How does this 5-man look for PVE - Instances

[kllrwlf]

Here's a little background.

I generally don't run any instances because I'm on an East coast server but I'm West coast and play pretty late. Guild runs and PUGs are hard to find.

I already have the following toons (close to 70):
Hunter
Rogue
Priest
Warlock

The classes that I would like to play are:
Mage
Paladin
Druid
Shaman

Would this combo work for leveling and for going through all (or most) of the instances (up to level 69)?

1x Paladin (Tank)
3x Mage (DPS)
1x Druid (Healer?)

At 70, I could swap out toons if needed with the toons that I already have.

[Wilbur]

That group should do pretty well. Are you aiming to do any Heroics? It might be worth your while swapping out a single mage for a Warlock, if only to provide some extra off-tanking.

I'm not sure how viable a resto druid would be for heavy instance healing, I'd imagine it would do pretty well, plus you have the added versatility as well.

If you intend doing Heroics, I'd probably swap out the Druid for the Priest, however if you find you can cope quite well with the druid then keep it.

I can't really see the Hunter or the Rogue being of too much use to your instance team, so I'd probably not use them, however the Warlock and the Priest could definately be useful. One thing you have to take into consideration is how well you can synergise the team. Controlling several diffrent classes at the same time is fairly difficult to do, so sticking with a Paladin tank is definately a good move. Additionally, using a priest may be better as it probably requires less attention in order to heal effectively. 3x Mages are pretty easy to control, the only thing you might have problems with is selecting a diffrent target to CC with each mage, althoguh solultions to this have been posted up, take a look.


Good Luck :-)

[kllrwlf]

Thank you for the quick response! :)

If/when I run Heroics, I'll probably switch in the Priest (already lvl 63) and Warlock (already lvl 63) into the group and try different combinations.

I was more worried about the lvl 1-69 instances with this new group. :)

[Mattx10x]

What would be better for heroics?

Pally
Priest
3xMages

Or
Pally
Priest
3xLocks

Manually controlling 2 and 3 bots is a lot easier than 1+1+1+2

[ahnubis]

I am doing pally preist and 3 locks right now.

If I need to I can swap out a lock for a mage at 70 so either way it should be good for me.

[kllrwlf]

Damn, just realized something... Druids have to be Night Elves.

I planned on starting all 5 as Draenei to get them going together from the beginning.

How do you think this team would do from level 1-69 ?

Paladin - Tank
3x Mages - DPS
Shaman - Healer

[mxracer050]

Damn, just realized something... Druids have to be Night Elves.

I planned on starting all 5 as Draenei to get them going together from the beginning.

How do you think this team would do from level 1-69 ?

Paladin - Tank
3x Mages - DPS
Shaman - Healer

Looks like a solid group layout. I honestly don't have much experience with shamans, so I can't tell you how well they would do.

Group looks good though :)

[kayb]

That's the setup I'm running right now, level 54 yesterday. There are pros and cons with any kind of healer. I absolutely love disease and poison cleansing totems, it just takes away a whole lot of unnecessary micro. Tremor Totem comes in handy as well, and Earth Shield almost works like a HOT. 5xGift of the Naaru has also saved my ass a number of times. Chain Heal is no Prayer of Healing, but it works well for aoe healing still. I also use Stoneskin Totem when I pull large groups. Got the force of will trinket the other day, so my damage mitigation is stacking up.

Also I have my mages specced frost, and popping 3 water elementals on bosses is also very nice. Just gives alot of free dps with no micro attached. There's gonna be a problem with uneven threat in the later levels I suspect due to dps spiking (one mage critting 3-4 times in a row and effectively threatcapping all your dps), but I'll cross that bridge if I get there.

I have done all bosses in BRD on the lowlevel side of the bar, and I haven't encountered anything that I couldn't beat yet. The arena event gave me a few surprises. Wiped once on the Ogremage cause I didn't remember that he did an arcane explotion. The level 56 or 57 guy in arena who can drop the epic mail chest hit kinda hard, but I lived...barely. And the silencing bats caught me totally off guard, naturally I had forgotten that they aoe silence, so I wiped. I also wiped once on Gerstahn cause I didn't remember that she did an aoe fear. Next time I had Tremor Totem up, and it was pretty easy.

[kllrwlf]

That's the setup I'm running right now, level 54 yesterday. There are pros and cons with any kind of healer. I absolutely love disease and poison cleansing totems, it just takes away a whole lot of unnecessary micro. Tremor Totem comes in handy as well, and Earth Shield almost works like a HOT. 5xGift of the Naaru has also saved my ass a number of times. Chain Heal is no Prayer of Healing, but it works well for aoe healing still. I also use Stoneskin Totem when I pull large groups. Got the force of will trinket the other day, so my damage mitigation is stacking up.

Also I have my mages specced frost, and popping 3 water elementals on bosses is also very nice. Just gives alot of free dps with no micro attached. There's gonna be a problem with uneven threat in the later levels I suspect due to dps spiking (one mage critting 3-4 times in a row and effectively threatcapping all your dps), but I'll cross that bridge if I get there.

I have done all bosses in BRD on the lowlevel side of the bar, and I haven't encountered anything that I couldn't beat yet. The arena event gave me a few surprises. Wiped once on the Ogremage cause I didn't remember that he did an arcane explotion. The level 56 or 57 guy in arena who can drop the epic mail chest hit kinda hard, but I lived...barely. And the silencing bats caught me totally off guard, naturally I had forgotten that they aoe silence, so I wiped. I also wiped once on Gerstahn cause I didn't remember that she did an aoe fear. Next time I had Tremor Totem up, and it was pretty easy.

