Kiting Defined

[rustic]

I talk about kiting as a mage a lot with people in game and in here, but would like to take a moment to define for those that don't understand what it means to kite.


In a nutshell, to kite, you attack from a distance and then fall back to attack again until the mob (gamer lingo for "monster") is dead. If done correctly you'll avoid taking damage - although this is a rare thing soloing.

The idea, in the end, is to have you maximize on your one true bonus as a mage. You do big damage from a distance. We haven't got jack for defenses even with scrolls, so we need to make up for it.

I've said it before: If you play the mage correctly, it will be like taking a gun to a knife fight. Smith and Wesson beats Gerber(Knives) any day of the week.

[Syrlith]

I concur. I ( a cleric) frequently travel with mages, though I am mostly used as a source of SP (with the health-into-magic skill yall have) and find that a mage good at kiting needs little help.

I must add to your definition, though, that Kiting is manipulation of a monster's location by making it become aggressive. This includes leading a monster away from other monsters (so as to avoid being mobbed) and the rude act of bringing a monsters to hapless and unspecting players.

Hehe... I heard that on Wow, they had to put an invisible leash on bosses, 'cause someone took an elite beast all the way to the opposite faction's town.

[Kholai]

Quite honestly, I don't see the point of "kiting" unless you have speed scrolls. You can't attack or cast whilst running, and a decent mage should always be able to use magic missile at any time, so by standing still and unleashing hell, you'll kill the enemy faster, and take subsequently less damage.
If you move at normal speed, either you will move equally quickly until your fire bolt (bazooka) cools down, or you will move slightly slower, getting hurt anyway. There aren't that many enemies slower than you.

The other issue with kiting is the problem of other monsters. If you are primarily stationary, you won't encounter them, if you constantly move, you are more likely to offend a nearby enemy, which will only add to your problems.

When partying, there is a use for falling back, as the mob moves past your front line, it gives the close combat monkeys and other ranged attackers the chance to deal some extra damage.

This is mainly from my experience playing with the Famous Maiya, who rarely needs healing despite believing she can tank (don't ask me). By sitting and playing immobile gunship, and making use of her magic burst spell when mobbed, she kills them off far faster than the mages who spend their time dancing with the monsters.

[Liala]

I am a tank! :D

Thanks Kholai :cool:

I of course agree. Unless you have a movement scroll, using kiting as your main tactic is a gamble,

you can't out run the monsters,
you can't cast while running,
you risk grabbing agro of other monsters
god forbid one spawns near you while running,
or someone else who is kiting runs by you >.<


If you have max cool down (like I do), you have a better shot at hitting a monster at range and spamming it with spells as it runs towards you, if it surives long enough to reach you, or another spawns near you, magic blast should take care of it.

Traveling with a cleric is always wise,
ALWAYS use a VIT scroll
always be stocked up on HP Pots.


Mages... you should have pot or/and scroll production skills.

I totally agree with Syrlith as well, Kiting should mainly be used by his defintion (not the rude one, thats mean! ha), If in a party, you should be pulling monsters one at a time towards the party and falling back so the party's close range (clerics and fighters) can deal some damage/grab agro.

It's fight, run, or get out of the way. I usually choose to stand my ground and play alamo, unless of course the monster could 1 hit kill me, then its Kite! Kite like the wind! please grab agro oh high hp ones! :eek:

Whats the point of bring a gun to a knife fight if your running instead of shooting? You can't aim while running and you risk getting stabbed in the back.:confused:

[KyuubiNeji]

I think Liala has a point. Usually if taking on the BIG mobs, standing your ground and letting the Cleric heal/cast invincible on you is much better, as you won't attract the aggro of other mobs. Also, what you call "travelling with a Cleric" may very well be "Dang, I got stuck with a Mage!" to the Cleric. Unless, of course, the Cleric happens to be your gf/bf, then... :D

[blackrazer]

So you'd recommend dropping max cooldowns into what spells for survival considering you beef the crap out of int for the damage?

[aaronAdrian]

I have found that kiting is a very effective way for me to solo monsters in the orange.

All you have to do is coordinate your spell cooldown times, and cast an ice spell, which makes your enemy move slower.

But I am Purely INT so maybe its because i do high dmg.

Anyways kiting rules. and without it WoW players would all die.