FFXIV challenging the inner Introvert in me. Forced grouping.

[Straynge]

Oh and yeah I ALWAYS look up guides before doing any Dungeons. I don't mind wipes or people messing up. That's part of the fun too but I'd rather not go in completely blind. Glad I checked the guide on the Dungeon where I had to click the lamps to keep them from doing that big AOE since I was ranged DPS and that was my job. Also the one where I had to shoot the dragon in the window with the Cannon was a blast. I only messed up a little in that one. I've got to do Darkhold next and I've already read several guides. And most dungeons are pretty fast. Hardly any talking but I've had a few where we've had a good time and weren't in a rush. I actually really enjoyed those quite a bit. Tanks have been nice enough to let me map the dungeons Now if I can just figure out if I should be dotting all the enemies I see or just focus on one target. Never know if someone is going to be binding mobs or not. I guess I'll ask before this next one. I'd hate to dot a mob that someone wants to stun.

[Avatre]

You can DOT the mobs that people are going to stun, as it doesn't affect that at all. Only sleep(and I may be wrong on this as I NEVER see anyone use Sleep) could be affected by it.

When I first started leveling Bard, I was told to put my DOTs on up to 3 or 4 of the mobs(though, I think that might be wrong...I'm no Archer/Bard expert at all), since you do have some skills that reset if certain procs are met(if I'm not wrong). So, the more DOTs the better the chance of it resetting(and later some of your songs get their secondary ability due to the procs).

[Frizze]

Now if I can just figure out if I should be dotting all the enemies I see or just focus on one target. Never know if someone is going to be binding mobs or not.

If its a 2 or 3 mob fight, you can DoT them all(though you dont have to). If its 6 or 10, you should probly just put up a couple sets(i only ever played bard far enough to get quelling strikes, so ill gladly defer to anyone with higher level experience). In a dungeon setting you want to be looking for opportunities to use your AoE skills. Hitting five enemies for 100 points each is more efficient then hitting one of them for 200(though some cases of especially dangerous enemies should be focused down first even if it is less efficient). This game doesnt feature strong crowd control skills, so 99(+)% of the time fights are handled via mitigation healing and damage rather then binds sleeps and the like. Stun(and silence, pacification, etc) is unaffected by ongoing or incoming damage, its only affected by use of similar skills(mobs build up a stun resistance/immunity the more you stun them for instance). As a BLM ive used Thunder(my only dot) + Sleep as an emergency option to stop incoming damage for a few seconds while still hurting the enemy a little - the thunder ticks dont wake the enemy as long as i dont cast anything new on it and nothing attacks it physically. However, as i lack any good form of self heal this is sort of a last resort.

And Avatre, bards get an ability where a crit from one of their dot ticks can reset the recast timer for a couple of their abilities(rain of death being the popular one), allowing for more uses. It used to be a standalone trait(i think this was changed with SB) but now its an added effect on(some? all?) their songs.