To countdown or not to countdown?

[SerLuke]

Years ago back when I was a fresh 60 tank I would pull everything in raids/trials(non savage/ex DF type stuff) as soon as protect went up of course this would upset some and I quickly learned that people appreciated a countdown timer to prepare their openers. The thing is, a lot of times in these raids a healer or DPS(or even another tank) will pull(and not by accident) half way through said countdown and some even complained about countdown timers being a waste of time. So in duty finder trial and 8 man and 24 man raids, whats the best practice here? To use a countdown timer or to not use one?

[Krotoan]

Years ago back when I was a fresh 60 tank I would pull everything in raids/trials(non savage/ex DF type stuff) as soon as protect went up of course this would upset some and I quickly learned that people appreciated a countdown timer to prepare their openers. The thing is, a lot of times in these raids a healer or DPS(or even another tank) will pull(and not by accident) half way through said countdown and some even complained about countdown timers being a waste of time. So in duty finder trial and 8 man and 24 man raids, whats the best practice here? To use a countdown timer or to not use one?

Ask I'd say. As a dragoon, watching my blood buff count down that counter gives me anxiety and despair. I only have 15 seconds to combo and maintain my 2 stack of eyes, please do not waste 10 seconds unless someone is OOM or OOTP... or needs some time.. that's fine but unless someone has said something just PULL!

[disturbedcobra]

Personally, as a main tank also, unless it is savage raid content, ex trials or Alliance raids, there really isn't a big need for a countdown. When it comes to the normal 8-man raids and trials, they tend to be fairly simple no real need to thoroughly prepare for it at the start. Now unless there are complications during the fight and there is a need to push DPS either cause DPS check or team not doing enough DPS then you could do a countdown to better prepare and all.

[Hash_Browns]

Once I hit 50 I warned the friends that I play with "Protect is the ready check in a dungeon."

If it's EX, ready check.
If it's story content/dungeons, I'm turning on sprint as soon as I see my buff.

[SerLuke]

Personally, as a main tank also, unless it is savage raid content, ex trials or Alliance raids, there really isn't a big need for a countdown. When it comes to the normal 8-man raids and trials, they tend to be fairly simple no real need to thoroughly prepare for it at the start. Now unless there are complications during the fight and there is a need to push DPS either cause DPS check or team not doing enough DPS then you could do a countdown to better prepare and all.

Sadly I've gotten yelled at for not doing a countdown in 8 man normal raids, I'm just trying to find a way to make everyone happy.

[Hash_Browns]

Sadly I've gotten yelled at for not doing a countdown in 8 man normal raids, I'm just trying to find a way to make everyone happy.

Pro tip: You can't

Life is too short to get bent out of shape because someone doesn't like something you did. People aren't a hivemind, and everyone has an opinion on how things should be done/what the correct way to pull is to them.

[rachcouture]

My problem with countdowns is when people use them while the entire party/alliance is already standing at the purple line and waiting. It's a waste of everyone's time, and I hate seeing my AST buff counters dwindle unused, especially since it's really the only chance I get to to extend everyone's buff with Celestial Opposition before every ranged DPS decides to needlessly spread out instead of, you know, standing behind the boss with everyone else.

Honestly, it's a rare day when I queue for Alliance and someone doesn't either a. pull early, or b. stand around in perpetual tank anxiety. The desirable middle ground is SO hard to come across.

[JowyAtreides]

I only ever do it for raids/primals and even at this point, it's something like 6 or 7 seconds. If I ran savage or ultimates, i'd probably up this to 10-15seconds.
I wouldn't use it in dungeons as there is no need

I've seen both sides of the coin when it comes to countdown timer complaints. Some say "what is the point in this" another has said "Can you do a timer instead of running in like a scrub"

There is no harm in using it, people will only get upset if it's too long and they feel time is being wasted.

[Hash_Browns]

My problem with countdowns is when people use them while the entire party/alliance is already standing at the purple line and waiting. It's a waste of everyone's time, and I hate seeing my AST buff counters dwindle unused, especially since it's really the only chance I get to to extend everyone's buff with Celestial Opposition before every ranged DPS decides to needlessly spread out instead of, you know, standing behind the boss like everyone else.

Ahh yes, when you just want a tank to pull so you can give everyone a spear..

[SerLuke]

Yeah I don't use Countdown in dungeons just trials/raids its just hard to figure out how long to do it for or even if to do it since I've been yelled at by different people for either having a countdown or not having a countdown lol