07-13-2005, 12:31 AM
Thanks for the guide. My comments below are based on my experience with my level 56 frost mage.
Most of the time I leave the pulling to the tank. The one major exception is the sheep pull wherein I sheep a mob and the other mobs make a beeline for me. However, in this situation it is or should be easy for the tank to intercept them before they get to me.
If I do pull, I use frostbolt. I have rarely found this to be a problem.
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The one situation which you did not address is the AoE spells against multiple nonelite mobs. The mage can perform a great service by taking out the group, but if it is not done correctly it will end with the mage's death, and possibly even a total group wipe thereafter.
1. If there are only 3 or 4 mobs, and your tank and main assist are good at holding aggro, just wait a little while before you start. Make sure that you are at some distance from the mobs. Fire off a blizzard. I have improved blizzard and frostbite, so even if I do pull one of the mobs away from the tank, I have plenty of time to react.
2. Make sure that the healer knows that he might have to look out for you. There are situations with multiple non elite mobs where the mobs are most definitely going to aggro you. Essentially, the healer then needs to focus on you rather than the tank. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this situation as long as you and the healer can work together.
3. Sometimes it is better not to AoE, and just take the targets one at a time, focussing on attacking the main assist's target. If the mobs can be done this way without party members dying,it is a safer option for the mage.
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I used to use scorch all the time in instances, but rarely do anymore. I tend to use frostbolt extensively. The key is to pause for a second or two between each bolt. However, I almost always am in pickup groups, and at times the tank simply cannot hold aggro. In those groups, I will wait extra long before I ever fire a frostbolt, and I use my wand a lot.
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The decision whether to attack back against a mob should be based on whether you believe that you can kill or kite that mob, and what effect it will have on the group.
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I have on occasion intentionally drawn aggro to myself in order to protect the priest. This is not a great thing to do, and not really the mage's job. However, if the tank isn't taking care of the priest, what else can you do? Sometimes frost nova does the trick here to give the priest some breathing room. It doesn't hurt to tell the priest that you will use nova to help him so that he will be mentally prepared for the eventuality should it happen.
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I duo a lot with Concillian's priest. He gives a nice description of what we do at this link:
http://www.lurkerlounge.com/forums/index.p...st=&#entry81675
Most of the time I leave the pulling to the tank. The one major exception is the sheep pull wherein I sheep a mob and the other mobs make a beeline for me. However, in this situation it is or should be easy for the tank to intercept them before they get to me.
If I do pull, I use frostbolt. I have rarely found this to be a problem.
---------
The one situation which you did not address is the AoE spells against multiple nonelite mobs. The mage can perform a great service by taking out the group, but if it is not done correctly it will end with the mage's death, and possibly even a total group wipe thereafter.
1. If there are only 3 or 4 mobs, and your tank and main assist are good at holding aggro, just wait a little while before you start. Make sure that you are at some distance from the mobs. Fire off a blizzard. I have improved blizzard and frostbite, so even if I do pull one of the mobs away from the tank, I have plenty of time to react.
2. Make sure that the healer knows that he might have to look out for you. There are situations with multiple non elite mobs where the mobs are most definitely going to aggro you. Essentially, the healer then needs to focus on you rather than the tank. There is absolutely nothing wrong with this situation as long as you and the healer can work together.
3. Sometimes it is better not to AoE, and just take the targets one at a time, focussing on attacking the main assist's target. If the mobs can be done this way without party members dying,it is a safer option for the mage.
---------
I used to use scorch all the time in instances, but rarely do anymore. I tend to use frostbolt extensively. The key is to pause for a second or two between each bolt. However, I almost always am in pickup groups, and at times the tank simply cannot hold aggro. In those groups, I will wait extra long before I ever fire a frostbolt, and I use my wand a lot.
---------
The decision whether to attack back against a mob should be based on whether you believe that you can kill or kite that mob, and what effect it will have on the group.
--------
I have on occasion intentionally drawn aggro to myself in order to protect the priest. This is not a great thing to do, and not really the mage's job. However, if the tank isn't taking care of the priest, what else can you do? Sometimes frost nova does the trick here to give the priest some breathing room. It doesn't hurt to tell the priest that you will use nova to help him so that he will be mentally prepared for the eventuality should it happen.
--------
I duo a lot with Concillian's priest. He gives a nice description of what we do at this link:
http://www.lurkerlounge.com/forums/index.p...st=&#entry81675