grouping with a brigand

[orkim071]

i'm new to the game and now have a brigand level 33.  so far i like the class (except i wish i picked another race).  i've never grouped yet.  i decided to start doing group instances so i don't end up being a level 80 and not knowing my role in a group.  is grouping the same as soloing, but just try not to take aggro?  how do the non-taunts work?  do i spam them?  do the numbers stack or just apply them when they wear out?

[Meirril]

<p>Ok, lets talk briefly about agro. Nearly everything you do creates agro. 1 pt of agro = 1 pt of damage. Non-damage negative effects also create agro. I can't give numbers, but our backstabs that decrease every defense the target has generate a lot more agro than the damage it is doing.</p><p>De-agros remove some of the hate we've created. Think of it as forgiveness for our transgressions. My best suggestion is develop a routen where you hit your best backstab and then immediately reach for our fast-recycle deagro. The lay-low line is a huge de-agro but is also slow to recycle. Try saving it for 10 seconds into the fight when you can use it to set up a second from stealth only attack.</p><p>Other than that, pop your heroic opportunity starter and let someone else in the group move it for fun. Some of the effects other classes can generate will give the group power. Some will give the group other temporary buffs. Whatever happens it will add a little something to the group. Probably nothing major, but it keeps things interesting. Oh, if your in an area where AoE is a bad idea, don't do HOs. Some of them result in area effect attacks.</p>

[Jeffmaster]

It all really depends on the capacity of the tank to hold aggro..test him..I personnaly rarely use them even if I parse 6.5 k on certain fights...but in groups, you got to watchout and will prob use them a lot more...

[Jida]

At later levels different classes recieve hate buffs and xfers.At the moment you should work with mastercrafted gear (new MC gear is given at 32, so you should find it on the broker by filters).Try to keep yourself maxed as far as defense goes, you never know when your going to steal aggro.If you find that you steal aggro in every single group, seriously consider going down the Int line until your of raiding level.Never [Removed for Content] your dps due to aggro stealing, make the tank work, and if he sucks, you should learn how to deal with it (because this is the mentality you have to learn if you decide you want to raid later on).So, in closing.. If you steal aggro alot during groups, INT LINE FTW! (till your raid level)You can also go down the STA line (up to more HP and stop there) to make your HP more beefy so you can take a few more hits.Good luck!

[MoeSizlak]

<p>What Dev said...but I'll add a few things...</p><p>As far as using your deaggros...personally I use them rarely, but usually early in the fight.  As mentioned above our big backstabs can generate alot of hate, but because of the big debuff portions as well you want to get them applied ASAP.  Especially when I'm in a group where I don't know the tank I'll use my big backstab/debuffs then immediately use my deaggro, then back to DPS mode.  I keep the deaggro/stealth in my pocket for emergencies.</p><p>As far as how they work...basically everything you do adds hate, 1 pt of damage = 1 hate, and our debuffs add hate as well.  Each mob has a hate list, which is a pure numeric value, and barring a few abilities from other classes bascially whoever has the highest number on that list is the one the mob attacks.  So we'll use this list as an example</p><p>Tank 4000 hate</p><p>You 3750 hate</p><p>Grpmbmr1 2780</p><p>Grpmbmr2 2246</p><p>Grpmbmr3 1700</p><p>Grpmbmr4 1678</p><p>In this setup if the next thing you do generates 500 hate, and the tank does something that only generates 200 then you'll have 4250 hate, and the tank 4200, you are now #1 on the hit list and the mob turns to spank you for being naughty.  Updated list...</p><p>You 4250 hate</p><p>Tank 4200 hate</p><p>Grpmbmr1 2780</p><p>Grpmbmr2 2246</p><p>Grpmbmr3 1700</p><p>Grpmbmr4 1678</p><p>Now you use your deaggro ability, which say takes 430 hate off your total while the tank stares at his screen dumbfounded that he lost aggro...the new list becomes...</p><p>Tank 4200 hate</p><p>You 3830 hate</p><p>Grpmbmr1 2780</p><p>Grpmbmr2 2246</p><p>Grpmbmr3 1700</p><p>Grpmbmr4 1678</p><p>This list will continue through the entire encounter so while it all stacks, if your tank is worth anything you shouldn't have to use them past the first 10-15 seconds of the fight if at all.  Hope that makes sense and helps you get a better grasp on some of the mechanics of the game.</p>

[Kaldrin]

A lot of the ability to control agro just comes from waiting a few seconds before you go hog wild with your attack routine. I usually just use a few attacks and space them out a bit around the first few seconds of the tank's agro acquisition. After that I go nuts and the regular heroic mobs usually die before I get through my attack sequence completely. Rarely I'll steal agro near the end of a particularly tough named or something... 

[Jida]

If your waiting, and in a group, use the time to use your deaggros so you can engage earlier.

[Uggli]

As an x-tank I gota jump in on the agro side of the thread.  Agro is a group responsibility, not just the tanks.   Tanks build agro differently and knowing how they build agro is important.  SK's are the weakest for aggro build, so you really gota pace your self for them.  Pallies if they put Amends on you allow you to go F'in nuts and not worry about agro for the most part,  and the rest fall some where in the middle.  Some people just out right suck at playing a class, so keep that in mind too and try not to be that person. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />But if you are snapping agro consistantly when you do not want it (sometimes I do want aggro on my brigand <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />, try changing up your cast order.  Verify that those with hate transfer are using them. Talk to the tank to see what they can change to allow for more DPS.  Don't use double up right at the start of a battle. etc etc etc.  It may not be the tanks fault if YOU keep snapping agro away, you are the one that controls your own agro build. You are using your deagro tools right?  They are good to use with your HO.  How about that deagro poison?   Don't get stuck on the min/max side of the game too much and just realize that pick up groups will never be ideal. So you need to learn to adapt to different players/classes.  Talk to your group members and ask them what they can do to max the tanks aggro, learn about all the classes and the tools they bring, and then adjust your play as needed.