New Shadowknight having Aggro Problems

[Esoh]

I'm a lvl 35 SK having problems keeping aggros in group. My question is what areas can i improve my taunt skills to keep aggro. Been putting all my AAs in int and strength. Could that be the problem? My taunt skill is incredibly low trying to figure out how to raise it. Havent seen any spell books for it. Any suggestions on increasing my taunt will be greatly appreciated

[striveldt]

I too am pretty new, but I think I can help you a bit. First, Taunt (the skill) is only one ability an SK has that gains you hate (aggro).  We also have a few other ones that grant an instant increase in hate, as well as more hate over time (HoT...not to be confused with Heal Over Time) or lowers disease resistance.  Furthermore, we also get Rescue, which gains you a large chunk of hate all at once, great for saving your healer or a wizard that just nukes too much. Secondly, you also increase your hate when you deal damage, or heal yourself (or heal a person who has hate...but I don't think SKs really do that).  So, making sure you're also doing as much damage and using your Life Syphoning abilities is going to increase your hate. Keep in mind, I am only a lvl 27 SK (and that's my only character), but this is my understanding, and it might help. Good luck! ~Stri

[Amonrax]

<p>Hello well for starters if by taunt skill you mean agression thats easy it goes up every tim you use a taunt  you have 3 at you disposal <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/ability.html?eq2ability=497" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Decree of Decay</a><span style="color: #cc6600"> (group taunt)</span> <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/ability.html?eq2ability=1188" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Disease Cloud</a><span style="color: #cc6600">(single target taunt)</span> and <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/ability.html?eq2ability=498" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Decrepit Slam</a> <span style="color: #cc6600">(extra Taunt if you have a shield)</span> you want to be chain casting those 3 non stop i useally Just put all 3 on a macro and assign it to a key on kb and hit that key non stop well i cast what ever else i want so they awalse go off when there up the next thing is make sure you have at least adept 1 of all 3 adept 3 if you have the coin and lastly some people are just agro [Removed for Content] *Cough* Warlocks *Cough* there even worse with us cause our taunts debuff disease for them you have a nice spell called <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/ability.html?eq2ability=3162" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Solemn Embrace</a> and dont froget to throw out your aoes when its a group encounter</p><p>and finally the EOF AA TREE is a MUST max the tree that affects your taunts as soon as possable at the very least spend 9 points to add 3 to your Tarnished Caress enhancer and 3 each on decree of decay and dosease cloud to max um</p><p>if you still have problems keeping agro try the super lazy macro make the one mentioned above and add all your spells with a .5 cast timer except the aoe</p><p>hope you find some of this info helpful</p><p>Amonrax </p><p>BTW Dont use taunt ever once you get past level 8 you get <a href="http://eq2.allakhazam.com/db/ability.html?eq2ability=2260" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Offensive Presence</a> at 9 that spell and its upgrades replace taunt </p>

[Esoh]

thanks for the reply i didnt get offensive taunt going in  game to get it now

[Esoh]

quick question on the macro how do u enter the .5 cast timer

[Iwice]

isent it /pause 0.5  ? not sure thou, was a while ago i fiddeled with it

[Mr. Dawki]

<p>New Shadowknight having Aggro Problems </p><p>get used to it, because with the new hate changes SK's are [Removed for Content]</p>

[Norrsken]

Mr. Dawkins wrote: <blockquote><p>New Shadowknight having Aggro Problems </p><p>get used to it, because with the new hate changes SK's are [Removed for Content]</p></blockquote>strangely enough, I dont seem to be having any problems with hate, short of warlocks going balls out.

