You don't have a hotbar. Instead you use your mouse clicks to attack. Most characters (all but 2) have left click as a "normal" attack and right click as "smash." The idea is you do several normal attacks, then a smash to finish the combo. The smash performed depends on the number of normal attacks performed first in the combo, with longer combos gemerally having stronger smashes. You also have do dodge manually. This means learning the boss' moves and how to avoid them, then attacking between the boss' attacks. Getting hit means taking a large amount of damage (usually) so learning the attacks is key. You also get special "SP" skills, used by gaining SP power by attacking enemies. These are generally either powerful attacks or buffs that are great for team play. At level 52 most classes learn their most powerful SP, suck as the swordsman Lann's Furious Seven: He dashes quickly seven times, each hit dealing massive damage, all the while dodging all incoming attacks. All in all the combat system is focused on you moving around, dodging enemy attacks, and retaliating when an oppoprtunity presents itself. If you've ever player Monster Hunter, you get the general idea. But Vindictus is a little more in-depth than that.