Trying to upsize my three box group to a five box for instances

[ockhamsrazor]

I currently have a Prot Pally, Holy Priest and Frost Mage. I want to add two more dps to do Outlands instances.

I've been reading a lot of comments that boxing 5 different classes is very difficult. However I'm very reluctant to add two more mages because ideally I'd like to solo the chars somewhat frequently and I can't see having three mages in my list of chars.

It seems to me that adding certain classes would make it too difficult, like any form of dps melee that I have to constantly position along with the pally tank. Do you think that adding 2 more casters of different types would be feasible, like say a Shammy and a Lock? So essentially the mage, shammy and lock would all be ranged casters that I can use one keyed macro with cast sequences for all of them to dps?

[mlwhitt]

Maybe consider adding 2 Locks for DPS (also wipe protection via soulstone) or 2 Elem Shaman (also wipe protection) or consider 2 Moonkin Druids. one thing you might want to consider is switching to fire and maybe adding two more fire mages to the mix. Every 3 minutes you can clean house with 3 x POM/Pyro and then that way you only have to worry about 3 classes to control.

[Aethon]

Well, you could try to add classes that are similar to the classes you have now. Balance druids are similar to shamans. Or a feral druid and a rogue are pretty nice as long as you can effectively manage the 3 melee classes (your pally + 2) plus you have a benifit of another 'oh shit' button on either. Battle res for the druid and if you take engineering on the rogue, vanish/jumper cables (get the XL's significantly higher sucess chance)

[ockhamsrazor]

Well that's exactly what I'm trying to avoid, multiple of the same class. I haven't really played dps casters before so I'm just not familiar enough with the spells and talents to know how feasible it is to treat three different dps caster classes as one essentially.

Does it really matter that the mage casts fireball->fireball->fireball, the shammy lightning->lightning->lighting and the lock dot->dot->dot.... Is it REALLY that hard to handle? I mean they are all ranged, they all just cast a dps spell, and I don't have to manually move them around since they are ranged.

[roddo]

Locks dots aren't as efficient in ym experience in groups with lots of burst, which you'd have with the mage and either a shaman or boomkin. I'd say go shammy and boomkin for your other 2 dps, they can both heal, totems are good in caster heavy groups (or melee heavy, not as good in mixed with only one shammy) and the druid bring battle rezz, buffs and scouting ability with prowl, and can offtank in a pinch in bear form.

[wetstreet]

Does it really matter that the mage casts fireball->fireball->fireball, the shammy lightning->lightning->lighting and the lock dot->dot->dot.... Is it REALLY that hard to handle? I mean they are all ranged, they all just cast a dps spell, and I don't have to manually move them around since they are ranged.

That's the easy part and exactly why many people prefer to limit the number of classes they have. With multiple classes you have multiple options. For example, in my current group I have two hunters specifically to deal with two different targets on top of the ones the prot pally has locked down. I can micro manage the priest if I really need to but I have to switch to the pally if she needs to move to catch a runaway and none of the pets are available to send after it.

Granted, my group is still very low-level because I've rebuilt it several times trying to get the dynamics I want. While I can grind through quests quickly I have much more fun when everything is falling apart yet I can pull through it.

[-silencer-]

Granted, my group is still very low-level because I've rebuilt it several times trying to get the dynamics I want. While I can grind through quests quickly I have much more fun when everything is falling apart yet I can pull through it. :D

Everything falling apart but managing to pull through... Trust me, that'll happen even with the "optimal" pal/4xshaman or 5x shaman groups at lvl 70. Unless you do the PvP grind for major gear upgrades immediately, get ready for some rough learning curves with your group (AC:Shirrak, Sethekk:Ikiss, SL:Blackheart/Murmur, BM). Maybe because the shammies and pally have so many different skills available, but sometimes it's crazy how many choices we have to make without half a second to think about it in some big fights, and we're only dealing with 1-2 classes.

[wetstreet]

Oh, I know how crazy it gets later on, but somehow it just wasn't crazy enough. 8| Once I get into leveling and on to the higher levels, I'll write up what I'm doing to manage it all.

[mlwhitt]

SL:Blackheart

Aw the boss that can make even a well together group of 5 players want to cry. I loathe the day I try to run a box team in Shadow Labs.

[ockhamsrazor]

Ok I'll give a Shammy and Boomkin a shot and see what comes of it :-)