Solo Hunter woes

[Mirajj]

The problem is that newly trained pets now are limited to 4 active skills that they can be trained in.  In most cases there are going to be a better set of skills that use up all four active slots that do not include cower in the mix. 

For example many hunters that are using a mix of skills that have Growl, Bite and/or Claw, Dash/Dive and one of the newest added skills like Prowl, Furious Howl, Scorpid Posion or Screech.  An example would be a wolf that uses Growl, Bite, Dash and Furious  Howl; which leaves no room for Cower as a fifth item in the list.
[right][snapback]90944[/snapback][/right]

Not to mention that the stupid autocast bug is STILL in the game, where if you ever have a skill on your pet's hotbar, and have it turned on, then take it off...it'll still always be on unless you turn it off in the petbook after ever login.

I respecc'ed Mirage just so that I could dump claw for once and for all out of her knowledge/castable base.

~As to the other...Yeah, I do use Mirage a lot more in group play, now that you do mention it. Must be it. Thanks. =)

[bernard shakey]

[quote=Mirajj,Oct 3 2005, 11:12 PM]
Not to mention that the stupid autocast bug is STILL in the game, where if you ever have a skill on your pet's hotbar, and have it turned on, then take it off...it'll still always be on unless you turn it off in the petbook after ever login.


does this also effect warlock pets ?

and as a possible fix could you place it back in the toolbar turn it off then put it back in the spellbook?

[Alrin]

With a bear I do have to wait because a miss with a 2.0 attack speed pet is much worse than with a 1.2 attack speed pet, bears will also not attack as much if the mob is moving towards me because they simply don't run as fast as a cat so they will get that close distance nope it moved to far before I can swing affect.

I am using two pets in parallell so I have a polar bear and a snow leopard up at roughly my own level and I have found this to be true as well.
While the cat will always get aggro very fast the bear have issues sometimes with pure and simple distance to its target. They run up, target runs through them, they spin and try to hit but the target it charging me.

Here's the problem though:
The bear chases the mob, stops and tries to swing.
But before the swing is completed/executed the mob is out of range, forcing the bear to start running after it again.
Stops and tries to swing. Etc etc.
One way to avoid this is to simply hit follow/come back when you see it happening, then when the bear has gained on the target to be well in reach, hit its attack again.
Now it will be in range to swipe/bite/growl again and hopefully you get to live :)
Even if you can't get it off you, you -do- have disengage.

Good luck!

[Mirajj]

does this also effect warlock pets ?

and as a possible fix could you place it back in the toolbar turn it off then put it back in the spellbook?
[right][snapback]90971[/snapback][/right]

No idea, never played a warlock with a pet. ;)

You can put it back onto the toolbar, and that'll work for you to turn the skill on and off. The problem is actually, when something has been on the toolbar and is removed, the game still thinks that it's on the toolbar and autocasting.

For example, I had trained Mirage with Claw. After I decided I didn't like it's focus use, I took it off and replaced it with Dash. The game thought that I still had Claw on (and on autocast to boot) making the Focus problem even worse.

The only fixes were to put Claw on the toolbar and leave it there, off (using up a valuable slot), trying to remember to switch around in my toolbar every time I logged, trying to play around with it in my petbook, hoping it turned off, or re-training the skill away, and not even learning it.

Guess which I chose. ;)

The problem with the other solutions is that they work sometimes. You may be able to turn the skill off in the petbook and have it stay off, you may not. The bug may not activate, so that your toolbar works as it's supposed to.

All in all, it's quite a hassle for a skill you decide you don't like, and will get expensive as they keep adding skills into the game. ;)

[kandrathe]

Has anyone other than me noticed that it's gotten much harder in the last couple of weeks to keep your pet "content"? I've been going through food nearly twice to three times as fast as I used to.
[right][snapback]90887[/snapback][/right]

*Echo* What Ruv said. I respec'd Felix to have growl, claw, dash, stalk, full fire resist, and the rest in armor. I find he needs less food, except when he is taking a beating. Like, recently, I was camping the scarlet tower that has a chance to drop the crusader enchart recipe, and those mages use alot of frost. So I headed off to Winterspring and added a big white bear to my stable. I spec'd him with growl, bite, full frost resist, full natural armor, and 90 in shadow, and arcane. This bear ripped apart those casters without breaking a sweat, or needing excessive food.

[Mavfin]

Reading the transcript , poor Olaf does'nt hit the target before you shoot it , let Olaf get some agro for a couple of seconds before you fire , also bears are very slow so if he misses a couple times while you are filling the target full of lead you are going to get that agro , everybody and his aunt has a cat , but I would suggest trying one out , they hit a lot faster so grab a lot of attention quickly . I have 3 hunters on different realms and always go for the fast hitting in my early years and have had no problem with the pet getting growl off . You may even find with the cat you can shoot first then it runs up and takes agro , keep "growl" up to date and you should have no problems .
[right][snapback]90683[/snapback][/right]

<hunters...doh, what's aggro?> :P :D


Yeah, let your tank get aggro, then shoot it. (I'm laughing as I type this, so don't take it personally) I've been teaching lvl 60 hunters that in instances for a long time, when they Aimed Shot the abomination heading toward me, the MT, in UD Strat, before it reaches me....and then are 'wtf' about it coming to them and killing them while I watch and laugh. Then I grab the abom, and the group kills it. *Then* we rez the hunter and tell them that they now know why you let the tank get aggro first. Pretty effective as a teaching tool, really.

