Etiquette Questions.

[Anarkh]

Regarding number 2, this game is a little different from most in that hitting someone else's mob can actually give you experience. You have to do a certain amount of damage to the mob to get credit, but it is generally in your benefit to "help"

This, you really do benefit from helping somebody out in this game. If the mob tag is purple then they have tagged it and you can also earn XP by helping out! I do this all the time and I've not had anybody moan yet :P You can also help in the opposite manner, if somebody starts attacking your mob and it's at 50%, I often leave the mob for them to finish off so they can do enough damage to also get some XP for it.

Also, high five for asking! It's very refreshing to have a new online gamer asking how to address things in the community and not being a complete ass! Welcome!

[HEC]

Also - by helping to kill each other ("primary") mob you're both increasing your (chances of) chain bonus as well so it's hardly bad thing for either of the sides.

[Bixby]

Just to add another vote for "go for it."

I've only ever gotten 3 reactions when I pile on with someone else's mob. Complete lack of response, a thank you, or temporarily teaming up. One person invited me to party to finish off our hunting logs in the area together. A few people have just started grabbing mobs with me (without partying), where we both run around together and duo up on each mob in turn. And yeah, if I'm the one with the tag when that happens, I'll ease off on the damage to make sure they get credit.

I especially jump in if I see a melee class kiting (or trying to). Figure that's a pretty sure sign of desperation.

The only time I don't really jump in is if I see someone just running in a straight line with a mob at full health on their tail. Chances are they're just ignoring the aggro on their way through, and I always seem to try to grab it just as it's reaching its leash point, so my "helping" in that case is useless. Which is disappointing, because saving someone from drive-by aggro was always one of my favorite Helpy McHelperson things in FFXI.

[bareheiny]

Thanks for the responses - it's very much appreciated.

I should mention that my comment about being new to online gaming isn't quite accurate - I've been playing DCUO for about a year or so, but FF is an entirely different kettle of fish.

I'll keep on healing and taking a shot or two at enemies that seem to be causing people trouble...and now that I realize it's possible I'll probably throw a protect or two into the mix.

Also, high five for asking! It's very refreshing to have a new online gamer asking how to address things in the community and not being a complete ass! Welcome!

If you don't ask, you don't find out...and there's no point doing something if it's going to aggravate other players

[Orbital-Dragon]

I rez people when I find them randomly dead in the world.

[Merryl]

Well I felt like an idiot the other night...I usually skip the bestiary because they are mostly familiar to me. But I ran aross an issue with a tonberry mob the other night. I joined in with my level 9 black mage and tried blizzard first since I knew feeding it fire would make them explode. Somehow it didn't matter which spell I used .
What I expected was for them to grow at least once giving warning of their impending explosion? Not an immediate kaBoom! It took me 3 times to realize I was not really helping in this mob fight...and even though I kept switching targets hopefully far enough away from the other players, I still felt awful exploding things in peoples faces.
Next time I'll focus on casting my haste on the other members and bring a shield so I can dodge and run

[Stargazer1]

I always heal people as Im running past if they are in a losing position in a fight. I also heal in fates inbetween doing damage (Im a conjurer).
You will notice that if you hit someone elses target early enough you both share the success ie killing x number of anoles for a quest.
I also always say TYVM to my hest groups at the end.