Need advice on PVP in/near towns

[moog]

My L70 Shammy team is on Argent Dawn EU, a RP-PVE server, but I've been flagged since the mid-50s and didn't suffer a death until 2x70 Rogues jumped me at 69.

Anyway, working on my dailies and had a lot of PVP on the Isle of QD today and don't understand some of what happened, so am looking for advice.

I was in 'town' just outside the phase 1 hut and a blue warlock hit my main with SoC.
I turned and 1-shotted him down but was duly guard-whacked, whilst he had no guards on him or his corpse.
He was definitely in town, as he was in more towards the middle of the town, not away towards the woods.
How was this possible... I was attacked, responded, and ended up with 5 guard-whacked shammies

Later, 3 or 4 blue hordies (mixture of brave warlocks and warriors... ooh, so brave in their bright blue outfits) followed me to the Inn, where I was handing in, and attacked.
Having been attacked, I turned and responded and was guard-whacked again!
I take it you cannot retaliate in town at all?

Later, a pally started hitting on my main in town and I just healed whilst the guards whacked him.
Luckily healing is not 'aggressive' as far as the authorities are concerned

So can anyone explain PVP in/near towns... I want to avoid more repair bills x 5, please!

[Ughmahedhurtz]

On my shammies in neutral towns, I just drop grounding totems and heal while laughing. Pay close attention, though, as there are spots where people can exploit so the guards can't touch 'em. I've seen a few spots around the Cenarion inn, Zangarmarsh, where people can avoid the guards. Technically it's exploiting but GMs just shrug it off as there's a "PVP" solution.

[Mac]

Watch out dropping some totems too. I think it was Earthbind I had in one group that aggro'd the npc on my group one time.

[antishadow]

The guards on the isle are broken. there are a ton of places you can stand and attack without the guards going after you. Its a horribly broken area. :-( Nothing really you can do except not to retaliate and to move away from the guards first with hope that the opposing faction will follow.

[Ughmahedhurtz]

Watch out dropping some totems too. I think it was Earthbind I had in one group that aggro'd the npc on my group one time.

Totems work just like spells. If it's a defensive buff/heal applied to friends, no guard aggro. If it's any sort of offensive dmg/root/debuff/etc., guard aggro.