Why mark targets?

[Kyros]

If people actually viewed tanks as leaders, then obviously, I wouldn't have posted this, would I? I'm trying to get feedback on how to encourage DPS to maximize their damage, whether it's through AoE or with DoTs. I've tried reasoning, using math, or just being a dictator. Thus far, no approach has proven reliable.

It is because your math relies on a lot of wrong assumptions:

1) That Physical DPS's have infinite TP. Most AoE's and DoT's have higher-than-average TP consumptions. AoE/dotting everything is simply not sustainable.

2) That Physical DPS have no upkeep buffs. Both MNK and DRG rely heavily on keeping certain stacks up.

3) Less Finishing Abilities. Mercy Stroke and Misery's end will be proc'd less if the mobs die at around the same time.

4) Tanks that don't mark are usually terrible. You are asking your party to both go the extra mile and take a leap of faith for an insignificant increase in DPS; whereas you can't be bothered to do something as simple as marking? I wouldn't trust you to keep hate on one target, much less 3.

5) It complicates Healing DPS. "Maximizing DPS" involves the healer contributing. The longer 3 mobs are up the less time a healer has to contribute. The longer mobs are up has an inverse relationship to how often I can Cleric stance-dps as a healer. The faster the first mob goes down the more DPS I can contribute.


As a tank one of the first things you have to learn is to know which DPS is best doing what. Your SMN and BLM should be DoT/AoEing everything respectively, whereas your MNK and DRG should be focusing single targets down (Wish small exceptions). Asking the MNK/DRG to AoE everything is like asking your SMN/BLM to focus a single target: it's retarded. It makes me glad that most of your parties had the common sense to stick to what they do best.

Trying to maximize DPS is a noble goal, but what you are doing is not the right way. I'd sooner free space for my healer to help (And tell him he should be) than run my melee DPS's dry.