For quite a while now I've been wanting to figure out how to go about creating and editing videos. So, a few weeks back when I was PLing my shaman through SM I decided it would be a good time to start playing with it because it was boooooring.
This is what I came up with. There's no sound/music, and the quality is pretty bad I know. I'm going to work on that a little in the future. However, it does show what I feel are pretty good pull points for a reasonably, but not exceptionally, geared 70 mage. Maybe it can help anybody that's looking to do this in the future.
M_J Edit: Made it higher res using the "&fmt=6" trick.
Using this approach, I was finishing a gy/lib run in about 15 minutes which was equating to a level every 30 (at level 23) - 1 hour (around 30), for four toons. Can't be to unhappy about that.
A few thoughts:
I was running a spec something like this. Any experienced mage that looked at my armory in that week or so thought I was batshit, but remember, I was singly interested in optimizing this style of play. No fireballs, no scorches, no range needed (all AOEing). Arcane Fortitude is great against this level mob. Magic Absorption, normally a crap talent, was godly. I could run around all day resisting spells and getting 5% of my mana back each time. There were times when I would have 4 or so casters when, between this talent and imp mana shield, I think I could have just tanked them until they died off my molten armor or they ran out of mana. Whatever else this build was, it was fun to try something kind of out there. :)
Use rank1 Arcane Explosion when pulling.
Don't use Molten Armor. If you plan to use the Frost Nova + Flame Strike combo, right after you FN you'll get a hit a few times, which will proc Molten, which might break the FN. Even if you aren't using this combo, with the build I had MA can proc ignite, which would delay my roundup. I thought about dropping ignite for exactly this reason (since the MA procs really do add up), but decided it wasn't worth. Shit was dying just fine. :P
Don't use Ice Armor. It slows the mobs, and as you can see, I'm already spending a fair amount of time waiting for stranglers to begin AOEing.
When you are rounding up mobs, don't worry about getting every last one. You'll see in a couple of places that I skip a singletons. You are better off grabbing what's easy, medding up, and going on to the next group.
Run at least two wings per reset. Doing this, you'll have a constant supply of stuff to kill, and you'll never hit a reset limit.
Try to defer aggro-ing a mob until the last possible moment. The less time you have them beating on you, the more you can pull at once, the more xp/hour. You'll see me blink past a few mobs or just step around them on the way in and get them on the way back.
Ice lance is your friend.
Try to balance your health and mana (but remember you'll burn a ton when you actually start AOEing). Don't mana shield if you have plenty of life. Do mana shield if you are getting low on life, you can always gem, evocate, etc.
If you position your PowerLevelees in the correct spot (just before the second to last room from Doan, see video at approx 6:32 to see where mine were), they will get the XP from Doan's room, so you can pull the rest and finish them in there (as I do in the video).
Try to land at least one hit on all mobs when you are pulling. Even a little Rank1 AE makes them a LOT less likely to leash back to their spawn point than just proximity aggro.
Yes, these level 30 mobs will Hand of Justice you. A lot (see video). It's stupid, but be ready for it (save your blink, especially if you're low).
LOS...LOS...LOS. :)
03-17-2008, 05:47 PM
Stabface
That's actually really good video quality for YouTube!
I'm curious as to why you didn't go with Frost spec for AoEing ? Seems to be superior for AoE... I could be missing something though.
03-17-2008, 06:24 PM
BobGnarly
In big outdoor situations, where I have plenty of room to run around and pick up mobs without getting hit too much, I do like frost better since you have the greater control with all the snares. It's much better at keeping a group of 20 even con mobs, which will kill you fast, at a distance. However, in a situation like this (couldn't have toons follow or they would auto-agro everything, so I had to make a loop and come back) where I'm taking a few hits, I find that fire is actually faster. You can see the explosiveness of the actual AOE, and maybe you can't tell from the video, but I was usually at 50-75% mana after I finished which means a quick drink and I'm off to the next.
In short, I feel that fire is more efficient given these circumstances.
Plus, it's more fun! :D
03-18-2008, 04:49 AM
Lorune
Just wondering, did you also have the blazing speed talent ?
i found it helps me reduce damage taken by ALOT when aoe'ing :)
03-18-2008, 05:49 AM
Majestic_Clown
Just to let you know, I edited the video link to make it high quality due to some interesting info about youtube a user posted :D enjoy higher resolution :D
03-18-2008, 03:29 PM
BobGnarly
Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Lorune',index.php?page=Thread&postID=44127#post44 127
Just wondering, did you also have the blazing speed talent ?
i found it helps me reduce damage taken by ALOT when aoe'ing :)
I did, sorry if I didn't have it in that spec. You're right, it's great for getting some room on the mobs.
Quote:
Originally Posted by 'Majestic_Clown',index.php?page=Thread&postID=4413 7#post44137
Just to let you know, I edited the video link to make it high quality due to some interesting info about youtube a user posted :D enjoy higher resolution :D
Thanks! I was looking for that option after I read about it, but the video didn't seem to have it enabled yet I guess. :)
03-18-2008, 04:24 PM
Lyonheart
http://www.veoh.com/videos/v6421043HNaHQspa this is mine ( posted a few posted below this one ) doing cath.. i think its set up better for ae grinding and has better loot/exp per kill.
I used rank 1AE to pull as well and ice lance for far away mobs. And my gear is shit so i needed heals for my big pulls.. but 4 shamies healing me was easy. I just had their heal and my high rank AE bound to the same button.. so as I spammed.. they healed.
