Note for Guides Section: I've Targeted many Hami Raids on Champion Server, and this guide was written and posted there. Just don't want it lost.
I was asked to write up a guide to Targeting for Hami Raids, so here it is. Anyone who ever wants me to Target or wants me to oversee their Targeting, just let me know and Ill be happy to join you on a voice chat program or bring you to my Teamspeak for a Raid.
For Targeting, I have just two rules and a few tips/theories.
[u]Rules[u]
1) Do not change targets.
If you wanted to select the green Mito right next to you, but accidentally selected the yellow one right above it, kill the yellow one. If you change over to the green one after having selected the yellow one, you guarantee a split on the yellow Mito. More splits = more Mito time.
I dont care if you accidentally selected a Mito on the other side of Hami, stick to it. Dont work on correcting your selections, work on correcting your ability to click the right target.
2) Do not target Hami.
Heres the dirty little secret: EVERY Targeter has accidentally selected Hami before. It will happen to you one day too. Consider this to be one of the few violations to Rule #1, as you need to change your target off of Hami INSTANTLY when you realize you targeted him. Change it to ANYTHING, even if the only other thing you see is a Monster outside the bowl.
If it was obvious that you Targeted Hami, cop to it and apologize in Request. If you fixed it very quickly, it never happened.
[u]Tips[u]
1) Dont use Tab to target.
You will target Hami if you do this. You will regularly target Mitos on the other side of Hami if you do this.
Either use your mouse or a targeting bind. I use my mouse and highly recommend that, as it helps with the fading of the Mitos.
2) Learn how to cope with the fact that the Mitos will fade.
This is the most difficult part of being the Targeter. While targeting, the Mitos will constantly fade in and out of view. Learning to overcome this fact is the difference between a good Targeter and a great Targeter.
The three ways I cope with this problem are to use PA drops, leave my mouse hovering, or scan with the mouse.
Using PA drops When PA fall, they sometimes land on top of Mitos. This can be seen when there is one PA floating while the rest are on the ground. While this doesnt guarantee that it is on top of a Mito, its more likely than not. I then hover my mouse over that PAs feet, and if it turns red (signifying an enemy there), I know for sure that there is a Mito there.
Hovering your mouse When I can see the Mitos (and already have a target selected), I find my next target. I then place my mouse over that target, but dont click it yet. Then, even if the Mitos fade, I know where that target is. As soon as the first Mito dies, I just click that spot, and a new Mito is targeted.
Scanning with your mouse Most people are used to tabbing for targets or looking for the actual physical appearance of a target. Instead, while targeting, Im looking for my mouse to turn red. When it does, I know theres a target there. Then, by hovering my mouse there, it will show me the name of the target. After confirming its a Mito, Im ready to target it next.
This tip depends on two things. First, that you can recognize the internal glow of a Mito. When the Mitos fade in and out, their internal glow (think of the soft glow of a candle) commonly stays. Its tough to distinguish, but its the best thing to look for. Secondly, it assumes you understand that once you have a Mito targeted, you need not look at that Mito anymore. With it targeted, you can see its HP left, so youll know when it dies. A quick glance when its almost dead will let you know if it split or not. If it didnt, you can go for whatever Mito you have had your mouse hovering over.
3) Make a targeted bind.
F12 on my keyboard is bound with /bind f12 say $target is new target.
When I want to test to make sure it works, I just have Team chat open and press it once. It will say it in Team chat. Then, during the raid, I just stay in Request channel the entire time. Once I click on a target, I press F12 once. Honestly, you dont need binds for splits, high targets, etc. I only use that one bind and do fine. The only reason I recommend the bind is because lag can get bad in there, and if youre trying to type your targets over and over, youll screw up a lot more.
One addendum to this tip is the fact that while youre targeting, I highly recommend against chatting in-game. Changing channels, typing, etc, with the lag, will increase your chances of screwing up greatly.
4) Relax.
Another dirty little secret of Targeting is that we all screw up. I SUCKED my first time Targeting. You will make a mistake. You will take too long to find a target. You will target Hami. You will do everything wrong at some point.
At that point, you can either get upset about it or listen to people who send you tells asking you for explanations (yes, this happens almost at every raid), or you can blow it all off and talk after the raid about it. If you let it affect you, youll hate Targeting. Remember that.
5) Dont fly away.
The first time I Targeted, I didnt know how to cope with fading Mitos. I did what I always did during the raids when they faded, which was to fly out of the jell-o to get them to reappear. That puts you out of range of the people in the main group.
Dont do that.
6) Bring an assistant.
Bring an assistant for MANY reasons. First, you need to be in contact with the Taunter. Remember that I said not to chat in other channels though, so your assistant handles letting them know which direction youre going, when a wedge is cleared for them, and when they have a specific request for a target (if a Mito in particular is wearing their healers out or something). Secondly, when the Targeter dies, everyone loses their target. Thus, you want the Targeter alive as much as possible. The assistant can help this in a couple ways. If they have a rez, thats really neat-o. Also, tell them to attack the Mitos (and you should NOT be attacking the Mitos). This means that your assistant will get more agro than you (thus, they act as a decoy) and that youll have your own personal rezzer.
Make sure you assistant understands that they will die. A lot. Srsly.
7) Do not cross the Taunter.
This is kind of an assumed tip, but still one that needs to be included. Hami shoots the giant purple shot that you see. Its a targeted AoE. If you cross the group over the Taunter, that AoE gets to include the main group. Giant AoE + 50 tightly packed people = Bad.
8) Stick to one direction.
Allow for only minor backtracks and stick to going around Hami either clockwise or counter-clockwise. The closer each Mito is to the previous target, the faster the Mito phase goes. MAKE SURE the Taunter knows which direction youre going.
9) Fly and hug your targets.
Flying is pretty crucial to Targeting. I cant imagine Targeting without Fly, and your assistant needs to be flying as well. Once you target something, go to it. There will be people who have you on Follow (including, oftentimes, the Bubbler), so it makes it more obvious which one is your target if you go right next to it.
10) Green > Yellow > Blue
Some people obsess about taking out certain colored Mitos first. While there is a little truth to that idea (take out healers first, just like PvP), dont concentrate solely on that, because youll be a really crappy Targeter. Stick to one direction first, then colors.
There is a time where you can violate both this tip and the first rule for a good reason. If you are attempting to kill a Mito, but there are two Green ones nearby, it is possible that you will not be able to overcome their healing. If you see that this is the case, switch targets to one of the Green ones. If the initial target is still alive long enough for you to have realized that its health had stopped moving, its already going to split. Thus, kill its healers first, then return to it and its inevitable split. NOTE: THIS IS AN EXTREMELY RARE CASE.
[u]Theories[u]
My theories regarding Targeting are pretty simple. Follow the two rules, and youre 95% of the way done. The tips are helpful suggestions, but violations of them from time to time are expected in most Targeters. [censored] happens. Once in awhile isnt a problem. Continual mistakes will become an issue.
When Targeting, understand that people are bored, so move as quickly and smoothly as possible. You control the pace of the Raid. Work hard for 20-45 minutes, concentrating on Targeting only, and enjoy the rest of your free time. The amount of concentration and work you put into Targeting is reflected in how well you Target. Phase time isnt what makes you great. Only you make your Targeting great.
Good luck, and if you ever have any questions or want any help/training, Ill be happy to do it.
