Why mark targets?

[Skies]

Let's begin some explanations, then, Yuri.
First, DPS like to coordinate, we like to focus-fire on the same target while we are dealing ST damage, so having something to guide is through is great. Often one wants the tank to chose the threats according to what he considers worst, personally as a tank I always mark mage enemies first since they are a particular pain for me, but a friend of mine normally points the biggest-damage enemy regardless.

Second, you are in fact fundamentally wrong about the DPS of dots and AoEs. For melee, at least. For both monk and dragoon one of our DoTs is in the tail end of a combo, DoTs also take far too long to tick down completely, more than the encounter should last after the application of the first comboless one so there would be a long stretch of time where we should use our AoE attacks.
Also, AoE attacks consume a LOT of TP for melee, we run dry extremely fast using to the it's impossible to do two pulls back to back, and for both monk and dragoon our most TP-efficient and powerful AoE is ALSO part of a combo, so we need a single-target attack before moving into AoE, thus we'd like to focus-fire that too.

The only time I'm 100% okay with a tank not marking is when I am running with my FC, as we are long-time friends and know eachother enough that there is no need for marks for the DDs to synergize their attacks as we know which are our target priorities.

[YuriRamona]

Second, you are in fact fundamentally wrong about the DPS of dots and AoEs. For melee, at least. For both monk and dragoon one of our DoTs is in the tail end of a combo, DoTs also take far too long to tick down completely, more than the encounter should last after the application of the first comboless one so there would be a long stretch of time where we should use our AoE attacks.
Also, AoE attacks consume a LOT of TP for melee, we run dry extremely fast using to the it's impossible to do two pulls back to back, and for both monk and dragoon our most TP-efficient and powerful AoE is ALSO part of a combo, so we need a single-target attack before moving into AoE, thus we'd like to focus-fire that too.

Obviously, the enemy will die before the DoT ticks to full if you're focusing down one at a time. If you're applying DoTs evenly across enemies and also spreading your single-target weaponskills, then almost all enemies will take longer than 18-30 seconds to fall.

I see this contradiction all the time. A common excuse is "well, the enemy dies in less than 18 seconds anyway, so DoT is not worth it." Yes, but this is only the case if you only use single-target attacks on one enemy at a time.

And yes, AoE abilities are not very TP-efficient. However, single-target combos are only second on the list in terms of TP-efficiency. DoTs are the most TP-efficient, bar none.

[WellFooled]

If you're applying DoTs evenly across enemies and also spreading your single-target weaponskills, then almost all enemies will take longer than 18-30 seconds to fall.
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In this case you may be maximizing damage, but at the expense of other things. For example, when you kill a monster it can no longer deal damage to you, which means the healer and tank's jobs gets easier. However if you deal equal amounts of damage to all monsters you'll have to put up with the max amount of damage sustained for the entire duration of the pull.

There are also many situations where an enemy group isn't sitting in a tiny little compact space. You've got ranged monster hitting you from afar. To spread dots and single target weaponskills out evenly would require the melee dps to run from target to target after every GCD, which would ruin your dps.

There are also many situations where a single monster poses way more of a threat (or maybe just an annoyance) than other monsters (like the succubus in AK, who can hit you with powerful AoE magic) and should be killed so that threat is eliminated. This is also the case in dozens of boss fights. If you don't kill the adds, they'll eventually overwhelm you.

[Viridiana]

snip

1) That's cool, but the OP already said he only meant for this to apply when incoming damage is not a concern.

2) Doesn't apply to BRD, so you agree BRD should always multi-dot? And that melee should multi-dot if the mobs are close together?

3) Those monsters are often still part of a pack. Kill them, then spread dots over the rest of the pack. BTW, the Succubi in AK should never even touch you. . .

[Viridiana]

Second, you are in fact fundamentally wrong about the DPS of dots and AoEs. For melee, at least. For both monk and dragoon one of our DoTs is in the tail end of a combo, DoTs also take far too long to tick down completely, more than the encounter should last after the application of the first comboless one so there would be a long stretch of time where we should use our AoE attacks.

It takes Demolish 9 seconds, maximum, to beat out Snap Punch. IOW, if the target will live more than the next 9 seconds, Demolish > Snap Punch in all ways. For Touch of Death, it takes a bit longer, more like 18 seconds. But, then, all MNKs know that Touch of Death is one of the first things you drop anyway.

For BRD, multi-dotting is the best thing you can do for damage. It takes Venomous Bite 6 seconds and Windbite 9 seconds to match/outpace Heavy Shot, respectively. If you have a target up that doesn't have a dot on it yet, the only thing you should be considering is enmity and time to live (unless you're massively low on TP).

I don't know DRG very well, so I'll leave it to someone else to decide what's worth it there.