To Damage Dealers, and everyone else as well :)

[vanityobscene]

I would like to stress how important it is that you follow the order the tank marks things in when attacking single targets (unless you have a damn good reason) A tank can easily keep hate when the DPS attack his target. It's a little harder when they are using AoE, but still feasible since each mob is receiving less damage individually. However, if DPS each attack different targets with single attacks, the tank needs to gain immense enmity on multiple targets, which ain't happening. Furthermore, focusing all the damage on one target means it dies faster, making the tank and healer's jobs easier.

This is probably my most common fit when tanking. Having to regain on multiple targets because marked targets aren't being hit, or even the first target struck. I understand that there are times when marking can be redundant, but it really ought to be the case where, if you can, make sure you're hitting the first pull. It's just a bit of situational awareness really.

Second to this are cheeky DDs getting ahead of themselves. I've noticed it happens most with people of a much higher level who've been synced down. Overreaching in both giving the tank room and also not moving faster than the tank because they might feel like they'll be fine. But I've watched numerous players get healed to safety after they've realised that they bit off more than they could actually chew. And likewise, taking on the healing role myself, I've had to do the savior heals a number of times.

But I do want to also say in response to the general topic of the thread and how some folk are responding that one of my more important points, but sadly the last and probably least noticed, was how we handle it all in-game. The aim of starting this thread was to give would-be and starting DDs some general tips and heads ups about some basic form. It isn't so much to air every grievance and make them feel as though we all hate 'em. Afterall, we do need 'em.

But yeah, there's definitely a need for more respect to fellow players on the whole. Healers get a lot of flak, as do tanks, DDs get it too, but I guess the numbers stack in their favour most often because they're just more numerous. Point is to make the effort, if you make a mistake it's no biggie, just be careful if someone calls you up, apologise if you gotta, and if someone's a particularly bad egg? IMO it's better to leave or abstain from responding to them.

I say that because it seems as though a lot of those "bad eggs" think there's an I in Team, and if they're so self-important that they want to do nothing but bring everyone down and make the game less fun, and not accept that different people find different things challenging, they're probably not going to care what you respond with.

[Suki-]

Another thing, if you grab aggro from your tank please don't run around like a headless chicken. Pop a couple of defensive buffs if you need & run towards the tank so they can reclaim it ^^

BUT, if it's your fault for running ahead/attacking out of marked order, chances are the tank is going to teach you an important lesson (^_^)b

-snip-
4) If tank isn't going after the mob, I will "break rank" to save the healer. Especially since the healer job is hard enough without being attacked. This ties in with 3.

This, so much.

[Spoekes]

Leveled up Healers and Tanks first and now doing my DPS classes.

The most important thing, especially considering the number of new and inexperienced tanks there are atm, is to pay attention the the enmity indicator.

The enmity indicator is the small bar below your Class/Job-icon in the groupframe.

It will show the current enmity the groupmembers have for the targeted enemy.

Pay attention to not get your bar to 100%, as you will have all the enmity and the enemy will attack you.

Like others said, use your enmity reducing abilities if you have, and/or switch your target, if you see your next attack will most likely turn the enemy on you.

If you happen to get the enemies attention, like others said, do not run away from the tank and if the enemy is not likely to die in the next 2-3 hits: Stop doing damage till the tank has the enemy back!

[Ryihito]

Have initiative.

If the healer is getting ganked, stop what you're doing, get the hate off that enemy and then take it to the tank.

[Sapphic]

I have a simple rule when I'm tanking.

You pull it, you tank it.


Also when I DF, I start slow to gauge the abilities of the party. When I tank for FC members or specific PF parties (aka speed runs) I know what I can push. But joining 3 or more strangers for the first time, you have no idea of their capabilities until action starts. Annoys me when players expect to speed run from the start.

I joined expert roulette, got Brayflox HM. party was me on my PLD, DRG, MNK and a SCH. So I started pulling first two packs and stopped. SCH went ape saying I should single pull to the first boss. With 2 primarily single target DPS. When pointed out that the party comp is not viable for speed running he called us noobs and rage quit *boggle*.

As a tank you should look at the party composition to gauge what the party is capable of doing test it, then push it a bit. 2 BLMs or BLM+BRD gives potential for a lot of AE. I say potential not definitive XD Also SMN, of course. WIth those in a party you have to adjust your tanking style as opposed to having more single target DDs (as mentioned earlier, DRG, MNK and for all intents and purposes, BRD also).

AE heavy comps you need to be more aware of enmity on all mobs, flash a bit more, rotate through mobs to check party enmity levels arent going too high. Whereas with single target DPSers (assuming they follow kill order) You can focus on one with the occasional flash to hold enmity on the other mobs over the healer.

If you happen to get the enemies attention, like others said, do not run away from the tank and if the enemy is not likely to die in the next 2-3 hits: Stop doing damage till the tank has the enemy back!

If more people took that advice ahmahgawd! Instead of slowing down DPS and moving closer to the tank they somehow seem to step it up a notch and run around like a crazy person!

Have initiative.

If the healer is getting ganked, stop what you're doing, get the hate off that enemy and then take it to the tank.

Simple logic, a dead DPS can be ressed, a dead healer is a wipe XD