So I’ve always been happy to tackle content with minimum add-ons. I tank and really if you can’t see the cast bar some other warning isn’t that much of an extra.
However I’ve started to try to learn to DPS to a slightly above retard level and whilst I can’t unhit me in the head, I’ve tried one weak aura for only one thing (BM hunter) and the difference is night and day. The default UI just doesn’t present the information needed to actually really improve.
I’m happy I caved and started to get into WA for my DPS classes, but at the same time I’m amazed at how abysmal the default UI is in helping you attain a minimum of competence.
I actually think it’s good that the standard interface is relatively simple. Since it is very modular, people can customize it the way they want it, based on what they need. There are tons of pre-made Weak Auras over at https://wago.io/weakauras for pretty much anything, plus whole UIs like ElvUI (which I really like, though it takes a bit of time to set it up initially).
I actually like the idea of a purely minimal base, then the ability to use addons if I want something extra. There’s nothing worse than logging into a game and it feeling like you’re sitting in the cockpit of a boeing 737, and your vision impaired by widgets and crap all over the screen
for me its the opposite, i tried using different ui add ons. But when playing as a healer or dps in the end i found the default one the easiest and most comfortable
I still cant believe all these streamers playing Classic with default 15+ years old UI is just unwatchable…and the funny part is that they are convinced is the right thing to do…
It is the right thing to do if it is comfortable/preferable to them. You can’t quantify preference as right/wrong in terms of UI. I’ve used Spartan UI for years and have accepted that 50% of my viewers will ask what it is while the other 50% will question what the hell is going on, but it is comfortable to me and thus right for me.
Honestly, a blank canvas that you can customize is far more preferable to having a ready-made mess of extras that you can’t trim. Games like TERA are a decent example of this. In its bit to give you as much as possible, you’re stuck with an obnoxious mess that is difficult to place around the screen.
FFXIV has a nice system where you can disable/move practically anything about the standard UI. However, they do not appreciate mods (though there’s so many features that you simply don’t need them unless you’re a parse-hugger).
Do a google search for “WoW Addons” and you’ll find a healthy dose of pictures on a meme-worthy level. You know, 80% of the screen covered in junk with a tiny view-port in the middle where you can barely see what you’re even playing. If that is comfortable/preferable to people, all the power to them, but that doesn’t make something right or wrong compared to a default.
It is not 1st time I hear people comparing wow to that. Some time ago, when ESO fans were arguing how complex their game is, I jumped in and posted a video of me tanking a mythic raid. The consensus was that warcraft vs ESO - UI and raid mechanics is like sitting in Boeing cockpit.
… and I did not even post a complex fight and my UI is actually quite minimal and clean.
But i agree with the point that I like when game UI is simple by nature, and then you can add elements based on need and/or preference.
I am self using TUKUI+Weakauras+bossmod and have very little else (a bit of utility mods too like error-filter and decliner)
The default UI is more than usable for 99% of the content. I understand +20 keystones or mythic raids need more information than that, but that’s what addons are for.
Besides, I hear you only need to use 2 abilities in modern wow anyway after all the “pruning”…
I´d rather not play WoW alltogether than use the Default UI. I couldnt even stand to look at it for 5 minutes on the Classicserver before downloading ElvUI.
I could never play the PTR because the UI infuriates me.
There should be a simple built in weakarua style system to make it easy to track important buff and debuffs, especially with az traits being so important. Debuffs in in gerenal should be bigger and more visable.
A simple icon to show you your stacks and time left on blaster master for fire mage, icons on frames for hots, bars for spec cd buffs and trinket buffs…
I know exactly what you mean… I think SWTOR was like that (or still is? I haven’t played for 2 years). Log in, get scared of the sheer amount of UI windows and options, try to make sense of it, log off and play Hearthstone.
I do agree that the standard UI is lacking but this is also the reason Bizzard gave people the option to extend it and because I didn’t like ElvUI and I wanted to have a better UI I’ve been working on my own UI (https://www.curseforge.com/wow/addons/lynxui/files) for quite some time now that stays true to the standard UI theme but extends its functionality, slow progress though as I’m a single developer although I’m getting there.
because they let addons do their programming work for them, to such an extent that you cant play at even a medium level without them. This, of course, &&&&&s people that don’t use addons at all but screw them.
Why do the work when you can outsource, that’s the model eh. Pretty %%%%y model, if you ask me.
I have always used bare minimum addons and I have raided mythic with that. These days I’m super casual, though.
If we forget about raid addons like dbm, only addon I cant seem to live without is indeed weakauras. At least as far as I right now can quickly think about.
Same, though I did consider getting a WA for my nightfall procs a few times while leveling because keeping track of them was a nightmare. Now that I’m not running it anymore the default UI is more than good enough.
I did try WA on my retail character briefly, but I both my trinkets are on-use so all I used it for was tracking my CDs which wasn’t really an issue to begin with in 13-15 m+ and heroic raiding.
