Thread: 3.2 PvP: Feast Game Mode Discussion Thread.

Originally Posted by Eorzean_username

Is there any way I can participate in Feast as a clueless / bumbling newbie without causing harm to other players that are serious about this game mode? I don't know how else to get Wolf Marks at this point.

All you can do is familiarize yourself with your role and abilities (both pve and pvp) before stepping into 4 v 4 ranked solo. You can try that so called "training mode" 8 v 8 to help you familiarize yourself somewhat with these things but honestly speaking I find that mode to be absolute trash in preparing anyone for 4 v 4 anyway. If they really wanted to make a training mode they should have made a 4 v 4 unranked mode. When you do Feast you cannot do it with a thin skin. People will tell you you suck and hurl insult after insult at you as they get more and more frustrated with losses (I have been on both sides of this) but as long as you are genuinely trying your best in there and had at least familiarized yourself with your role and abilities beforehand what else can people expect from you? Everyone has to start off somewhere. If you are currently unranked then that means you cannot be paired up with gold or higher anyway which is where the venom is most concentrated atm. As unranked/bronze/silver you will also generally benefit from much faster queues as they really nosedive once you reach gold+. If you find you cant stomach the insults and hostility however i would suggest waiting for 3.3 and doing the new frontlines which will end up killing Feast once it comes out anyway.

Originally Posted by Eorzean_username

Then, if 8v8 isn't a total disaster, I should maybe move into 4v4 Solo if I'm feeling confident that I won't be total deadweight.

It's not "maybe." It's "definitely."

Honestly, I'd just queue for both and see what pops first. 8 v 8 is the ideal way to start if you are genuinely concerned about getting some form of PvP experience under your belt, but you're gonna have to do 4 v 4 eventually, and the queues are a lot better. Don't worry so much about being dead weight. Just go for it. If it makes you feel better, try to keep in mind that most people who play Feast don't actually have a clue how to play a Tank properly in this game mode as it is. So, if someone complains about you, it's very likely that they don't know what they're talking about or would have done worse than you had they been in the job. So long as you remember the basics, you'll be no worse off then the majority of the people you're queuing with. If you play a few rounds and feel like maybe you're not grasping a few things or need some job specific advice, hop back in here and post a question. Sometimes there's not a "right" answer, but you'll be sure to get plenty of feedback.

Originally Posted by Februs

Don't worry so much about being dead weight. Just go for it. If it makes you feel better, try to keep in mind that most people who play Feast don't actually have a clue how to play a Tank properly in this game mode as it is.

Okay, thanks. ^^ It's not so much people being mad at me (too enured from tanking PvE) as just really not wanting to ruin other people's play time. I know it can be very frustrating to be force-matched with players that aren't on the same level of gameplay understanding.

I'm trying to at least do some research now before I jump in. I'm definitely reading and noting all the guidelines here so far. A few random questions that have come to mind while I've been reading (not sure how much carries over between PvE / PvP):

• Is there a set of recommend cross-class actions for PvP? Does Provoke do anything in PvP, like force a target switch, or should I just swap it out? (My usual loadout is IR, Aware, Convalesce, Second Wind, Provoke)
• Should I swap to Defiance outside burst periods to reduce pressure on heals, or just ignore it because of the nasty –Dmg effect?
• Is Storm's Path (10% dmg down) effective in PvP, should I be keeping it up on dangerous targets?
• Is Storm's Eye (10% slash resist) as important as it is in PvE?
• Are dots like Fracture useful pressure / Esuna-pollution, or should I not waste the GCD / TP? Do dots keep NIN out of stealth?

Also, does Rating stay the same between Jobs / Roles? That could get dangerous, for example going from experience Tanking into trying out Healing but being thrown in to higher-rank matches right away.

Originally Posted by Eorzean_username

Feast queues look extremely fast on Aether (if Average Wait Time can be trusted). But I've been advised against doing Feast, because apparently I will ruin people's Ratings and make them unhappy — I don't want to make anyone unhappy! I just want my axe. Is there any way I can participate in Feast as a clueless / bumbling newbie without causing harm to other players that are serious about this game mode? I don't know how else to get Wolf Marks at this point.

This varies dramatically between which type of Feast game mode you are queuing for. Personally, I would start with 8 versus 8 casual.That game mode is not ranked, so people take it far less seriously. Further, the teams are bigger, so even if you're making mistakes it is less likely that anyone will notice. You have seven other teammates to hide behind in that game mode. It will seem far more chaotic that 4 versus 4, but it's just for fun. It's a friendly environment to learn in, and you'll still be getting tomes/wolf marks. If queues are still active for this game mode, then I would try to start with that.

4 versus 4 solo-queue is a different story. People tend to take it quite seriously (often too seriously) because that game mode is ranked and heavily dependent on team composition and coordination. Teams are random (as they should be), so it's a roll of the dice as to how good your team will be when you get into a match; however, having even one bad apple can completely toss the match. If the match happens to be a qualifier for someone, then they will be very unhappy to see a new player on their team because qualifier matches are the only way to advance a rank. Qualifiers happen when you get to your point cap for the next rank. If you win the majority, you go up a rank. If you lose, then you get shafted back down and basically have to start over (hence the rage when people get noobs on their team during qualifiers).

That said, I still most definitely recommend getting into 4 versus 4 as soon as possible. Firstly, the queues are faster. Secondly, that game mode is more intense and requires more attention and skill to play well. If you are interested in a more competitive setting, then 4 versus 4 is it, because everything you do will effect the team and outcome of the match. You can definitely jump in right away, but you'll want to brush up on a few things before you go in.

Firstly, get to know your role. Tanks do not function anywhere near the same in PvP as they do in PvE. You have ZERO aggro. Your job is to: Harass the enemy healer (cause as many casting interruptions as possible), defend your healer (save their butts from being interrupted or worse, killed), and support your dps (Full Swing is gold for this, use it wisely). It's one of the hardest jobs in PvP, because you have a lot to juggle. It takes practice, do don't get discouraged. The next thing is to get to know your PvP actions. Read the tookits, and figure out when and where it is the best time to use them. Some of that comes with experience, but you can also theory some of it out just by reading them. AT THE VERY LEAST, they should be put on a hotbar so you can use them. After that, it's a matter of knowing how the game mode functions and what your priorities are (who to attack and when, if you should be on the offense or defending your healer, if you should chase for a kill or fall back, etc). Most of that comes with experience, so you'll just have to play and be baptized by fire.

If you have any specific questions, then ask them here and I'm sure I or someone else will be happy to provide you with some advice. Take it with grains of salt, though, because there is no one-size-fits-all answer for PvP. It's the nature of the game. Otherwise, have fun and good luck out there.