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Cultural differences between DCs

While each datacenter follows the same common sense (don't be an asshole and don't trap), each datacenter has their own culture and conventions when it comes to conducting raids. They are not set rules, but these references should give readers a good idea as to why something in a datacenter is decided as it is.

Mana is a Japanese FFXIV data center and it is home to the Japanese raiders:
  • While raiding in Mana, everyone in the party is expected to be able to communicate in Japanese or at the very least, understand basic Japanese to some decree.
  • Once a PF is filled, the party leader will post the macro before heading into the instance.
    • This is your opportunity to call your position.
    • Mitigation plans will be shared as well if there are preferences.
  • Apologizing for making mistakes and forgiving those people is the norm.
    • This does not mean that the Japanese raiders will not blacklist you if you mess up too much or are caught trapping.
  • A common phrase used is "[Your role]大丈夫ですか？" if someone is messing up in mechanics.
    • There's no ill intent behind this question, the Japanese raiders are just checking up on you and they will help explain what you did wrong if you caused the wipe.
  • Abandoning duties are done by either calling for last (次のラストです) or by voting to abandon.
  • Ragequitting (suddenly leaving without saying anything) is considered rude and will get you blacklisted across the datacenter.

A characteristic culture of JP raiding is the heavy use of macros. Once a macro has been shown, each player will then call out the position that they want to take. Below is an example of a JP P9S macro that is translated to English.

■ Spread　　　　■ Pairs (Rotate ccw for ×)
　D3 MT D4　　　　　　　MT/D3
　H1 ★ H2　　　　H1/D1　★　H2/D4
　D1 ST D2　　　　　　　 ST/D2
■ Archaic Demolish (4:4 stacks)
　West：MTH1D1D3 / STH2D2D4 ：East
■ Scrambled Succession (Mario Kart)
　Nothing：Start at 1, drop blue AoEs at walls
　Towers：6 → 8 → 2 → 4
　　   Fire：2 → 4 → 6 → 8　※45° ahead of tower
■ Beast Phase
　Poison：CW from 12 o'clock　D → T/H
　Cone AoEs：T/H → D
■ Chimeric Succession (Limit Cut #2)
　1 → E　2 → W　3,4 → N　No debuff → S

Positions​

Most of the positions actually already have a predetermined default. Except for D1 and D2, calling out positions is not on a first come first serve basis in a regular party. If you intend on deviating from the defaults, make sure that you communicate this with your party.

WAR > DRK > GNB > PLD
PLD > GNB > DRK > WAR
Pure healer
Barrier healer
Melee DPS
Any DPS, but usually the 2nd melee DPS
Physical ranged DPS
Magical ranged DPS

Strategies and priority system​

If a mechanic exists in which a priority system is required, the order is fixed from highest to lowest priority:

This means that in all cases, the MT has the highest priority while D4 has the lowest priority in almost every mechanic.

As for the other things to keep in mind:

  • JP mainly follows game8 and FFO (JP forum). The JP players are notorably stubborn about sticking to the strategies on these sites.
  • JP strategies prefers splitting the map between north (G1) and south (G2) halves. If its unfeasible, they will split it west (G1) and east (G2) instead.
  • JP do not like burdening support players. If given the choice of having either TH or DPS adjust, they will make the DPS move.
  • JP strategies prefers not to make the MT do extra movement just in order to make a mechanic easier for the rest of the party.

A typical JP waymark has the 1 start at northwest when the waymarks are placed in a clock position. Below is an example of P9S if game8 actually had properly followed the JP convention.