Commendations are just so broken

A lot of times when doing a dungeon we'll be 3/4 players already in a party, so the random guy will get commendations from the rest of us. Then we'll exit and discover none of us were given one. It's become standard habit now of players not caring to commend or only commending tanks or healers. DPS rarely get commendations even when they perform well and give advice through the dungeon. Even a bad player who fails at mechanics and is aggressively rude towards other party members could just don a tank job and farm commendations just for being a tank.

In all honesty the commendation system might as well not be there. It's heavily biased, it doesn't prove anything and is rarely used properly.

I don't see your point, all your comendations are shared on your character, doesn't matter which class/job you play. Why would it matter, game doesn't list on which class/job you did earn that commendations. Play Healer/Tank class/job if you want to farm commendations. It doesn't represent your skill nor it should.

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Originally Posted by Godwack

I don't see your point, all your comendations are shared on your character, doesn't matter which class/job you play. Why would it matter, game doesn't list on which class/job you did earn that commendations. Play Healer/Tank class/job if you want to farm commendations. It doesn't represent your skill nor it should.

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Commendations were added to highlight the good players from the bad players, or at least that was the concept at the time. If you were a good player you got commendations, if you were a bad player you got none. In early days people would see how many commendations you earned to know if others thought highly of you and judge if you were a good team player. But now unless you have a tank or a healing job you rarely get commendations and nobody cares how many you've earned/not earned since commendations say nothing about the kind of player you are. It's a defunct system that no longer serves its original purpose.

Think that went out the window with the challenge log. Just commend the first five names get the reward and then just gtfo out of whatever instance your in as fast as possible

The commendation system is quite old and could do with a revamp but wouldnt say it's broken. Also some players will comm others based on their glamour or even their name, isn't always related to what happened in actual combat.

Well, it was defunct at the start, because it's a subjective opinion on who's good/bad.

It is all totally pointless, on paper at least, and the reward is not impressive... but I'd rather have it in the game than not as it gives some semblance of people being somewhat nice to each other. Maybe.

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Originally Posted by Kurando

The commendation system is quite old and could do with a revamp but wouldnt say it's broken. Also some players will comm others based on their glamour or even their name, isn't always related to what happened in actual combat.

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Yeah, it certainly needs to be revamped and to be more fairer to all players involved and not just the 1 and to have some reason to credit/be credited other than the give 5 comms achievement. Right now it's pretty useless.

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Originally Posted by Kurando

Also some players will comm others based on their glamour or even their name, isn't always related to what happened in actual combat.

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Or based just on who's there. Often, by the time the commendation window becomes available, half the party has left already and can't be commended. (I'm guessing most players must have faster load times than I do, based on how often this happens.)

My own priorities for commendations generally go in the order:
1) being helpful
2) being friendly
3) being good at your job
4) trivial stuff like cool looking gear, or a name I like
5) other DPS when I'm DPS, tank when I'm healer, healer when I'm tank

but if the player I'd planned to commend is gone before I can do so, then whoever is left gets it.

What would really be nice if after battle give us a break down of how each player performed.

Example;

Total DMG ; dealt, taken, cured

Successful stuns or interruptions by player

Overall contribution to Success.

I tend to keep these things in mind based on what I perceive while playing and judge players this way. If I think people don't know their job, make it harder for the groups I just don't comm.

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Originally Posted by ManuelBravo

What would really be nice if after battle give us a break down of how each player performed.

Example;

Total DMG ; dealt, taken, cured

Successful stuns or interruptions by player

Overall contribution to Success.

I tend to keep these things in mind based on what I perceive while playing and judge players this way. If I think people don't know their job, make it harder for the groups I just don't comm.

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The problem with that is finding a grading system that can be universally applied - and you know if there was any sort of reward from performing well it would be abused.
If you're measuring a healer on healing done then is that taking into account that a healer healing is inversely proportional to how well the rest of the group plays. Same with damage.
Does a bad tank = an 'A' grade healer etc?

