[4xShaman Arena] Tactics Implemented, Some Video Commentary

[Boylston]

It's premature to start calling me "Ellay Junior", but...

I DID have my partner record some matches from last week since we've been using Ellay's new advice. We got a lot of practice in, and this movie has my commentary added about a few matches-- some wins and some losses.

Forgive the narration, since I have quite a bit of a head cold. The sniffles and mouth breathing are free-- at least I didn't say "you know" 10,000 times.

Lightning Overload 5v5 Arena - A success story (in progress):
http://files.filefront.com/LO+Arena+2008+04wmv/;10066153;/fileinfo.html

[Eteocles]

at least I didn't say "you know" 10,000 times

I lol'd.

[Xzin]

I know.

[Ellay]

I didn't notice it <3 Xzin.

[Mosg2]

I'm no Ellay either, but I did notice a bit that might help :)

Fight 1: IMO~, you should have redropped your whole totem set outside to make sure that your Searing totems and Tremors are able to be used to full effect. Also, in this arena I've found that it's easier to wait *just* outside so that they have to almost completely abandon the tomb in the middle in order to do anything to me. This way it's much much harder for them to LoS me.

Fight 2: I noticed that throughout all the fights you generally don't re-do Bloodlust :) Bad bad bad Boylston! Also, you probably should've redropped your Grounding totems there. In my fights they are always on cooldown.

Fight 3: GG.

Fight 4: Bloodlust!

Fight 5: Bloodlust!

[Ellay]

I'm in agreement with the above post on fight #1 for redropping totems. The totems inside are only meant for a potential rush so you don't have to waste time dropping them when you need to be putting pressure on the enemy.
As well for the first fight, I might of missed it but assist your healer in keeping you alive :) If I don't drop a target in 1-2 Lightning Bolt Volleys followed up a Chain Lightning and Earthshock I make sure my health levels are good and usually switch off to a new target.

On the last fight, you saw your mistake, but your healer needs to work on positioning as well. He sat there and got Mana Burned completely, just needs to utilize pillars and LoS objects.

Overall I really enjoyed the movie and you'll be at the same level I'm at in no time~!

[Boylston]

Fight 1: IMO~, you should have redropped your whole totem set outside to make sure that your Searing totems and Tremors are able to be used to full effect. Also, in this arena I've found that it's easier to wait *just* outside so that they have to almost completely abandon the tomb in the middle in order to do anything to me. This way it's much much harder for them to LoS me.I think we've gotten better in Ruins of Lorderon since that first video was made. I'm definitely laying a second set of totems out front beyond the initial "anti-rush" set. Also, I'm trying not to get too far out into the arena to mitigate tomb LoS fun, but I run into odd camera problems being too close to the doorway. We're getting better here, but it's still my least favorite arena.
Fight 4: Bloodlust!

Fight 5: Bloodlust!Trying to work on this. I'm finding there's actually a lot of value in burning some GCDs to get everyone in tip-top shape. I hate burning it and then seeing their entire team retreat until it wears off, but maybe I need to get better about using it once the first target dies.
Also, you probably should've redropped your Grounding totems there. In my fights they are always on cooldown.Also working on this. I seem to do better when there's multiple ranged spellcasters, but to be honest it's a good habit to get into with even a single spellcaster. I need to make grounding totems (and water shield) a part of my between-kill spellcasting routine.

As well for the first fight, I might of missed it but assist your healer in keeping you alive :) If I don't drop a target in 1-2 Lightning Bolt Volleys followed up a Chain Lightning and Earthshock I make sure my health levels are good and usually switch off to a new target.Good advice. Thanks!


I really appreciate that folks took the time to watch the video, bear with my stuffy nose/cold narrative, and comment with their feedback. I'm happier with how we're doing-- especially since the 3 new shaman are really just starting to get decently geared. (Still just 1 piece of vengeful and a lot of things that need addressing, gear-wise).

[Kicksome]

That was a great video - thanks for sharing it. I learned a bunch of new things - like the ghost wolf form = can't sap.

[Kyudo]

Boylston, tnx a lot for posting this, I think a lot of your experiences are very similar to mine.

I also need to work of rebuffing Bloodlust/Heroism.

Fight 1 definately needed patience.... even if they come close, just purge, if they are gonna run off without dying, hardly worth more than one volley, just wastes mana. And in similar situations, but with hunter, not lock sniping at you, make sure to rebuff mana shield... this way he'll waste more mana than you from multishot.

Fights 2 3 and 4 show how you've learned, gj.

Fight 5, imo, you made the decision to move way too late... Either move early once you know it's a caster team, or dont move at all... If you move early, they'll rarely have the guts to rush you, giving you time to plant the totem farm... Also contrary to Ellay, my PvP totem sequence means I lay 3xGrounding, 1xTremor, rather than 4x Grounding on my 1st drop... Dunno, maybe this would have helped in the 5th fight.

What I still have problems with atm is the coordinated rogue/druid attack to the rear. I can't help it distracting me... Turning to try to take out the rogue, which then leaves me exposed from the front... Particularly in Nagrand...

I've found in my last 20 or so games that if it comes down to a patience game, as perfectly demonstrated by Ellay, we win 90% of the time, even vs better geared teams. purging is really ftw... and they tend to spend more mana sniping than we do softening them up.

Warriors also go down quick after a quick purge these days.... Will post more after our 10+ on Saturday.... Keep up the good work my fellow shammies :D

Cheers
Ky