Anniversary Raid - Plane of War - The Brothers Zek

[Furro]

 
With our second win on this event, we're getting better.  But this event still poses challenges.  Below are some additional adjusts we tested this weekend which helped us overall.  Please take some time to create/adjust your setup as indicated and applicable below.

Overview

• Extended Target Window (ETW) Hotkey Setup for adds.
• Classes to Mob Types for Xtarget Setup.
• Out of Range & Positioning tips.
• Cures & Detrimentals tips.
• Add Spawn Locations diagram and map locs (created by Mildara).
• Adjust: Priority mob changes for Berserkers - SLASH on Warmasters and Lifetakers - if none up, BLUNT on Archers, Marauders.
• Fixed Mob Weakness table: MEZ references are not a weakness but to indicate the mob type is mezzable.  Added to notes area instead.
• Fixed Mob Weakness table: SNARE reference for Warbrute is not a weakness that does enhanced damage, but that the mob is snareable.  Added to notes area instead.

Extended Target Window (ETW) Hotkey Setup

Given the size of the event area and limitations of /target, utilizing XTARGET is the most effective way of ensuring you target the correct mob as assigned by type to your class.

When % based adds spawn, they populate your ETW.  We want to SORT them in a certain order that compliments your class.  Then use another hotkey to isolate the highest priority target.  Below is an example:

Paladins: Priority STUNs on Archers, Marauders, Salvebringers

Sort-Adds Hotkey: Hit this hotkey to sort ETW when % adds spawn.

/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_archer00
/xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_marauder00
/xtar set 5 a_Rallosian_salvebringer00

Depending what spawns, this will place archer mob in ETW #3 slot.  Marauder in #4 slot and Salvebringer in #5.

Note: In the above example, if you're not assigned a specific mob (the 00, 01 mob assignments), then you can leave off those mob ID numbers.  This way your hotkey works for multiple mobs of the same type in the event more than one spawn in a set (which happens fairly often).


Target-Adds Hotkey: Use this after Sort-Adds Hotkey to immediately target your priority mob.

/xtar 5
/xtar 4
/xtar 3

This will target #3 ETW slot first if any available, if none, it'll target #4 slot, if none, #5 slot.  When your target is killed, hit the hotkey AGAIN to get the next available one if any.  Rinse/repeat.

Note: In the examples, we're using ETW 3, 4, 5.  Leaving 1 and 2 slots open for TZ/VZ.  Customize your hotkeys how you wish.  The main goal here is to enable you to target the mobs quickly and reliably using just two hotkeys: One to sort and other to target.


Classes to Mob Types for Xtarget Setup

Most of you know our classes to mob type assigns and priorities already.  But I thought listing them here may help others to prep in advance, as we normally do the /rs prep for assigns in this area in-game.

Breakdown by Class:

Wizards		Skirmishers, Archers, Warbrutes, Provosts
		Sort-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_skirmisher /xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_archer /xtar set 5 a_Rallosian_warbrute /xtar set 6 a_Rallosian_provost
		Target-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar 6 /xtar 5 /xtar 4 /xtar 3
Rangers		Skirmishers, Flamespeakers, Lifetakers
		Sort-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_skirmisher /xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_flamespeaker /xtar set 5 a_Rallosian_lifetaker
		Target-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar 5 /xtar 4 /xtar 3
Magicians		Warbrutes, Provosts
		Sort-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_warbrute /xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_provost
		Target-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar 4 /xtar 3
Enchanters		Archers, Salvebringers, Marauders
		Sort-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_archer /xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_salvebringer /xtar set 5 a_Rallosian_marauder
		Target-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar 5 /xtar 4 /xtar 3
Paladins		Archers, Salvebringers, Marauders
		Sort-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_archer /xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_salvebringer /xtar set 5 a_Rallosian_marauder
		Target-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar 5 /xtar 4 /xtar 3
Monks		Provosts, Marauders
		Sort-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_provost /xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_marauder
		Target-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar 4 /xtar 3
Beastlords		Provosts, Marauders
		Sort-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_provost /xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_marauder
		Target-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar 4 /xtar 3
Berserkers		Warmasters, Lifetakers, Archers, Marauders
		Sort-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar set 3 a_Rallosian_warmaster /xtar set 4 a_Rallosian_lifetaker /xtar set 5 a_Rallosian_archer /xtar set 6 a_Rallosian_marauder
		Target-Adds Hotkey:
		/xtar 6 /xtar 5 /xtar 4 /xtar 3

