keeping track of your spirits

papaschtroumpf

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2009

[Moon]

I find that in the heat of the action I'm having a hard time keeping track of which spirit is active and which one needs to be recast. They are not visually distinct in most cases. Is there a better way than hover the mouse over the spirit? (and clicking their name in they were cast in a "pile")

The Drunkard

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Nov 2007

Still looking

Rt/

When I play GW, I usually tape my ctrl key down, so that items, allies, and chests are always visible.

blownaway

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Jul 2009

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Drunkard View Post
When I play GW, I usually tape my ctrl key down, so that items, allies, and chests are always visible. lol that is funny, never thought about doing that

silavor

silavor

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2007

Canada

Keepers Of Twilight

For me, I usually just press ALT down if I ever think I'm missing a spirit. It usually helps to cast summon spirits first, so all your current spirits line up in a row. If I don't see Hate, Anger, or Suffering, I recast SoS, since those three usually vanish at about the same time anyway, due to their same timer, health and armour. If I'm missing pain, vamp or blood, I cast the ones that are missing. Any others that I bring along, like shadowsong, usually only last their recharge (if that), so if I see that the skill is recharged I cast it if needed, and usually don't bother checking if the spirit is still active, since most of the time it won't be.

As for defensive spirits, I usually don't use those, but in my brief experience with them they usually don't last much longer than their recharge anyway.

Marty Silverblade

Marty Silverblade

Administrator

Join Date: Jun 2006

Other than taping down keys (it'd probably be better to set the show everything to a different key, one thats more out of the way like page up though, unless thats not possible), there isn't much you can do. Perhaps get used to putting specific spirits in a certain order (i.e, Bloodsong on the left, Pain in the middle, then Vampirism on the right) so that you can tell which is down without having to mouse over. Recharge is also useful, depending on what spirits you're using.

Zodiac Meteor

Zodiac Meteor

Imma Firin Mah Rojway!

Join Date: Aug 2008

At the Mac Store laughing at people that walk out with anything.

E/Mo

I always cast spirits on recharge, that way I always have fresh meat shields to exploit. Balled spirits with Summon Spirits = very bad. I spread them around the area.

Perfected Shadow

Perfected Shadow

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2006

Zul'Aman

Umes Uranger U[bot]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Zodiac Meteor
Balled spirits with Summon Spirits = very bad. I spread them around the area. Well I find that spreading them out is a waste of time, since I cast summon spirits very often to move them out of aoe, heal them, and position them (to flatbow range, melee range, kite melee with them, depending on what the team needs).

Premium Unleaded

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Aug 2005

Same rule applies with AI target priorities: lowest ar first, so unless they all get AoE'd at the same time, it's usually going to be your lowest level spirit.

Pailey

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Oct 2009

LMAO

R/Mo

I tape the key down as well..lol. But another way to do it is just remember where you put them.

I usually put 2 tank spirits, then back up a bit, then SoS, then back up a bit more and put my blind/interrupt/etc in the back. Once you get used to placing them in somewhat of an order, its easy to remember which is which without the tape.

Spreading them all over the place usually isn't the best idea since they "spray dps" rather than focusing. Usually I try to keep them close together, but not on top of each other.

As for the guy that said he just recasts each time the cooldown is up, that can lead to a mess in some situations and I wouldn't suggest that. If you recast your tanking spirit while it is tanking, the mob AI might decide you look like the next best target

the pic might make more sense. (Pain and Bloodsong being the frontline, me standing in the back with the weaker ones) ->

Malla13

Malla13

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2009

Angeldustrial Bonsai Muffins [FFS]

N/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by The Drunkard View Post
When I play GW, I usually tape my ctrl key down, so that items, allies, and chests are always visible. That would be so much easier than my method of just holding it down with my little finger the entire time! XD I swear I've deformed my hand...

On topic, I usually try to arrange my spirits in an easy-to-see pattern, (zig-zags and such) and I keep an eye on recharge times on my bar. Pailey's setup was the best I've seen, though. I might have to try that out.

jigenbakuda

Academy Page

Join Date: Aug 2009

Draconian Order

A/

In general I run pain, vampirism / bloodsong, sig of spirits, and shadowsong. I know which spirits are active or not by the time that passes. Pain, vampirism, and bloodsong are all like 2 minute spirits... if spirits are missing and they weren't beasted, I know its not them. Most of the time its sos that disappear on me, they have a 1 minute recharge. Shadowsong lasts 30 secs with a 30 sec recharge, so its my time keeper, every 2 (estimate) shadowsongs its time for more siggie-o-spirits, if things are confusing (like they are all getting attacked at once) and I lose track, i just reshit the spirits, its like 25e anyways. I play with only mouse... the alt button is soooooooooooo far away and I have to use my other hand... I just burn some energy, if I'm not spamming painful bond on recharge its okay.