worthless piece of ***. I stated as much in my first alpha test over a year ago. All they have to do is give us hotkeys for each slot!!!! But they are to *** stupid.

guybrushtb16_ESO

True, the interface of the game looks very much consolish, and suffers for it, but I for one am happy that it's moddable at least.

Soliss

I think Zenimax's implementation of Weapon Swapping is the worst fail in the game.

1. The undisclosed delay when weapon swapping (that they said they have removed but still seems to be in the game).

2. The total fail of graphics associated to what weapons you have out. Recent fixes have ironed this out a little, but I'm still often running around with either invisible weapons or the wrong weapons.

3. Properly applying set bonuses when weapon swapping. These are often messed up, not calculating correctly.

4. The wonderful press the weapon swap button, nothing happens, wait, press weapon swap again, wait... suddenly your weapons swap twice to get to your original bar and you're dead while unable to cast anything.

Also not having a "cancel cast" button in the game rather sucks also. Like if you're ground targetting a heal and then want to do something else. Then when cancelling you press escape to get out of that heal, but now you're in your settings window and have to press escape again. (NOTE: there is a "cancel cast" add-on that should help with this)

Honestly, this is probably the least responsive UI I've ever used in any game anywhere.

Resueht

Soliss wrote: »

I think Zenimax's implementation of Weapon Swapping is the worst fail in the game.

1. The undisclosed delay when weapon swapping (that they said they have removed but still seems to be in the game).

2. The total fail of graphics associated to what weapons you have out. Recent fixes have ironed this out a little, but I'm still often running around with either invisible weapons or the wrong weapons.

3. Properly applying set bonuses when weapon swapping. These are often messed up, not calculating correctly.

4. The wonderful press the weapon swap button, nothing happens, wait, press weapon swap again, wait... suddenly your weapons swap twice to get to your original bar and you're dead while unable to cast anything.

Also not having a "cancel cast" button in the game rather sucks also. Like if you're ground targetting a heal and then want to do something else. Then when cancelling you press escape to get out of that heal, but now you're in your settings window and have to press escape again. (NOTE: there is a "cancel cast" add-on that should help with this)

Honestly, this is probably the least responsive UI I've ever used in any game anywhere.

I have canceled casts by right-clicking... Perhaps I am remembering incorrectly?

daneyulebub17_ESO

But, with weapon swapping, those are mostly bugs. If it worked as intended, it would be ok.

But... the quick slots aren't buggy. They're just unbelievably, amazingly ineptly designed.

Seriously, I've seen pro and con arguments for many UI design decisions in this game-- some that I personally think are awful, but others don't agree --- but in the case of Quick Slots, no one defends them. They're just terrible. Really, really bad.

It's like someone intentionally made it to be horrible.

Gilvoth

Samadhi wrote: »

and Macros on my Razer stuff.

i thought macros was against TOS of eso. maybe im misunderstanding what your saying.

Jennifur_Vultee

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

I don't even see how console users will like it--and they won't have addons to fall back on. Of all the questionable but "working-as-intended" (non-bug) UI flaws in this game, this has to be the biggest.

What were they thinking?

I can see how console users may love it...
Imagine a console player in an intense fight, oh no he needs to pop a health potion! No problem he presses the left joystick down and the quickslot pops open, he rapidly and efficiently selects the health potion and lets up stick pressure and in 1-2 seconds has used a potion! Its a victory thanks to the quickslot easy selection!

Same situation with a PC player might go like this...
PC player is low on health presses Q and gets magicka potion, oh no! He quickly presses and holds Q to select a health potion, after fumbling with the selection in the heat of battle for 4-5 seconds...PC user is now dead. Gee thanks Zenimax.

Samadhi

Hlaren_shortsheath wrote: »

Samadhi wrote: »

and Macros on my Razer stuff.

i thought macros was against TOS of eso. maybe im misunderstanding what your saying.

If I get banned for making the buttons on my gaming mouse run a basic F1-->Q or F2-->Q script so that I can use a potion with one click, rather than having to use the horrible Q-menu, I'll accept that.