Could make a macro with your hello at the start at the start of the dungeon to remind people to commenderate whoever based on whatever subjective criteria they have. Though some people will probably try and accuse you of Commendation farming and will make it known they aren't going to commenderate you because that somehow means you are a horrible person.

I just looked at my comms to see because I don't pay attention to what I have. As a Bard 99% of play and not a big dungeon runner I have 1058 for under 2.5 yrs of play. not sure if that is good or bad nor do I really care. I just play the best I can.

i forget to most of the time now. only if someone is truly exceptional do i comm them. otherwise it's just for glam or they let me flirt with them.

I usually commend patient tanks, friendly DPS and healers who DPS. Or whoever is the best looking gentleman in the party, honestly.

Is there a way to tell how many comms another player has, outside of if they're wearing The Best Gown Ever or riding one of the commendation mounts? Because otherwise the system works about as well as it should.

I think you should be able to comm in premade parties along with being able to comm yourself to.

You're a RED MAGE, there is pretty good chance you're lower on dmg meter than the other guy, so prolly why you're not getting any coms. I get them tons on BLM unless I can reach the exit portal fast. I also always com the tank unless he sissy pulls, then healer. Only if both suck other dps so that's very rare.

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Originally Posted by FFgame

You're a RED MAGE, there is pretty good chance you're lower on dmg meter than the other guy, so prolly why you're not getting any coms. I get them tons on BLM unless I can reach the exit portal fast. I also always com the tank unless he sissy pulls, then healer. Only if both suck other dps so that's very rare.

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did you just assume his damage potential just because he's a red mage? sissy pulls? you must be a real treat to party up with. :rolleyes:

I usually commend the healer, just because it's personally my least favorite role. But it's not uncommon for people to immediately leave before I get the chance. I actually had a group earlier today where I couldn't commend anyone, because they all left in that two-second span of black screen from auto-skipping the end cutscene.

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Originally Posted by DrWho2010

did you just assume his damage potential just because he's a red mage? sissy pulls? you must be a real treat to party up with. :rolleyes:

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Assume? I run dmg meter while I play. I know what each class can pull given the gear. Red mage needs dmg buff.
I'm the one that runs for exit portal at the end so not to get spammed with comms. That's how fun I am to party with.

Commendations are useless, you can get one just because a person felt like it. I don’t hold much value in them so I never really care if I get one or not. I’m playing with a group of people to help and succeed the best or fastest way possible. You should be more concerned about having fun.

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Originally Posted by FFgame

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OP mentioned dungeons which is casual content. Why should it matter who is bringing out the most damage in this situation? A DPS could be doing the least damage but doesn't necessarily mean they are preventing the dungeon from being cleared, just like a healer could do nothing but only heal during the entire instance, so if they are bringing less to the duty in this sense does this mean they forfit any chance of commendations? Other things could prevent them playing optimally, but again who decides what would be optimal in casual content, generally no one but that player themselves.

Spammed with comms? Sure....

What? I don't even

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Originally Posted by Kurando

The commendation system is quite old and could do with a revamp but wouldnt say it's broken. Also some players will comm others based on their glamour or even their name, isn't always related to what happened in actual combat.

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Facts. Once comm'd a SAM 'cause I liked his name and glamour.

Otherwise I would never comm a SAM.

Well, I'm not sure about the english version, but the german one basically asks you to give your commendation to the person you enjoyed playing with - I always took that quite literally and am only handing out commendations if I indeed enjoyed playing with that person.

That can be the person whos dealing the most damage, but it doesnt has to be. Name, Race, Gender, Glamour, Attitude... all of those can be a huge factor too.
I never thought of the commendation-system as something to actually get feedback about how well someone performed. So of course its extremly biased; thats intended. The game doesnt ask you "Who do you think was the best player in this run?" but "Whos company did you enjoy most?"
So if OP and their friends arent getting any commendations from randoms, it might be because those randoms didnt really enjoy playing with (any of) them, even if they performed well.

