Pet Aggro Questions

Stormhowl · #1 07-04-2011, 12:41 AM

I'm sure this has been brought up countless times but it's getting to the point where it's ridiculous.

I missed on the first swing against a spiderling in Nektulos forest, to be expected of an Enchanter, but as soon as my pet was on it, it's first hit was 5 followed by a taunt. I figured fine, the pets got it. Backed away (running forward while jumping to get myself out of melee range), and the spiderling chased after me. The pet did another 3, taunted, then 5 damage before the spiderling was peeled off, but sitting would cause me to gain aggro again.

I have experienced similar issues like this on multiple mobs, as well as on my Necromancer and Magician alts. Is this an issue with pet aggro? They all seem to have massive issues with pulling aggro off me, even if my 8 Mage is pulling with his level 1 spell (5 damage) and the pet is wailing away at the mob for the entire length of the fight, I cannot lose aggro.

What's going on? Is this a problem with low level pets that's not seen at higher levels? Is this just an accepted fact on this server? Am I not fully understanding how pet aggro works?

Can someone please explain?

Edit: Another example just happened, I aggroed one spiderling and got a social add from another spiderling. Pet jumped on the add because it hit me first, while I started hitting my initial target. My pet dealt a total of 26 damage and taunted 5 times before I cast a single Shallow Breath spell (4 damage) on the add and pulled aggro off my pet. And I had done NOTHING to the add before casting Shallow Breath on it. Seriously, what the hell, why did I peel aggro off my pet? 0.o

vinx · #2 07-04-2011, 01:36 AM

Its really screwed
has been for awhile from all the posts i seen, i just started up a baby chanter also and if it wasnt for massive HP gear id be in trouble lol
also was jumpin around on a few of my mages and found the same thing, theres no way your going to lose agro if you nuke. just need to spam heal on the pet till the thing is one nuke from dead.

It is easier if you group heh, as PC's can hold agro..
imo i think thats their whole strategy.. to cripple the casters from soloing

Ostros · #3 07-04-2011, 04:31 AM

Pet aggro has never really been an exact thing either on here or live.

Sitting is something you never never never ever do. Sitting is how a necro regains aggro after he forgets to turn taunt off while kitting. It's been that way as long as I can remember on live, and I necro'd for a long time.

If you're pet tanking as an enchanter or mage, the pet will be doing most of the work. This means you hit ONCE to avoid the pet eating the experience, and then sit your ass down to med and do nothing else until the pet needs a heal. By then you should be able heal a couple of times without peeling aggro. Sitting down after these heals should make you nervous, and rightly so. This is because sitting generates massive amounts of aggro. Ask any guild that raids PoFear: "Do your casters sit during the break in?", I wager the answer would involve threatening to kick a player if they did that.

Sorry to say, but this is classic, and short of one of the devs saying something is off a bit, I'm going to say it's working as intended. You'll have to learn to adapt to the system. Aggro in EQ is a tricky thing to get used to, especially when working with pets.

Athosblack · #4 07-04-2011, 04:46 AM

As a Necro I usually have to wait for 3-4 pet taunts before I land my first DOT. This is only when I'm pet tanking. After 40 levels 3-4 taunts seem to be enough for the pet to hold agro before I can DOT and med without getting whacked.

Ostros · #5 07-04-2011, 04:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Athosblack [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

As a Necro I usually have to wait for 3-4 pet taunts before I land my first DOT. This is only when I'm pet tanking. After 40 levels 3-4 taunts seem to be enough for the pet to hold agro before I can DOT and med without getting whacked.

This is pretty accurate. It can vary depending on if your pet had some odd misses.

Obsidus · #6 07-04-2011, 07:01 AM

I've noticed this aswell on my level 8 Mage. Not only do they have a ridiculous time getting aggro, they lose it at the drop of a hat.

Taryth · #7 07-04-2011, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stormhowl [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Edit: Another example just happened, I aggroed one spiderling and got a social add from another spiderling. Pet jumped on the add because it hit me first, while I started hitting my initial target. My pet dealt a total of 26 damage and taunted 5 times before I cast a single Shallow Breath spell (4 damage) on the add and pulled aggro off my pet. And I had done NOTHING to the add before casting Shallow Breath on it. Seriously, what the hell, why did I peel aggro off my pet? 0.o

As an Ench, you will NEVER be able to cast one of your DoTs without getting aggro. Unless your tank is a BAMF, or you're waiting an absurdly long time to cast it, which would make it pointless. Don't mem the DoT unless you plan to melee or root. This is not an anomaly- almost every Enc spells generates huge, massive aggro, which is working as intended.

I can't explain your weird aggro from engaging. As I said before, this doesn't happen to me and I'm lvl 55 on my Enc now. In any case, if the problem persists you'll be glad to note that root isn't broken by melee.

Saiene · #8 07-06-2011, 02:31 AM

Seems beyond broken... I can't even get a dot off when mob is all the way down at 20 percent without agro...

Envious · #9 07-06-2011, 02:46 AM

Dunno about at higher lvls, but at 18 my necro can send pet, and mob will come for me if I'm sitting... usually doesnt make it all the way to me, but it does come for me (no casting, just send pet while sitting).

Honestly dont remember much about pet aggro from live... so /shrug

Messianic · #10 07-06-2011, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ostros [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Sitting is something you never never never ever do.

I sit all the time, even when I have my pet tanking something. You have to play with proximity and other things, and you have to be ready to stand immediately if you see the mob's animation stop briefly (because their first set of movements after switching targets causes a small warp, at least it does for me). Sit/Stand have always been on my action bar for my casters.

Something you just learn to do is root your mobs and not expect pet aggro to keep them positioned. As a soloing chanter (in some cases), I would pull with tash, root the mob and allow it to hit me once (while stabbing it to get at least 1 pt of damage), back off, slow it. I might throw in a dot early in the fight if I know my pet can't handle the slowed mob.

But root is simply a way of life when you're trying to group with your pet.