VERY COOL! :)

I'll also check out your blog.

I haven't done much instancing which is one of the main reasons why I would like to 5-box. I'm sure I'll be running a lot of them a lot of times while leveling. :)

Too bad the trial doesn't have Dranei, so off to buying the box set.

[Vyndree]

I planned on starting all 5 as Draenei to get them going together from the beginning.

If asthetics don't matter to you....
1. Roll a druid
2. Run to Darn
3. Boat to Darkshore
4. Boat to Exodar
5. Run to draenei noob starting area.

Thank the heavens there's a druid trainer next to the boat dock, and you didn't roll something like a warlock with no trainers on that entire continent.

Also be thankful you didn't have to do the dreaded Menethil run with a level 1 toon.

[kllrwlf]

If asthetics don't matter to you....
1. Roll a druid
2. Run to Darn
3. Boat to Darkshore
4. Boat to Exodar
5. Run to draenei noob starting area.

Thank the heavens there's a druid trainer next to the boat dock, and you didn't roll something like a warlock with no trainers on that entire continent.

Also be thankful you didn't have to do the dreaded Menethil run with a level 1 toon.

Wow! Didn't know that there was a Druid trainer near the dock!

Damn... now I don't know which I want... Druid or Shaman... what are the pros and cons of these 2 classes with my group?

[Fahn]

I can tell you for sure that unless your shaman is really well geared, it won't be able to keep all those characters up in the 70 instances.

I'd suggest Priest over the druid and shaman. Those group heals are needed on many of the boss fights later.

And, I'd suggest you stick with one DPS class type. 'lock and mage can get damn complicated in tough situations. The lock pets won't be worth it for off tanking anything in the 67+ instances.

[kllrwlf]

I can tell you for sure that unless your shaman is really well geared, it won't be able to keep all those characters up in the 70 instances.

I'd suggest Priest over the druid and shaman. Those group heals are needed on many of the boss fights later.

And, I'd suggest you stick with one DPS class type. 'lock and mage can get damn complicated in tough situations. The lock pets won't be worth it for off tanking anything in the 67+ instances.

I already have a high level Priest to use for the level 70 instances. :)

I'm just thinking about the 1-69 leveling and instances.

So from 1-69, which do you recommend? Druid or Shaman?

Right now, I'm leaning more towards to Druid... only as a personal preference with no idea about either class.

[Fahn]

Between the two, Druid.

You'll get more out of the Druid as they have proactive HoTs, and the primary enhancement for the group is a buff.

Shamans need to re stomp every pull typically So you'd need to be paying close attention. And until you get ES, you'd have no way for your tank to 'solo' a boss to get aggro for those first few seconds.

[Anonymous]

Between the two, Druid.

You'll get more out of the Druid as they have proactive HoTs, and the primary enhancement for the group is a buff.


I very much disagree.

Shaman providers a multitude of buffs via totems where as the druid only has one, which I consider rather useless to boot.

Tree of life aura could be considered a buf too but meh.



Shamans need to re stomp every pull typically So you'd need to be paying close attention. And until you get ES, you'd have no way for your tank to 'solo' a boss to get aggro for those first few seconds.

How would you provide threatless healing with a druid at early levels?

Earth shield is level 50, druids don't get Lifebloom until 64.

I'd consider a druid last as healer for pretty much any 5 man setup, multiboxing or not, seriously.

Went with a shaman myself for pretty much same setup since I have a priest sitting at 70 if chain heal doesn't cut it.

[kalih]

Shaman providers a multitude of buffs via totems where as the druid only has one, which I consider rather useless to boot.


You consider it useless? Really?

[Fahn]

Shaman providers a multitude of buffs via totems where as the druid only has one, which I consider rather useless to boot.

Tree of life aura could be considered a buf too but meh.


True, they do provide quite a few buffs. This is a great thing in most situations. But when you're 4+ boxing it is typically more trouble than it's worth. The added macro needed for stomping is yet another key you would have to worry about.

While MotW isn't super, at least it has a decent duration, and covers resists, stats & armor in one swoop.



How would you provide threatless healing with a druid at early levels?

Earth shield is level 50, druids don't get Lifebloom until 64.


Rejuvenation + Regrowth just before running in. Those have plenty of duration for most tanks to get aggro before needing heals.

[kllrwlf]

I've decided with

1x Paladin
3x Mages
1x Shaman

I also asked in WoW's forums in the Shaman and Druid sections, and both classes suggested Shaman overall.

Heh... I could always get a Druid later on if it doesn't work out. :)

So now, which specs for the Mages?

From what I've read, Frost would be best... but would it be best for all 3 to be Frost? Or 1 Frost and 2 Fire?

[Kilh]

Rejuvenation + Regrowth just before running in. Those have plenty of duration for most tanks to get aggro before needing heals.

Those generate threat on the healer, just as a direct heal would do, where as Earthshield, PoM and the finishing component of Lifebloom does not.

The only reason you might not notice this is consecration on multiple mob pulls. Otherwise all the mobs the tank only has proximity threat on would beeline straight for the druid, first time one of the HOTs tick.

[sanix]

I'd go with priest or shaman because they have group heals witch is easier when shit hits the fan, just spam the aoe heals.
Druids are great healers when well geared but for 5 men they are probably my last choice.
Imo, as a multi boxer the easiest choices are priest then shaman but i'm new to multi boxing so maybe there is something I haven't seen yet.

[laeelin]

I know I'm loving my Paladin + Mage + Mage + Mage + Priest group :)

On the subject of shaman vs priest... shaman can self rez for wipe recovery. Thats the one thing I really wish I had in my group.