Just to preface this topic - I play on a computer that struggles to run some raids without putting the settings down to really low. So ways to reduce graphical intensity are much appreciated when I’m doing big raid content.
HOWEVER–
I spend the VAST majority of my time playing with my friends and family and doing dungeons, where graphical problems like this much less of a concern.
However what I’ve found out recently with WoW is that many cool spell effects are hidden to other players - and this really bugs me. For example, my brother plays a Shaman, a class which has great visual spell effects, yet there are a lot of them that just don’t appear on my screen. For example Crashing Storm aoe from Enhancement - even when we are just playing just the two of us, Blizzard does not permit me to see the cool spell effects of his class or the sound effects of the thunder. Why? When I cast moonfire, why can’t he see the lunar beam like we have been able to for other players ever since classic…
Like I mentioned at the beginning of this, the option to turn off unneeded spell effects from other players can be great in instances, particularly raids. But when out questing or doing dungeons it is completely unnecessary and ruins the immersion of the game. It makes the shared experience that much less shared, and increases the feeling of isolation. That no one else can see what I can see.
Please please, can we just have a toggle for this blanket graphical silence? In raids I can completely understand, but when just playing the game just the two of us or a dungeon, it is not needed or wanted.
All I am asking for is the option, so that players themselves can choose how much of other peoples’ spells they wish to see.
Stupid question, but have you noticed there are separate raid settings in your UI options?
Outside of that, what I really think WoW needs is a target framerate. Details would be automatically adjusted until the game is averaging the target. Stop players with lower spec PCs having to constantly tune their settings for the content they are doing today.
I would like a toggle to hide all spells from other players in a dungeon… I really don’t need to see those frost mage blizzards and frozen orbs. They just get in my way.
You can see other player’s spells, but only if that information can help you. For example you’re tanking and frost mage throws orb. You should keep mobs close to that orb to increase DPS, so you should be able to see that orb. Now if that’s just some kind of DoT ticking on boss with some visual effect, you won’t see it, because it’s none of your business.
I agree that those options should be toggable. I would toggle off every spell effect to reduce clutter in raid.
Well this “if it affects you” is kinda dumb. For example I cannot see paladin’s beacons which is of use to the other healers depending on the situation.
For example if a paladin pops beacon on 3 players that I was going to heal I may as well skip those since the end result will be a lot of overhealing.
Yeah I do have a raid profile for graphics, but thank you that has reminded me I could do with tinkering that.
This is why a toggle is I think the perfect solution because like you i’d be inclined to turn a lot of things off while raiding.
Tbh it should be a blanket on/off and perhaps advanced options where you could turn specific things on and off depending on your personal preference.
But there are times having stuff switched on is very helpful and personally in dungeons where clutter is not such an issue I find it really helpful while tanking to see what others are doing and react accordingly. But I also like seeing the cool visuals from other classss when I’m playing so unless it’s harmful to my performance (see above) i’d like to see it and enjoy it.
You can do this in FFXIV - I find it really necessary to toggle them off, especially in 24s with void zones all over the shop.
It’s a crazy laser light show without it.