:shuriken:

[Mirajj]

<hunters...doh, what's aggro?>&nbsp; :P&nbsp; :D
[right][snapback]91585[/snapback][/right]

Hey, I've mostly got my aggro back under control. ;P

But then, I don't have Aimed Shot. Never opened with it, either. :shuriken:

[savaughn]

<hunters...doh, what's aggro?>&nbsp; :P&nbsp; :D
Yeah, let your tank get aggro, then shoot it.&nbsp; (I'm laughing as I type this, so don't take it personally)&nbsp; I've been teaching lvl 60 hunters that in instances for a long time, when they Aimed Shot the abomination heading toward me, the MT, in UD Strat, before it reaches me....and then are 'wtf' about it coming to them and killing them while I watch and laugh.&nbsp; Then I grab the abom, and the group kills it.&nbsp; *Then* we rez the hunter and tell them that they now know why you let the tank get aggro first.&nbsp; Pretty effective as a teaching tool, really.

:shuriken:
[right][snapback]91585[/snapback][/right]

A hunter has better aggro controls than any other class in the game. I swear, it makes me weep when I get questions from lvl 60's like "what does feign death do?"

[Mavfin]

A hunter has better aggro controls than any other class in the game.&nbsp; I swear, it makes me weep when I get questions from lvl 60's like "what does feign death do?"
[right][snapback]91643[/snapback][/right]

Oh, I know, savaughn, good ones do know their aggro. Just the ones who don't know their class that give the warrior gray hairs. :P :blink:

[kandrathe]

Oh, I know, savaughn, good ones do know their aggro.&nbsp; Just the ones who don't know their class that give the warrior gray hairs.&nbsp; :P&nbsp; :blink:
[right][snapback]91646[/snapback][/right]

Well, any class can be a cluster F*k. Warriors who never use sunder, or use cleave and break all the CC, rogues who think it's normal to pull aggro off the warrior and then complain of dying every other fight, mages who... well, it's pretty hard for a mage to mess up :D Anyway, you get the point. My opinion is that Warlocks and Hunters are actually complicated classes to play due to the addition of pet management, beyond trying to keep your own nose clean. Like any team endeavor, some people pick it up quickly, and some are more awkward.

And, with hunters specifically, the class attracts it's share of "Rainbow Bright" types. For some hunters the attraction of the class is more to tame that cool rainbow shimmering wind serpent, than teaching it or themselves anything. Experience and an open mind is all they really need, or a dress up Barbie, I'm never sure which.

[Quark]

well, it's pretty hard for a mage to mess up&nbsp; :D
[right][snapback]91652[/snapback][/right]

Oh yeah?

Arcane Power + Presence of Mind + Pyroblast + Fireblast + Fireball. At the beginning of fighting the Butcher.

[kandrathe]

Oh yeah?

Arcane Power + Presence of Mind + Pyroblast + Fireblast + Fireball.&nbsp; At the beginning of fighting the Butcher.
[right][snapback]91667[/snapback][/right]

Heh, sounds like a mage trying to figure out how to die. Ok, it can be done if you really want to try.

[Mavfin]

Heh, sounds like a mage trying to figure out how to die.  Ok, it can be done if you really want to try.
[right][snapback]91669[/snapback][/right]

Been there, seen that, picked boss back up after mage died. You're right, I've seen lots of dumb aggro tricks, *including* stupid warrior tricks. Pyroblast, Aimed Shot, and Ambush openers all made my list.

Here's a warrior DOH! (Keep in mind I've got defiance specced) "taunt is for n00bs. I can hold aggro in Battle stance with my 2h better than you can in defensive stance" "If you say so" <Mob sprints to healer on second heal, I grab mob, tank it, group kills it> "WTF, you took my mob!!" "Only after it left you for the healer" "Well, quit messing up my tanking, n00b!" Next pull goes same way. I whisper to raid leader "I know I said I didn't want to MT this run, but with this guy along I will be anyway, dump him" <idiot> has left the group. /w to me "OMGWTF why was I kicked! OMG n00b!" I whisper back "have a nice day" /ignore As an aside, the use of 'n00b' pretty much red-flags a player to me anyway, unless they show me otherwise. Using that around me is an open invitation to get booted on the first stupid screwup if I'm group leader.

Probably the hardest time I had was getting a hunter not to use Concussive Shot to slow a mob I had just pulled (I hadn't actually shot it, just stepped out far enough to get it to come to me, aboms just before Baron again). As soon as it would head for me, he'd slow it. Which of course is completely not what I wanted, I wanted it on me quickly, taunt, sunder, revenge, kill! He kept insisting that Concussive shot couldnt' draw any aggro since it does no damage! I let the 4th one he did that to kill him. He finally got the point.

