Healer.. How do you target in Fates?

[Celgorath]

Hi,

I'm a new player, a low level Conjurer, and having a hard time targeting people that need healing in Fates. These people are not grouped with me, so I cannot click on their nameplate. When they are kiting, I have a very difficult time targeting the person in order to get a heal off.

Any suggestions?

[Estellios]

You should be able to click on them if you are using KB/Mouse, though there might be a config option you need to mess with or a key you have to hold down. I haven't used kb/m since early in beta so I am not too informed on it.

If you are using a gamepad you can put away your weapon by clicking the left stick which will put you back into "all" targeting. You can also use target-of-target macros ( /target <tt> ) and target the enemy then hit the macro to target whoever they are attacking. Another thing you can do is go into your character config, disable the auto filter (the one that changes when the weapon is drawn/sheathed) , and enable the manual filters. By hitting L1 + a button, you can swap the filters which change what you scroll through with left and right on the D-pad.

As far as healing people kiting, I would just say "please stop moving" and if they keep kiting just accept it and let them die. It is not worth the frustration as it is a nightmare healing someone that is running around, and barring very few circumstances it is a terrible thing to encourage, speaking as someone that has played both a healer and tank.

[Pathios]

Don't bother. I leveled through fates and healing anyone not in my group was really a waste of time. Like you said trying to target them is like winning the lottery. Maybe if they stand still away from everything then I can get them.

With the mass amount of people in fates, I changed names to initials and this made it even more challenging. Plus healing people doesn't help you get gold if they are not in your group. People might thank you, but the fate won't

[johnbeck1000]

if you are on PS3 you can change targets by using the L1 and R1...not sure about PC. But you have to have your filters set up correctly also

[Grembo]

You can click their name in the party list on the PC and cure whatever from there, no need to actually click the characters model.

Up and Down on the D-Pad on a controller will cycle though the party list so guess that's next best option for PS3 players.

[Enkidoh]

Grembo, that only works if you're in a party though - I know a lot of people cheap out and run FATEs in parties, but I certainly don't - it ruins the freedom of playing at my own pace. The OP also specifically said she was not doing FATE parties, meaning she's solo.

In any event Cel, all you can do is quickly target someone with the mouse and try and get a Cure off fast. How FATEs are set up though, you get more exp by actually pulling hate from the target, meaning dealing damage to them will get a higher ranked medal at the end and hence more exp and gil.

Hence, use Aero regularly and throw off a few Stones as well (switching into Cleric Stance will help deal more damage to the target, but your healing spells will suffer naturally), while still healing anyone who needs it.

[WhoIsTheGuest]

One easy way: Macro.

This command will make you cast Cure on the target which your mouse is *pointing-at*, no need to even select the target:
/ac "Cure" <mo>

For completeness-sake, you need to create a macro like this:
/micon "Cure"
/ac "Cure" <mo>
/ac "Cure" <target>

Means:
Your macro icon is "Cure".
Try to cast "Cure" at the mouse-over target.
Try to cast "Cure" on the selected target.

You can also add:
/ac "Cure" <me>
But for some reason, I don't like doing this, and just use F1 to select myself always.

Hope this help.

Oh and btw, there's a "Target Filtering" setting, and the default key to trigger it, is X.
Hold down X, and you can only select those targets which is the type selected in "Target Filtering" setting.
Try it out.

[Rivienne]

I find cycling is the most reliable way. Set a custom filter for just other players. Then you can select anyone, switch to the custom filter, and cycle through everyone much faster then specific targeting. When you pass by someone with low health, cure, then keep moving.

[ShadowDan]

Best way to get credit in FATEs as a healer if to cycle through with Shift and cast Aero. Repeat and win. Keep your heals for members of your party as anything else is pretty much a waste of time, unless you feel like going the Medica way.

[Rivienne]

Best way to get credit in FATEs as a healer if to cycle through with Shift and cast Aero. Repeat and win. Keep your heals for members of your party as anything else is pretty much a waste of time, unless you feel like going the Medica way.

You only need to cast 1 aero to ensure you get credit. From then on regular healing nets top score as well. For example the other day I received the Svara best possible achievement while solo-healing. I targetted svara and hit aero, and then for the rest of the fight I just cast cure 1, 2, regen, and raise. I have done the same thing in most fates, and I have most of those "best possible score" achievements.

EDIT: this is not to say aero'ing isn't easier. Because face it, it is. Just cycle mobs and cast aero. Instant gold on everything. But it is in fact possible to get top score by healing every time if you cast on aero first and cycle heal, and I much prefer to do it myself because it feels more like it is useful experience. Whereas casting aero on everything and ignoring my healing is about as useless as you can get for practicing for dungeons.

My preferred method right now is to target another player and use a macro for aero <tt>. I cycle through, and cure then aero tt, then keep cycling. I don't always have time for damage dealing in some fates, so this way I can focus on healing, and throw in an aero as time permits.