How do you stay alive when surprised (PvP)

[Ozgood]

<DIV>Love the idea behinds the Coercer class and really want to play one to higher levels if possible.  But being below 20, it has been hard living as I have seen other posters point out. So I understand that.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Then I read that a well played Coercer can beat almost anyone.  So I understand that.  I hear that playing a well played coercer is like being a surgical caster, got that too.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But what I don't get is how we Coercers, when surprised or go into group PvP, live.  I mean, every Q takes me out first, which I suppose is smart, before the battle even begins.  LITERALLY, my two healers can even get off a heal before I am taking a dirt nap!  So how do we, with paper armor and low hps, survive in PvP?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I understand the mez, root, stun theory....but if we are surprised, I never even get a chance to turn around.   Everyone says casters (wizards now) are tough to beat in PvP.  I would have to guess that is only if they got the jump on you.  If they seen you coming and vice versa or if you surprised the wizard, wouldn't they, like the Coercer, be mowed before even casting a nuke?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I guess my point/statement/question is: Do casters mit and hp scale up so they aren't one shotted so much?  I understand gear helps, but still, you could have a master nuker pet, the best ever, and if you get dropped before you can tell it to attack, it seems kind of pointless.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I REALLY want to play one...please encourage me with truths......</DIV>

[Kyriel]

<DIV>dunno how pvp works but if someone suddenly pops on you, could you reek of terror (Ae fear) the group and get your ae mez off, or stun etc ?</DIV>

[Daim]

Pretty much the best solution is Spirit Totem of the Butterfly because you need to not get dropped on, if a ranger unloads on you, you're gonna die.  However if you get him rooted mezzed stunned charmed feared etc before he gets his positionals off then you're fine.  I wish there was a better solution but basically you need see stealth especially at low levels where you dont have your full skill set at your disposal.<div></div>

[Norrsken]

As a coercer, in group pvp my job is not dps. there are plenty of others that do a way better job at that than me. My job is to make any tactic the opposing forces plan to use will not work. CC. For my CC I will not need int. Nor do I run out of power unless I want to. So I do not need int for a huge power pool either. So, I went and stacked my stats in agi and sta. I have 50%+ avoidance. anything less is not enough. And I have a ton of hitpoints. I am also considering going downs tr to get parries in all quads, and riposte in the front, to just up my survivability a bit more.Plenty of scouts have found themselves with a healthy mez on their butt when they went for me as a target. If they are more than one in melee range, I ae fear and root/mez as I see fit. Melee range classes do nicely with a strong root, and the ranged alternatives gets a mez. If one of the melee dudes turns out to be smart enough to use a bow, he gets a mez as well. Then we sit and wait for my group to come around and clean them up.Now, this setup has me sufferin in PvE, unless I get a good pet I cant do anything solo, but since I always did use a good pet when soloing anyways, I dont really notice the difference.<div></div>

[WasFycksir]

<DIV>I am speaking from having a 46 coercer on Nagafen.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>First off lev 20ish or below on pvp with a coercer is just brutal.  Without massive cash to load up on masters and fabled gear you are going to be vulnerable.  This fact and the fact that as a coercer (any mage) you are a prime target for anyone, solo or in a group.  That's the bad news.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The good news is that as you lev up, you will be gaining more spells that will help.  Take a look at the fine stickies for your upcoming spells, it will be obvious which will be of help.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>For specific tips-</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1.  As you have seen survivability is an issue.  So as one poster above said bring up AGI as much as possible for avoidance.  Also bring up your WIS as this provides a resist boost in all categories.  Do what you can with MIT and STA, but as a mage these can be more difficult to bring up.  Poison buffs from armor are very important too, since scouts give us the most trouble.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>2.  If possible where a chest piece that looks like a vest, without skimping on stats of course.  This makes it a bit less obvious you are a mage (easy kill).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>3.  Solo, always have the best pet possible charmed (see the stickies for guidance).  Buff the pet with the aggro buff and the DPS buff.  Leaving only one conc. slot open, I usually have the AGI/INT buff up.  Group play it varies ALOT.  Sometimes I don't have a pet at all.  Leaving all slots open for the best buffs for that given group.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>4.  Charming (players) is useless in PVP, don't even bother.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>5.  Consider spec'g your AA's with anything that will increase casting speed and increase WIS/AGI.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>6.  Remember coercers can be a pretty high DPS class, but you need to live to do it.  In PVE this is not a huge issue, but in PVP it's a whole different mindset.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>7.  As stated already see invis/stealth should always be up.  Along with speed buffs/horse, scouts can't catch you stealthed if you have speed buffs up (generally).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>8.  Even played flawlessly and well equipped you are still gonna die, be prepared for that.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>9.  Use food and drink that boost stats, it's a cheap way to bump them up that alot of people don't seem to do alot.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>10.  Heal and other stat potions work well too.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But later in levs you can and will take out opponents that will suprise you, and I am sure them as well.  It's really satisfying taking out those lousy Q's being a lone cloth wearer!  I have taken out a full group of non-bot greens, an orange pallys, many even/yellow mages and an OK amount of scouts, even when they hit first.  I have also died a TON too, but as a coercer it's a challenge, no easy mode here.  Have fun.</DIV>

