Aggro management

[Kaidelina]

Alrighty....last night's ubrs run was....ummmmm, interesting.  I really appreciate everyone's patience.

One thing that was consistant was the fact that i was drawing major aggro and not being able to shake it. 

So, hoping to get some advice in this area.

My priest is holy/disc specced and i have already assigned talent points to reduce threat.  Usually, i use renew(hot) to heal casters and non-tanks.  Otherwise i usually use heal or flash heal depending on the situation.  I also use my power word shield.  As things are set up currently, i have only the highest ranking spells in my toolbar... perhaps something i should look into.  As for mods, just ct raid and decursive.  Heh, did i mention that i adhere to the KISS (keep it simple stupid) principle. 

Healers, any suggestions? Thanks in advance.



THAT'S A 50 DKP MINUS!!!!

Suppose i should stop playing my priest like i do my pally..

[Arcdelad]

well...I know when Goss left and I took over tanking I was trying my best to get 2-3 guys on me...I was growling one, faerie firing another...attacking the third...I had decent success...ive seen emma use fade a lot...but honestly I hink aggro management is more of a MT, OT issue than it is your issue....

we were short one person last night...up until goss left (not blaming you goss) things were going exremely smooth with I think 1 death the entire run...PLUS....we had a major lack off CC with that group...bascially we had sheep and nothing else...typically we have a lock like Gren to succy succy one of them, one or two mages for some sheepage...just the luck of the draw last night...

[Darkling]

Gamewise, it is natural for mobs that haven't received damage from any source to focus on the healer or weakest link in the group. There is really no getting around it as a priest. I try to pay as much attention to mobs attacking the healers as I can, to grab aggro off of them. Albeit, it puts me in a jam, but I've saved the healer from major aggro. I did the same when I played my mage a lot. It is a matter of paying attention to the healers health bar (let's us know when you're being attacked) and the healer announcing that he/she is being attacked (yelling let's everyone know. more effective than typing it in chat).

In my opinion, it should be the dps givers responsibility to grab the aggro off the casters period. That dps giver can then move the mob to within range of the tanks aggro grabbing abilities. of course, I just go ahead and tank the mob I grabbed, but that's just me.

[Emmalina]

I do use Fade quite frequently in situations like 45 min Strat where I'm spamming heals all over the board, but usually in the 10/20/40 person raids, I don't use it much at all, in fact I try to avoid it as mana I spend using it is mana I don't have to heal with.

Maybe just a few tips for managing aggro from my limited experience:

-Try to avoid healing early. A lot of times I'll try to let the tank drop down to around 40% before casting the first heal, allowing for plenty of time for everyone else to get some aggro.

-Using PW:Shield off the bat will get you aggro, so often I try to cast it on the tank before the mobs are pulled, then I drink real fast to get the mana back. Pretty much a free heal.

-We have DPS people who are very good at keeping an eye on us healers, often when I cast a heal and pull to mob to me, it'll only get one or two hits on me before someone pulls them off. Sometimes the best thing, in my opinion, is to just keeping casting and don't panic.

-Although it is the tanks' job to hold aggro, they aren't to blame if a caster gets aggro in all situations. We do have to watch ourselves too. I could lead fights with Shield, GHeal, Mind Blast and get aggro 75% of the time, that's on me, not the tank.

-It's not so much an aggro management tip, but I would strongly recommend trying to stick to Heal, Greater Heal, and Renew. Those three are always the most mana efficient heals, and which of those is the most efficient depends on +healing. On the flip side, Shield and Flash Heal are the least efficient. The only situations in which I use FH are in emergency situations, usually a near-dead tank or a near-dead Emma. Looking at the numbers, I think GHeal and Heal can be almost 2 times more efficient than FH.

-I think I also have the highest ranks in my Actionbar, except I have Heal rank 2 in the main bar with Heal rank 4 under it. Heal rank 2 is my most mana efficient, so when it's boss fight time, that's what I spam.

-That being said, of course if you use Flash Heal, and it works, there's no need to change.

-TB mentioned letting people know that we're being attacked, but I feel strange having a macro or using /y to announce it to the group. Seems somewhat annoying to me, like "I'm the most important, keep me clean!" kind of thing.

-No matter what, you'll get used to the "raid healing" type role and the aggro will kind of set itself in place. You'll get a feel for it all, when you need to hold off for a few more seconds or when you can spam away.

