People who ask for marks in DF

[Karleguarth]

Marking the mobs before a fight not only make a sign for other members to know what's the order of kill, it also speed up the fight.. I'll provide some sequence example:
Without Marking:
1. Tank initiates
2. DDs target tank, use "Target's target", or check the game screen to target the tank's target manually.
3. DDs start fighting
4. Repeat

With marking:
1.Tank marks order number
2.The DDs had already targeted number 1, mages have their target set to 2 or onwards for sleep.
3.Tank initiates, DDs and mages can adjust their attack / sleep to register right after tank's action on their targets.
4.Mob 1 dies, immediate switching of targets from DDs to continue on mob 2.

Overall marking reduces a lot of idling time for whole party to waste on "Whats the tank gonna do next?" situations.

[AridElf]

I'm going to pick my gladiator back up today and was looking for the best way to mark. I see a lot of tanks stop for a long time because they can't mark very fast, do you guys just put the marks on your bars? Do you use macros? Would MO macros be faster? What keybinds work best for you? Advice!

I have mark for attack 1, 2 and 3 on my bars off to the side where I can't hit them by accident. Then it's a simple case of tab (mark 1) tab (mark 2) tab (mark 3), some people use the little window but I had three extra slots open so I figured eh, why not?

[Lumines]

When I play DPS, its helpful. If they don't mark, that's fine too...I always assist the tank, of course the other DPS just hits whatever they want lol. When I'm healing, I hope they mark because it seems most DPS don't know how to assist and sometimes, mobs go everywhere.

I'm going to pick my gladiator back up today and was looking for the best way to mark. I see a lot of tanks stop for a long time because they can't mark very fast, do you guys just put the marks on your bars? Do you use macros? Would MO macros be faster? What keybinds work best for you? Advice!

Building on the previous poster. What I think is a super easy way to do it is to just bind it all onto an action bar that you don't use. I use all the numpad keys for my marks, 123456789.+- and so forth. After you do all that, you can then hide the action bar so UI isn't cluttered. Viola, easy marking!

[Sebastien]

Isn't it awkward to use the Numpad? I'm assuming you take your hand off the mouse to do it.

As for OP, it hasn't been my experience that AOE is always faster. Actually, the only time that it seems *definitively* faster is when BRD's or SMN's are involved. (And in the SMN's case the dotted mob CAN be slept if needed/helpful.)

[Lumines]

That's a good point, what works for me may not for you! However, at this point it's gottten very natural and I don't really think about hand placemt when I mark, so I can't really comment on the awkwardness. I can see issues if you use something like a naga were all your abilities are on your mouse. I didn't even realize my hand would be off mouse until you pointed it out, the time it takes to mark is so short anyway.

[dark494]

...I don't even use a mouse. Keyboard only!

[Zumi]

Nobody in my FC marks mobs ever because I already explained it slows runs down. It just annoys me when random groups ask for this.

[Cubester]

Sorry OP, you'll get no sympathy from me. Marking is tanking 101, it does not slow you down as you can mark while running between trash packs. Also, it creates a guideline for single target dps or people who aren't as experienced as you, so they know which enemy gets your focus. And having marks up doesn't mean your dps can't AoE. So really, marking is a win-win technique.

[Maku]

Nobody in my FC marks mobs ever because I already explained it slows runs down. It just annoys me when random groups ask for this.

Then don't do random groups. Problem solved.

AoE does not make fights faster though. Single target abilities all have much higher attack ratings and focus killing kills faster and is safer. In random groups even if you look at gear you can never be sure how skills the rest of the group is so playing safe is simple something you gota do or risk death and thus slowing your progression down. I always mark because it in fact makes things go faster.

[RapBreon]

Then don't do random groups. Problem solved.

AoE does not make fights faster though. Single target abilities all have much higher attack ratings and focus killing kills faster and is safer. In random groups even if you look at gear you can never be sure how skills the rest of the group is so playing safe is simple something you gota do or risk death and thus slowing your progression down. I always mark because it in fact makes things go faster.

Not to ruin your lovely sentiment, but there is a breakpoint where the combined potency on multiple targets > single potency. That break-point depends on class but is usually three. Packs usually come in three's (e.g Overpower on three targets is a potency of 390). No argument that focus firing is safer, but it's almost never faster on trash packs. And the more you pull the more your efficiency sky-rockets. If you always ride close to your maximum limit, the amount of time you can shave off is pretty crazy.

Personally, I only mark high value targets like Dullahans and Succubi, and that's mainly because I fear for the nubs getting hit by Iron Justice or Void Fira.