Swarthy Distraction

[mhag]

<DIV>What exactly does it do? I have heard conflicting stories and would like a difinative answer please.</DIV>

[rs19]

Do a search, there are bunch of posts on it. But from what I understand, you cast it on the tank to keep aggro on them.

[Kaff]

It's a reactive hate proc. Breaking that down to understand the description, I'll provide sub-definitions.Proc is an old MMO abbreviation/term for process. Essentially, it's the chance to create an effect. Usually procs are the result of buffs or an item (again, usually weapon) and are usually prompted by swinging the weapon and hitting. But EQ2 widens this a bit, so procs can have a little more variety in sources and prompts, thus the other differentiating terms.Reactive effects in EQ2 are things that happen when the thing with the reactive effect gets hit. An old staple term like "damage shield" (for those who aren't familliar, a damage shield is a buff that will damage anything that strikes the buffee) can be redefined in EQ terms as a reactive damage effect.So, a reactive hate proc means that the target of your swarthy distraction has the chance to generate hate on anything that hits it. Think of it like a taunt shield rather than a damage shield, except the taunt is either very small per hit or only has a chance of going off.What's this mean for how to use it? Cast it on whatever your group wants to be taking the hits. Sometimes, in a group with no fighter, that might be you. Usually, though, it'll be a fighter. Now, make sure whatever's got the distraction buff placed on him is the one to start taking hits -- this usually means you need to pull if you're trying to tank, or the tank needs to shout (encounter taunt). Presto, now your tank (whether that's you or the fighter) is now holding aggro on everything that's beating him a little better.Notice, though, that this buff doesn't help anybody peel anything off of, say, a mage or a priest. You or the fighter still need to rely on straight taunt skills (like taunt, shout, gouge, or gibe) to do that. But once you have peeled, you'll stick their aggro better, or, if you start out with stuff beating on you, it may prevent stuff from switching to the priest or mage to begin with.It's a hard effect to judge, but it IS effective. I know because I've tried tanking AE groups (our guild is short a few fighters at the top cluster of our level spread, hehe) with and without it. And if I use swarthy distraction coupled with getting in swathe and circ strike before other folks start to help out and/or heal, I stick the aggro a LOT better on the stuff I'm not hitting. Without it, I have no problem keeping the one thing I'm on busy, while all the stuff I'm not constantly hitting flock to the priest after a heal or two.

[mhag]

<DIV>Eggcellent Definition! Thank you very very much!</DIV>

[Lu]

<DIV>whoa! GREAT post Kaffis! (5-stars!)</DIV> <DIV>thanks for the info!!</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>/lugg the lurker :smileywink:</DIV>

[Kaff]

<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Glad I could clear things up for some of you guys. It's a fun skill.. now if only we could get it's duration increased a hair... <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Langel]

Anyone know what's blocking this when I try to cast it on my paladin friends? Some spell they are using (runes?) is causing it to drop so I've gone back to using self preservation even though I understand the advantages of swarthy distraction.

[Binabink]

<DIV>In using Swarthy Distraction while duoing with a Templar (who's playing tank), if I use the ability on her prior to engaging the fight, I'm basically free to go buck wild and unload everything I've got, and I won't get aggro.  Once she's healed herself once or twice, I'm also free to use my AEs and not draw aggro, even if the AEs proc poison.  If on the other hand, we engage during the 1 min down time between uses, I tend to drag aggro fairly quickly.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Also, using the buff AFTER the fight has started really seems to [Removed for Content] off the mobs, and I'll often draw aggro if I use the buff on her after she pulls.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I dunno what it is that Paladins are using that overwrites it, but I find it nearly useless to use when trying to have a Pally tank.</DIV>