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Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Having an effective UI for PvP

In this post I aim to inform you of how to setup your UI for PvP so it will provide you with crucial information in a simple manner.
Let's start off with a picture of my UI. **Right Click -- View Image for full size**


Addons

OmniCC - Simply places a cooldown counter over your buttons for easy reference on CDs

Bartender 4 - Bar mod that is easily customizable. This addon removes the clunky bar UI and opens your screen up to see more of the action. Also included is easy features which allow you to keybind efficiently.

Gladius - PvP target frame that provides a wealth of information: provides easy trinket, buff and target monitoring systems. Here are some steps to improve your current Gladius setup.
1. Type /gladius ui to open the config screen.
2. Under "General" click show target icon (2nd option from bottom)
3. Go to trinket display on the left and select "Big Icon" (This makes it easy to see when you are going to get a full trap[cc that cannot be dispelled or trinketed]
4. Adjust frame to a size that fits your UI. The bigger you make it the more they become like focus frames to which you can use mouseovers over etc.

Losecontrol- Shows stuns, snares, and cc's on you and your target in the form of a box with said spell. I like to put it right under my character (Allows fast trinketting and RoS for deep freezes)

Xperl Unit Frames - Unit frames that allow your debuffs to be seen bigger (Easier for reapplying debuffs)

Power Auras - Efficient Notifiers for multiple events during an arena match. I will go through a few setups I use for this mod rather briefly that allow me to maximize my alertness.

To add an aura type /powa ... Click New ... Replace the ??? with spell name... Click Text Aura at top... Put notification you want in text box.

1. Cloak of Shadows - Type Cloak of Shadows in the ??? box and then in text aura whatever message you want to try to stop the vanish (FLARE NOW!!!)
2. Trinket Procs - Just put the buff name of your trinket proc here and know when you are doing increased dps
3. Starfall - Know when starfall is channeling
PROTIP: Using scatter shot on starfall totally stops it from channeling while the scatter effect is up. If trinketted have your pally follow up with a HoJ to completely counter starfall.

SpellAlerter - On the top of your screen shows spells being casted on you and your teammates by name.
PROTIP: When you see fear or a big chaos bolt being casted on you use "Feign Death" to stop the cast. Also it may be appropriate to avoid incoming CC using Deterrence Polymorph/Fear.

Aloft- Nameplates that offer class colors and health percentages. Can also be modified to show casts. HELPS YOU KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE ACTION NOT HEALTH BARS.

Purgeatory- New mod I have been using. Not totally necessary, but will tell you in party chat which buff your tranquilizing shot removed. (Awesome for when you remove bop)

AzCastbar
- Castbar of my preference. Shows my target cast and my casts.

Introduction - Keybindings/Macros

Hi guys,

I have some extra time on my hands so I decided to create a blog to help give other hunters an edge. A little background on myself, I have played hunter since vanilla opening day and have accumulated a great knowledge of the class. I am a 3 time gladiator (only 3 due to breaks/etc) and have raided a vast majority of content, but enough about me.

I will try to keep new articles coming, and also I definitely will take requests for articles. Easiest to email me with requests at alexmoll@knights.ucf.edu



Keybindings

Introduction: Mobility is one of the most important to improving your hunter play. Easy keybindings are essential for you to focus on the game and the action in the arena.

It is essential to open the keys nearest to wasd first. Remove all non-essential combat bindings (it will be awkward at first, but way better in the long run). This means r to reply, c for character pane etc.

Modifiers: The two modifiers that I like to use are alt and shift (control is just kind of awkward for me but might work for you).

Alike buttons: It is easier to bind two buttons that are used in conjunction with each other next to each other. For example I use t for scatter shot and r for trap. This allows me easy scatter trap combos.

Protip: When scattering priests/druids/shaman use scatter --> then feign ---> then trap. This prevents warrior charges/fears/kidneys on you and results in more successful traps.

EVERY SKILL MUST BE BOUND. Or you are not letting yourself play at your maximum potential.

Macros

In this section I will post the macros that I use and how to properly operate them.

Killshot combined with remove bop and deterrence: Press once to remove Hand of Protection or Deterrence and then against to get off that clutch game winning kill shot. Also can be used to just remove Hand of Protection by just pressing killshot button.

Protip: Against RLS/RPS as Paladin/Hunter/Death Knight always use BoP to remove blind to save your trinket for kidney shot switch onto you. Immediately press this macro to get it off.

/cancelaura Hand of Protection
/cancelaura Deterrence
/cast Kill Shot

Mouseover Silencing Shot: Silences your current target if no mouseover is active or silences your mouseover target. THE MOUSEOVER can be used from gladius! Simply make sure you are in range of the healer/caster you are trying to silence mouse over them in gladius and press the keybinding to silence them.

#showtooltip Silencing Shot
/cast [target=mouseover, harm][harm] Silencing Shot

Mouseover Scatter Shot: Same thing as silencing shot macro. NOTE: Be careful of using scatter shot mouseover whilst snake trap or pestilience is being used. Especially when playing PHD I would recommend setting the healer or person being trapped to your focus target so you don't waste a scatter.

#showtooltip Scatter Shot
/cast [target=mouseover, harm][harm] Scatter Shot

Mousover Master's Call: I really like using this macro. Basically just mouseover the player (in the match) or over your party frames to give them master's call. It will also put the pet on passive in an attempt to get in their LoS. If no mouseover is selected it will MC you.

#showtooltip Master's Call
/petpassive
/cast [target=mouseover,nodead,help] Master's Call
/cast [target=nodead,help] Master's Call
/cast [target=player] Master's Call

Mouseover Roar of Sacrifice: Same thing as master's call. Make sure you take it off autocast on pet bar. AMAZING for deep freezes/spellcleave openers.

/cast [target=mouseover,nodead,help] Roar of Sacrifice
/cast [target=nodead,help] Roar of Sacrifice
/cast [target=player] Roar of Sacrifice

Disengage Parachute Macro (For Engineers): Makes your disengage go further. Added note: Against Melee Cleaves kiting up the blade's edge ramp and then disengaging at the top gives you a large advantage and allows you to get out of charge range to begin kiting with a frost trap.

#showtooltip Disengage
/cast Disengage
/use Cloak name here