Conventional tactics in EQ when you pull multiple mobs is for everyone to
/assist the main tank and take out the mobs one by one. This stategy behind
this is that it will reduce the amount of damage inflicted on the entire
party. I think it would be safe for me to say that almost every group I
join follows this tactic when we fight.

The problem with this tactic is that, due to bard hate, it opens up the bard
to bear the brunt of the damage from the mobs that aren't engaged. This
tactic also puts the groups healer at risk because unengaged mobs are likely
to attack him as well.

I wondering that if in situations where you get 2+ mobs, that it might
actually be smarter if the tanks in the group each attacked a different mob.
It would take longer to kill all the mobs, but it would help ensure that
damage to the group was spread out better. Plus, if all the mobs are
engaged, it would be safer for bards to sing Largos to debuff mob attack
speed. Its quite possible that the damage multiple mobs inflict using this
tactic (Largos in effect all the time) would be very close to the damage
they inflict when everyone focuses on one at a time.

Has anyone had a lot of experience fighting in groups that followed the
second line of reasoning? I'd like to hear what your results were.

Galtin of E'ci