| Dec. 27th, 2010 @ 03:53 pm Crowd Control 101: A Primer to the Art of CC |
|---|
Welcome to Cataclysm, the expansion that many old-timers are dubbing a return to the old days of strategy, mechanics and, yes, CC. I've heard a lot of those old timers grumble that "kids these days" don't care about CC and they're going to have a huge wake-up call. The problem is that I'm noticing a gap between the veterans who know and understand CC and the newer players who might not. Even more unfortunately, I've been hearing a lot of panic from new players who WANT to understand CC. It's not that they are lazy or want it easy, but rather that we veterans have told stories about CC during the Vanilla and early BC eras the same way that our grandfather would talk about going to school - barefoot in the snow, uphill both ways! It's no wonder we've gotten more than one new player spooked!
Well, if you are that new player (or even if you aren't) I'm here to tell you a secret: CC is really easy! It's so easy we should start calling it CCC - for chocolate chip cookies! Who doesn't love cookies?! So, whether you are a tank, a healer or a dps, here is my guide to Crowd Control. Trust me, even a Neanderthal could do it! (*ducks the flying club*)
Disclaimer: This guide is aimed at using CC in PvE situations. While CC is a critical aspect of PvP as well, that is not my focus today.
( What is CC?Collapse )
( What types of CC are there?Collapse )
( Who can use CC?Collapse )
( When should I use my CC?Collapse )
( What is this kiting thing?Collapse )
( What are the problems with CC?Collapse )
( When the tank tells me to CC a marked target, what does he/she mean?Collapse )
( When the tank tells me to "CC pull", what should I do?Collapse )
Conclusion.
So, there you have it. If you are still frightened of having to use CC in a group, don't be! I've gone over every situation I could think of, and I still only filled 5 pages of text - that should tell you something! If you are still anxious, though, here is my advice:
1. Practice! When you get into nice groups, ask if you can CC something. If they are in too much of a hurry, they might ignore you, but that's okay - just go through it their way and then ask the next group you come across.
Also, don't be too lazy to practice your CC skills when you are soloing. Sure, most of us can take down 2, 3 or more mobs of our level by just burning them down, but try using your CC abilities instead of just letting them beat on you. Not only is it good practice, but it's fun!
2. Be honest! If you are asked to CC a mob or perform a CC pull, feel free to explain that you aren't really experienced with it, but be willing to try!
3. Communicate! Like all mechanics in Cataclysm dungeons and raids, communication is a must-have skill. If your group is struggling with a pull or a boss, ask if they think CC might help. And when you do use CC, announce it so your party knows what is going on.
4. Lastly, be creative! Remember that your class' CC abilities have given you a great deal of power, and you can use it in an infinite number of ways. Periodically, go back and read your spell descriptions and ask yourself if they could have been useful in any recent activities or battles, whether it be dungeon runs or solo'd quests. When you do wipe, take a moment to glance over your abilities and ask yourself if any of them might give you the advantage you need to be victorious. And when you are in the middle of combat and something goes wrong, don't be afraid to think fast and react faster. If you can keep the mobs away from the healer and near the tank, you are benefiting everyone! |
clanofkeli
