“I’m not to say the chain system should go away entirely, b-but maybe PLEASE do something of any kind to make it a little bit less shit, if you can be bothered”.
I think you project a bit of Wolfe suggestion.
I would say there are two elements the chain system:
1) the system itself (you only control one character at a time, and AI attempts to follow with the others)
2) the interface
Wolfie criticises the 2nd part - the interface for creating groups - but doesn’t seem to mind the first.
I don't think I've ever made any secret of hating both passionately, but that aside what he "intended to criticize"exactly is a bit beyond the point.
Which is that his observation contribute to highlight once again what was known for years: the system is poorly designed and insufferably clumsy to use extensively, IF you are someone who wants to have full control of your party.
Something I would add to the list is the horrid AOE aiming for targeted spells like bless or bane with me - completely illogical design.
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I'd say the AOE targeting works quite well for what it is. The issue is that it simply shouldn't be one. It should just let people select individual targets, like Magic Missile.