Gilvoth

im probably wrong and not understanding what your saying, my apologies.

MercyKilling

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

I'm wondering if anyone who's NOT using an addon (like Greymind's Quick Slot Bar) ever take advantage of anything but health potions in battle.

I'm not using any add ons and I have all three kinds of pots in my quickslots. Some fights I use them, some I don't. Depends, really.

ers101284b14_ESO

I like the quickslot

What I hate is R being for ultimate and also for taking all because sometimes I accidentally hit it twice or hadn't hit E to open the bag and waste my ultimate.

Jennifur_Vultee

ers101284b14_ESO wrote: »

I like the quickslot

What I hate is R being for ultimate and also for taking all because sometimes I accidentally hit it twice or hadn't hit E to open the bag and waste my ultimate.

You may want to try what I did. I played Skyrim, R was draw weapon/sheath weapon, Z was shout (basically ultimate) so I swapped them in ESO to be like Skyrim. It works well for me and I only occasionally hit the Z key when trying to use S to back up but its a lot better than constantly pressing R and firing off my ultimate when I overshoot the E key and press R.

ers101284b14_ESO

Jennifur_Vultee wrote: »

ers101284b14_ESO wrote: »

I like the quickslot

What I hate is R being for ultimate and also for taking all because sometimes I accidentally hit it twice or hadn't hit E to open the bag and waste my ultimate.

You may want to try what I did. I played Skyrim, R was draw weapon/sheath weapon, Z was shout (basically ultimate) so I swapped them in ESO to be like Skyrim. It works well for me and I only occasionally hit the Z key when trying to use S to back up but its a lot better than constantly pressing R and firing off my ultimate when I overshoot the E key and press R.

I can try that but knowing me I will be pressing R to make my ultimate fire off and keep drawing and sheathing my weapon and dieing lol

daneyulebub17_ESO

MercyKilling wrote: »

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

I'm wondering if anyone who's NOT using an addon (like Greymind's Quick Slot Bar) ever take advantage of anything but health potions in battle.

I'm not using any add ons and I have all three kinds of pots in my quickslots. Some fights I use them, some I don't. Depends, really.

Wow--how fast are you at switching?

It's got to be at least 3-4 seconds, if all goes off without a hitch. At least.

I just don't see how viable it would ever be in the middle of a short but intense fight to even consider going for a secondary potion that way. Maybe a loooong fight, or if you're in a group and have someone to take up the slack.

You have the long q, the mouse pick, then another (quick) q press.

It takes time (when you should be fighting), obscures your view, and is prone to fumbling/overshooting your selection mousing around the stupid wheel. All when you presumably are in a tense if not dire situation since you need the pot in the first place.

Maybe in some circumstances its doable, but at least 80% of the serious, "pot-needing" fights I am in, I can't afford to take the time or attention.

There's no rational reason non-console players should have such a terrible mechanism. Zeni should be embarrassed, and it should be changed, soon.

zaxthegreyb14_ESO

Jennifur_Vultee wrote: »

ers101284b14_ESO wrote: »

I like the quickslot

What I hate is R being for ultimate and also for taking all because sometimes I accidentally hit it twice or hadn't hit E to open the bag and waste my ultimate.

You may want to try what I did. I played Skyrim, R was draw weapon/sheath weapon, Z was shout (basically ultimate) so I swapped them in ESO to be like Skyrim. It works well for me and I only occasionally hit the Z key when trying to use S to back up but its a lot better than constantly pressing R and firing off my ultimate when I overshoot the E key and press R.

I had the same problem. I was accidentally firing my Ultimate and it was really annoying.

I changed the keybind to a different key (T in my case) and haven't accidentally set it off since. Z also sounds like a good idea since it really is like the Shout in Skyrim.

Csub

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

MercyKilling wrote: »

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

I'm wondering if anyone who's NOT using an addon (like Greymind's Quick Slot Bar) ever take advantage of anything but health potions in battle.