[Norrsken]

<cite>Exifi wrote:</cite><blockquote>isent it /pause 0.5  ? not sure thou, was a while ago i fiddeled with it </blockquote>are no pause macro commands in eq2

[Norrsken]

<cite>Esoh wrote:</cite><blockquote>I'm a lvl 35 SK having problems keeping aggros in group. My question is what areas can i improve my taunt skills to keep aggro. Been putting all my AAs in int and strength. Could that be the problem? My taunt skill is incredibly low trying to figure out how to raise it. Havent seen any spell books for it. Any suggestions on increasing my taunt will be greatly appreciated</blockquote>Sks keep aggro with damage and healing more than taunts. Keep your blessing up at all times, hit your lifetaps when they come up, the same as your taunts. If its multiple mobs, hit your AEs every time they come up. If you lose hate, two of your hate tools go completely useless. (Your blessing and damage shield/taunt) so get it back asap.

[Beldin_]

Mr. Dawkins wrote: <blockquote>get used to it, because with the new hate changes SK's are [Removed for Content]</blockquote><p> Maybe you should learn to play, i have done all instance without any characters with hate-transfers in groups, and never hat aggro-problems that bad that someone has died. Brigs pull aggro today with double-up combo like they will in future .. bruisers will pull aggro if they go full out like they used to .. warlocks will if they goo full out, like they do also at the moment. </p><p>ok .. to the topic :</p><p>Precast blessing before you pull .. try to finish directly a heroic opportunitiy after the pull finished by wis-debuff and group-taunt, after that single taunt on current mob .. shield-bash, if its a multi-mob encounter, and you won't pull adds, fire your AoEs ..</p>

[Mr. Dawki]

<p>See when you say  "Learn how to play"</p><p>and then i go back and see all the open threads accumulating throught game history about SK's having the most trouble holding agro, and then the new hate nerfs. Your sugestion is not a good one</p><p>SK's do have the most problems with holding hate out of any tank class, its a fact, deal with it</p>

[Beldin_]

Mr. Dawkins wrote: <blockquote><p>See when you say  "Learn how to play"</p><p>and then i go back and see all the open threads accumulating throught game history about SK's having the most trouble holding agro, and then the new hate nerfs. Your sugestion is not a good one</p><p>SK's do have the most problems with holding hate out of any tank class, its a fact, deal with it</p></blockquote><p> But you only have maybe problems in groups without aggro-transfers, and in these groups nothing will change, exept maybe rangers. However i played my 70 Ranger often with a SK as MT the last time, and i also never pulled aggro, and i have primal agility and all my deaggro skills only at adept1 at the moment.</p><p>A big problem however is still that a lot of SKs are lazy or simple don't know that damage is most of our aggro, if i see SKs doing 250-350 dps in Zones where i do 700-900 then its no miracle why they have aggro problems.</p>

[Amonrax]

<p>quick question on the macro how do u enter the .5 cast timer </p><p><span style="color: #339900">I wasent refering to something you enter on a macro to cause a delay eq2 doesnt support that tho i wish it did what i was saying to do is make a macro and open your spell book examin all you abiltys and put the highest version of all the ones that have a cast timer of .5 or less when you examin them on that macro except blue abiltys (oh and you can put the HO started in the third spot down and it useally finshes it self for you) and just pound the key like mad when your tanking basicly that will throw all your taunts and a good number of spells to help you hold agro its no ware near perfect seeing as you have to leave out all your slowcasting big nukes, and debuffs, pets, aoe, ect but you can still cast those any time you want from experance that little key is all you need to keep agro in most groups </span></p><p><span style="color: #339900">PS ive been playing shadowknight since launch and have never had trouble holdeing hate</span></p><p><span style="color: #339900">EXCEPT agenst Nuke happy Warlocks</span></p>

[Norrsken]

Mr. Dawkins wrote: <blockquote><p>See when you say  "Learn how to play"</p><p>and then i go back and see all the open threads accumulating throught game history about SK's having the most trouble holding agro, and then the new hate nerfs. Your sugestion is not a good one</p><p>SK's do have the most problems with holding hate out of any tank class, its a fact, deal with it</p></blockquote>Most of those threads exist because people came over to playing a sk after having played a warrior. SKs dont hold aggro the same way as the warriors. They however do have the tools to hold aggro just as well as them. (Except for pvp)