So no, I wouldnt say that the system is broken - people can enjoy playing with other people for different reasons. Commendations arent feedback in regards to your skill and you're not entitled to them just because you out-dps'd everyone. They also dont influence anything in the game and no one can see them expect for yourself, so they really dont matter (and yes, I know about the achievments - personally I'm hoping they'll add new ones at somepoint).

Commendations were in no way added to highlight good players from bad players - if that were the case they'd actually be on display for everyone to see somehow.
Its OPs assumption about the system thats wrong, not the system itself.

I often give comms but certainly as hell do not get in return for many instances even if going out of my way like raising other players on my Red Mage because a healer is either dead or too focused on using StoneIV and i do Mana Shift also.
It is a completely optional thing however and some times i do feel like i wish i can give more then the 1 person a comm, but i think many people just do not care.

The main change I want to see to commendations is the ability to save them up and give out more than 1 per run... this way people would be less incentivised to give a comm 'just because' and instead would be able to comm those who actually deserves it (even if that's multiple other players in a single run).

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Originally Posted by Acidblood

The main change I want to see to commendations is the ability to save them up and give out more than 1 per run... this way people would be less incentivised to give a comm 'just because' and instead would be able to comm those who actually deserves it (even if that's multiple other players in a single run).

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Yes, that's one debatable idea... alternatively, have a couple commendations issued per day (similar to leve allowances but pegged at just two per day instead of several) and then you get the ability to give out up to three per Duty Finder run. This essentially allows one to potentially give the whole party commendations for a job well done.

Commendations are really only there so you can feel good about yourself, outside of the really gaudy rewards for the achievements they are worthless.

That being said I do tend to give them since I usually can omw out of a dungeon even if I race to the exit. Usually I will comm the other dps unless they were just terrible at their job, it will go to a healer that dps during their down times and sometimes I give no one comms if they waste time or are terrible. For instance when I get stuck with a pt of rp ppl that emote and do rp talk the entire way through, generally wasting tons of time along the way. I had a lala healer the other day who didn't need to heal so would just use the cheer emotes on the tank instead of contributing in any other way. Also couldn't kick them since they came in together.

I do not think these players deserve any type of comm or reward so they get none form me.

They need to revamp the system if they want to make them more worthwhile. Make them give better rewards or some sort of buff. Maybe boosted exp for jobs under lvl cap or something if you give and get 3 comms in a row or something. Maybe throw in drops like TT cards or other rando items. 5/5 glamour 10/10 crafting mats, 20/20 furniture, 50/50 a mount or something. Make ppl really want it and work for it.

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Originally Posted by Vidu

Well, I'm not sure about the english version, but the german one basically asks you to give your commendation to the person you enjoyed playing with - I always took that quite literally and am only handing out commendations if I indeed enjoyed playing with that person.

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I believe the English mentions that you should give commendations to someone who “made a lasting impression”. So it can basically be for any reason—glamour, name, humor, etc.. It doesn’t have to tie directly to performance.

If you want commendations I have some tips as I have been grinding for them because I am close to breaking 3000. Run trials or normal raids over and over as a healer. I would focus more on trials due to having more bosses that cause bad parties to struggle but if you want a break normal raids are a fine substitute. If you are an adequate healer and you can carry everyone to the finish line, you will receive commendations almost every time. (Of course those quick bosses from ARR will usually equate to 0 comms, but not common to happen)

Also, I play drg as my main and I can literally be the top dps on my team and the other three being a blm, sam, or a smn and not receive a commendation in trials. I will generally walk out with all three in a dungeon, but dungeons take too long imo and you can at most get three. On average I am getting three from trials as a healer. My tank usually gets at least one, but when parties go bad (which is scarily common in trial roulette) a healer who can recover is a healer who is gonna be bathed in commendations. A tank and a dps is not getting those commendations most likely. And if they are its for x reason.

