Trash repositioning question

Hey all,

I've been leveling a warrior, and it's been pretty fun! However, something's been bugging me... specifically, whether/how to reposition enemies with AOE attacks during trash pulls.

Thing is, a lot of pulls in HW dungeons have 2-3 enemies that can cast AOEs, often out of sync with each other. Sometimes the cone/circle is small and I can easily sidestep it without any of the mobs moving. But in many cases (e.g. sohm al, aery) the cones and circles are so broad that I have to move a lot more to avoid them, which in turn moves the mobs that are NOT casting an AOE at the time... only to probably have to move again when that mob decides to AOE me. This probably annoys the melee DPS a lot. OTOH if I don't move, I probably take a lot of damage, which annoys the healer.

What's generally accepted as the best way to handle these situations? Thanks in advance!

Do what you've been doing. Melee have to learn to predict it on their own or bite the bullet.

Moving out of the aoe's won't draw complaints from people who actually know what they're talking about. As for grouping mobs, there's typically 1-2 caster mobs in any given pack. Gather the melee mobs and group them at the caster mobs to make things a bit easier- then dodge as necessary. You may have to line of sight the caster mobs in certain situation but once you run something once or twice you'll get a feel for when this is viable.

If you gotta' move, just move. The important thing to keep in mind is that most DPS know of the annoying AoE monsters and that will be their primary concern in order to remove annoyance. It's also good to remember that while these AoE monsters are casting they won't move, which allows you, yourself, to take back your original position when they complete the cast. As long as you do this, the important enemy to kill won't move and thus allow DPS to still complete their positional skills.

As you become a more experienced tank you will also be able to recognize when moving other enemies will benefit the DPS most. As an example, let's assume you're flanked on the sides with an enemy also at your front that are only melee enemies. The DPS ideally will focus one of them down and in order to minimize DPS movement you can use the time just before it dies to preposition the other two enemies. Basically, always keep the backs of your enemies facing the party.

Move. The dps's job is to move as well. You readjust and keep the monsters' backs pointed so the dps can readjust themselves.

Thanks for the input, all! I'll keep moving around... maybe put Yakety Sax on repeat. :p

I do try to point the backs of the mobs at the group while keeping them stationary as much as possible, there just seems to be a handful of pulls where it feels like I spend more time running from AOEs than standing still (much of it overlapping, so no moving back after the cast). The large miniboss-like dragons in sohm al and aery seem especially notorious for this...

One thing i like doing is saving your stuns for the biggest aoes.

Move. First and foremost your life. Its nice to consider DPSand thier positonals but like its been said they will ttarget the aoe mobstthat are screwing up things.

Well, as others have said, do move. I would add: move as little as possible and if possible move in a direction that leaves them clustered. If it's a cone step to side or behind them. If it's a circle centered on you, go thru to other side of the pack. If it's a circle centered on the pack, just step backward (that should be shortest path out).

When you do have to drag them apart, it's probably best to not readjust back to original spot unless the one is a pure ranged. Let it come to you in other words. For a pure ranged mob, the advice to stack on top of that is good.

Adding to the choir. If the tank dances around without any particular need making the mobs go merry-go-round that tends to annoy folks. If the tank dodges stuff, that's actually good thing. And with large aoe circles, often the dps need to move as well anyway. Since you seem to pay attention to it and move as little as possible when situation permits, you're good to go :)

All these suggestions, and none about "stun". Learn what enemies cast or do the AOE moves, and prepare to stun them. The dps should already be doing this, but I never rely on them for it. The best way to dodge without messy repositioning is to move backwards. If you move backwards, all the dps has to do is take a step or two forward to continue dps. Where as rotating them would require them to move to a different side or reposition behind the rear.

Still stun is the solution to most of these annoyances. Ex. Fractal: Dreadnaught will do a cone attack, Chimera does Rams voice/dragons (only both are stunnable in this dungeon...dunno why), there's a flying mob that does a screen wide aoe, and the Giants do a line attack.

Just always keep in mind no matter how you move, long as you have threat, the enemies will come to you in a straight line from where they are at. Sadly some enemies will continue to spam the same move over and over no matter how many times you stun them. (this is looking at you totems in Neverreap)