Tips for PS3 using newbies

[KeithXK]

Tanking is hard. It's even harder when you are a first time MMOer, and only chose Gladiator because you are an FF fan, and FF games usually start you off as fighters so you assume Gladiator, as the first choosable option is new-player friendly like I did. It is apparently even harder when you play on PS3.
This game is great. I love it. It does a great job with teaching you how to play the quests, and various basic tactics. It does NOT teach you deeper party mechanics very well. I did my forth dungeon, and saw for the first time what Marking actually means. I never knew how to do it, and even from reading around these forums I thought it really only referred to who the Tank attacks first.
Are there some best practices for how to set up your controls and hot bars and in the configurations? Where can I get some first time macro help?
I'm a tank. It's the class I chose, and I don't want to switch classes just to run from it. I take it seriously and want to get better. Please help!

[Sephirah]

I'm playing on PC but honestly I prefer using my gamepad over my keyboard. You have 8 different layouts for the crossbar that you can cycle through by hitting your right bumper. I have one of these dedicated to marks so I can switch over, mark up the targets and then engage.

[KeithXK]

But how does one mark? Is there a command somewhere that I'm missing? Is it a macro you have to build?

[Sephirah]

But how does one mark? Is there a command somewhere that I'm missing? Is it a macro you have to build?

Just for example, if I set marks 1 2 and 3 to be button square, triangle, and circle on a ps3 controller while holding left trigger. All you need to do is target the enemy, hold down left trigger, and press square to mark it as 1. It's just like attacking, but instead of using an ability, it puts a number above their head.

You just need to pick where you want them on your crossbar (crossbar is the area you put abilities for use on a controller http://images.wikia.com/finalfantasy...ss_Hot_Bar.jpg)

You access your marks and set them to your crossbar, hit start and cycle over, I can't remember which dropdown it's by, I think it's near emotes, I'll check when I get home and update.

[KeithXK]

Ugh, see this is what I mean.

Of course I know the hot bar. I've added items and emotes to it. I know there can be up to 8 of them.

Is marking a command from a menu that I'm missing? Is it a dang emote? Is it a macro I have to build? If so, how does it get built?

I realize these questions may make me seem dumb. I don't care. I've never played an MMORPG before, so I don't even know where to look for things like this. Someone who has never MMOed before doesn't even know what they don't know about things like this.

[Anubis_Nephthys]

Ugh, see this is what I mean.
Is marking a command from a menu that I'm missing? Is it a dang emote? Is it a macro I have to build? If so, how does it get built?

PS3 tank here. The mark command is sort of hidden. Target anything, and press square. Then choose "mark"; add the appropriate marks where you want them with "[] Add to Hotbar".

I personally only use 2 marks. I have "mark 2" on my Left X. And i have a Shield Lob macro (with "mark 1" in it) on my Left [].
The macro is: /mk attack1 <t>
.................: /ac "Shield Lob"
It marks with "1" and does shield lob all in one fancy button press.

[Sephirah]

Ugh, see this is what I mean.

I'm sorry if my original post wasn't clear enough. Allow me to elaborate.
1) Press start, go to social lists, then signs



2) Assign your marks to a hotbar



3) Select a mob, hold down trigger



4) Press the button you set your mark to

[evilsohn]

When You start a new class or character, crossbar 1 has all the combat abilities You have at start plus the porting abilities. When You press R1 it switches to crossbar 8 (because the other crossbars haven't been mapped by You yet). In this eighth crossbar You can find the menu for the marks - it's one of the abilities mapped. This takes You to a window with all the marks and lets You set them to the crossbar by selecting them and pressing square. To choose an unmapped crossbar, hold R1 and press one of the four standard buttons or the d-pad.
You can also Mark the current target You're aiming at by pressing square and choosing mark from the appearing list (although I wouldn't recommend doing so amidst the heat of battle)

As for a how-to for macros, just take a look around - I found a few helpful tutorials in this forum.

[KeithXK]

Are you playing on PS3? Because I only had two hot bars. Combat and menus. I've created a third for common emotes. I do not have a marking one.

[evilsohn]

Are you playing on PS3? Because I only had two hot bars. Combat and menus. I've created a third for common emotes. I do not have a marking one.

I play on PC, but with a PS3 gamepad and in the options You can change it so the buttons have the same icons as on PS3.
The mark menu is hidden in the menu hotbar You mentioned.
From there You can map them to an unused hotbar.