Training Grounds

[Sable Wood]

Now, wasn't that fun? Maybe I needed more wine?

[Sable Wood]

Ok, now the explanation, and plea for help... And even you guys who don't play Aion could probably offer advice too!

Training Grounds is an area where up to 6 people can go from levels 25-28. Great experience, great drops, and great teamwork and fun.

Rik and I created toons to get to level 25, so we could help Gwyn her first few times in there. Its a blast when you are in with people you know. Ric has a sorceror, Gwyn a ranger, and I created a templar because that's the only type I never created.

A templar is a warrior type, that can be pounded on and take little damage. However, a temp doesn't do a whole lot of damage when they do hit. They have skills that taunt, and make the baddie turn their attention to you, and away from your group mates. They use either a sword and shield, or just a huge sword. I like the shield skills (especially when you can bash with a shield) so that is how I am equipped.

Ok, our first night in, we had 2 temps. I didn't know what my role was... My group was saying let temp #1 go for the first baddie (along with the other players) and I should got for #2. It was ok, but very confusing because we kept switching back and forth and to be honest, I didn't know what I was doing Ah, I know you all remember how I am!

To make matters even more muddled, we had Rik, a sorc, who can freeze the leftover baddies in place. So there's really no need for a second temp to start hitting on the second target.

Ok, last night it got worse. I didn't really want to have 2 temps because I was so confused the first night, but it's tough to get a group, so there we are with 2 temps. Same thing again, they told me to off-tank, which made no sense to me since we had Rik the rocking sorc, but ok.

We were in the middle of a rather bad pull when the cleric says something like, "Ok, I am not going to heal you if you insist on off-tanking when it is totally un-necessary." And she stopped healing me. I had to run. It was mean, and nasty, and the only reason I stayed was because of our legion mates. (Once you leave TG, you can't go in for a day) I said something like "I guess I am not allowed to learn how to play this game and make mistakes?" Something like that, maybe a bit nastier. Then sulked for a bit, but finished up by following the so-called rules.

To end my story, she and I discussed the whole thing at the end. I think the guys in the game got worried, because as we started, both said "Ok time to go..." but they stuck around and saw that we handled it all well. She and I even became friends at the end. She told me that she started the run in a bad mood and I told her I was grumpy from not having my nap.

So, explain, if you can, these things... enmity, aggro, taunt. I understand the basics, but there are subtleties that i am clearly not getting.

Zora, I wish you were there...

[Zora]

It is very simple... The problem was you didn't have Three Templars!!!

No honestly, the problem is you need an experienced leader who has the ability to paint targets and honestly Vent or Team Speak would also help. I could see this from our run though the Black Claw area the other night. I have run that area with Ikari and much lower level toons and seriously kicked ass. A cleric can root things, a ranger can tangle or sleep arrow things, a sorcerer can sleep things, but the temp can hold the aggro by increasing the enmity npcs have for it. Basicly, the npc will attack the thing that has the most enmity. Sorcerer cause a lot of enmity because they do so much damage. If the Templar doesn't hold aggro, the the npcs kill the squishy sorcerer and you end up with a dead sorcerer who gets more upset the more times he dies. A tank's job is to make sure to hold aggro and taunt npcs so they don't go around pounding on everyone. This is important for several reasons...
1. Tanks have the best armor and so receive the least damage.
2. It is much easier for the healer to heal one party member than six.
3. It is easier for other players to be effective when they are not running for their lives.

At least that is the way I understand it.

I would say if you are asked to "Off-tank"
1. You shouldn't be attacking and aggroing things that are asleep.
2. You should be attacking things that are escaping aggro from the first tank.
3. You could be attacking things that are rooted or tangled.

At least I think that is what I would try to do. Again, this would be easier with a good leader and Vent or Team Speak.

[rikbar]

The problem is almost everyone has a different view on how the off tank works. As a healer it is better to have only one main tank if you have cc, if you don't have cc then you need a off tank. The main purpose for the off tank is to grab aggro of any mob that is aggroed on the group that isn't being held by main tank. I haven't had anytime being a tank so not sure how that works, but I have seen a tank tank more then one mob at once too.
As far as I am concerned if you are in a group w/ 2 tanks and you are off tank, just dps, you can use all your skills except taunt, but like I said I have no time as a tank.
This is also where vent comes in handy, there are sometimes when cc gets resisted and the second tank can jump on that one. Hope that answeres some questions.

[Sable Wood]

Thanks you two, both were very good answers. Until I know how to tank, if there are 2 temps i will off-tank by just attacking. And that was a good idea to grab the mob if cc is resisted.

So don't attack the sleepers, but do attack the rooted, tangled and trees?

I still say it would be better if you were there, Zora.

[rikbar]

I wouldn't attack the trees, I probably would attack the rooted ones because root doesn't last that long, and attack the tangled for sure.

and I also think it would be better if we can get a run in w/ ya Z.

[SassySusan86]

When is our next run? I have Gwyn holding at lvl 28...so she doesn't get locked out.