[Beldin_]

Sorry for that stupid post .. but i just saw a level 62 SK in Pillars of Flame with 27 !!! INT .. rofl

[Norrsken]

Shalla@Valor wrote: <blockquote>Sorry for that stupid post .. but i just saw a level 62 SK in Pillars of Flame with 27 !!! INT .. rofl</blockquote>Oh my. I bet he's having aggro issues. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Galn]

Ulvhamne@Nagafen wrote: <blockquote>Shalla@Valor wrote: <blockquote>Sorry for that stupid post .. but i just saw a level 62 SK in Pillars of Flame with 27 !!! INT .. rofl</blockquote>Oh my. I bet he's having aggro issues. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> </blockquote><p> I see this so much its sad, Sure there are many SK's out there lately but most I see have an INT below 100. Proof that not many people really know how to play this class. </p><p> As far as aggro I can still steal aggro from a 70 Paladin WITH his Amends cast on me (68 SK)... I have to work on it but can do it, especially in aoe battles.</p>

[Wildmage]

I cringe everytime I see an SK all blinged out in vanguard.

[Galn]

<cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote>I cringe everytime I see an SK all blinged out in vanguard. </blockquote> ..with a tower shield.... <img src="/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Kainsei]

Ahkz@Butcherblock wrote: <blockquote><cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote>I cringe everytime I see an SK all blinged out in vanguard. </blockquote> ..with a tower shield.... <img src="/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote>Maybe a dumb question, but... what's wrong with tower shields ? My sk is my first plate tank btw.

[Wildmage]

Lanari@Storms wrote: <blockquote>Ahkz@Butcherblock wrote: <blockquote><cite>Wildmage wrote:</cite><blockquote>I cringe everytime I see an SK all blinged out in vanguard. </blockquote> ..with a tower shield.... <img src="/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote>Maybe a dumb question, but... what's wrong with tower shields ? My sk is my first plate tank btw. </blockquote> It doesn't Give you Int, Crafted Kite Shields Do.

[Cajetans]

As mentioned above there are around three classes which will most likely pull aggro from you: Brigands, Bruisers and Warlocks. For me it always works well to give a short introduction about aggro-generating of a SK to my groupmates. They just need to understand that SKs are generating aggro slowly but steady (blessing, taunts, selfheal in general, damage, procing buffs). In case you stick to this wonderful, yet uneasy to play, class, you'll reach lvl 55 and get "tap veins", our strongest one-hit AE. Leveling further you'll get deathmarch at 58, which works wonders. in case you got a full grp it's time to get some coffee after you casted deathmarch <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> My opinion is, that "low" SKs are easily outmatched and relieved of aggro until you hit higher levels. Later you get "on par" with damage and aggrogeneration. Hope it was helpful, Cajetans

[DwarvesR]

Mr. Dawkins wrote: <blockquote><p>See when you say  "Learn how to play"</p><p>and then i go back and see all the open threads accumulating throught game history about SK's having the most trouble holding agro, and then the new hate nerfs. Your sugestion is not a good one</p><p>SK's do have the most problems with holding hate out of any tank class, its a fact, deal with it</p></blockquote><p> All I can tell you is that I've never had trouble holding aggro with my SK.  It's just a matter of knowing your group make-up, and what all your skills do, and then using them.  Yeah, a swashie or a brigand or a warlock can still peel aggro if they want to, but so what?  If they do it they die, so they generally don't want to and don't try to do it.  That said. . . I do well enough that if they do want to they have to work at it a little.  My taunts are Ad3 or master, I have full hate-spec aa's, I'm constantly taunting, I have the 69% spell crits, and 600 INT in offensive stance when solo.  Between all of that. . . the dps and pure hate from the taunts -- it works out.</p>

[Nink]

