new tank here, some questions

[EricCartmenez]

As a BRD, I know I've pissed off some darned good tanks. I'll be the first to admit that it was due to total ignorance. First it was, "Why are there numbers over these targets' heads?" Don't assume people know what you want down there. Once I had some time in the game, I actually played with a tank that didn't know what aggro was! Myself and a MNK were good enough to take the time to explain and let him learn. Now that I've tanked for a little while (2 whole weeks or so?), I can see the frustration factor. In this short time, I've had DPS of every kind kite mobs around like their heads were on fire. Sometimes you can chase them down, but other times, the right thing to do is stand your ground, take your targets and get the DPS some help afterward. As a lowly 20-something level tank, I have plenty of DPS and healers who pull aggro away from me like candy from a baby. To get it back is like riding a baby's tricycle uphill. I had a guy kiting Ifrit around last night! I was popping my CD's (cool downs) the second the group was released, and before I could target Ifrit, a low level THM runs up and pops him in the nose. The next thing I knew, we were running a world record 440 around the place. I finally stood still and typed "bring him to me, I cannot catch you!" He did, and I was able to pull the aggro quickly, but those things will happen. You can't control people who have no patience. I had a DRG who was so much higher level than me once that Ifrit didn't care about my existence. I popped every CD, hit him with every enmity generating combo I had... The DRG understood and was very good natured about it. We made it through without a wipe, and I did my best. I'm still new as well to this tanking thing (lvl 29 MRD, lvl 24 GLA), so my perspective is not the same as the others.

Like you, I typically open with shield lob, flash, flash, and a savage blade combo. I have Fight or Flight and Convalescence in cool down. I also took Blood Bath from my MRD, so I have that in CD as well. I have a combo that shield lobs and marks the target, and that helps identify target 1, even in a speed run. I use the macro and lob at the first 3 targets, and now everyone has 1, 2, and 3. From there, it's usually a blood bath anyway.

[mcyumi]

Like you, I typically open with shield lob, flash, flash, and a savage blade combo. I have Fight or Flight and Convalescence in cool down. I also took Blood Bath from my MRD, so I have that in CD as well. I have a combo that shield lobs and marks the target, and that helps identify target 1, even in a speed run. I use the macro and lob at the first 3 targets, and now everyone has 1, 2, and 3. From there, it's usually a blood bath anyway.

Hi may I know what is the macro to target 1,2 and 3 with shield lob? Thanks!

[Jarvix]

Hi may I know what is the macro to target 1,2 and 3 with shield lob? Thanks!

/micon "Shield Lob"
/ac "Shield Lob" <t>
/mk Target <t>

It is a bad macro and you should not use it. If you need to SL to regain a mob that is running from you people will get confused about what mob you want them to attack. Better just to make a macro that only marks.

/mk Target <t>

Go to the Party tab and click on Signs to see all the ones available

[Naryoril]

/micon "Shield Lob"
/ac "Shield Lob" <t>
/mk Target <t>

It is a bad macro and you should not use it. If you need to SL to regain a mob that is running from you people will get confused about what mob you want them to attack. Better just to make a macro that only marks.

/mk Target <t>

Go to the Party tab and click on Signs to see all the ones available

Personally i just mark the next mob with a 1. When the current number 1 is at 10 to 20% health i set the 1 to the next target. DPS don't really need a number 2, 3 and 4, they usually attack a single target, or all at once. This way you don't even need a macro, you can just put the symbol for marking on your hotbar. And it allows you to adapt to the way the fight goes easier (If you mark 1, 2 and 3 in the beginning and for some reason now you want to kill number 3 before number 2 this can get confusing. If there is just a single 1 on the next target this poses no problem at all).

[EricCartmenez]

It is a bad macro and you should not use it. If you need to SL to regain a mob that is running from you people will get confused about what mob you want them to attack. Better just to make a macro that only marks.

Agreed, but only if you don't have a button for SL and a button to mark with SL. I have them separate, so one to mark and grab aggro and the other to just shield lob. Naryoril, I agree, and many times, I only mark 1. Problem is this - I used to just mark targets. Then everyone is speed running and 1/2 the people don't follow the marks anyway. So then I macro'd the mark to a SL (Tomahawk for my MRD) so that I could start the fight and mark at the same time. When I do the first hit to the next guy, I can hit with the macro and bang, that's #2. That can be at the beginning or in the middle of the fight. Or not at all. When people aren't following the marks, screw it. Not worth the effort.