To countdown or not to countdown?

[Raldo]

So to follow up what’s the best thing to do in situations where the countdown is not respected(one intentional early DPS/early pulls)? I find “you pull it you tank it” doesn’t work because people who didn’t pull it end up getting aggro.

Do your job and get aggro on the boss...? What kind of an answer are you looking for here?

In my experience, most pulls like this are in ally raids playing "tank chicken" while they wordlessly stand there making no visible attempt to figure out who's going to main tank. Screw that, I'm gonna use Foe Requiem and get this party started.

[SerLuke]

Get aggro on the boss...? What kind of an answer are you looking for here?

Like to I pull the next bosses without countdown at that point if people are early pulling?

[Raldo]

Depends on the situation, I guess. If they early pulled because everyone was standing there doing nothing, then a countdown would be helpful so they don't get irritated that nothing is happening.

Otherwise, yeah, sure no countdown. Personally, I don't use countdowns at all in dungeons, and I give like a 5 second one in ally raids if I'm feeling generous. Everyone has their own peferences. I'm usually on DPS, so I can say that in my experience most tanks don't use countdowns at all in dungeons. Anything higher than 10 seconds irritates me on non-savage/extreme content.

If they're clearly doing it just to be an ass, well, you know where the vote kick button is.

[Veis_Alveare]

So to follow up what’s the best thing to do in situations where the countdown is not respected(one intentional early DPS/early pulls)? I find “you pull it you tank it” doesn’t work because people who didn’t pull it end up getting aggro.

Get together the next big trash pack and Shirk them \o/

Honestly countdown in dungeons at all are kind of pointless because of the way they work. Being faceroll easy aside the nature of dungeons is being able to bank resources for the next fight since they're all happening in (what should be) rapid succession.

I would say never do countdowns in dungeons it's a waste of time and resources.

[Greven]

Full party duty
Hard Savage/Extreme: Ready Check + Countdown (13-15 should be okay for everyone, it will probably change in ShB though).
Kick early puller.

Older Savage/Extreme: Countdown, grab boss if someone early pull and it doesn't mess up too much.

Easy/Unsynch: Pull away.

Main scenario: Why would you even Q this.

Light party duty
DF: Wait for buffs and sprint away!
If you can skip something do it, if someone get aggro grab the mobs.

Leveling: do a first pull to test the party.

Mentor: Just ask.

Alliance:
LOL.

But let's say the stars align and you don't find 20 headless chickens, and you don't feel like being one, a ready check before pulling bosses could do. It could suggest other tanks that you are going to MT (but no someone will suddenly wake up half in the fight deciding they are going to MT stealing the boss while adds roam free)

In any other case just go with the flow: if you die in a door to wall pull do smaller packs, if another tank insists on stealing enmity let him MT, etc.

[Vahlnir]

They are useful, but I think any countdown longer than 10 seconds is excessive. Otherwise people are just standing there waiting when they could have been fighting 15 seconds ago instead of waiting on a 20-30 second countdown.

[Lilseph]

Depends on the content I'm running:

-Dungeons: No. Just wait till everyone is past the purple line. Checking their resources (MP/TP)
-Guildhests: >_>
-8-man trials: Most of them yes, 10 seconds.
-8-man ex trials: Ready checked followed by 15 seconds countdown.
-8-man NM raids: Yes, 10 seconds.
-8-man savage raids: Ready checked followed by 15 seconds countdown.
-24-man trials: Yes, 10 to 15 seconds.
-Facerolls: Things like Thordan or Cape Westwind. Most NM ARR trials. No.

But when I do have the intention to MT, I always stand ahead of the party, in tank stance and the weapon unsheathed so people are aware of my role. I usually check the other tank's stance and ask them to MT or OT depending on what tank I'm playing. Sometimes I stand in front of the boss for 2 or 3 seconds so people know what's going to happen, specially during "NO" countdown encounters like the ones I listed above.

[Liam_Harper]

I have 100% more respect for tanks who use pull timers in pretty much any content, with the exception of leveling dungeons and easy trials (in which case go nuts and charge in).

Outside of current EX upwards, 8 seconds is plenty, but a pull timer makes a difference. What really gets me with it is the "lol it's easy who cares" attitude in easy content, where a run that should be smooth is a complete mess because players stop bothering to even try. 24 man alliances are a really good example of this.

Pull timers are a good habit. Use them.

[MsQi]

A ready check is more important imo

[van_arn]

If you countdown during a light party, Selene is going to pull for you, and tank if necessary.