So, my mage is up to level 24 now...
I've specced him for frost AoE because it sounds so much more interesting and *different* than vanilla 1-on-1 melee dps. I love my druid, but we all need a change some times.
So far I've discovered that 1) Mages can't handle being meleed even for a 'short' time (I must get out of my sloppy druid ways where accidentally aggroing mobs really isn't an issue) 2) Due to this, any small mistake means my death and 3) I die a lot.
I'm actually having more fun that I thought I would, but please tell me it gets easier to AoE!
The issue right now I think is the lack of a mount - it's really hard to round up enough guys without them getting me down half health in the process. Plus I don't have CoC right now which I've read is a vital part of the AoE toolbox.
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If you have read the guides for AoE, it really comes down to having a mount makes it a lot easier, that plus ice barrier = easy time. Beyond that you have to depend on mana shield which cuts into your survivability if you run oom. I normally recommend waiting until the mid-30s to do it.
I'm lvl 24 also and with good gears + stacking stamina with enchants=having a ball grinding 5 to 6 at the time easily ( i got 1100 health). I kill casters and then unload on the camps...lots of fun. Stack stamina and you won't die guarantee.(frost spec)
Quote:
So far I've discovered that 1) Mages can't handle being meleed even for a 'short' time (I must get out of my sloppy druid ways where accidentally aggroing mobs really isn't an issue) 2) Due to this, any small mistake means my death and 3) I die a lot.
It definitely is an adjustment from virtually any other class, in that as a mage you cannot take damage. As a druid, even a balance druid, you can cast away and then finish the mob with a whack or two of your staff, or go feral to finish things, if you like, without losing much. As a mage, you just simply never, ever, ever want to melee. You have to learn to be very good at kiting so that it becomes intuitive for you to be able to kite without aggroing anything you do not want to aggro.
What it takes is just getting used to using the tools that the class gives you. Use your frost spells to slow the mobs, use frost nova when they are on you, strafe away and turn quickly and take them down, or AOE multiples. It's about changing your mindset towards one where your primary goal is to control the battlefield at all times. It takes some getting used to, primarily because, as you now know, the margin for error is very thin if you push the envelope instead of staying focused on control. If you are able to convert your mind to being focused on control, however, you will find that your margin for error becomes a lot bigger, simply because you are in fundamental control of virtually every situation, and simply do not place yourself in situations where you cannot exercise that degree of control.
The AOE playstyle really becomes more feasible in the 40s, when you have a mount and just better spells and skills. But even an AOE mage needs to be able to play the non-AOE kiting type mage for non-AOE situations (of which there are many in the game).
Once you get used to the whole chill effects and frost nova thing u really wont get hit too much by melee and if you do they usually dont live too long after anyways...It just takes some times to get use to the way you fight with a mage...If u fight a caster just counterspell and fire away....Long range mobs like hunters are easy once u get ice barrier....So mages are built to be able to take on any kind of mob in one way or another..just takes some time to get it down
Edited, Apr 22nd 2008 3:35pm by xxmnemosynexx
Edited, Apr 22nd 2008 3:35pm by xxmnemosynexx
RAWDEAL
? you have me curious now , with enchants and passable gear i have 507 health and 1621 manna with buffs at level 23 and i still can almost run out of manna so how do you manage ??
As a level 23 Bloodelf i find the Mana Tap a great help with my game against casters , Blink is a must use when in trouble as well either to get close to a mob or get away , so far i find depending on the mob it can be used either way , As for AoE farming well at level 24 it is just not a high enough level , i can deal with perhaps two my level at a time , any more than that and i am out of manna and in trouble , That is mainly as i need to drink before the next mob shows up , Has anyone else noticed how when you are low on manna or health a mob always jumps on you , or spawns exactly where you are sitting , I get that almost every time...
? you have me curious now , with enchants and passable gear i have 507 health and 1621 manna with buffs at level 23 and i still can almost run out of manna so how do you manage ??
As a level 23 Bloodelf i find the Mana Tap a great help with my game against casters , Blink is a must use when in trouble as well either to get close to a mob or get away , so far i find depending on the mob it can be used either way , As for AoE farming well at level 24 it is just not a high enough level , i can deal with perhaps two my level at a time , any more than that and i am out of manna and in trouble , That is mainly as i need to drink before the next mob shows up , Has anyone else noticed how when you are low on manna or health a mob always jumps on you , or spawns exactly where you are sitting , I get that almost every time...
