/ja Cover <t>

[Hilde]

Just having learned the job ability cover, and I have yet to use it. I am familiar with how it is used but as for positioning myself in relation to my mages...I seem to have problems atm.

......................blm
thf mob pld thf whm
......................rdm

this is how I understand the party should be in combat so I can cover, any of the mages or the THF who is using me for SATA.

At the moment this is what we are having at times


....................rdm
PLD mob drk whm
.......war .......blm

this is an example from my last party, the drk was subbing thf and thus using SA while I was main tanking.

I am correct in asssuming I shoudl attempt to have my back to the mages, and shoudl I simply use cover when it's available or do I have to use it only when the mob goes for someone I do not want it to go for?
Thanks for any help.

/salute

[Balfree]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

Communication is the key.

I very rarely find a PLD who knows how to use cover, and its even rarer the situation where the PLD actually prompts me to get ready for cover, it may have happened once or twice in 2 years of FFXI.

The BLM knows when hes gonna grab hate, atleast thats the case with me, i dont hold in as much anymore on my nukes because at high levels you have means to survive an incoming angry mob, tell the paladin im gonna MB or cast a powerful nuke, and HOPE he understands what im trying to tell him. Sometimes they cover me, sometimes i die. I've actually encountered 60+ PLD's who dont even know what that ability does.

Positioning is situational, and you should communicate with your mages about it.

[Jei]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

No, only use cover when you have to. It lasts very... short and long recast so don't waste it. Usually I don't like to turn by back to mages tho, some mobs has nasty cone moves that hit everything in front of them. It's just a habit now to turn the mob some other way.

BTW, I haven't got much chance to cover mages. Most of the times when I lose hate, it's mostly to DD who is closing skillchains. My PLD is only 52 so the only jobs I lose hate to sometimes are monks and drks. I'd flash, provoke, bash, etc 1 at a time and see if the mob turns. If not, I'll cover him/her.

The macro should be /ja Cover <stpc> so you can choose which person to cover. Now, some DDs will run to your back instantly after skillchains, some won't. So it's not all that hard to get in position to cover them.

[Aeolus]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

I used it only when the mob was attacking a melee who was getting low on HP. Just run and stand between them and the mob and use it. I didnt use on mages much seens as they like to run around alot. If the person whos got hate isnt going to die within the next few seconds if you dont use it then just provoke the mob or flash etc. Most plds that have used it on me as well dont really need to either, they just like taking the dmg

[AngryUndead]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

I'm an HP/MP sink, so if I start to take hate for more than a hit or two, I'll cuddle up to the Paladin, you know, give him "the hint".

Usually they take it, when the recast is up anyway.

[Davitron3000]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

Really you shouldn't have to use cover that often in my opinion. If you are in a party
and you find yourself having to use it everytime the timer is up, maybe the DD could
hold back a little. (hate is a party responsibility, and not just the tanks)

Ideally if my party is going to do something big, like a blm MB for really high numbers,
I would rather it be set up so the SC + MB kills the mob instead of me frantically
trying to regain hate. By setting the party up like this you would only need to use
cover every once in a while if they miscalculate health and the mob doesn't die, and
you know exactly when you will need to have it ready. Party communication and
strategy > all

In general it is a bad idea for mages to stand behind you because of AOE. Just work
out beforehand that either you will move to cover or person you cover will move
behind you. (I prefer the latter because I am lazy like that)

[AngryUndead]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

You just like people to cuddle up to you. I'm on to your games.

[qaitakalnin]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

I agree you should only use cover when nessasary. It is definitly a useful tool. In my macro i have /p Hey you get behind me so i can <Cover> you. This is so that you can keep the mob from facing the mages.


oh and AngryUndead...uh cuddle with a galka...no thanks....

[AngryUndead]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

oh and AngryUndead...uh cuddle with a galka...no thanks....

But we're warm and furry. Plus, he's a galka too.

[Jei]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;



Galka in love

[Murphie]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

Man, that's one scary pic, Jei. >.>;

[Aeolus]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

Oh ho ho ho ho thats disgusting I'm afraid ppl's...

[Murphie]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

Well, disgusting might be pushing it. :/

[Aeolus]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

I was just sick.

[Murphie]

Re: /ja Cover &lt;t&gt;

Hyperbole.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. In my time as PLD, I found that the hardest part was actually getting the person who was supposed to be covered to stand behind me and stay still. It was much better in my static party, as the RNG always stood behind me, and the BLM knew to stand there too if she was going to be using a particularly powerful spell. But it was rarely needed, really.