Playstyles and appreciation for other peoples skills

Kingcroft · July 2014

I started playing this game one the early release and beat Molag Bal with a Dunmer NB/Bow. But I have realised the thing that keeps me in the game is group dungeons. I love the variety and teamwork of 4 on the beasties. My best play style is as a restoration staff healer because I get lost in the thick of battle, but also because I like keeping people alive. (whether or not it is my best, it is my favorite) The reason for this post is that I really appreciate people who are skilled at tanking. I have seen people with combat awarness and great timing that has really made the dungeons fun.

So here is to all those Tanks who go in there and make sense of the chaos, cheers.

Also my play has gotten better as I specialize in a way of setting up my ability bars between my three characters. So after you get the hang of the game I would suggest finding a type of character and really focus on fulfilling that role in a group.

Kingcroft · July 2014

This wasn't clear, but when I am back a bit it gives me time to see and think about what needs to be done, and I have gotten much better at keeping track of peoples health and position.

Azzuria · July 2014

A well played group IS a thing of beauty. When it's a PUG, it's a miracle!

Haven't done many dungeons since DPS is, quite literally, a ha'penny a gross.

I did get to run a few dungeons with a party that was one like you mentioned. Tank was awesome, healer was good and the DPS solid. Everyone had fantastic situational awareness. On one boss the tank and one DPS died and it left the healer and I to finish him off. I ( Bosmer Nightbow ) kited him around the room while the healer DPS'd and kept me from dying ... which was easy 'cause I don't like being hit!

The entire time our dearly departed comrades-in-arms were cheering us on in group chat. It was the most fun I've had so far in a dungeon.

Kingcroft · July 2014

Its funny, I don't have any "regular" friends so all my group play is PUG. It has been interesting to see the different group dynamics you get. Some people are harder to keep alive than others. Always love a challenge

UrQuan · July 2014

For myself the most fun I've had in this game has been learning to tank properly in the group dungeons. Figuring out when to taunt, when to block, when to dodge-roll, and when to just move has been pretty rewarding.

What I appreciate are the DPS who are actually good at prioritizing targets and burning down the right mobs to let the group succeed (as in: kill the enemy healers before the enemy melee, etc).

A good healer is nice too, but I usually appreciate that more from the point of view of "can this healer keep the other guys in my group alive" standpoint, as I'm generally capable of minimizing my incoming damage and self-healing for a long while (Imperial Dragonknights can do this pretty well). As long as the rest of my group can stay alive and doing damage while I'm keeping big baddies busy, there's usually no problem.

Azzuria · July 2014

Agreed, @Ur-Quan ... good DPS is vital for a good group. Something far too few people understand. You can be the best tank and be backed up by a talented healer but if your DPS is stupid, ignorant, or worse, arrogant, it makes the whole thing just suck hind teat.

Kingcroft · July 2014

I appreciate your comments, I wish there were more basic tactics discussions. like a starter guild for Tank, DPS, and Healer.

Azzuria · July 2014

DPS 101 with Professor Azzuria

First: Kill their Healer. Always kill their healer. Before you do anything else, kill their healer.

Second: Minions. Always kill the minions. After the Healer is dead, kill the minions.

Third: Save the Healer. If you gotta die to save the healer, die saving the healer.

Fourth: All ur aggroz are belong to tank. If you pull aggro, go BACK to the tank so they can taunt it off you. You're not a tank so don't tank.

Keep in mind: Stay out of the red spots. Heal yourself when possible. And, for the love of the Eight... Save the healer!

UrQuan · July 2014

Azzuria wrote: »

DPS 101 with Professor Azzuria

First: Kill their Healer. Always kill their healer. Before you do anything else, kill their healer.

Second: Minions. Always kill the minions. After the Healer is dead, kill the minions.

Third: Save the Healer. If you gotta die to save the healer, die saving the healer.

Fourth: All ur aggroz are belong to tank. If you pull aggro, go BACK to the tank so they can taunt it off you. You're not a tank so don't tank.

Keep in mind: Stay out of the red spots. Heal yourself when possible. And, for the love of the Eight... Save the healer!

Agreed. I'd even break down the second step as follows:
a) Kill mages (necros first if there are any of them, because they go down fast and any undead they summoned usually die when the necro dies)
b) Kill archers
c) Kill melee
And always be willing to break off from this to save the healer. Don't worry too much about saving the tank - a good tank can stay alive the majority of the time, as long as you burn down mobs and keep the healer alive.

Azzuria · July 2014

Azzuria wrote: »

DPS 101 with Professor Azzuria

First: Kill their Healer. Always kill their healer. Before you do anything else, kill their healer.

Second: Minions. Always kill the minions. After the Healer is dead, kill the minions. Necros, Mages, Archers, Melee in that order.

Third: Save the Healer. If you gotta die to save the healer, die saving the healer.

Fourth: All ur aggroz are belong to tank. If you pull aggro, go BACK to the tank so they can taunt it off you. You're not a tank so don't tank.

Keep in mind: Stay out of the red spots. Heal yourself when possible. And, for the love of the Eight... Save the healer!

Fixed!

UrQuan · July 2014

Oh, and also everyone should be contributing to dealing damage - you can't leave that entirely up to the DPS (although they should be doing the bulk of it). The healer should be doing damage in between heals/buffs (resto staff encourages this anyway, as it replenishes magicka on a heavy attack, thus enabling more healing/buffs). The tank should be doing damage while tanking (and ideally not just to whatever he's tanking - a nice damage-dealing AOE should be used every now and then - especially if it's got a CC aspect to it, like a Dragonknight's talons).

Nestor · July 2014

When ever I play the DPS Role, I always seek out the Healer and get off a first bow shot from sneak, then wail on the healer. Interrupts, Poison Arrow, Crystal Shards, what ever it takes, they don't cast again if even the first time.

When ever I tank, I throw myself into the thick of things and just wail (Sea of Flames, then rotate around using Unstable Flame and Flame Whip) I will still focus on the Healers in this role.

I have never played a Healer myself, I tend to Solo too much to build up one of those characters.