Add Spawn Locations



Spawn locations to add to map file (powar_1.txt):

     P 237.0000, 2513.0000, 2.8900,  0, 100, 255,  3,  priest
     P 162.0000, 2513.0000, 2.8900,  0, 100, 255,  3,  skirmisher
     P 163.0000, 2436.0000, 2.8900,  0, 100, 255,  3,  A5
     P 237.0000, 2439.0000, 2.8900,  0, 100, 255,  3,  A6
     P 288.0000, 2563.0000, 2.8900,  0, 100, 255,  3,  A4
     P 287.0000, 2387.0000, 2.8900,  0, 100, 255,  3,  A2
     P 113.0000, 2561.0000, 2.8900,  0, 100, 255,  3,  A3
     P 112.0000, 2388.0000, 2.8900,  0, 100, 255,  3,  A1



Out of Range & Positioning

Most of you may have a trigger already (at least caster types), but I thought mentioning it here might be helpful as well.

Having a text trigger fire when your target is out of range is helpful for caster types.

Pattern: Your target is out of range

Positioning:

Be mindful of your position in relation to your healer.  Healers be mindful of your group members positions in relation to you.  You have to work together.

It's helpful to have your map open and adjusted to an area of your screen that doesn't obstruct your game-play, but still enables you to see your group members at a glance.

Each group is assigned to either East or West (TZ/VZ) respectively.  Which means it's important that if you are assigned East, that you're not over on the other side dpsing VZ and vice versa, which puts you out of range of your healer and potentially throws off the DPS balance we're orchestrating with the split.


Cures & Detrimentals

Within group during prep please discuss and set up appropriate hotkeys specific cure types.

Your text/audio triggers fire and indicate which type of cure you required.  But your healer doesn't know WHICH TYPE hit you.  You have to be SPECIFIC when asking for a cure or your healer may end up using long cooldown AA and/or has to look at your buffs to determine which effect you have and that delays the curing and their ability to heal others.

Hotkeys for EACH of the following, directed in group:

Disease
Curse
Corruption
Deterimental

Obviously, associate a polite message to go along with each, for example: Disease cure now please!

Why Cures Matter:

As healers, we don't have a one cast spell to cure all ailments.  We also have cooldowns for curing Detrimental effects.  By knowing what type of affliction you have we can be effective at curing it without wasting RC AA (Detrimental cure), which has a cooldown for example.

Your Class Matters:

As a healer, it takes us TWO casts to cure certain afflictions.  However, if you are a Ranger or Paladin for example, you can cure various types of DoTs as well and your actions compliment your healer.  For example, if you have a Tallon's Balance (TZ Debuff), it's Curse based 50 counters.  As a Paladin, you could cure yourself or use your hotkey asking for a cure AND cast a curse cure on yourself reducing the counters which allows your healer to cast only ONCE to remove the rest of the debuff.  This saves your healer time which can be used for healing and other things.  The same goes for other types of DoTs, such as Disease for example.  In the case of Barb of Tallon (there are 5 versions of Barb, refer to table in original post), note how they are Target AE areas.  They target an area and cast a small range AE and anyone caught in the AE is hit.  So if your Disease trigger fires, you know it's the Disease based Barb DoT OR Slog and chances are it potentially hit others nearby.  As a Paladin, you're best to cast a Splash to help cure others nearby as well.  Splash only removes 25 counters for Disease, but it's still helpful as it reduces healer burden by reducing the number of times a healer must cast to remove the effect.