When is better to AoE trash pulls?

[PArcher]

I'm also fairly sure you can't build threat on stuff that's asleep even with Flash, but could probably test it more extensively.

Yes, Flash builds threat on sleeping targets. So do DoTs cast before sleep or Bane'd to a sleeping target (Bane does NOT wake sleeping targets up, BTW)

[BlueMage]

Disregarding other factors like tank hate or if a specific target needs to die much faster than the others, and going off pure efficiency for the DPSer, generally its best to single target until 4 mobs as a physical DPS, at which once there's 4 mobs the damage/TP/time ratio makes AOE more efficient. For casters, its 3.

[Maero]

I usually just use a thunder>sleep on targets and then focus on one. Thing is from what i have seen so far is if i try to aoe groups of enemies i end up having all the agro and in turn have to start healing myself.
I know Archer you get an ability to reduce hate but have found leveling Archer very boring.
So 3 or more targets it is best to just aoe? Like say Ice2>Ice2>Fire3

[baopee]

1-3 mobs (single target rotation), 4 + (Aoe rotation)

When I play BLM, I always cast sleep on the mobs right after the pull, so it would reduce the damage on the tank and give healer some time to catch up the HP lose during the pull.