How do you decide commendations?

[Ashkendor]

As tank, I tend to give it to the healer as long as they weren't awful. As healer, I tend to give it to the tank as long as they weren't awful. As DPS, I tend to give it to the other DPS as long as they weren't awful. In eight man content, I'll commend my counterpart as long as they weren't awful. Are we seeing the pattern here? xD

If my "usual" was awful, then I'll throw it to a random DPS (as long as they weren't awful) because I know it's tough to pick up commendations as a DPS. If there's someone else that did something memorable, they get it. The healer that bails someone out with Benediction/Lustrate. The DPS that LB3's at a crucial moment. That kind of thing. If the group was 100% awful I have no problem with not giving a commendation at all.

A lot of the time I queue in a partial party (usually 2 or 3 of us from my FC) so I'm sure there's a lot of random DPS wandering around out there wondering what they did to get 3 commendations. xD

[Yumi_umi]

I just pick whoever is at the top of the list when the window pops up.
Idc who gets it as i just want tht free gil from the challenge log.

[EricCartmenez]

As someone who started as BRD, I pay attention to the DPS, and if they are doing well and making my WHM job easier, I give them a commendation. I also understand that as a MNK or DRG, it's harder to dodge as you have to be as close as the tank, so there are times you just can't get out of the way. I only give tanks and healers the commendation if they make all of our jobs extremely easy. I feel sorry for anyone that's run a dungeon with me as a PAL. I am awful at holding aggro. I ran Bowl of Embers once and couldn't hold aggro against a DRG! Not for lack of either of us trying, but I guess a lowly level 22 PAL was no match for an iLVL 90 DRG to Irfrit's taste buds. Anyway, I got 2 commendations that time, so I know that people either just commend the person still standing there (I tend to take my time leaving for some reason), or they just commend the tank. Unless you're going for the Golden Magitek, there's no reason to collect commendations anyway. I know I am. I will actually join very low level dungeons so I can look awesome just for the commendations. 200 to go. LOL

[KyrieBonvalet]

If I'm in an 8-man, I usually give it to the other healer or tank. If I see a smn helping out with raises I'll give them the recommendation. I also give it to new people, regardless of class, that state they are new and do really well. Example like a primal fight they've never done before.

[SularDehendri]

It entirely depends on the situation. If the tank's gone beyond the call of duty (grabbing adds that are going for me/DPS etc.) then I will give it to the tank but a lot of the time I'll give it to the DPS who's doing the most damage. DPS is important (my other class is BLM) and without it fights would last far too long for me to heal through. Plus they don't get a lot of commendations.

[Llyren]

I tend to give commendations after loot, and mainly to players that I notice do some part more right then average and/or communicate well.

Was the limit break used well, or not? So many times I see it not used at all.
Was the Tank positioning the mobs in a way that benefits the type of dps we have? Matters less with casters and bards.
Are they still in the instance? Can't commend someone who has instantly left.

[Divine_Intervention]

DPS first chance from me, if they haven't screwed up too badly. They're overlooked a lot and things wouldn't be managable without them, holy trinity style.
Tanks/Healers joint second. I'm not going to commend a tank for grabbing an add that's coming at me though, that's like me asking for a commendation every time i heal up a bit of damage.

Healers, i'm actually more leaning to i usually don't give them to healers (i'm one myself), unless they were exceptional. We get them thrown at us from practically everything else.

[Staris]

Unless you enjoy sitting in Q for hours you should be giving it to tanks/healers.

The goal should be to reward players for joining as a needed role that your lazy ass doesn't want to level/gear.

Its a long term plan using conditioning to improve the culture of the community and provide more tanks/healers.

nuff said

[Nabician]

I usually give to the dps(randomly between decent players) since tanks and healers get the most of it. I also like to encourage new players by giving them my commendation if they didn't fail too much or on purpose.

[Ghishlain]

I tend to default to the Tank in 4-mans and the other healer in 8-mans, but I'm not adverse to not commending people at all if its poor performance overall. Likewise, if one particularly player plays well and is friendly / fun to be around via conversation and actions, I tend to shift my commendation in that avenue as a way to show my appreciation for having both a good play style and character.

When I run trios with my FC mates, we tend to agree to either give the 4th in the 4-man all the commends or none at all depending on their play and friendliness.