Why do you commend DPS?

[Reinfeld]

I usually try to identify who I think tried hardest to contribute to the run. I never comm DPS who don't aoe or have obviously bad rotations, healers who don't DPS or tanks who take it slow.

[Dreamsoap]

All I do is kill things and do mechanics correctly. [...] is this really worth 3 comms?

Yes.

Surely you'd notice when a party is killing things considerably more slowly if you're mainly playing tank and healer. I main AST as a healer, and end up finding my cards being of more use on my tank in pugs as he's consistently doing more dmg. When I used to main mnk, I'd get comms in high end content and I chalk it up to making full and purposeful use of my kit. I'll absolutely throw a comm to a smn or rdm who was tossing heals and rez's. Pretty much anyone playing their class properly (not even optimally) is a shining star in a lot of group content. My comms usually do go my to co-healers as a matter of priority, but only if I didn't end up carrying the damn thing. Otherwise I immediately shoot it to the dps that weren't sucking on chalk in the corner.

The only exception is comming leafs that ask questions and are actively trying to learn content, despite however they perform at it.

[Gemina]

As I am sure you are aware OP, SAMs have this ability that rings every so softly before unleashing a devastating blow. I like to hear it. I like to hear it a lot. There's another one. Their biggest bang for the buck kenki spender. It's makes an awesome sound too! And when I hear it, it lets me know that the SAM is aware of incoming damage. There's also this other one. It's friggin brutal. So fast that if you blink, you'll miss it but causes tons of damage and the mob's blood sounds like it's dripping all over the floor. The more I hear these going off, the more likely the SAM will get my comm.

I guess to sum that up quickly, the more I know a DPS job due to playing it myself extensively, the more likely another player using the same job will get my comm since it is much easier for me to recognize what they are doing.

[Averax]

If they do a noticeably good job, are friendly, are a cute boy, are helpful, they play their job well, and/or they use their utility well and aren't glued to their dps rotation with no room for anything else.

Whenever i DPS in 4 mans as DNC i usually get commendations by virtue of my chosen job. People like buffs, and they like a job that can mow down large packs of mobs in less than a minute

[dangadget]

I will commend anyone regardless of roles if they do any of the following: they're nice people and don't get salty, they know their job and do well, if they're a new player and listen/ask for help, I like their glamour enough, or they're the last one in the instance. (they still need to do at least mildly well)

This.
Also if they have a clever name

[Mhaeric]

If I'm on healer I will commend the tank if they performed adequately. Likewise the healer when I'm on tank. When on dps, I will instead prioritize commending the other dps if they output good dps and don't cause annoyances like standing in AoE or otherwise ignoring or botching mechanics. E.g. if my fellow dps does more dps than me it almost guarantees they're getting my commend unless they were doing something like pulling ahead or ignoring mechs.

In all cases, if my first option for a commend doesn't meet my criteria then I move onto the other roles in the party and give them a commendation based on the same criteria. It is very possible for me to not commend anyone if no one meets my standards.

[KDSilver]

I commend DPS if

- things are melting fast (aoe)
- I see them using what looks like to be a good rotation based on their buff (seen on party list)
- Properly doing mechanics
- Using party utility if they have some

[Rasikko]

All a DPS has to do is maintain #2 on the enmity list for me to comm then when they are my dance partner. I shouldn't be outdpsing DRGs, MNKs, BLMs, for example.

[van_arn]

Usually I'm shocked to see one actually trying, and that makes them stand out.

[Edax]

I never comm DPS when I play healer or tank (almost every day), so am I doing something wrong? Why do you comm DPS?

You are discriminating against DPS. They often have to go through some brutal queue times to get into a duty.