SK as MT with Zerker as backup

[Ando]

<DIV>Here's the situation:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I have been playing on and off with a Berzerker now for may levels, though 30-41</DIV> <DIV>or so. I have always been one or two levels above him (I am the SK), and my AC</DIV> <DIV>is way higher (I have very good gear and spells).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>With this in mind, I have felt that I should be the MT in the groups. AC and avoidance</DIV> <DIV>because of level should be a big bonus. I also use a shield, which he refuses.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The problem is that I lose aggro very easily with him in the group. I have no problem</DIV> <DIV>keeping aggro whatsoever without this guy in the group, and I am starting to wonder</DIV> <DIV>what we should do:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>o Make the lower level Zerker MT even if he has worse defenses (less AC and avoidance)</DIV> <DIV>I can ward him, and actually have to do it most of the time.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>o Change tactics someway. Only thing that has worked so far is having him hold back </DIV> <DIV>his attacks (and DPS). The aggro management I do works in all other cases.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Given that I have no problem keeping aggro without him, is he doing anything wrong?</DIV> <DIV>Anything he can do except cutting down the DPS (which is not an option IMO)?</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I would appreciate any comments</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>/Kale</DIV> <DIV>41 ShadowKnight, Splitpaw</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Arillonahia]

<DIV>     I can only comment as a 33 SK, but there DO seem to be certain classes of fighter that if I take the role of 'tank',  garner a lot of attention from the target enemies. I dont really have any problems maintaing 'aggro' in a group, as long as most of the recognised 'rules' are followed (i.e. giving me a few seconds to pull, ward myself and throw a taunt or two...), but throw in a beserker and they will generally get clobbered a few times during the battle ( I rarely find myself grouping with one, just lack of meeting, not because I actively choose not to, so I cant make a definate case for this being a regular thing).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Tialneques Fyr, Knight of Innorruk</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>" 'Tank'? What the devil are you wittering about I'm a Knight damm you!"</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Ando]

<DIV>One thought I had was that the Zerker didn't obey the standard rules that especially apply to mages i.e. delay first nuke etc since they are not used to play 2nd tank. I donät think this is it though.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>But the fact is that I gain the aggro properly, and do buff etc during fight to build aggro, and then it's even then easy </DIV> <DIV>to lose aggro to the Zerker.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Unless the class itself is an aggro magnet apart from the abilities they use that causes this.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>The abilities used can at least be controlled by the players. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>/Kale</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[megatra]

<DIV>if the level difference is more than 2 or 3 levels, continue to be MT and if he still draws aggro, tell him to lighten up with all the special moves</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>if he is 1 or 2 levels under you, let him MT. whenever i am grouped with a berzerker higher than me, equal to me, or 1 or 2 levels under me... i always let them tank. their aggro control is unmatched.</DIV>

[Siner]

are you losing aggro to this zerk on all situations? just multi-mob groups?

[Ando]

<DIV>Aggro is lost in mid fight to end in cases with both single and multiple mobs. The multi-mob scenario</DIV> <DIV>is far worse, since some mobs dont always get drawn to the zerker but onto chanter instead.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am not surprised that the situation is worse with multi-mobs since the zerkers DPS is more </DIV> <DIV>AOE based than ours. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My pulling strategy is:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. Pull using ranged spell</DIV> <DIV>2. While running back to group I use a single taunt</DIV> <DIV>3. Upon raching the group, I use group taunt</DIV> <DIV>4. I jump back to turn mobs away from the group</DIV> <DIV>5. Group buff</DIV> <DIV>6. Start attack (to get auto attack started)</DIV> <DIV>7. Ward myself</DIV> <DIV>8. By that time I can single taunt again</DIV> <DIV>9. Fire away with shield bashing/stunning, aggro building strikes and nukes, and hit the group taunt when i can</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Unless i continuously taunt at the last stage, aggro will be lost eventually without the zerker taunting them off. Just doing his thing i guess.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV>

