Aggro, threat generation, and pugilists...

[Crystles]

Thanks for the super detailed response. I grasped it pretty well actually. Also i didnt know about that enmity meter, glad i know what it does now! We'll probably have to do some co-orinated work to take bigger mobs down. Were thinking of 3 manning boss type fates, which i've found that people get slammed with out either a ton of people hating on the mob, or proper support. We plan to stick together 100%, so this info is valuable.

Last question.

I've noticed that for some reason, when a mob is getting kited, i can no longer hit it literally no matter what. Is this lag? I usually run less than 150, sometimes 200ms for my average speedtest ping, not bad for being in hawaii on a mobile hot spot. But its super obnoxious that i cant continue to deal DPS on a mob just because theyre chasing some one else. And they cant stop or they'll get melted.

[Bixby]

I've noticed that for some reason, when a mob is getting kited, i can no longer hit it literally no matter what. Is this lag? I usually run less than 150, sometimes 200ms for my average speedtest ping, not bad for being in hawaii on a mobile hot spot. But its super obnoxious that i cant continue to deal DPS on a mob just because theyre chasing some one else. And they cant stop or they'll get melted.

Basically.

With FFXIV, the server keeps track of positions of everything, and anytime there's a conflict between what you see on your screen and what what the server thinks is happening, the server wins. By the time you get the data that a mob is at position X, if it's moving, the server already has it at its next position. You'll never catch something you're chasing until it stops.

This is also why, even if you think you're behind or beside the mob when you're solo, you'll almost never get flank/rear bonuses on any of your skills. It may look like you ran around to the side, but the reality is that mobs turn to face you instantly & constantly; you just don't see it.

To hit a moving mob as a melee, you have to run a little bit ahead of them. That puts you where you need to be according to the server, which already has the mob a few steps ahead of where your client shows it. How far ahead depends on how much latency you have. For me, I generally need to be right in front of them, with my feet just outside their targeting ring, unless they're moving at a slower/faster than average speed.

[Sisqi]

This is also why, even if you think you're behind or beside the mob when you're solo, you'll almost never get flank/rear bonuses on any of your skills. It may look like you ran around to the side, but the reality is that mobs turn to face you instantly & constantly; you just don't see it.

Does this apply when the mob is AoE casting and I strafe to the side or run thru to the back? Or is the impression that the mob is "stuck" casting also an illusion?

[Niwashi]

Does this apply when the mob is AoE casting and I strafe to the side or run thru to the back? Or is the impression that the mob is "stuck" casting also an illusion?

The mob will remain facing the same direction until it finishes casting, so that can sometimes give you a chance to get in a flank or rear attack. You may, however, see it finish casting a moment after it actually does. This can lead to being caught in an attack that it looks like you avoided if you're cutting it too close.

[Urthdigger]

I've noticed that for some reason, when a mob is getting kited, i can no longer hit it literally no matter what. Is this lag? I usually run less than 150, sometimes 200ms for my average speedtest ping, not bad for being in hawaii on a mobile hot spot. But its super obnoxious that i cant continue to deal DPS on a mob just because theyre chasing some one else. And they cant stop or they'll get melted.

You should never kite monsters. Unless you use sprint to get ahead they'll hit you as you're running, and they'll take longer to kill (and a tank won't be able to get hate) due to the aforementioned issues. If you or your friends pull hate when you shouldn't, you should stand there, pop defensive abilities, and wait for someone else to take it.

Also, I highly recommend getting a tank to join your little group. You'll then be perfect for all 4-man content (One tank, one melee DPS, one magical DPS, one healer. Lets you use any limit break you want, and you can run PVP in addition to any instance barring the few level 50 8-man), and a tank will be much better at keeping hate and mitigating damage than you (Not only do they have skills to keep hate and increase defense, the armor that suits them has high defense and magic defense, unlike physical DPS which has medium defense and low magic defense, and casters which has medium magic defense and low physical defense.)

[Nemain]

A Matter of HONOR still stands. I replied to your other post. I ran into a guy that said you were asking about the FC in a post he read. We have attained housing and have built a home since then. People have left and come. I am now the GM if I wasn't when you were with us. I kicked you from FC because of inactivity over 30 days and thought that you were never coming back as I do all the same way. If I had known what you were doing I would have kept you in FC. You are more than welcome back and hope that I will see you back. Sorry for the mixup with thining that you were never coming back. We also have a new website amatterofhonor.enjin.com and we have a Mumble server as well with our paid subscription. Hit me up in game. Laterz

[Maelwys]

We'll probably have to do some co-orinated work to take bigger mobs down. Were thinking of 3 manning boss type fates, which i've found that people get slammed with out either a ton of people hating on the mob, or proper support. We plan to stick together 100%, so this info is valuable.

FATE bosses are usually not too bad in terms of DPS they inflict (there are one or two exceptions like Behemoth) - you can probably get by with just a Chocobo Companion healing you. My Arcanist's Carbuncle was tanking them easily back in the day, and you can usually solo a FATE boss as long as you have some form of light healing and means of dealing damage (Any tank with a Chocobo, SMN with pet, etc)

I'd back Urthdigger up on the variety idea - it'd be most efficient to have one Tank, one DPS and one Healer; but if you all want the ability to deal decent damage I'd suggest Warrior and Scholar. WAR are still a bit better than PLDs in low-man content, and SCHs can get some very decent DPS from their DoTs whenever accuracy isn't an issue (basically everything aside from Coil). If one of your friends is dead set on not being a tank - I'd suggest Summoner (Caster) and Scholar (Healer) since in a pinch you can have Titan-Egi tank for you.

[File2ish]

We'll probably have to do some co-orinated work to take bigger mobs down. Were thinking of 3 manning boss type fates, which i've found that people get slammed with out either a ton of people hating on the mob, or proper support. We plan to stick together 100%, so this info is valuable.

You'll probably have no problem 3 manning fates with 2 DPS and a healer, especially when you get your Chocobo companions (level 30 quest in the South Shroud I think, need the grand company mount first). For dungeons you'll have to wait for a tank though, which can get annoying especially if you're a solo DPS looking to get into a dungeon (tanks are in short supply and DPS are the majority of the population) it would be ideal if you join a free company that's willing to help you all out if you don't always want to wait in the duty finder queue for something (though with a premade party 2 DPS and a healer queuing you'll get in pretty quick).

And for when a mob is being kited it's really hard for Melees to hit. Bixby already explained this. The best you can do in a kiting situation is pop your damage over time on the mob (Touch of Death I think) and try to land some hits by running ahead of the kited mob. Your caster friend shouldn't have much of a problem in that situation though.