The system isn't bad. You have to remember that not everyone hand out commendations. Some literally just kill the boss and leave. And as others have stated that people will hand them out for a funny name or a glamor. I tend to hand it out to dps that stand out to me because I know that healers and tanks don't need my commendation. They will most likely walk out of a trial with at least one. I honestly think that people should be able to get a commendation for whatever reason but that does not mean there isn't a way to 'manipulate' the system.

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Originally Posted by MicahZerrshia

Commendations are really only there so you can feel good about yourself, outside of the really gaudy rewards for the achievements they are worthless.

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I absolutely disagree with you... vehemently.

First lets start with the rewards... the Magitek. I assume you've been playing long enough to remember how excited everyone was just before 2.0 and it was announced we were getting Magitek mounts. The excitement on the forums was palatable and if SE had wanted to charge $20, €20 or £20 for that mount, half the player base would have clamored to queue up and pay, myself included.

Instead, we got them in the MSQ and a gilded gold one for amassing (500?) commendations. The whole premise of the commendation system was to help surge a sense of camaraderie amoung players. Acknowledgement is a key trait of that and yes, it's always up to the individual whether or not to commend but the achievements are subtle ways to encourage players to spend them.

Next is your reasoning that it's "only there make people feel good about oneself".

If you reckon commendations are only available to make people attain self gratification then I'll have to strongly disagree with you on that as well. A few people make the false assumption that its all about who could crank out the highest DPS that gets the commendation... others think they'll only give it to the healer who performs DPS. For me, just off the top of my head, my criteria come in so many different forms... and I wholeheartedly give it because I want the other person to feel good; that I genuinely appreciate their sportsmanship, their generosity, their skill, their patience, their innate ability to be a true WoL.

Here are just a very few examples of why I gave a commendation:

• The tank who shamelessly admits that he's still learning the job and it's his first time tanking the dungeon... then goes on to deliver some excellent tanking. I know he's telling the truth because towards the end, I see the map achievement pop for him.
• That healer X who had the humble courtesy to say "Please excuse me , can you please wait a moment? My baby just woke up, please bear with me, brb!!!". Then she quickly returns and does an emote "X gives a grateful bow and hands everyone a cookie"
• Or the healer who straight up apologizes for focusing too much on healing only her girlfriend in the party and adequately adjusts to make sure she's also focusing the tank.
• The Ninja who makes some mistakes and humbly accepts some word of advice from the team... and because I play the job and have a keen practiced eye for the rotations, I actually see the incredible improvement by the end of the DF.
• The player in that newly released 24-man raid who carefully explains the strategy in the alliance chat... and he happens to be in my party.
• Including that rare player also in my party that just knows how to crack the wittiest jokes and keep spirits high... plus the healer, also in my party, who is always willing to go out of her way to raise the other healers in the alliance (which is an example of the many instances when one would want to give more than one commendation).

These, amoung several, several, several other examples, are the players who get my commendations.

That's all when and good, but you're only giving them because doing so makes you feel good.

Self-gratification is still only feeling good about yourself.

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Originally Posted by HyoMinPark

I believe the English mentions that you should give commendations to someone who “made a lasting impression”. So it can basically be for any reason—glamour, name, humor, etc.. It doesn’t have to tie directly to performance.

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So I should be commending the player who made me want to tear my hair out the entire run.

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Originally Posted by HyoMinPark

I believe the English mentions that you should give commendations to someone who “made a lasting impression”. So it can basically be for any reason—glamour, name, humor, etc.. It doesn’t have to tie directly to performance.

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I go out of my way to give my commendation to the person with the most entertaining avoidable death.

Commendations mean less the longer you play.

I find that if I kick serious butt, and do everything perfect, I get 0 or 1 comms.

If I go there and halfheartedly do my job, I'll walk away with 3.

Other days, it's the opposite.

I have, however, gotten comms for being DPS, and there were a few times I really don't understand why, I didn't think I did anything special. Other times, I've done things like kited a boss for the last 15% of its health or so and wound up killing it after healer and tank were dead and I got obvious comms for that lol.

