Why mark targets?

[Socalbourne]

I started tanking just a bit ago when I returned to the game this month after a 4 month hiatus. I primarily am Bard/ Healer but I still appreciate tanks to mark. The enmity I generate as a bard is way higher than you expect from your math. For practice when a tank does not mark now (I assume cause they don't have it in their hot bars for some reason) I start marking for them cause it helps everyone and communication is key in this game! :-)

[UrbanCohort]

Without going into any real math, I can think of several good reasons to Mark...

It wipes out mob DPS; aides the tank in securing aggro throughout the fight; and thus makes the group more survivable by giving the healer a singular target to focus on instead of three.

[Jarvix]

You will find that some DPS and alot of Healers will throw damage spells through the tank. I for one am constantly changing targets so as to keep aggro. So by marking the targets it gives them one central mob to focus damage on as well as reminds me which mob I need to pay closer attention to when it comes to keeping the aggro.

[Wolf234]

I dont know about everyone else, but for me, marking is less about the dps and more about the threat allocation. I've found that a large amount of the time it doesnt matter and if they can the dps will aoe anyway but it simply makes it easier on myself and the healer if everyone knows whats going on in my head. I understand where you're coming from, but most of the time trash is trash and im just trying to have a good time anyway.

[Dixon]

As someone whom mostly prefers DPS roles, I can say that it's GENERALLY better for the tank to mark targets if you have a first timer in the party. If you are NICE, you can simply explain which ones to kill first in crowds.

--That said if there aren't any first-timers int he party, then it's up to your party as a whole. Some don't like to waste time doing that and will nuke the crap out of crowds and not give a rat's ass while others prefer things be more organized and will use nukes, but like knowing whom to focus on more.

Personally, I focus on whichever one has the most HP and use that as the central target while I nuke and DOT unless tank says otherwise.

[Seoulstar]

So the dps can simply know who to attack next instead of waiting and seeing...it's not that hard really.

[BinaryJack]

Consider marking as a form of communication.
It is the same as marking an enemy that you are sleeping. Not vital but makes it a lot easier.

[Souljacker]

Why are some folks so AGAINST marking? It takes literally half a second, can be done on the run as you are coming up to the pull, and gives people a nice visual sequence to remind them of which monsters are most dangerous and which can be mostly ignored. More AoE would be nice to clear the packs out faster, but right now there's not enough to justify making a healer's life harder if she wants to put a few monsters to sleep.

I see no reason NOT to do it. If it seriously detracted from my ability to tank a dungeon I'd say yea, it's wasting too much time. But it doesn't. Smash a macro 3-4 times to number them up as you come up to them and then start your pull. I'm usually done before I'm even in shield lob\tomahawk range.

[Viridiana]

I find it funny that so many people are responding to a 5 month old thread without really even reading it. . .

[Souljacker]

You want people to read 19 pages before responding and then only respond if the thread was started within a specific time frame? These forums are slow enough as it is. Don't discourage posting.