Arena tactics

[nodonn]

This will be a thread where we can discuss some different tactics:

I have seen this one been used, although not exactly to the same extend. I am sure you have all seen when hunters place a frost trap at the middle of the bridge and then jump to one of the pillars, seeing as its impossible to jump to the pillars while under the slow effect. But why not do the same, but get all spell casters over to the pillars at the same time- especially the healers. This would basically mean that you wouldn’t get hurt in melee range for the first long time of the match. I can’t really see any reason why we shouldn’t use this tactic, but I have a bad feeling there are some side of the tactic that I have overlooked

[Felbane]

the tactic requires that you are happy on the pillar. A caster on the pillar vs a hunter on the bridge is dead meat in no time at all. for a hunter on the other hand, its a great thing, and probably healers as well. it should definitely be something to consider for a hunter on our side in almost any match, and our casters/healers should consider coming along vs more melee heavy teams.

at the very least, the frost trap in the middle should at least impede their movement, which is always a good thing imo.

[skrallik]

Having been the hunter on the pillar, and having known to target the hunter on the pillar, it also leave me vulnerable without a healer watching me very carfully.

It also requires that the team we face is fought on either end of the bridge preferably.

Its a good nuking spot, sure, but too often i go there and just get nuked down myself.

On a differnet note, a healer, is in a very good spot there (again, provided the fight is in los) as long as there is no rogue, and espeiclaly when there is a beast spec hunter, as their pet cant get there to attack (in most cases)

[Zianna]

Well, even thought we lost some too last night I’d say it was very nice training. We had some calm discussions and suggestions about strategy, we tried some stuff out, we got splattened by a few good teams and we kicked a few arses. All in all very nice training imo, which we do sorta need for those times where only 1 healer will be available

I had a chat with Peyne after we stopped about cc and I’d like to share some of it with the rest of you guys.

The thing is, we currently have 2 locks, 1 warrior and 1 priest (or can have, at least). That is potentially 4 mass fears. Now, imagine those timed right? Actually, you don’t have to imagine just think back on all those times it was done to us We really really should start using the means we have available and fear is a strong one. We are not using it cause we keep thinking “omg it’s such a long cd” Wrong. We are not here alone, this is team effort. With the right timing and a little luck, each of us will be lacking 10 sec cd MAX if we use what we have as a group rather than as an “omg they’re whacking on me aaaaaah!” utility. Yes, single fears are easier for locks but not even close to as powerful. Yes, some can break fears and some can resist/be temporarily immune to it with unlucky timing (on our side, obviously), thinking of pala bubble, CoS active, fear wards, wotf, trinkets, etc but even if 2 or 3 of them resist or avoid the fear, that is still 2-3 of them running in circles and – even if they whack a trinket asap – still living with world cd if they do break from it. And those that did whack a trinket will find it on CD when the next mass fear hits him/her a few seconds later, if we do as suggested.

Those are the valuable seconds we currently fail to control, if you ask me. Yes, we clothies are squishy. All the more reason to fight with cunning over raw damage

[bugrum]

I tend to agree, although, you are assuming a lot of stuff. Arenas are more about co-ordination then about gear, so yes anything that improves our teamwork is definitely a go.

[Asli]

I agree that fear works wonders.

How do coordinate such mass fears?

I now only cast a mass fear when I can get in the middle of some group. (which happens every fight, but not always at a set time)

A mass fear on the immune warrior, while their healer and hunter are savely out of range doing their terrible things, isn't that useful.

How do we time this?
To start with an instant mass fear (Terri, Zi or Ognil) works best imo. Do we agree on an order every arena-team? I doubt doing it at set times will work, because the fearing person has to get to the right spot, but if we agree on an order I for example know that after Terri's first fear, it's me that has to position to get my mass fear out. And then Zi, etc.

Peyne

[terridon]

i've never been afraid of the CD.. usually uses it in the beginning of the game.. and if i'm not the first one to get smacked down it's often possible to use it twice.. sounds like a good idea.. even it was random it would work good
Guess i should be first though.. og second, untill i actually survive for longer.
Properbly best with zia first.. she has a longer cooldown

[Kurse]

Probably you know, but remember to take into consideration that fear is on diminishing returns in pvp : fear1 = 12 secs, fear 2 = 6 secs, fear 3 = 3 secs, after that immune. Seduce will also trigger diminishing returns for fear. It takes 15 seconds of no fear to clear the diminishing returns.

[Asli]

I didn't know that Tab, thanks for mentioning it.

Although I still think three fears would be worth the effort. In an arena fight, even three opponents running around usless for 3 seconds can mean the difference between victory or defeat. Just no use casting more then three within 15 sec, I conclude.

And Terri, we can decide on the order during every current Arena-group. We did it the last times, and it worked okay. Still a decided order in fearing doesn't mean it'll always be followed, because sometimes chaos gets in between our plans, and then a nice initiative can be needed.

I love the last Arena fights, we're improving. (now I'll have to watch not getting to confident... )

Peyne

[Zianna]

Terri, My cd is the shortest actually, 30 seconds. Generally when referring to fears here, I mean aoe fears

Bandu, it was my understanding that diminishing returns are per player? Meaning if you have 3-4 people fearing one after the other...

And yes, we are improving. We've - among a few other things - been working on structuring the fears in 5 man arenas and it's seriously working wonders. It's obviously no miracle solution but every little thing helps, especially if you're a healer down

[mard]

diminishing returns are shared, doesnt matter how many players cast fears, 4th will get big, fat "immune" message.

[bugrum]

wasn't it 12,6,3,1 then immune?

[terridon]

no.. you can only have fun 3 times, unless you coun't DC in 0.0
Zia - cool.. thought you had two mins CD on it..spam!
anyways.. it's rare to hit more then 3 players.. so 4-5 mass-fears in a game will be awesome if we just ain't stricking the exact same ones..also works id we hit one that resisted once.

[Zianna]

*nods at Terri* I'm not gonna argue the why's here more than already done. Fact remains, when we use it and time it right, we win. This is what I've seen, not theory. Based on that, I suggest we keep at it