I remember one Qarn Normal run where the healer could not understand "Doom = Stand on Shiny Plates" and they died 50% of the way into the boss... tank stayed alive for quite awhile, but eventually bees killed him. Next try, same thing, healer dies on the first Doom, and we got him down to 40% this time... and I'm like "Heck no." I'm a MCH and I dump a limit break and get both bees and the boss with it, and we barely managed to kill the thing just as the tank dies. Easy 2 comms lol.

Some people just can't be bothered to click the little button. Sad, because you get a good chunk of XP for doing that 5 times per week.

I didnt know players took comms so seriously, I think the system works fine but at this point most are giving a comm for silly reasons more so than pure skill.

tanks and healers will get the majority and a dps gets it for bringing in some serious burn thats just the way it is, other than that it's simple stuff.

i'm usually the 1st person to pop a "hihi" in when a dungeon starts and dance during that short time before a boss pull, just being the vocal one usually gets me a comm, also as a rdm i've pulled off about 2 dozen 3comm dungeons which im super proud of.

the trick is don't expect one, just roll through, i think others can tell when someone is pushing for one...then they don't give it

Dps never hardly gets any comms. Like playing in Heaven on High. Where keep raising ones that keep dying and healing them and at the end never get one comm. Comms system really needs fixed. It's not right tanks and healers should get most of them. They need to make it where can give yourself comms and ones that's in pre made party.

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It's not right tanks and healers should get most of them.

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keep raising ones that keep dying and healing them and at the end never get one comm.

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It is a trinity - three roles tackling content, where the most effective/efficient outcome involves all three pulling their weight however they can. No offence, but as nice as it is for a DPS to raise or MP-shift or off-heal, that is no different to a Healer or Tank contributing damage, ie. performing tasks outside of their primary function. I see absolutely no reason why a DPS casting raise or shifting mana or casting a heal would automatically be commendation worthy. I would, however, consider the lack of using these features as more reason NOT to commend them. Furthermore, let's not pretend like DPS have any major pressures outside of their primary function - to do damage, preferably while avoiding mechanics like everyone else should do. If they are performing well, making effort to avoid everything, and going above and beyond their own role, then if I'm going to bother considering a commendation, I'd weigh that up vs the Healers and Tanks. Inconsiderate tanking, AFK healing, no damage contribution etc. But if you really want me to press that commend button, it'll be for someone who put in more work than the rest.

I really don't get people's thinking on this subject. Commendations are of little to no value and are about as reliable as upvotes on a forum. People will use them however they see fit as opposed to using it to fulfil its original intent. Just be glad there actually isn't some sort of value at the end - it is the only situation where I would actually understand people complaining about misuse of commendations, but again, judging by people's posts in this thread AS WELL AS the general use of the system, all of it has to do with individual expectation or preference rather than any show of actual skill or co-operation.

No, I won't commend a Tank or Healer just because of their role.
No, I won't commend a DPS just because they throw out some utility.
No, I won't commend anyone just going through the motions in ANY role.
In fact, I rarely bother using it at all - and I will never feel guilty if three people commend me and I don't even press the button, because it's a relative system where nobody has any control. Nobody is obligated to press it - and 50% of those who do, do so because of the weekly reward (as miniscule as it is).

I WILL commend someone who consistently shows to be making more effort than anyone else. This could be the tank, healer OR a DPS. The irony is that, as a DPS-Heavy Healer main who off-tanks on alts and rarely plays DPS, there are plenty of times I get commended far more as a damage-dealer than I do on the others, because again, as long as it is all relative/sporadic/up to players, it's a basically a partially predictable lottery.

I may get my commendations because I play Healers or Tanks more than damage, or I may get them because my in-game name starts with C and has a 1-3 chance of being at the top of the name-list in non-role sorted party lists. Either way, it is unimportant how many I have or why people gave them to me.