browningguns wrote:
I did try some tanking before the swap and I was having trouble with AoE packs and aggro. I was using swipe and maul but I couldn't generate enough aggro to keep em off the clothies- any suggestions for more threat generation? (I was tabbing while spamming)
The key to AoE threat generation with a druid is to give them a head's up when you first start the instance if it's a PuG group or if there are people you aren't used to running with.
I tell everyone, Gimme 3-4 secs to build up aggro, then go to town if you're going to AoE. If you're going to single target, I'll mark Skull as first kill. The cool thing about swipe is that it turns the mobs reddish when you do it. Tell them to wait till they see the mob turn red, count to 3-4 and then AoE away.
Say you run into a pack, keep skull targeted, spam maul and swipe, throw a mangle onto skull after 3-4 swipes and then just continue to swipe/maul. Most times this is plenty to keep mobs glued to you. You can also throw a Demo roar if you feel the need. Tabbing sometimes makes you lose time on your swipe/maul spam because the mob could be just out of range, or you could just be picking your finger up to hit the tab button and not still spamming away. That second can count in the long run.
If you notice people are pulling off mobs other than the first kill, and they aren't doing an AoE, that's them just attacking randomly. It takes real laziness to not target the tank and hit F to assist if the first kill is down. If you notice they are pulling off of you with AoE, a lot of times, this is a gear issue more than a skill issue. Yeah, you can tab/lacerate to add the bleed damage in, but that lowers the amount you will be spamming swipe as you tab through targets. If you are undergeared, or the DPS is overgeared, then you'll get some mobs coming off from time to time.
I used to not really worry about it, as long as it wasn't multiple mobs popping off me at the same time, just taunt them back, throw a maul/mangle/swipe straight onto them as they get back and you won't have any more problems usually out of that one.
Obviously it's easier to tell guildies to throttle back until your gear improves than it is in a PuG, but if they wanna finish it, you're the tank, that makes you defacto boss of the instance. Tell them how it is, and let them know you won't taunt off if it happens repeatedly. It's their repair bill. I've let mobs pwn people plenty of times and then just taunted back when it was done.
That being said, can you link us your armory with your tank gear on and give us a heads up on what types of multi pulls you're having problems with? Some instances have mobs that are very tricky to keep glued to you.
Don't worry though, it gets easier. At this point I could have my dog sit and spam maul/swipe while I go get another beer and never worry about anyone pulling off me.