Guild Wars 2

Over the last few days I noticed that in the majority of dynamic events, especially the ones with a big bad champion, I’m running for my life.

Why?

It seems that almost every single one of the big bads wants to destroy me with extreme prejudice. I’m holding aggro the entire time except when downed, and even then it happens.

I’ve dodged, controlled, fled, and even jumped away but I’m still being chased. Not using any skills at all does nothing, because I’m still being chased and downed. Switching to ranged weaponry or using just ranged weaponry the entire fight at max range does nothing either, though it gives me some initial running time.

Could somebody tell me what’s going on? Did the R&D outpost dump some of that risen juice on me as a baby?

(I’m a hammer/rifle warrior with defensive traits and offensive gear, if that helps)

Happens to me too (Rife/axe-axe worrior).

I would guess you’re critting higher than anyone else fighting the main mob and you’ve made him mad .. so the person hitting the hardest likely gets its attention. But I’m only speculating, it’s how it works in other MMO’s often.

That’s the thing though, in a huge group filled with glass cannons I hardly think I’m doing the most damage. The only people I might be outdamaging are the guys with bad gear (just dinged 80 most likely) and the guys traited and geared for mostly support.

Although I think damage is a factor in aggro, somehow I still keep the attention almost solely on myself. Does being tankier make you a more valuable target? Do my healing shouts generate that much hate? If so then why isn’t the water ele over there kiting like hell?

I’ve found that mobs REALLY hate it when you CC them – are you stunning a lot with that big hammer?

I have a ranger that is very middling DPS (because I’m a slacker and I’ve let my gear lag), but I do focus on interrupts, immobilizes and such with my choice of skills and pet. Every dungeon I’ve ever done ended with me being chased by the big guy relentlessly, even though I was with folks that were no slouches when it came to damage.

I tend to stun alot with my hammer, yes. And I get that it might be quite a bit of aggro for doing so.

However I tend to be focused even if I fight only with my rifle, never using my cripple or knockback either. As I’ve said before, stopping my attack doesn’t work well. If I stop attacking to the point I’m no longer a target, my contribution is a guaranteed bronze.

In dungeons it means I’d have spent a lot of time doing nothing at all :/

My experience is that the CC hate doesn’t decay much – even if you stop attacking, you stay at the top of their list for a while. I’ve got a condition build so even if I stop attacking, I’ve still got damage ticking on them. I’ve found the best strategy is to keep fighting. The only way I’ve been able to drop aggro is when my trait that stealths me when I get stunned, dazed, etc. triggers or when they down me. Sometimes when I’m downed, my team mates can pull them off and I can rally.

So, long story short – best defense is a good offense. Kill them before they kill you

I danced with a champion and his army of branded solo and didn’t die – it’s completely doable. Killed his army, and got him 98% dead (while he was still picking up additional minions as we fought) before some folks came along and helped me finish him. It took a lot of focus and resisting the urge to use a skill just because it was available but it was a blast.

Pandemoniac,

Okay that may explain what was happening to me today. Did my first dungeon earlier today. Ranger (35) with a bunch of other downleveled 80’s. On one group of trash no matter what I did, as soon as I started pewpewing at range, the warrior in the mix would leave the group and make a beeline straight for me. He’d cross half the room. lol Happened even after I died and ran back after a couple of shots. I know it wasn’t my dps. For the life of me I couldn’t figure out how the aggro was working. It started to feel like a personal vendetta.

It got to be quite comical. Oh hey guys here he comes again!