Safer mob AOE/Cone/Spell skill avoidance

[Lhun]

Now we all know you need to run from SOME AOE when it cannot be stunned by sb, or, if you're a warrior, your stun is on cooldown.

If you're like me, you can't stand directed camera. I use legacy mode too. The problem is when you run away in legacy mode camera, you will turn your back to the enemy when running.

I know this is known to most here, but:

Cone AOE/single target magic is easier to avoid. Run TOWARDS and THROUGH the enemy while he's charging up and frozen, or move in the 11:00 clock or 02:00 clock direction. With magic, spell will cancel due to being out of line of sight. Cone will miss.

There is a few issues with Aoe though-

1) To avoid turing your back you could be using directed camera, which causes you to backpeddle... or strafe... AT A SNAILS PACE! This is bad if you're really trying to avoid it. Devs have said this is "by design". I can only assume is to increase the risk when you avoid AOE.
2) When you turn your back to the enemy to avoid skills and run, "piercing" type attacks do more damage, at least that's the general consensus on jp forum (makes sense). This would be especially true against LNC/DRG in PvP.
3) Your chance to parry and block is reduced (or so people say).

So how do you avoid AOE, with 300ms report rate and still face the enemy in case you didn't get out in time before it decides who it's going to hit (or you lagged)?

Why, a macro of course!

make a macro with the following:

/echo "face target <t>!"
/ft <t>

SE felt it was important enough to face your enemy that they created a chat command for it.
Basically, run away and then mash that command. Your chance to block with shield, or parry, will still be there.

I tossed the echo in so I know it went off, as macros can be unreliable.
This is obviously useful with legacy camera against groups of mobs as well, because it doesn't require any wasd or camera shifting to face the mob you're targeting in a group. Simply click the enemy from the enemy list, mash macro.

[Maelwys]

There is a few issues with Aoe though-

2) When you turn your back to the enemy to avoid skills and run, "piercing" type attacks do more damage, at least that's the general consensus on jp forum (makes sense). This would be especially true against LNC/DRG in PvP.
3) Your chance to parry and block is reduced (or so people say).

Maybe I'm missing something... but if the enemy is charging an attack, aren't they frozen in place?

So... why would you need to face them whilst running away (in order to preserve block rate or mitigation etc) if they're not actually hitting you, just standing there charging up?
Once you're outside the AoE circle, you'll generally want to turn and face them again (because as soon as the red warning circle vanishes and the attack starts animating, you'll charge in again to keep attacking)... but what benefit does packpedaling give you if you're not taking any damage from the enemy whilst running because the enemy is stuck in a powerup/charging sequence...?

I can sort of understand why this might be beneficial if you're fighting more than one monster, but (i) Since packs of foes tend to cluster round you I've found that it's quite difficult to face every foe at the same time whenever I'm not running from an AoE, so it'd not make much difference trying to do so when I'm running (ii) In those situations cone attacks seem to be far more common/dangerous than AoEs, so I'd generally be sidestepping rather than running (iii) More dangerous Ads tend to be slept/CC'ed, so wouldn't this only apply to trash mobs?

Not trying to put you down, genuine questions - Perhaps I'm doing it wrong or overlooking something...

(And yes, Legacy Camera all the way! Just wish there was a macro option to freeze it in place/unfreeze it on command instead of constantly having to use "recall camera setting" constantly...)

[dimsumdarren]

yea, its kinda weird question

if you have to run out of aoe, just strafe out or turn and run....then go back to boss...not sure why you need anything else

[Giantbane]

this might be useful in a fight where there's AoE that doesn't lock the caster in place. Say, if someone misses a stun during phase 3 of the Ifrit fight.