Commending DPS

[rachcouture]

I usually commend DPS if they actually use their support skills. It's sadly so rare to see something like Mana Shift or Goad actually appear when needed, so the few DPS that DO pay attention deserve my thanks.

[ElianaGoldstein]

I commend the healer when he/she saves a run from a badly geared tank trying to pull like an overgeared god.
I commend the tank when he/she pulls to the limits of what their gear allows and doesn't let a bunch of mobs go and introduce the healer to the floor. And has the situational awareness not to pop sprint and run halfway to Garlemald pulling everything in sight before healer has cast Protect.
I commend DPS when they don't run around like headless chickens and get hit by every circle of death or run ahead ninja pulling more mobs when an obviously new tank is in the group.
If everyone did their jobs well then it's either random, or whoever has the cutest glam/fluffiest tail.

[Jaywalker]

I commend other DPS for a few reasons.

- I see the other DPS taking initiative and/or doing something very well. Requires paying a little bit of attention at times but I try to when I can. I know that even though I'm a squishy BLM sometimes I try to do things to protect or support the healer, and on melee DPS I sometimes will be running around beside the tank and just try to make sure that they're okay/squishier players aren't getting targeted. If I see other players trying to similarly look out for other players, I really think that's a good thing and will usually commend.

- Dragoon links with me.

- Fellow DPS is nice and/or has a good sense of humor. Extra likelihood of commend if the DPS actually takes initiative to help other players by explaining mechanics or is encouraging during tough spots.

- If tank and healer are being clique-y to the point that me and fellow DPS can't talk at all without being third wheels, I stand in solidarity with fellow DPS. Also if tank and healer are being either jerky or less competent.

- If fellow DPS is new to a duty and shows strong effort in learning or otherwise does respectably. Desire to learn/questions are very good imo!

I should probably be commending bards more often tbh, but I honestly don't always know how to track what they're doing at this stage and sometimes forget. I know bards often work very hard to support the team and I need to remember and pay attention to that I think.

[Nixxe]

Assuming the tank and healer don't do anything that makes the run noticeably worse, the DPS probably won't get it unless they're a paragon of their job or something. If the tank and healer upset me, I may give it to the DPS if they aren't completely useless. I have no problem just leaving the instance without giving anyone a com, especially if my group irritated me.

[Deceptus]

MCH / BRDs using Refresh regularly equals a comm from me without fail.

BLM/SMN/RDM Give me some Mana Shifts and one is going your way without fail.

When I tank: Any DPS that uses Diversion gets a Comm.

[Xbob42]

I've only recently started to level DPS classes, always been a Tank main, and recently a healer. Generally I'll commend the other DPS if they're friendly, or a sprout to encourage them to keep doing dungeons, etc.

But outside of that, DPS will usually get my commendation if they're using their full arsenal of tools where appropriate. A RDM who has a res ready to go the second someone dies helps the entire group immensely. Anyone willing to mana shift to the healer when appropriate is good, not pulling threat, etc. Occasionally I'll just throw DPS a commendation if I feel like I haven't in a while and I'm not noticing the DPS in particular, which means they're not doing anything wrong at the very least, and that's commendable in itself!

I guess if I had to make a priority list (I don't usually think about it too much so this is helping me figure out how I do it retroactively) it'd go like this:

- Friendly, this one is most important to me. I don't care if you're bad or screw up or even wipe us all that much. It's a DF, things go well, things go bad. Having cool people to chat with makes that stuff not matter.
- Excellent performance. Like I said, utilizing tools, AOE damage where appropriate, helping everything go more smoothly.
- Sprout symbol. Dungeon anxiety can be a big deal for some, or nothing at all to others, I like to encourage people either way, so dungeons feel less intimidating.
- Owning up to mistakes instead of kind of silently ignoring them. I don't need an apology or anything, there's no shame in goofing up. But a quick "My bad" or equivalent lets us know you're aware of what went wrong.

And you can guarantee you never get a commendation from me if you're rude to people for messing up (or in general, obviously, and I mean messing up occasionally, not someone who messed up and got really belligerent) or if you're actively working against the flow of the group. If the tank doesn't feel comfortable going fast, don't force them! If the healer can't keep up, stop pulling 90 things! If you're a DPS and are pulling (excessively, not every once in a while) because you're impatient, you might just skip the no commendation and go straight to the votekick. Not every DF is going to be as smooth as a guild run, so if you want to guarantee a perfect run, run with your friends!

[Riblet]

Commend the DPS? Never. Every non-premade party for me feels like a family road trip to Disney World, where you got Daddy (the Tank), Mommy (the Healer), and the screaming children (DPS) in the back. Not about to thank Junior for making us stop every 30 minutes because he drank too much apple juice and has to use the restroom.

[Krotoan]

as someone who mains DPS, I'll usually toss the DPS a commendation if I notice whatever we're fighting is dying faster than usual (showing focus and competence) or if they show better than usual levels of skill/knowledge (rare mechanics, good AOE use)... orrr.. failing that if the healer and tank are on mega cruise control.

[hynaku]

It is very hard for dps to get a commendation. Like other day in Heaven on High when was rdm. I was only one left alive because was in another room. Tank just pulled all monsters in the room and one set off a landmine trap and all 3 died. Had to kill all monsters in the room and then revive them all. At end never got one commendation for it. Anymore its very rare never give one. Why give them if no one gives you one back. Only time will give commendation for the weekly log that have to give 5.

[Raelsar]

The one general rule I got by:
Give the commendation to those who are the most deserving of it.

Role is a largely secondary concern, but can help with a tie-break. I do try to give one out every run, with exceptions being cases where either it's clear absolutely no one deserves a commendation or everyone runs out so quick I don't get the chance to give it to anyone.

Here's a few criteria for me:

• Be kind and courteous. Jerks NEVER get a commendation from me, period.
• Be helpful. Giving out advice, helping people with mechanics, that sort of thing.
• Be talkative. Silent runs are dull. Amuse me, and it'll provide some encouragement.
• Pull off a feat or "moment of glory". Do something impressive, and you'll earn it without question (aside from my exception in the first rule). Preventing a wipe with a well-timed rez (especially healer LB3), clutch healing as PLD or RDM when the healers are down, fast pick-up of the boss as an off-tank if things go awry... that sort of thing.
• Generally do a good job. This applies to all three roles, doing it well is expected and will be given due credit.
• Playing a role which others don't want to. In other words, if all else fails, I admittedly do favour tanks and healers. I mostly play a tank, so I frequently default to healers; if I'm DPS or healer, I will default to the tank (provided they don't do the sort of tanking I despise). DPS are, from my perspective, usually just "along for the ride"... so they have to rise above and beyond just being there and doing what they're supposed to do to earn a commendation. Many actually do make this effort.

Perhaps a bit biased, but a huge part of the part of commendations for me is to be a team player and provide your best efforts. Sure, there's times you save the day and you get nothing for it... but there's just as many times it comes back and you earn what you were owed with interest.