I've had mages do it, and did the same thing. Death is a good teacher. i have no problem with hunters in my groups, btw. I don't subscribe to 'hunters always pull' or 'warrior always pulls' or anything like that. It just depends. To me, hunter is another good DPS dealer, that has other good group abilities if needed. However, if I'm in LBRS and I have 2 rogues and a mage for CC, the hunter won't be laying traps much. It's not that traps are bad. It's that too many groups aren't patient enough for traps to work. If we have to depend on them, that's different. As MT I'll call a hunter to pull stuff sometimes, like bat patrols in UD Strat, using their longer range, or to pull the first parts of SM Cathedral onto the grass. Experienced players use the abilities that they need of the classes they have in group, at the time they're needed. End of story.

Just keep in mind, my additions to this thread have been typed while giggling/chuckling. Rainbow Brite FTW!! (that's funny, I'll have to repeat that in guild chat)

[savaughn]

However, if I'm in LBRS and I have 2 rogues and a mage for CC...
[right][snapback]91673[/snapback][/right]

LBRS wins hands down for bad group stories for me. I'm starting to get almost pathological about that place.

I've tried running that with pick up groups and not gotten a single heal in the whole run (including the spider section with me as the only source of AoE).

And if I had a nickel for every time I sheep to generate the pull and the party decides to let me tank one or two of the mobs by never even hitting them once... :o

AAAAAAAAaaaaaaa.....

I wish there was an aggro class that people could take inside of WoW and if they had passed the class they'd get a cert you could see when you were deciding to invite them into your group or not. :P

[Concillian]

i have no problem with hunters in my groups, btw.&nbsp; I don't subscribe to 'hunters always pull' or 'warrior always pulls' or anything like that.&nbsp; It just depends.&nbsp; To me, hunter is another good DPS dealer, that has other good group abilities if needed.&nbsp;
[right][snapback]91673[/snapback][/right]

I actually prefer to have a hunter with me on 5 man PUGs. I'll specifically ask for one even.

They are pretty good at marking a target, and random PUG people can understand the concept of focus fire when there is a HUGE RED ARROW over the target they are supposed to focus on. Makes for better group success rate. Though at 50+, 5 man PUGs are still a toss up, I had good luck with it up to ZF or so with pub groups.

Without a hunter I've found it's nearly impossible to hold aggro in PUGs because you get three people attacking three different targets, which inevitably leads to only holding one mob and not having enough rage to hold all three.

[Lissa]

everybody and his aunt has a cat [right][snapback]90683[/snapback][/right]

Not this Hunter...

I have Fluffy the wonder raptor and Ehecatl the Aztec god of the Wind (Wind Serpent, apropos since Ehecatl is a feathered serpent much like Quetzcoatl and Michtutli).

[Lissa]

For some hunters the attraction of the class is more to tame that cool rainbow shimmering wind serpent, than teaching it or themselves anything.[right][snapback]91652[/snapback][/right]

:unsure: But I like Ehecatl...and in the right light, her scales shimmer... :wub:

[Lissa]

Oh yeah?

Arcane Power + Presence of Mind + Pyroblast + Fireblast + Fireball.&nbsp; At the beginning of fighting the Butcher.
[right][snapback]91667[/snapback][/right]

*Remembers this fight...remembers the final healing totals for said mage too...and death count*

[Lissa]

Been there, seen that, picked boss back up after mage died. You're right, I've seen lots of dumb aggro tricks, *including* stupid warrior tricks.&nbsp; Pyroblast, Aimed Shot, and Ambush openers all made my list.&nbsp;
[right][snapback]91673[/snapback][/right]

Ambush is a perfectly fine openner if said Rogue immediately hits Feint.

[Mavfin]

I actually prefer to have a hunter with me on 5 man PUGs.&nbsp; I'll specifically ask for one even.

They are pretty good at marking a target, and random PUG people can understand the concept of focus fire when there is a HUGE RED ARROW over the target they are supposed to focus on.&nbsp; Makes for better group success rate.&nbsp; Though at 50+, 5 man PUGs are still a toss up, I had good luck with it up to ZF or so with pub groups.

Without a hunter I've found it's nearly impossible to hold aggro in PUGs because you get three people attacking three different targets, which inevitably leads to only holding one mob and not having enough rage to hold all three.
[right][snapback]91690[/snapback][/right]

Yeah, if I'm having to hold three regularly, then there's group problems. I have a rogue I run with a lot who we tell the group to assist, not me. I may hold a nasty melee while the rogue and the group nail the caster, or something like that, so I make sure they know not to assist me, assist the rogue. Of course, a 5-man and a raid are different too. In a raid, there's always 1 mob that I call the 'raid mob' It's dead, just doesn't know it yet. At half-health or less I'll stun it, leave it and go pick up another one if it's more threatening. If it's at half-health and the rest of the group is on it, the group will kill it in seconds.

And yeah, hunter's mark is very handy. Got a group of 4? (LBRS again). Mark one, sap 2, sheep the other, MT takes the marked one. Move mark when live one engaged. ZG, bats leading up to Jeklik. MT takes marked batrider, 2nd tank takes the unmarked one, the rest are trash mobs. And the list goes on. I've found a use for all the classes if well-played.