Yet another AOE farming postFollow

Just started blizzard AOE farming, and I gotta say, it's a blast. I
started at level 48 and am currently 51. Did mostly List Rigger Cove
and mobs in the Hinterlands. I first tried random mobs in Tanaris (bugs
and hyenas, but died a bunch due to timing issues, poor target choice
and not knowing when to bail). It only took 4-5 deaths and running back
from gy before I got the hang of things. In addition to the excellent
posts, I have the following observations.

1. When you are learning, try mobs of 2-3 monsters or near a gy. The
timing of blinking and blizzarding is just as valid for the smaller
groups. If you can kill them without them hitting ya, then you are
getting the hang of things and can try larger groups.

2. Keep your fattest mana gem handy. It can give you juice when you
need it. A mana pot can also be used without shame.

3. Rank 1 frost nova, rank 1 frost nova, rank 1 frost nova.

4. Mage armor >> ice armor for mana regen and not slowing gathers.
Practice with the ice armor if you like, but once you get the hang of
things, go to ice.

5. No frostbite. If you have frostbite and want to blizzard farm, respec.

6. Don't try to gather too far. If you run too far just getting that
one last guy, the first few will start to run back and evade. Finding
just how far you can ride before the first mob starts pealing off takes
practice.

6. If your ice barrier is still up, pause for a second while they are
beating on you after you have gathered before your first frost nova. It
will keep em tighter grouped

7. You don’t need to separately dismount when you are ready for your
first frost nova; just cast the nova and you will dismounts.

8. You often have a choice on which direction to go with your first
blink. It is best to blink back to the area the monsters were before
you gathered them. This makes adds much less likely unless they patrol

9. If mana is not a problem, you can put ice barrier up again between
the first and second blizzard.


A few points if you find a pull is going badly:
A. Remember your panic button, cold snap. Can give you an extra frost
nova (or extra water elemental). Put back up your ice shield if you
need it.

B. Once you hit 50, water elemental is a great panic button. Summon
the big buy for a freeze. He can also help you regroup them and can
help if a monster has wandered in, either with freeze to add the add to
group or to just solo the monster (since the new one has not been
attacked by you, you should be low on his threat meter).

C. Don't be afraid to bail if (A and B) above fail. I know you have 8
monsters down to half health, but that patrol of 2 new casters who just
started fireballing you won't go away by themselves. In the words of
brave, brave Sir Robin "Run away."

Since choice of targets is key to success, use the general rules for
choosing targets. The best are has the following.

Flat terrain with no obstacles and room to run away
Tightly packed monsters
Few patrols
No casters, ranged attackers, stealthers
Fast respawn rate


To me beasts, as long as they don't have dash, are ideal if you can find
places they are packed in. I would think the raptors in Stranglethorn
vale would be great. There are a variety of levels there (32-40), they
are pretty densely packed and not many people farming.

If you have leveled beyond, exhausted or been exhausted by lost rigger
cove, I had good luck in the hinterlands. Running between the troll
camps (outside scalpers only, no soothsayers) the slimes/oozes and the
wolf/owlbear trash). I never needed to make it further west, but the
wolves and griffons would be good too.

I plan to hit the slimes, bears and wolves in Felwood soon, once my xp
bar goes back to blue.


WARNING:
Once you get hooked on AOE farming, you will become jaded and nothing
else will do. Quests with casters become much less appealing. If you
see a single quest kill (even noncaster) you will pass him by looking
for a group. Your skills fighting lone monsters will atrophy.

I am reminded of Fezzik in the Princess Bride

FEZZIK
I just feared you would give me so much trouble.

THE MAN IN BLACK
Why is that, do you think?

FEZZIK
Well, I haven't fought just one person for so long ... [struggling] ...
I've been specializing in groups - fighting gangs for local charities,
that kind of thing.

THE MAN IN BLACK
Why should that make such a ... difference?

FEZZIK
[Slowing down] You see, you use different moves when your fighting half
a dozen people, than when you only have to worry about one.

FEZZIK falls to the ground, unconscious.