Dragging last-to-be-killed mob to next pull

[Cold_Raven]

As FFXIV grows, it's starting to really gather a lot of players from that other MMO that shall not be named.

FFXIV is my first MMO ever, so I don't have previous experience.

I've encountered a few tanks who hold agro very well, but when the last mob is at 3/4 or 1/2 health or so they pull it with them to the next group.

On questioning a rather talkative fellow about this, I've learned that the tactic comes from a certain overly popular (but less fun) MMO where this tactic is used to "keep the group moving along" and it's just normally how things are done.

Just wondering what the thoughts are on this.

I can see the upside of keeping a flow going, and that way people are always doing something without little action-pauses of simply running between groups.

I've never done this myself as a tank, though, for the following reasons:
-Less time (sometimes no time) for Healer MP to regenerate between pulls
-Some DPS can't move-and-attack at the same time, so it's not helpful to them
-If healer stays with DPS to kill last mob, tank can end up alone taking on a fresh 3-4+ mob group

So, what are the Pros and Cons of this tactic in FFXIV?
In the end, is this something tanks in FFXIV should do more often? Or only when party make-up allows for it? (Thinking... SCH and BRD and maybe a melee DPS too)

[CodeCass]

I've actually noticed this as well, but had no idea the tanks were doing it on purpose! I just assumed the tank was moving on a little early and expected us DPS to finish off the last mob. Not that it's ever really bothered me or anything, as to date it hasn't caused any problems for me or any group I've been in. I just find it sort of interesting to know they are doing it on purpose and evidently there's some tactic at work there haha.

[Rbstr]

Why not?
You either kill it while moving and save time.
Or, if you've got AOE in your dps, moving a lone mob to a bigger pack lets them do AOE for more efficiency.

I don't tend to do it myself but I don't see it as a problem, unless they don't think it through.

[Spoekes]

This is called chain pulling.

You do it primarily to keep the pace up, which is more fun than stop and go.
Heals/DPS should no tbe running low on MP on chain-pulling (as opposed to a speedrun) so that is not a problem.

Little Pros could also be:
-Monk can keep up his stacks
-Sometimes SMN/SCH may be able to bane dots off the last mob to the new ones
-Let that last mob die in the AoE instead of focussing on it

Cons only exist if the tank is not watching the healers MP for the exceptional situation that the healer is running low on chainpulls (but thats really a exception)

[Bushido_Brown]

It's a pretty normal tactic, it helps out some dps to keep up their stacks, only time it's annoying is when they decide to press-on just before you're about to land a buffed combo-finisher >.<

[Anubis_Nephthys]

I've never played any other MMO, but i "developed" this "technique" pretty early on. It just seems to make sense. As a PLD, I usually stun it for 6 secs before leaving it.

[TheCurls]

As a PLD, I usually stun it for 6 secs before leaving it.

I was going to post this but was beat to it.

[Alistaire]

I've never played any other MMO, but i "developed" this "technique" pretty early on. It just seems to make sense. As a PLD, I usually stun it for 6 secs before leaving it.

Not going to work if you have a good whm, however then it's back to "do you have dps that can kill it on the move?" If so, why not do this? Pretty sure whichever MMO OP is referring to isn't the first MMO to have people do this kind of strat. It evolved from common sense; it's going to reappear in a number of games.

[StouterTaru]

I never realized FFIV was a MMO, my Super Nintendo didn't have internet access.

[Heleth]

I do this in most of my dungoens, and have done so as far back as I can remember... Dont know why you dont want to name the other MMO as it has been a pioneer in the genre, and really defined or at least made the holy trinty of tank/healer/dps mainstream...

Anyway, my reasons for doing this are simple:
1. It keeps the pace flowing, the run seems more fluent and speedrunners and non speedrunners alike most often dont complain because its not too fast, nor is it too slow...


2. if you are lower geared than the rest of the group(eg dps) and you have problems holding emnity at the start of fights, this is a good way to get ahead... Once the last mob(s) are low on hp(I start at aprox 10-20%), you will get a headstart on the next pack of mobs by the time the rest of the group catches up... If you are equally or better geared than your group this isn't that relevant but still, point nr 1 stands...

There are different ways to chainpull, all depends on the dungeon and mobs, to be effective in this you really need to know the dungoen.... You can add patrols in the mix, you can semi speedrun using this tactics by gathering several packs of mobs, then go get new packs of mobs when your initial pack is thinned out....

Its all what you feel you and your group can handle really... The better you know the instance, the better you can do this(as with speedrunning in general except that with speedrunning you would benefit having the gear to back you up).

So if I'm to mention cons as a tank for this:
-You should know the instance(where mobs are/how many)
-You will have to watch your healers mp, if he's low you will need to ease up
-You will have to watch your own tp/mp, you will eventually run out
(not really cons, but things you need to be on top of to master this technique, although I know it can and should be applied to tanking in general...)

Other than that there isnt really that much to it.... Its probably "less stressful" than speedrunning and can be done without overgearing content or giving your healer heartattacks.... It makes runs feel smooth and although maybe not as fast as speedrunning it usually doesnt take that much longer, especially if you are good at it...

Just my 2 cents!