Charm vs Possess Essence [Archive] - EQ2 Forum Archive @ EQ2Wire

Nrgy

06-03-2011, 06:05 PM

<cite>Nekroghoul wrote:</cite><blockquote>I have a coercer that I've played on and off as an alt for a few years. Today I hit 75 and have noticed over the last few levels charmed pets seem to be getting stronger. I haven't used PE all that much, but from the times I have I have found the PE pet to be very inconsistent in terms of survivability. Unfortunately, I don't have a full understanding of the differences (pros/cons) of Charm vs Possess Essence.Would any experienced coercers (hopefully someone who plays one as their main) care to explain the pros and cons of each, or at least point me to a link that explains it? I tried a search but only found on thread from 2008. Any help will be much appreciated.Thanks!</blockquote>__________________________________________________ __________<a href="http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Coercer_Pet_Strategies" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://eq2.wikia.com/wiki/Coercer_Pet_Strategies</a>PE pets are always the same in ability, strength and survivability. They do 90% of thier damage through melee attacks called confound. They will mix in a few casting abilities, but nothing to write home about. The greatest benefit in using a PE is they are SAFE. They will NEVER break or try to eat your face. Look at them as a DOT, albeit the most awesome looking DOT in the game, but just a DOT. If you're inclined to you can drop your Tank Aggro buffs on them and go tanking with them, they have lots of Hitpoints and if you get the master they have more and regen them back faster too.Charm pets is what starts to define a Coercer, imo. About 95% of the EQ2 population has concern about Coercers and thier ability to charm mobs. Charm'ed mobs HATE you and if and when they break the charm it is ALWAYS at the worst time. If you ask 10 people who group with Coercers who use charm then 9 of them will tell you that the Coercer's charm pet wiped the group, more then once. The funny thing about that stero-type is that its more true then untrue. I know I've wiped my groups, more then once, due to charmed pets, but I blame SOE on those.There has been nerf after nerf after nerf in the game since release concerning charm mechanics. I only started playing about a year ago, so I only read how awesome charm use to be compared to how it is now. However, I will say that since DOV release charm is awesome again ... for one reason and one reason only ... Shared Stats.Your charmed pet now uses your own Crit and other stats and they do a ton more damage then they use to. You'll want to focus on charming caster pets as the spell damage really converts the best. I have had charmed pets, both Mage and Healer types, which can spell hit in the 45K+ range. There is nothing better then having your charmed pet pump out 20,000+ DPS for you.When using charmed pets the most important thing is getting your master level spell as soon as you can. At max level your charm spell lasts for 35 minutes iirc. and I have yet to see one break early since I have my M1 charm spell.In short, whether you use the PE or the Charm spell you want them BOTH at the master level. It makes the pet much better in both cases. tip... SOE has made some interesting mechanics concerning charmed pets in some of the new zones. If you try and charm pets in TOSF for example, you will pull the entire zone as soon as you charm any pet. Alway nice to wipe the group as they are all buffing up, however, if you like zerging things give it a try. I have charmed mobs in Pools without issue, though. tip... ALWAYS try and get a caster pet, mage or healer, thier spells can really hit hard (upwards of 45,000+)tip... Charmed pets count as if they are still in the zone envirnment... meaning if there is a trigger or spawn which is dependant on clearing a room. If you have a charmed pet you'll not be able to trigger those actions until you kill your charmed pet.tip... You can place your buffs (Aggro, Mana, DPS) on either PE's or charmed pets.tip... When you have a charmed pet and you're in a group and leaving an instance ... make sure you leave last. I have left first before and my charmed pet goes instant aggro on the other people still in there. I even saw one pet corpse camp my buddy at a zone out after I left first. I thought I was going to [Removed for Content] my pants from laughing so hard after it killed him 3 or 4 times in a row.