Targeting on PS3

[Simaril]

I'm on PS3 and looking for tips for targeting. I've been playing Whm since beta - which mostly just means using the d-pad to go up and down to select party members. I also use <tt> macros, and some focus target.

My highest DPS class is 30ish Blm, so it's been okay that I clumsily target, but in seeing endgame content with my Whm I'm nervous about quickly targeting adds etc.

[Lemon8or]

You should enable target filter. Change target filter to Enemies so you can use up and down on D-pad to target party members for healing and left and right to target enemies. I find that I don't need <tt> macros doing this.

[zeth07]

While it might not help with targeting party members, while holding L2 or R2 you can then press L1 or R1 to switch targets. It is a lot easier/faster than using the D-pad for enemies at least.

[Sequine]

Get a mouse.

[Simaril]

Get a mouse.

I actually have a mouse and keyboard. I like playing with a ps3 controller. I'm probably going to mainly heal anyway... but I'd like to be competant as dps if needed.

[Clavaat]

I think my thumbs have gotten the muscle memory down of hitting Left/Right + X fast enough that it's what I always use. I don't macro anything on a controller. Granted, if I'm doing this while running, I do this goofy "put my right hand almost horizontally over the controller body in order to target and run at the same time" technique :P Also, I normally pre-target when the opportunity is available. For example, the mob I'm currently on is very close to death. Before it die's, I start targeting the next mob using Left/Right on D-pad.

All in all, I am probably not that efficient, but I also think it's fun this way, and we're usually talking split-second delays comparatively. I also use a 360 controller, so not sure how much a difference that would make compared to PS3 (I imagine it's about the same).

[Velo_Vandore]

Hi, I play white mage with a gamepad on ps3 and here are a few targeting tips (some repeated from above):

1. Use target filters - I have L1+circle for all enemies, L1+X for only aggroing enemies (this can be handy when there are loads of enemies on screen), L1+square for players (in case I want to target someone not in my party) and L+triangle for All. I'm mostly in L1+circle (all enemies), targeting enemies with dpad left/right and party members with dpad up/down.
   
2. When there are many targets on screen, it can be easier sometimes to just press circle a few times to clear your current target and then face the new target and press X. I often use this method to just open a chest, flick a switch, or target a teleport without changing from the enemies filter.
   
3. Macro your damage and debuff skills to auto target fwd.

   Here's the macro I use:

   /macroicon "Aero II"
   /focustarget <tt>
   /ac "Aero II" <t>
   /ac "Aero II" <f>
   

   I do the same for Aero, Stone, Stone II, and Virus. The downside to macro's is that the skills don't queue, so I don't bother with this for heal skills. The way it works is that either line 3 or 4 will work and the other will fail, so it'll either cast on the targeted enemy, or the targets targeted enemy.
   
   The reason I set focus target in line 2 is that you get a little mini status bar for the focus target, where you can see that your Aero, or Virus actually got applied to the mob (note only 5 status icons can be displayed for focus targets, so there's still a chance the Aero, Virus won't show.

4. Keep an assist macro slotted on all your battle hotbars. This is possibly overkill if you already auto target fwd with macro's, but i still like the manual option there. One benefit to actually targeting the enemy instead of casting through the tank is that you get to see exactly how much enmity you have with that enemy. Also, if a tank likes to cycle targets, it's handy to actually switch to their first target then keep attacking that one, rather than attacking whichever target they're cycling through at the time. Healing comes first for healers and some will say don't try to deal damage, but I found that helping to eliminate a single target quickly will significantly reduce the overall damage the tank is taking, meaning less healing required, less aggro stealing, and lower repair cost for your tank
   
   The Macro I use is:

   /target <tt>
   /Focustarget OFF

   I add focustarget OFF just for a convenient way to remove my focus target (applied by damage skills macro above) after battle.
   
5. Re-arrange the party list like so:

   Healer (you)
   Healer
   DD (Ranged)
   DD
   DD
   DD (Melee)
   Tank
   Tank (preferably main tank)

   By having the tanks / healers at the top and bottom you can select them with less presses (from having no target selected). The reason I place ranged dd next to healers and melee dd next to tanks is that I can get a better idea of when to AOE heal. For example, I can quickly see if the ranged players have low health (top healthbars) and then medica if they're close by. If the bottom group of health bars are all low (melee's) It's probaly good time for Cure3.

Hope this is helpfull. Let me know any other tricks you come across

[Simaril]

I actually made the thread to help me with targeting as a Blm, but it's turned out to help my Whm too! TYVM for all the good advice!

[Velo_Vandore]

Glad it helped Simaril. It took me a while to accumulate these targeting techniques described, with much trial and error along the way... It's a long and arduous journey to PS3 targeting mastery and I feel there are many secret techniques I've yet to try... but, I guess you could say I'm something of a targeting enthusiast XD

When I saw your post I just had to pounce!

(and don't get me onto cross-hotbar layout theory :P)