warrior + wand = more aggro? - Guild Wars Forums

shwick · May 06, 2010, 06:10 PM // 18:10

I was reading on the aggro wiki that, "Holding a wand or staff as opposed to martial weapons such as a sword, bow, or scythe creates additional aggro".

http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Aggro

Can a warrior hold a wand/staff, and would it make sense to draw the aggro while holding such a weapon to gain additional aggro?

Im having trouble holding aggro atm, playing with group of fairly new players ~ lvl 13.

Carboplatin · May 06, 2010, 06:36 PM // 18:36

Try spacing and tell your friends to not to enter the aggro till the enemies settles on you.

It would be a waste to play warrior if you are holding a wand

MisterB · May 06, 2010, 06:45 PM // 18:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carboplatin

It would be a waste to play warrior if you are holding a wand

Warriors used wands to gain adrenaline at range in GvG before spears were added.

For additional aggro control, stand next to a wall or obstruction on a line intersecting the enemies and the rest of your party. Use body blocking.

shwick · May 06, 2010, 06:54 PM // 18:54

i just meant hold a wand when the mobs first aggro me, then switch to sword/shield

Johny bravo · May 06, 2010, 08:24 PM // 20:24

I thought enemies target based on armor rating with a few exceptions

Covah · May 06, 2010, 08:28 PM // 20:28

Game Mechanics have AI cast caster hexes on people with caster weapons (wands staves) and melee hate hexes on things with swords etc.

Same applies with aggro. According to the game: If you have a wand you must be a caster, if you are a caster you must have less hp and armor, thus the AI attacks you.

shwick · May 06, 2010, 09:44 PM // 21:44

so does that mean if i am wielding a wand when the mobs first target me, i will be seen as a caster? even if i switch to sword/shield after they target me

The Drunkard · May 07, 2010, 01:16 AM // 01:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by shwick

so does that mean if i am wielding a wand when the mobs first target me, i will be seen as a caster? even if i switch to sword/shield after they target me

They might change targets when you start bashing them with a sword, but yes, you are correct. Mobs will usually target characters with less hp and armor, and most sword/shield sets people use have +hp to them.

Fusylum · May 07, 2010, 02:17 AM // 02:17

So wiki says that this is true, but a warrior with a wand sounds Quite odd
But... if it works

Carboplatin · May 07, 2010, 02:29 AM // 02:29

I've found adequate spacing to be enough, but if a wand works, why not.

**Marty Silverblade** · May 07, 2010, 04:02 AM // 04:02

I haven't tested this but I'm pretty sure it'll work, at least to some extent. There are a lot of circumstances where foes judge you depending on what you're wielding. Whether it's worth the bother of swapping weapons every time you aggro is another matter. I doubt it (on my part anyway, I can't even be bothered swapping off vamp/zealous most of the time).

damkel · May 07, 2010, 07:28 AM // 07:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by shwick

Im having trouble holding aggro atm, playing with group of fairly new players ~ lvl 13.

Does this mean that you are also level 13? In which case don't bother with tanking as a warrior. The usual co-op missions and storyline missions are not designed to be 'tank and spank' as with other MMO's you might be used to. Instead, your role as warrior would be damage, some party buffs through shouts and then crowd control via knock-down or cripple.

If your party size allows it, use a protection henchman or healer henchman along with your human friends. The NPC's will do a good job of keeping you alive whilst you run around bashing things. You can worry about aggro bubbles and builds later on in the game. If your lvl 13 then just enjoy the scenery and story

shwick · May 07, 2010, 02:11 PM // 14:11

yeah it seems everyone gets aggro, ill just try to do as much dmg as possible

but i will try the wand idea

Vdawg1337 · May 07, 2010, 02:47 PM // 14:47

If the warrior wand thing works than it would be easier getting the enemies in fowsc to ball up.

majoho · May 07, 2010, 03:06 PM // 15:06

Just for the record this game has no aggro mechanism like traditional mmo's like EQ, WoW and such have - instead you can body block mobs (unlike say in WoW where they can run through you).

Quaker · May 07, 2010, 03:11 PM // 15:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by shwick

yeah it seems everyone gets aggro, ill just try to do as much dmg as possible.

Trying to get agro and "tank" in GW is not as effective as it is in some other games - in more ways than one.
If you are trying to do that, make sure the rest of the team knows it. I would advise that you only try to tank with a group of Guildmates or people on Ventrilo. The average PUG is not going to assume that you are "tanking", since it's not any better than not tanking, and will just go off and kill things. This often leads to great amounts of pinging and drawing on the map and general confusion.
Also, if you try to tank in a PUG, the agro will get past you and you may end up out of range of the healers - so don't whine at the monks.

shwick · May 07, 2010, 07:36 PM // 19:36

whine at the monks?

my group is bitching me out for not holding aggro b/c they keep dying, im trying to find a solution =/

majoho · May 07, 2010, 08:11 PM // 20:11

You aren't supposed to keep aggro that's not how this game works at all.

As I mentioned above this game is nothing like WoW or such games.

So explain that to them.

The main thing in GW is that you have to have someone in your group that heals and one that protects.

Usually having just one healer/protector will not be enough unless you bring both monk henchmen.