<p>I dont have too much of an issue with aggro. Although I am kitted out in Vanguard armour, as a dark elf I have higher int than others. I have maxed out INT and hate on the AA trees and my taunts are all Adept 3 or higher.</p><p>What I do when pulling is target the mob, cast my ward and then pull using my best damage spell. Originally I used a DoT spell but noticed that the others in the group got aggro off of me. I then cycle through the taunts to keep aggro ensuring I kick and shield bash the mob to knock it down.</p><p>You will always get the mages who cannot stop casting their highest spell the second the mob is engaged, but watching them run around yelling "Aggro on me" is usually a laugh. When the mob is dead and they are moaning that they nearly died thats when I suggest they change their play style.</p><p>The other problem is that people love to explore and often wander off infront of the tank; then come running back with a load of guests. I have a macro stating "Would the finger waggling mages in the tissue paper armour please remain behind the tank for their continued safety"</p>

[Ferreus]

<cite>Nink wrote:</cite><blockquote>The other problem is that people love to explore and often wander off infront of the tank; then come running back with a load of guests. I have a macro stating "Would the finger waggling mages in the tissue paper armour please remain behind the tank for their continued safety"</blockquote>That macro's a classic and should be stickied <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/e8a506dc4ad763aca51bec4ca7dc8560.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" />

[StaticLex]

My SK is 33 now, still hasn't used a shield, and still hasn't had aggro problems.  I just run into the mob(s) I'm pulling and mash several fast combat arts followed by the group taunt.  Things die so quickly that no one else in the group can generate enough aggro to peel them off me.  As far as gear goes..  I do use a full set of the mastercrafted stuff, and I'm not sure why the one guy said he cringes when he sees that, I think it looks alright..  Anyway, I can guarantee nobody will ever catch me using one of those big dork looking tower shields.  I mean they look like the hood of a junked out '76 Buick of all things..

[Ferreus]

<cite>StaticLex wrote:</cite><blockquote>Anyway, I can guarantee nobody will ever catch me using one of those big dork looking tower shields.  I mean they look like the hood of a junked out '76 Buick of all things..</blockquote>.... (hits the broker to look for a decent kite shield to replace my "dork looking tower shield&quot<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Just for further emphasis with regards to lower lvl SKs, I haven't had any major aggro problems with mine who's just hit 30. I've tanked for PUGs in FG, the General Drull HQ, and various quests here & there with swashies, brigands, wizzies, etc. Most of my spells are Adept I's with a only a pair of Ad. III's (only got these last night). I haven't gone down either the hate line in the EoF tree or the STR line in KoS (which I will be starting soon), but I've got 4-4-8 INT and a few in the Reaver line. As long as you make it clear to your group to give you a few seconds to hit & taunt the mobs before they let loose with their DPS you should be good. I haven't had to FD anyone in a PUG (yet) <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Dead Knight]

Necro posting is dumb.

[Hamervelder]

*coughs*  And yet you posted to the necro post.  <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[nodaisho]

So did you... So did I... *headexplode*

[Hamervelder]

<cite>nodaisho wrote:</cite><blockquote>So did you... So did I... *headexplode*</blockquote>For this, we shall pay a terrible price.

[DwarvesR]

<cite>Dead Knight wrote:</cite><blockquote>Necro posting is dumb.</blockquote><p><img src="http://forums.minegoboom.com/images/avatars/threadnecro.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="428" border="0" /></p><p>I admit. . I do like the ability to use this from time to time <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[nodaisho]

All hail the photoshop.Did people really have trouble holding aggro when this thread was started, or did people just not get how to play.

[Dead Knight]

<cite>nodaisho wrote:</cite><blockquote>All hail the photoshop.Did people really have trouble holding aggro when this thread was started, or did people just not get how to play.</blockquote>The latter.

[crookshan]

<p>One thing that I did to help my tank classes was macro my heroic oppertunity and then fit it in like: pull, taunt, ward, HO.  That seems to give me a strong start on holding my aggro.  And of course make sure that your Taunts are as high as you feel comfortable spending for them.</p><p> Hope you enjoy your SK</p>