[Ozgood]

<P>Good stuff, you two!  This is exactly what I was looking for.  SO definately AGI, and then either STA or WIS where possible?  What pieces look like vests?  That is a great idea!</P> <P>Again, I am not looking to tank, but at least have .5 seconds to react and actually show my "skeels" with my toon.</P> <P> </P> <P>Any other techniques or items to use?</P>

[Ykryo]

<DIV>All good advice above.   </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>See them coming.  Your best defense.  Stock on up stealth totems, make sure you have one active when entering potentially dangerous areas. Keep a sharp eye out as much as you can while you are fighting.  If you see someone, dont always react right away, turn to face them and/or start running.  Sometimes it's best to let them think you can't see them until they creep into your range.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Try not to look like a mage.  Change forms, be a troll, be a ratonga, find a tunic instead of a robe.  Eventually however, the folks you are going up against regularly will know you by name when they see what is killing them, so how effective this is will fade and really only helps keep you from being singled out in a crowd.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Be invisible when you can be.  Sure it slows you down, and lots of folks put up see invis but then again lots of folks dont..  </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Have a good pet.  Less and less of an option as you gain levels unfortunately.  A commonlands orc isn't much good against a level 70 Qeynosian beserker intent on removing your head.   Put your hate buff on your pet!  Your pet can sometimes buy you a few extra seconds with it.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If I get jumped the first thing I usually go for is single target mesmorise since it casts the quickest and is my most effective means of dealing with any one thing.  Hopefully it sticks and then you can take a second to assess just what it is you are up against.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>As the above poster(s) noted however, even still after doing these things and being prepared, you'll still get taken down in less than 4 seconds by the Ranger hiding behind the rock that you didn't see sneak up on you... it will just happen less often than it used to.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Best of luck</DIV> <DIV>-Lythian (70 Coercer, Venekor)</DIV><p>Message Edited by Ykryoon on <span class=date_text>12-15-2006</span> <span class=time_text>04:30 PM</span>

[Boonga]

<DIV>i pretty much solo, so heres what i usually do.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>keep moving, scouts become visible within 20 m as a blur, so keep running and set your pet on them, that will cost them invis and some of their best dps attacks.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>even after that keep running, let the pet dot them down, and when theyre low enough, turn around, mez, root, reactives, dots, pet etc.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>stay out of lower lvl zones, lack of pet puts you at a disadvantage.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>if youre outnumbered or outgeared, mez and run away, to live and mez another day :smileyhappy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>set traps :smileyhappy: usually i dont bother with heroics but when i see in the chat channels that a grp is nearby, i load up on the biggest nastyest heroic i can find, so let them kill me and then sit back and watch the now very heoric wipe the floor with them :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>get see stealth, nothing better than leading some overconfident scout by the nose till he moves through some mobs to get ahead of you, after which you break his stealth and root him :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>get the best charm you can, go harvesting for an adept3 if you cant find a master ( which can be very difficult ).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>power drains are well worth it in the lower lvls.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>invising your pet is always a good one.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>have some fun, i used to charm gustfeather, invis myself and then chase lowlvl q's around cl with him :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>i still havent had a chance to mez a q who jumps in the water and see if he drowns :smileyvery-happy:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>oops. forgot to add the main, like the previous posters mentioned, the key is trying NOT to get surprised, even then you will still get oneshotted plenty of times.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>if youre facing another caster, the quick nuke interrupt is your friend, i still get the kicks out of thinking about those wizzies just aching to get their onehit kill off, only to see "interrupted" one sec before it releases :smileyvery-happy:</DIV><p>Message Edited by Boonga on <span class=date_text>12-17-2006</span> <span class=time_text>01:00 PM</span>

[MokiCh]

If you find yourself going down before you can get a mez off, be sure to use Blink. You get it at a pretty low level, I think around 15 or so, and it clears the other guy's target and warps you away from him a bit, buying you some time to get a mez off. But as was said above, pre-20 PvP can be very frustrating for a Coercer because you don't have a lot of our real good skills at your disposal yet. It gets better through the 20's when you get Sibyllant and Despotic Mind, and when you reach the low 30's you'll have a much easier time in PvP, especially with a master charm and a good pet. <div></div>