As a warrior you can provide some protection with shouts like http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Watch_yourself

Again just to make it completely clear - you do not tank in GW.

glacialphoenix · May 08, 2010, 11:12 AM // 11:12

Quote:

my group is bitching me out for not holding aggro b/c they keep dying, im trying to find a solution =/

As mentioned earlier, it doesn't quite work that way. Perhaps you might be overaggroing by accident? Or try pulling with a longbow if your group tends to just run up to the mobs and attack.

Yawgmoth · May 09, 2010, 08:39 PM // 20:39

Aggro goes for targets easiest to kill - it looks for both armor and health. This may be the simple reason why holding a wand makes them more likely to attack your warrior - a wand generally can't have health or armor bonuses while your sword probably had a +30hp or +5al

If you absolutely have to tank with your warrior, make sure that you don't have anybody from your party in your aggro bubble when aggroing mobs until they are all set on you - they won't attack anyone from the party then unless damaged by heavy AoE that will make them scatter.

May 06, 2010, 06:10 PM // 18:10	#1
shwick Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2010	warrior + wand = more aggro? I was reading on the aggro wiki that, "Holding a wand or staff as opposed to martial weapons such as a sword, bow, or scythe creates additional aggro". http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Aggro Can a warrior hold a wand/staff, and would it make sense to draw the aggro while holding such a weapon to gain additional aggro? Im having trouble holding aggro atm, playing with group of fairly new players ~ lvl 13.

May 07, 2010, 04:02 AM // 04:02	#11
Marty Silverblade Administrator Join Date: Jun 2006	I haven't tested this but I'm pretty sure it'll work, at least to some extent. There are a lot of circumstances where foes judge you depending on what you're wielding. Whether it's worth the bother of swapping weapons every time you aggro is another matter. I doubt it (on my part anyway, I can't even be bothered swapping off vamp/zealous most of the time). __________________

May 07, 2010, 08:11 PM // 20:11	#18
majoho Forge Runner Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denmark	You aren't supposed to keep aggro that's not how this game works at all. As I mentioned above this game is nothing like WoW or such games. So explain that to them. The main thing in GW is that you have to have someone in your group that heals and one that protects. Usually having just one healer/protector will not be enough unless you bring both monk henchmen. As a warrior you can provide some protection with shouts like http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Watch_yourself Again just to make it completely clear - you do not tank in GW. Last edited by majoho; May 07, 2010 at 08:21 PM // 20:21..

May 06, 2010, 06:36 PM // 18:36	#2
Carboplatin Jungle Guide Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: [PIG] Profession: W/A	Try spacing and tell your friends to not to enter the aggro till the enemies settles on you. It would be a waste to play warrior if you are holding a wand

May 06, 2010, 06:54 PM // 18:54	#4
shwick Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2010	i just meant hold a wand when the mobs first aggro me, then switch to sword/shield

May 06, 2010, 08:24 PM // 20:24	#5
Johny bravo Wilds Pathfinder Join Date: Aug 2006 Guild: [SoS] Profession: N/	I thought enemies target based on armor rating with a few exceptions

May 06, 2010, 08:28 PM // 20:28	#6
Covah Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Guild: Catching Jellyfish With [소N트T ] Profession: Me/Rt	Game Mechanics have AI cast caster hexes on people with caster weapons (wands staves) and melee hate hexes on things with swords etc. Same applies with aggro. According to the game: If you have a wand you must be a caster, if you are a caster you must have less hp and armor, thus the AI attacks you.

May 06, 2010, 09:44 PM // 21:44	#7
shwick Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2010	so does that mean if i am wielding a wand when the mobs first target me, i will be seen as a caster? even if i switch to sword/shield after they target me

May 07, 2010, 02:17 AM // 02:17	#9
Fusylum Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Michigan Guild: Reign of Judgement [RoJ]	So wiki says that this is true, but a warrior with a wand sounds Quite odd But... if it works

May 07, 2010, 02:29 AM // 02:29	#10
Carboplatin Jungle Guide Join Date: Jul 2005 Guild: [PIG] Profession: W/A	I've found adequate spacing to be enough, but if a wand works, why not.

May 07, 2010, 02:11 PM // 14:11	#13
shwick Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2010	yeah it seems everyone gets aggro, ill just try to do as much dmg as possible but i will try the wand idea

May 07, 2010, 02:47 PM // 14:47	#14
Vdawg1337 Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: You dont need to know :) Guild: Damage Radius [dr] Profession: D/A	If the warrior wand thing works than it would be easier getting the enemies in fowsc to ball up.

May 07, 2010, 03:06 PM // 15:06	#15
majoho Forge Runner Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Denmark	Just for the record this game has no aggro mechanism like traditional mmo's like EQ, WoW and such have - instead you can body block mobs (unlike say in WoW where they can run through you).

May 07, 2010, 07:36 PM // 19:36	#17
shwick Ascalonian Squire Join Date: May 2010	whine at the monks? my group is bitching me out for not holding aggro b/c they keep dying, im trying to find a solution =/

May 09, 2010, 08:39 PM // 20:39	#20
Yawgmoth Furnace Stoker Join Date: Apr 2005	Aggro goes for targets easiest to kill - it looks for both armor and health. This may be the simple reason why holding a wand makes them more likely to attack your warrior - a wand generally can't have health or armor bonuses while your sword probably had a +30hp or +5al If you absolutely have to tank with your warrior, make sure that you don't have anybody from your party in your aggro bubble when aggroing mobs until they are all set on you - they won't attack anyone from the party then unless damaged by heavy AoE that will make them scatter.