Aggro/Threat - a bit about it.

[Megageth]

I have read up a bit but seen no official docs on aggro so this is based on forum opinion and my experience rather than fact. I learnt a few things too so thought I would share.

Aggro has a value. - Not a yes/no value, a numeric value.

Each toon in the fellowship will have a starting aggro value generated from stance etc.

The more aggro you generate, the more difficult it is for the tank/s to generate a higher threat value and pull off you.

" It is important then for DPS classes to hold back on damage dealing until the tanks have accumulated a significant amount of threat. Over-aggroing can be extremely frustrating for fellowships and almost always hurts group performance."

"A reason for the mobs to attack you. Synonymous with aggro. The more threat you generate, the more likely the mobs will break off from their current target and attack you instead. Tanks want aggro and try to generate large amounts of threat to stay the focus of mobs. Healing the player under attack will also generate threat, and will sometimes cause the mobs to attack the healer. Threat-generating or forcing skills are often known as taunts."

Useful Reading:
http://forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?312778-Guide-to-Threat-Aggro-and-Guardian-Skills
http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Threat
http://lotro-wiki.com/index.php/Combat

[SlipperyDuck]

Yep - DPS Players (Hunters n Wardens etc) need to stand back a bit and only attack after 1st strike/2nd Strike from tanks. purdy much should be a General Rule for Non-1st Combat Players.

[Stu]

I've gotten better at lowering my aggro! Drag, Shady and will have to concentrate on this too!

Just a note on this chaps I know its frustrating having me pull a 'add' during a combat but unless I specifically request it there is not need for the fellowship to peel off and aid me. I'll concentrate my aggro on the attacking 'add' and wait for my treat lvl to drop before engaging again!

As a Hunter (Ranged) I also tend to target other ranged 'Adds or mobs' this is to pull the damage off the Guardian I can take the Moral loss over having the Guardian go down.

I'm not pulling my own bow or anything but I do a HUGE amount of damage during fellowships so I'm not surprised that Hunters are the top of the charts with this.

[J_Th4ng]

I've gotten better at lowering my aggro! Drag, Shady and will have to concentrate on this too!


I learned a fair amount during the Fornost Raid on Sunday. The biggest issue that I have as a healer is that really useful pet rock of mine. Once I drop it, it hangs around for a while, pumping out Morale to all and sundry. If we start fighting new mobs while in range of the runestone, my threat level immediately shoots up, and mobs decide to pop over and have me for a snack.

Now normally, I'm pretty well able to defend myself, Runecasters are able to pump out some pretty significant damage, after all. The problem here though is in how the Runecaster class works:

Basically, before any battle, I need to choose whether I'm going to go offensive (DPS) or defensive (Healer). Each spell that I cast from one of those tiers attunes my character in that direction, meaning that I can't effectively do the other until the battle ends. Thus, if I've cast a couple of heals during a battle, I'm pretty much unable to defend myself. Likewise, if I've starting calling down lightning bolts on the enemy, I'm incapable of casting heals.

So, if I do pull a mob while attuned to healing, I'm pretty much defenseless. All I can do is cast healing spells on myself until such time as someone else pulls the mob off me.

What I was doing on Sunday was waiting for a good few seconds after the battle began before I started casting any spells. This in order to give our tank time to generate threat before I start generating threat of my own. This worked most of the time, but there were occasions when mobs would target me right from the start before I'd started throwing any heals around. I think that Sheri had similar problems.

Also, remember that Sher and I are some considerable number of levels behind everyone else. This means that we don't have the morale reserves of everyone else, and go down very quickly when targeted (Sheri in particular at the moment).

[Megageth]

What might help healer/hunter classes is this:
When you are being targeted at the back, do a lap towards the tank/s and on the way ask them to pull. It will take 2-3 secs to mentally acknowledge your request then fire up a taunt so if u are on ur way, it should work out. I have one range taunt that can pull from up to 10m (takes 30s to recharge) and the rest will require me to engage in melee combat so get close and ask for help. I normally face away from the group and try to have the biggest dude directly in front of me so I often dont see what happens at the back.

Stu you are welcome to pull adds but pls avoid those we are directly engaged with. It means we must reaquire another target and will lose fervour/reactionary skills that we are building up.

One more note that I think relevant is that whilst I have health/morale, it is not helpful for anyone to pull the main target off me. Most of my skills are reactionary, I need to block or parry an attack to retaliate and that includes both of my fellowship maneuver triggers. I try to engage the biggest threat and its helpful to me when I get some 'private time' with him/her/it. By all means, pull the mob, it will help me stay up longer.

[NiteShade]

My biggest problem at this point is that I'm not high enough level to realistically running around with you +50 lvl okes. Firstly, it takes only 1 or 2 hits from these 'purple monsters' to kill me so thats almost instant. The other monsters take a couple more hits to kill me, but its really not enough time to try and call for help or make a proper plan. Secondly, my heal skills are just not powerful enough yet to keep the group healed properly. The amount of damage these higher level monsters dish out at one time is a lot more than I can heal at one time.

So, I just need to get grinding on quests. At least I made lvl 36 last night.

[Thor_23]

and my captain is almost lvl 50 WOOT!

[s3xy_j0nny]

A good read form anyone in fellowships:

http://lorebook.lotro.com/wiki/A_Basic_Combat_Primer_for_Fellowships

[Megageth]

Good read.

[Stu]

good to read and brush up... makes me want to hit up a fellowship!

[s3xy_j0nny]

Mega is back in a week or so - then we need to go stomp a mudhole in Carn Dum and Urugarth. Let's all work together as a team to get me my Minstrel goodies.

[flycatchr]

let me know - anytime :)

[Stu]

I think I haz Some minstrel things for j00 will check mah safe!