Emma

[Shadowwolf]

While my priest is little still and druids dont necessarily heal the same way, I tend to make use of smaller spread out heals and HOT (Heal Over Time) spells to my advantage. As a druid my most effective heals are Regrowth and Regeneration which both HOT. Healing Touch just takes way too long to cast and sucks up mana like crazy. I also pull aggro like an addict if I do nothing but Healing Touch even with reduction talent points, and sadly, no Fade ability or anything to drop aggro save Barkskin which just helps absorb some of the damage, not get the mob off me. Sadly in an instance like ZG or AQ20 Barkskin cant even absorb 1 hit =P

On my priest, I do the same as Emma, PW:Shield before the pull, right after the pull insures I get attacked so I do my best to premeditate it. I also renew PW:Shield many times during the fight after aggro has been established and make the best of Renew and Flash Heal when need be. Keeping my heals spaced out and saving the big heals for emergencies helps keep me alive as well as the party.

My heals usually end up being 3-4 sec apart which seems to work in keeping aggro in check. In emergencies I forgo the spacing if I need to and deal with the consequences as needed using Fade and Fear Bomb if its safe. I try to keep Fear as a last resort or when I know DPS can retake aggro as its 100% the mobs will come after you then once it wears off.

[un4]

Desi's full shadow, but most things still apply.

-Fade is your best friend.  I have improved fade (shadow talent) maxed out, so I have very little downtime in between them.

-PW: Shield is a huge aggro magnet.  Avoid casting it in combat if you can, and make sure that your fade is ready to go when you do.

-Spread out the heals as much as possible, opening with any HoTs you have (SW: Pain + VE, Renew, etc.).

-Healing spells tend to be more mana efficient than flash heals, so start casting them before they're needed.  You can always cancel them and drop a heal on someone else instead.  They also provide a time gap in between heals, which reduces the amount of aggro you generate.

-Circle of Healing is a huge aggro spell, but if you fade or space it out, you can get one off without pulling aggro from the tank.

-Almost never fear in an instance, even if you're in danger of dying!  Get a lock to soulstone you and take the duribility damage instead of fearing mobs into pats, etc.

-Stand next to a rogue

[Kaidelina]

Excellent advice from everyone.   Going to try and implement some of these tactics.

Thank you all!!!  Love you guys. 

[un4]

Love you too.  Tell us how they work!

[Lyte]

A few things I do in 10 man raids like ubrs or lbrs:

Shield the main target just before he goes to pull.  This way he is able to take a few hits as well as return a few hits before you even have to heal him.  This way he has a chance to build aggro on it before you have to heal.  Also, I don't through a shield and a renew (as the healing from the renew, if it ticks at the wrong time, will get you aggro).  For instance, if you shield and renew him, and he just shoots an arrow, you'll most likely get the aggro from it because your heal from the renew will take more aggro than that arrow and then the warrior has to run up and hit it or use a taunt.  I just use shield by itself *just* before he goes to pull.  If you wait till he pulls, then shield, this can also give aggro to you.

During boss fights where I'm healing quite alot, I use fade when it's available.  I also use fade during ZG and AQ, but I don't seem to run out of mana.  If you do get aggro while healing and you don't have fade available, stop the heals for a second and don't heal till they are able to draw it off you.  Just shield yourself and take a few hits till they are able to pull it.  If a mage frost nova's it, be sure to step back a little so you aren't in range to get hit.

Another thing that might help a little, is if you get aggro from a caster and it's standing back and just shooting spells at you, duck behind a wall (lose line of sight) and make it run up to you.  This will make it easier for them to take it off you.

That's all I can think of right now.  Hope some of it helps

[un4]

The problem with shielding the MT (if he's a warrior) is the decrease in rage generation.  Admittedly I've never healed end game, but a HoT and a low-level heal will do wonders too.

[Kaidelina]

I've spoken with a lot of warriors about this topic of rage generation and shielding.

While there are a couple of different opinions out there, most seem to think that shielding does not make a difference to rage.  It was stated to me that 'the warrior is still taking damage and thus generating rage, but the damage being deflected elsewhere.' 

If anyone knows differently, i'd like to hear about it.

[un4]

Warriors don't take damage while the shield is up though.  The rage they're generating comes from the damage they're doing, unless they've changed it.

[Kaidelina]

Hmmm, not too sure... time to do some experimenting.  Any willing warrior victims, er, i mean volunteers?

[un4]

Hehe.  Tell me how it works out!

[Shadowwolf]

I would think it works the same even with a shield as if you take damage. Im speculating of course but basing it off the fact that during leveling a priest, having a PW: Shield on and taking hits, even though I dont take damage by defense skill still goes up. Like I said, cant say for sure, but id think if that works then the rage generation factor would still work.