[Tsimhno]

<BR> <BLOCKQUOTE> <HR> AndorV wrote:<BR> <DIV>Aggro is lost in mid fight to end in cases with both single and multiple mobs. The multi-mob scenario</DIV> <DIV>is far worse, since some mobs dont always get drawn to the zerker but onto chanter instead.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I am not surprised that the situation is worse with multi-mobs since the zerkers DPS is more </DIV> <DIV>AOE based than ours. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>My pulling strategy is:</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>1. Pull using ranged spell</DIV> <DIV>2. While running back to group I use a single taunt</DIV> <DIV>3. Upon raching the group, I use group taunt</DIV> <DIV>4. I jump back to turn mobs away from the group</DIV> <DIV>5. Group buff</DIV> <DIV>6. Start attack (to get auto attack started)</DIV> <DIV>7. Ward myself</DIV> <DIV>8. By that time I can single taunt again</DIV> <DIV>9. Fire away with shield bashing/stunning, aggro building strikes and nukes, and hit the group taunt when i can</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Unless i continuously taunt at the last stage, aggro will be lost eventually without the zerker taunting them off. Just doing his thing i guess.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV> </DIV><BR> <HR> </BLOCKQUOTE> <P>that's your pulling strategy?</P> <P>Mine is:</P> <P>1. Fire Ranged Spell</P> <P>2. HO Starter</P> <P>3. Fire HO Triger Move that works on the run</P> <P>4. Fire Taunt to complete HO</P> <P>5. Taunt some more</P> <P>6. Decrepit Slam for more hate</P> <P>7. Fire all moves I have at my disposal, use HOs as much as possable, and taunt even ever I have the chance...</P> <P><BR> </P>

[Brash]

<DIV><FONT face="Comic Sans MS" color=#cc00ff size=2>I have had this same problem with a Zerker in my guild that I group with on a regular basis, he is of the same level and steals agro frequently.  I have found if I really build the agro I can keep it AND get it back from him.  The biggest problem with him is he wants to uncork his best Combat Art right away and since it hits for massive damage you need to have that agro built up quick, as some of the other posters mentioned, on the pull works best.  We as SK's do have some advantages our Lifetaps, as pathetic as they are, do increase hate also your ward will help a lot.  I also don't really get too concerned if the big lummox gets the agro hes wearin plate same as me he's just lazy and hates pullin 8-p.  </FONT></DIV><p>Message Edited by Brash on <span class=date_text>02-22-2005</span> <span class=time_text>01:39 PM</span>

[Ando]

<DIV>I spoke to a high level zerker about this yesterday, and he suggested that it was the use of</DIV> <DIV>the level 38 spell Promise of Violence that could be it. It is both a good DD attack and</DIV> <DIV>a aggro magnet. </DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>If the Zerker avoids this one, it will go much better.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Grouped with my zerker friend yesterday again. We adjusted tactics so that I will tank difficult </DIV> <DIV>ungrouped mobs (we worked on the sash heritage) and whenever we are up against groups</DIV> <DIV>of mobs (that are usually not as hard hitters, just loads of them) he takes the tanking role.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>Once, he managed to pull aggro from the lvl 44 mobs, and his health went down rapidly. I managed</DIV> <DIV>to pull it back quickly using shield bashing (stun the mob and give 400 aggro to you), single taunt </DIV> <DIV>(another 400 aggro), and HT (1000 dmg always helps).</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>It worked well. My much higher AC class and avoidance was a major improvement over the last </DIV> <DIV>time we did the same mobs (and got wiped when he tanked). When he is tanking, I can use the </DIV> <DIV>ward to make it easier against the multi mobs.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>I think we have the strategy nailed down in our group now. I will try the HO pulling strategy as well.</DIV> <DIV> </DIV> <DIV>/Kale</DIV> <DIV> </DIV>