aggro management

[Ryan220]

I have a couple of questions about aggro management that I would like a little advice on please.

I have a L13 Bard Warchanter (Mantrax on Ghallanda for the myDDO curious) that Im currently levelling. This is my first Bard- my previous/ other characters are pure melee.

Assuming Im in a group which has a Fighter or Barbarian in it - When I am on my Warchanter should I let the pure melees get aggro first prior to singing my Greataxe? I ask because I find Im taking the lions share of the incoming damage at each encounter.


Assuming Im in a group that doesnt have a pure melee - I guess its my job as the next best thing to get the aggro?


or is it a case of 'get to the back buffbot - my hage needs refreshing' hehe


Or maybe Im reading too much into this and I should just go wading in anyway.



I just want to make sure that Im doing the right thing


Many thanks

[sirgog]

As long as you have moderate hitpoints and Heavy Fortification, don't be worried too much about aggro.

Melees and casters will both take aggro from mobs off you with relative ease, but for the time you have it, you shouldn't have any real troubles surviving it.

[TheDearLeader]

Have to agree with Sirgog.

Maybe displace yourself in bigger encounters, but provided the other heavy-hitters in party are doing their thing, mobs should be dead fast enough for it to not matter. Be fast on Scrolls/Wands/Pots to keep yourself up, and should you feel like it, your party members.

[Ryan220]

Thank you for the replies.

I have heavy Fort and I believe my HP pool can support my position in amongst the heavy hitters (which is where I like to be). Whether this'll be the case in later levels I dont know. If the time comes that the incoming damage becomes overwhelming then I guess Ill have to change tactics

At least for now though being at the front means I can target myself when casting Haste/ rage and im in the best position for the all important songs.

Do Warchanters stand toe to toe with mobs at cap? Cant say Ive ever paid too much attention when Im on my capped Barbarian Im afraid.

[sirgog]

Thank you for the replies.

I have heavy Fort and I believe my HP pool can support my position in amongst the heavy hitters (which is where I like to be). Whether this'll be the case in later levels I dont know. If the time comes that the incoming damage becomes overwhelming then I guess Ill have to change tactics

At least for now though being at the front means I can target myself when casting Haste/ rage and im in the best position for the all important songs.

Do Warchanters stand toe to toe with mobs at cap? Cant say Ive ever paid too much attention when Im on my capped Barbarian Im afraid.

In general, you can stand toe-to-toe with pretty much anything, except Horoth (all difficulties), Lailat (Hard to Epic) and one or two others.

[JollySwagMan]

Party roles can be somewhat situational, at least with random groups - chances are you might have some 'stay back buffbot' and 'stop piking and hit things' types of opinion in the same group.

There are lots of things you can do to mitigate incoming damage though :)

One doesn't need to be a Rogue to take advantage of flanking tactics or selective pulling, one doesn't need to be a tank to trip or maneuver mobs to your party's advantage. One doesn't need to make a Spellcraft check to recognise an enemy casting animation, or to be one of those pesky ranged Rangers to kite an aoe spell away from the rest of the party.

If someone in the party summons a pet, try and let the summon get hit instead ;)

At level 13, Paralysing weapons can be a godsend (especially in Gianthold), Hypnotism works quite nicely with it too. Even if they save against the mesmerising effect, it now also applies a -3 Will Save penalty...Solid Fog clickies are also *really* handy for directing aggro/positioning mobs :)

Fort and HP have already been covered, and with a capped Barbarian you might be familiar with DR and Guards :).

Mind, these suggestions are aimed towards reducing your healing needs. Sometimes such tactics are too intricate for random pugs, or take 5 seconds too long for XP-min junkies ;) But playing smarter than the AI can be really helpful in recovering ding-ey situations!