Hello DB'ers! One question here, about PvE setup :) Help <3

[Zartox]

Hello everyone, I'm new to Dual-Boxing. Just started up a 5-boxing PvE team with the following: 1xprotpala - 3xelemental - 1x Resto

My question is:
What is the "best" setup for p u r e PVE setup? And have WOTLK in mind when adding your comment.
I have been looking into 4x locks (UA?SL/SL??) - 1x priest(Shadow?Holy/disc?) maybe adding a tank? ||and|| 1x protpala - 1x mage(fire?frost?) - 1x elemental - 1x boomkin - 1xshadowpriest
You are more than welcome to come with new setups!

-My goal is to be able to solo heroics with the help of just me.
-It doe not mather the time it takes to learn all the macros and setting it up.

PS: I have done a lot of research on the forum and the DB wiki. But did not get any satisfying answer.

Yours,
Zartox

[davedontmind]

Hello!

I'm new at this too, but thought I'd share my opinion anyway. My goals are pretty much the same as yours; I'm aiming at PvE content, especially instances, normal and heroic.

So far I'm 3 weeks in. The first 2 weeks were spent levelling 5 elemental shamans to 60. I then used the RaF bonus levels to give me a "free" level 60.99 prot paladin which I've now switched for the 1st shaman. I imagine this is a much quicker way to level that 4x shaman & 1x paladin, due to the extra firepower of the 5th shaman (outside instances, my paladin just stands there while the 4 remaining shamans do the killing...). But bear in mind the "free" level 60 isn't actually free. It cost me around 400-500g to equip that new paladin with spells & armour etc (and another few evenings to level her skinning & herbalism to 300!).

I can't contrast with other group combinations, because this is my first group, but I'm loving the combination so far and everything is easy-mode (except for a few dragons in Sunken Temple and some elementals in Dire Maul which are immune to lightning bolt - those fights were a bit more challenging!). Having the protection paladin is great - allow him to get aggro and it's hard to pul everything off.

I've not yet found need to respec anyone resto. I have a macro set up so that one shaman can heal my paladin while the others DPS, but mostly they all just DPS.

[Zartox]

Hello!
great response davedontmind ('http://www.dual-boxing.com/forums/index.php?page=User&userID=14678')! :)

Yeah, I was thinking it would be a great setup too, but I imagen that you might need a resto one at heroics? even tho it is resto it could do some dps with LB's.
But after seeing Pros and Cons I found out this:

-Takes a lot more time to gear up because they need the same stats and geartype. Imagen the 1x protpala - 1x mage - 1x elemental - 1x boomkin - 1xshadowpriest setup.
Paladin: Plate. Mage, Priest: Cloth. Shaman: Mail. Druid: Leather. But ofc, spelldmg is spelldmg so your shammys could just go all-around with mixed types.
-Good thing about 4x shamans is that its much easier to setup spells and macros. And a lot of nice totembuffs
-4x locks and 1x priest would lack tanking in heroic i guess, but prolly a lot of fun with all those dots :)

What do you think?

Yours,
Zartox

[Zartox]

Going for the 4x shaman + paladin after a lot of researching today:)

[Hachoo]

Yes for PvE 4 shaman + 1 paladin is much better than 5 shaman.

Also you probably shouldn't have spent ANY money to gear your paladin. You could have done about 3 hours worth of quests in HFP/zangar with your group and fully geared your paladin with outlands gear and walked right into ramps.

Good luck! I have 5 shamans with a paladin sub. Instances are (usually) easier (but slower) with 1x paladin 4x shaman, but for PvP 5x shamans is infinitely better IMO. Although now I'm doing Spriest + 4 locks and I think thast even better for PvP (because they're all undead).

[wizofid]

I wish we could get a good debate on the merits of 1 tank + 4 shammies versus 5 shammies for PVE. I guess I have bought into the Wii page on this subject:

http://www.dual-boxing.com/wiki/index.php/PVEing_w/_5_shaman_groups

I have also seen the video of Magister's Terrace being soloed by 5 shammies in Heroic mode.

I will have to make a decision once I have boosted my 4 shammies to 60 and am about to gift my levels to my 5th. Will it be a pally or a shammy?

Tank and spank is a lot different playstyle from just SPANK and i guess I always thought SC totem and elementals would be enough to handle any tanking needs while allowing full 5x DPS. I would like to hear what other people have to say.

[Zartox]

Very good perspectives on 5shaman /4shaman+1pala

I think I'll boost my self and gift my other toon. But how does that work rlly? the Main account gets to give lvls to another account linked? Because without the main account you do not get RAF xp :o
Then I'm not able to get 5 up to 60? you can only have 5 people in the grp, 4 of them is RAF and the 1 boosting is not

And how much more time does it take to just quest normaly?

[Ualaa]

The fewer classes you have, the more efficient your set up will be.

With just one class, you could have every ability available for casting.
With five different classes, you probably have to choose the most useful 4-5 abilities per toon.
Granted Paladin/Shaman is two classes and not five, but it still forces you to discard less used abilities.

The paladin is currently the best AoE tank. Prior to WotLK, the Pally is the multi-boxer tank of choice.
In WotLK, every tank will be able to hit everything in melee range, with their AoE moves: Thunderclap, Whirlwind, Swipe, etc.
So, for the future, other tanks might become very good options too.

In general, play a melee toon (tank) and hotkey the ranged toons works well.
A tank can survive numerous pulls where the squishies would not.

On the flip side, a 5th shaman gives you an extra four totems and a lot more firepower.
As a 62, without pre-BC raid gear, Ramparts won't be easy without a tank.
With a lot of crafted/raid/badge/arena gear on every toon at 70, you might outgear most heroics and have an easier time with them.
The concern should be your relative strength while leveling or gearing up.

[wizofid]

I think Pallys are always going to be prefered (IMHO) with their ability to heal themselves, divine intervention, and with their buffs. A warrior might be able to take more dmg, but thats it. A druid can't heal themselves in bear form but i would think would be better than a warrior.

I already have a fully geared druid, but my paladin has been stalled at 52 for 4 years lol. Maybe its time to give him some free levels and use him to level up to 70 with the shamans.

[wizofid]

Oh and one more thing Ualaa... it is my hope that my team can "gear up" by running instances doing the natural progression of regulars and then moving to heroics. I don't want this team to be dependant on BG, crafting or raid gear.

[Griznah]

My signature. Love the team, will be even better in WotLK.

[Bigdady92]

Also remember that in wrath I believe that druids get a 'normal' rez as well as their battle rez.

Imagine 1 bear and 4 lazer turkeys blasting away on stuff, and if the mood strikes you have 5 bears tearing stuff up!