Well all things need practice and for low level Mages i found a fun spot to try out the AoE grinding , I know i am level 23 and the mobs were a little low for me but mines that have a lot of mobs in are great fun.
I have completely cleared the Venture.Co mine in Mulgore , Mana Shield run through anything up to 15 mobs and just bang away with Arcane Explosion , now all i need is to find some higher level mines or areas with close mobs to try the same thing.
Is that roughly how AoE grinding works ? , i picked that mine as i am getting rep with all the factions i can so i have a choice of rides later on.
My guess the furbogs in Ashenvale would be just as fun when i get to them , I can see castors will be no good with the Arcane Explosion though..
Has anyone got any ideas on fun grinding places , Anywhere that the mobs are still green to me would be good practice i would think , even beasts are ok as i skin them ?
I have completely cleared the Venture.Co mine in Mulgore , Mana Shield run through anything up to 15 mobs and just bang away with Arcane Explosion , now all i need is to find some higher level mines or areas with close mobs to try the same thing.
Is that roughly how AoE grinding works ? , i picked that mine as i am getting rep with all the factions i can so i have a choice of rides later on.
My guess the furbogs in Ashenvale would be just as fun when i get to them , I can see castors will be no good with the Arcane Explosion though..
Has anyone got any ideas on fun grinding places , Anywhere that the mobs are still green to me would be good practice i would think , even beasts are ok as i skin them ?
sandralover wrote:
Is that roughly how AoE grinding works ? , i picked that mine as i am getting rep with all the factions i can so i have a choice of rides later on.
Eventually that's gonna be very dangerous. It's probably best to keep things at a distance with Imp blizzard.
This is my favorite video of AoE grinding. It's a little more than most people will ever do, but it shows much in the way of the basics.
Thanks poldaran .
nice video and yes i know i need cone of cold as well, but that is 3 levels more and being in a restricted area i could only use blink to gain distance and i forgot about Blizzard , it seemed easy at the levels i was killing to just keep blasting and keeping the Mana Shield up , It was after all my first attempt at multiple kills and it was real easy , I will be having some fun i can see with being a Mage..
nice video and yes i know i need cone of cold as well, but that is 3 levels more and being in a restricted area i could only use blink to gain distance and i forgot about Blizzard , it seemed easy at the levels i was killing to just keep blasting and keeping the Mana Shield up , It was after all my first attempt at multiple kills and it was real easy , I will be having some fun i can see with being a Mage..
RAWDEAL
? you have me curious now , with enchants and passable gear i have 507 health and 1621 manna with buffs at level 23 and i still can almost run out of manna so how do you manage ??
Get leg armor +30 stamina, run instances for blue armors, + 5 stamina on boots,+5 intellect on bracers....im lvl 27 now in 24 hrs play time.Check armory for HELLWIZARD, Farstrider
? you have me curious now , with enchants and passable gear i have 507 health and 1621 manna with buffs at level 23 and i still can almost run out of manna so how do you manage ??
Get leg armor +30 stamina, run instances for blue armors, + 5 stamina on boots,+5 intellect on bracers....im lvl 27 now in 24 hrs play time.Check armory for HELLWIZARD, Farstrider
Thanks RAWDEAL
That explains it , i need to get some higher level stuff ( blues+high level enchants ) but am very unwilling to do instances with people i do not know and see it as pointless to spend gold on stuff when i know my speed of levelling is at least a level a day and would soon need replacing , i still have little problem though even with the rubbish gear i have and low level enchants..
it has taken me 3 days 1 hour to get to level 25 and most was spent getting rep in three starter areas so still not that bad ..
That explains it , i need to get some higher level stuff ( blues+high level enchants ) but am very unwilling to do instances with people i do not know and see it as pointless to spend gold on stuff when i know my speed of levelling is at least a level a day and would soon need replacing , i still have little problem though even with the rubbish gear i have and low level enchants..
it has taken me 3 days 1 hour to get to level 25 and most was spent getting rep in three starter areas so still not that bad ..
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