I'm not using any add ons and I have all three kinds of pots in my quickslots. Some fights I use them, some I don't. Depends, really.

Wow--how fast are you at switching?

It's got to be at least 3-4 seconds, if all goes off without a hitch. At least.

I just don't see how viable it would ever be in the middle of a short but intense fight to even consider going for a secondary potion that way. Maybe a loooong fight, or if you're in a group and have someone to take up the slack.

You have the long q, the mouse pick, then another (quick) q press.

It takes time (when you should be fighting), obscures your view, and is prone to fumbling/overshooting your selection mousing around the stupid wheel. All when you presumably are in a tense if not dire situation since you need the pot in the first place.

Maybe in some circumstances its doable, but at least 80% of the serious, "pot-needing" fights I am in, I can't afford to take the time or attention.

There's no rational reason non-console players should have such a terrible mechanism. Zeni should be embarrassed, and it should be changed, soon.

I'm not using any quickbar addons, switching only takes 2 seconds, tops (usually less), and I don't do it in the last second so I usually don't die because of it.

reggielee

ive given up on the quick slot, I park whatever potion I usually need in the primary slot and leave it be. half the time when I try to use the radial I cant see enough of a highlight difference to be sure of the item I selected anyway, so end up deader than a doornail.

so although I use it out of combat, say for maps etc, in combat... just no. i tried addons for it but found them lacking and even more troublesome.

Sapphy24

I have to agree with most of you. The UI is the most unprofessional/crazy/user unfriendly UI i've ever used in any of the many games i've played.
It's soooo last century.

Garetth

They had to have built a time machine and gone back in time to the late 80's to be able to come up with an interface like theirs!

Tannakaobi

It's much better using my Xbox pad. Is a pain on keyboard though, I basically use it for PVP stuff and the junk from dungeons.

Obscure

It's impressive how terrible it is. Really truly horrible. Giant ugly wheel of stuff in the middle of the god*** screen. It's like trying to play an awful mini game in the middle of a fight...

One gets enough of the "no I don't want mother ***ing Burning Oil! Healing potion you peice of ***! Healing potion!!!" moments, and they just download Graymind's Quick Slot...and thank the blessed womb that birthed that mod author into the world.

That said, if you have a thumb stick controlling a rotatory menu, IE a console controller, it's much easier to manipulate with a quick flick of the thumb. Hence the overt disregard for it being good at all for PC. It's as if at some point the devs just said, "*** it, it's going to console and we're keeping it in the build, and if the PC players don't like it they can *** off or get an add-on. We've got better things to do than complete the UI."

But yeah it's there with a controller in mind, not a mouse. The PC build is largely being treated like a test platform for the console build, and thus has horrible little things like that sitting around being good for nothing... unless you consider getting you killed in a menu whilst trying to go from a wall repair kit to a potion "good for something"...man I sooooo don't miss those days.

Horrum

daneyulebub17_ESO wrote: »

But, with weapon swapping, those are mostly bugs. If it worked as intended, it would be ok.

But... the quick slots aren't buggy. They're just unbelievably, amazingly ineptly designed.

Seriously, I've seen pro and con arguments for many UI design decisions in this game-- some that I personally think are awful, but others don't agree --- but in the case of Quick Slots, no one defends them. They're just terrible. Really, really bad.

It's like someone intentionally made it to be horrible.

... to be console friendly

See? We are already finishing each others sentences xD (lol ignore me)

Horrum

Sapphy24 wrote: »

I have to agree with most of you. The UI is the most unprofessional/crazy/user unfriendly UI i've ever used in any of the many games i've played.
It's soooo last century.

I really like the UI, just not the quick-slot radial menu.

Pele

Agree. *Slots every quick slot with Agree*

SFBryan18

I use Harven's Potion Alerts which swaps to the potion you need during combat. It only swaps to three potions for health, magic, and stamina, but it's better than one.

Tabbycat

Ever since I changed the quick slot from Q to Y, I haven't had any issues with it.

Also changed my Ultimate to 6.