"Hunter, Set focus"

[Enzeru]

I was in a random heroic today and suddenly another player says "Hunter, set focus"
I hought briefly on what she meant by that but figured she meant I should klick my pet and choose the *set focus* option there.
Could I be right about that or did she mean something else?
I have never done that with any of my pets before and have never before been asked to do that. So I don't even know what that does.
I have been playing this hunter for a fair amount of time but have never bothered to find out what happens when I set focus on my pet. The only difference I could see was that I got a bigger petslot amongst the other partymembers. But what good does that do?

This may seem lik a stupid thing not to know and maybe it would make a ton of difference to use this option but since noone has mentioned it before I never found it important to learn it.

Maybe someone can throw a little light on the situation for me? *please*

/Enzeru

[Rhyela]

They probably wanted you to set your focus on the tank, so that you would be able to focus down the tank's target. It's a big gripe for tanks when the dps starts blasting away at targets they aren't focused on, as it can lead to substantial threat loss and the mob starts going crazy attacking everyone else, then the tank's gotta chase it all over the place trying to get it back.

[Saturo]

Maybe they were referring to a focus-misdirect macro?

[Vephriel]

I use a focus misdirect macro, so whenever I'm in a random I'll set the Tank as my focus so I can easily cast misdirect on them without deselecting my current target. That may be what they were referring to.

Setting a focus doesn't do anything directly, however it comes in handy for many macros and such where you can apply things to your focus and you don't have to worry about clicking them or trying to find them.

[Rhyela]

I use a focus misdirect macro, so whenever I'm in a random I'll set the Tank as my focus so I can easily cast misdirect on them without deselecting my current target. That may be what they were referring to.

Setting a focus doesn't do anything directly, however it comes in handy for many macros and such where you can apply things to your focus and you don't have to worry about clicking them or trying to find them.

And what would this macro look like, pray tell? I'd LOVE to have it (I'm a huge noob when it comes to macros).

[Enzeru]

They probably wanted you to set your focus on the tank, so that you would be able to focus down the tank's target. It's a big gripe for tanks when the dps starts blasting away at targets they aren't focused on, as it can lead to substantial threat loss and the mob starts going crazy attacking everyone else, then the tank's gotta chase it all over the place trying to get it back.

That could definately be it. That never even crossed my mind. I'm still working on gearing up so I have not been very high on the threatmeter, but recently with slightly better gear I have been starting to attract the mobs to myself. I'm not used to that yet. I'll definately keep that in mind from now on.

[Vephriel]

/target focus
/cast Misdirection
/targetlasttarget

^^ So basically hitting that will cast Misdirect on whoever your current Focus is set as, and then right away go back to the mob you were targetting/attacking. In fact it's so instantaneous I don't even think you de-select your current target. x)

[Enzeru]

I use a focus misdirect macro, so whenever I'm in a random I'll set the Tank as my focus so I can easily cast misdirect on them without deselecting my current target. That may be what they were referring to.

Setting a focus doesn't do anything directly, however it comes in handy for many macros and such where you can apply things to your focus and you don't have to worry about clicking them or trying to find them.

And what would this macro look like, pray tell? I'd LOVE to have it (I'm a huge noob when it comes to macros).

Me too. I've hardly ever used macro's since I've never learned how to use them in fights.

[Saturo]

Code: Select all

showtooltip
/cast [@focus,help] Misdirection; [help] Misdirection; [@pet,exists] Misdirection

This will cast Misdirection on your focus. If you don't have a focus, it will put it on your pet instead.

[Enzeru]

I'll definately try out those macro's tomorrow and see if I am able to handle them right ^.^
Thank for the tips guys ^_^

[Sarayana]

I use the same macro as Saturo, it saves the whole retargeting thing even if it is automatic. (I love that they made @ apply in macros!!)

Enzeru, I'm sure they either meant to MD to the tank or to attack the tanks target. (Coincidentally, another macro that might work well if you're having a hard time focusing down the tank's target is a focus assist macro. I'm not sure how to write it (I mostly copy macros from others since I don't particularly need to learn a new language ) but I'm sure you can find it with Google's help. )

But yeah, first thing I do ANY time I'm with a tank is to set them as my focus. Every time.

[Saturo]

Code: Select all

/assist [@focus]

[Sarayana]

Yeah, that.

[Saturo]

[Silvarain]

/focus [modifier:alt] target
/stopmacro [modifier:alt]
/tar [target=focus,harm] focus
/assist [target=focus,help] focus; [target=pet, exists] playerpet

thats what i have bound to my G key (i remapped some keys), i click on the tank then hit alt+G to set afterwards just hit G to assist her/him. then i have

#showtooltip Misdirection
/cast [target=focus, help] Misdirection
/cast [target=focustarget, help] Misdirection
/cast [target=target, help] Misdirection
/cast [target=targettarget, help] Misdirection
/cast [target=pet, nodead, exists] Misdirection

i just found this stuff myself and am trying 2 get use to them. its kinds hard 4 me to let if my focusing work with everything going on. that or i have to remember to use them... >_>

basicly most of this macro speak goes over my head, but as long as it works...

[Wassa]

Code: Select all

#showtooltip
/cast [help] [@focus,help,nodead] [@pet,exists] Misdirection

My MD macro. Will MD your friendly target first (if you want to MD someone other than your focus, like the second tank in raids), then your focus, then your pet.

Code: Select all

/assist [@focus] 
/stopmacro [@focus,exists]
/target [@pettarget,exists]

Assists your focus, otherwise assists your pet if they have a target.[/color]

[Silvarain]

Code: Select all

#showtooltip
/cast [help] [@focus,help,nodead] [@pet,exists] Misdirection

My MD macro. Will MD your friendly target first (if you want to MD someone other than your focus, like the second tank in raids), then your focus, then your pet.

Code: Select all

/assist [@focus] 
/stopmacro [@focus,exists]
/target [@pettarget,exists]

Assists your focus, otherwise assists your pet if they have a target.[/color]

wow your seem less complicated than mine (damn WUH >_<)

[Royi]

Code: Select all

showtooltip
/cast [@focus,help] Misdirection; [help] Misdirection; [@pet,exists] Misdirection

This will cast Misdirection on your focus. If you don't have a focus, it will put it on your pet instead.

Thanks for this one. I'm going to start using it. Is it noob of me that I have never put MD on my pet? I didn't know we really could do that. Yeah it is noob, I answered my own question

[Quin]

/target focus
/cast Misdirection
/targetlasttarget

^^ So basically hitting that will cast Misdirect on whoever your current Focus is set as, and then right away go back to the mob you were targetting/attacking. In fact it's so instantaneous I don't even think you de-select your current target. x)

Ohh, I might have to update my Misdirect macro to this! I actually have two that does that. Casts Misdirection on my tank and then another to target what they're targetting. I'm such a macro-noob.

[Acherontia]

You don't need to change target in order to MD your focus, though. Macros can easily cast things on your focus directly without target change

#showtooltip Misdirection
/cast [target=focus,help] Misdirection

Been using that one for a year at least, I think, never had trouble. Will just MD your focus.