Basic VW questions

[Junkle]

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere, but I searched and read and couldn't find it. I am probably asking for such basic information that no one has actually had to ask it before.

After some comments (I think made by Crytana) in another thread I experimented with the way I played my warlock last night. It seems I had playing him as a mage without realizing it (thanks for the helpful comments and the way you presented them). Anyway I experimented with my aggro generation and my VW. After awhile I seemed to get the hang of it and it is an entirely different playing style (enjoyable but definitely an adjustment). Anyway while doing this I had a few things I couldn't puzzle out:

1.) I read that pets are usually kept in passive mode. I usually have mine in defensive (I am usually soloing and I havent done any instances yet). How do you get them to fight in passive mode? Does hitting the attack button engage them in the combat even if they are in passive mode? Here is what I was doing last night if you can give me some corrections I would appreciate them (I am level 21 with improved 2/3 improved VW fighting mobs between 18-19 mostly) -- I would first cast Curse of Agony on mob, then put VW on attack until it engaged the mob, I would start casting Immolate, put VW on defensive (it had aggro by then) and go to Corruption and finish it with the wand. This seemed to work well but it seems like I shouldn't have to fiddle with my pet so much going by what I have read.

2.) The area effect Torment that the VW has that I read about . . . I am assuming that is the "pulsing" torment button on its bar? I have read you can turn it off (is this a right click?). If you turn it off does it still torment mobs it is fighting and just stop doing the area effect torment?

3.) I keep reading about drain tanking. Does this mean you have the mob being tanked by the pet and you are using channeled drain spells to kill it (draining life or soul)? Does this include other DoT slow kill methods as well?

4.) I have read a few things about feared mobs and I am a bit confused. I thought if you hit them at all the fear was broken. Is this true? Can I put DoT's on a mob before I fear it? I have also read things that lead me to believe people cast drain Soul on a feared mob. Wouldnt' this break the fear?

Sorry if these questions seem to basic. I guess I could go and die a few times and try to figure them out but I thought I would see if I could myself some cash on repair bills (perhaps it would give me a chance to play with my soulstone spell though :-p ).

Thanks for being so patient and helpful with all of my questions the last few weeks,

j

P.S. If any of you are also lower level and on Icecrown and need 8 slot bags I can make them if you give me the wool. Just look for a warlock named "Flyboy" or a mage named "Nazeer" (both undead).

[schlock]

I'll try to answer as best as I can (and bear in mind I'm no expert on the class, but i'm

1) - I keep pet on passive and then use a macro which tells the pet to attack my target (bound to a mouse button). Being on passive helps when you're running around as if it's on defensive they will stop following you and attack the mob when you dont want them to. If i use the VW i send it into attack and then cast Curse of Agony (low first ticks of damage, so less likely to draw aggro from it), then corruption. By then the VW has reached the mob and has taunted it to keep it on him. I then usually lifetap the mana I've used on these two spells and drain life once. Then depending on how the fight is going, i usually wait for another taunt from the VW and hit the mob with a shadow bolt (if low life) or Immolate (if at around half life, so it doesn't waste the DoT part). Then wand to death, with a Drain Soul thrown in at the end to grab a shard. If the mobs are a few levels below me and grouped close together, I'll send the VW onto the next one when the original mob is at 20% life.

2) - If you disable auto casting (so the outline of the button isn't gold and pulsing) then the VW wont taunt until you press the button. If I'm in the mood to micro manage my pets, I usually click this off once the VW has lost aggro, as there's not much chance of him getting it back off me if I've got it, thus saving his mana. I think from memory the AoE taunt is Suffering, Torment is a single target taunt. I always keep suffering off, and just cast it manually if there's more than one mob (it's on a 2 min cooldown so no need to have on auto cast).

3) - Drain tanking is when you have the mob beating on you and you're draining it's life. Ideally you're draining more HP than the damage it's causing (or close to the amount). 5/5 Fel Concentration is a must have talent for this as it allows 70% uninterupted casting of the DL spell. Basically attack the pet with a nice big damage spell and load up all the DoT's you can, then Drain Life til it's dead (with pet attacking it, dont use VW as it's damage is awful).

4) - Damage to feared mobs is calcuated (not sure what chance) on each hit. So if you DoT then fear, it could break on the first tick of damage, or not at all. Not sure if lowering the mobs resistances make any difference to this.


I hope that helps, like I say I'm no expert on the class, but I'm loving my Lock and happy to answer anymore questions you have.

[Runesoul]

"1.) Â I read that pets are usually kept in passive mode. Â I usually have mine in defensive (I am usually soloing and I havent done any instances yet). Â How do you get them to fight in passive mode? "

On your pet abilities bar you have agressive defensive and passive settings in that order on the right end of the bar. Â Your pet in passive is good for travelling from area to area at your level. Â Defensive is good for when a mob/player attacks you your pet will defend you. Â Agressive I use for when helping lower level players in a much lower level area.

"2.) Â The area effect Torment that the VW has that I read about . . . I am assuming that is the "pulsing" torment button on its bar? Â I have read you can turn it off (is this a right click?). Â If you turn it off does it still torment mobs it is fighting and just stop doing the area effect torment?"

Your VW will still fight when you tell it to, a really good idea is to keybind Pet Attack in the keybindings interface, less mouse moving. Â I would also suggest getting the servitude mod as it will control alot of your pet abilities saving their mana etc.

"3.) Â I keep reading about drain tanking. Â Does this mean you have the mob being tanked by the pet and you are using channeled drain spells to kill it (draining life or soul)? Â Does this include other DoT slow kill methods as well?"

My version of drain tanking may be different than others but basically you end up tanking the mob for most or all of the fight using your DoTs and a DPS pet (Succy, IMP, Puppy){yes I know some dont look at these all as DPS but compared to VW they are].
While you are tanking the mob you use drainlife to maintain your health and bring the mob down. Â I dont really recomend this unless you have improve drain life, but it does work without it.

"4.) Â I have read a few things about feared mobs and I am a bit confused. Â I thought if you hit them at all the fear was broken. Â Is this true? Â Can I put DoT's on a mob before I fear it? Â I have also read things that lead me to believe people cast drain Soul on a feared mob. Â Wouldnt' this break the fear?"

Fear has a chance to break on damage this doesn't mean it will every time but it can. Â Thus you can DoT a mob fear it drain life as it runs or SB it. Â Fear again when it returns etc.

As for your Soulstone I always have mine on me when timer is up (less corpse running = more leveling) or on my priest friend.

Hope this helps.


Beat to the post :( sorry for the repeat info

[Junkle]

Thanks for the answers!! (And never apologize for answering something a second time -- if I get things explained enough different ways maybe I'll actually understand it. :-p And besides everyone seems to have different ways to do similar things and it can be helpful to try/see different styles.)

I did forget one question in my original question (and this is one is just a curiousity) -- on my VW the bracers recently went from being trimmed in gold to being trimmed in red. Does this have to do with level, purchasing the second level of torment or is something weird going on?

thanks again for the help,

j