So tell me about the bog lurker.

[HumphreyMilkweed]

I know a lot of times my anticipated perception of a skill or a pet is very far off from how it actually performs. A good example of this would be the March of the Ents power. I knew exactly how long the recharge is, the amount of damage it does, and judging by how it looks on youtube, I thought it was a cool looking power. Once I actually got it however, I was disappointed immediately. It has a long recharge, even after traiting 3 deep into the red line, and the wow factor is missing for me. The reason for this is the lack of a cool sound effect, or interesting spell casting effect. You click the button and poof, a giant ent is there, he stomps his foot and that's that.

So I'm concerned that a similar thing may happen with the bog lurker. I've been playing my LM with intent on using the lurker at some point. I know exactly what it looks like, I know exactly what powers it has, and I know that it has the highest flank rate of all the pets. But I'm wondering how it actually performs in combat. What tactics do people use with this pet? It's an entirely different animal,(pun intended) since it's a ranged pet. How survivable is it compared to the bear? Can it hold aggro at all? Are the powers it has useful, or do people mainly use it for the flanks?

Thanks!

[geoboy]

One of the great things about the lurker is that it's ranged. Yeah. Doesn't get hit by boss aoes, and so it dies less often. It also has a ranged debuff, increasing the damage of any hunters hitting that target. I've found it to be far and away my favorite pet. If I'm in a 6-man or 3 man and have to do CC, I'll trait it in instead of red. (I generally save yellow line for raids)

[PF-Grumpy]

The bog lurker is one of my favorite pets. I loved it enough to blog about it!


http://my.lotro.com/user-622384/2009...ew-girlfriend/

[Incanus-the-red]

Bog-lurker is more about playstyle. If you like to use CC, debuff, have your pet tank one mob while you work on another, the Bog-lurker is very good. It's enhanced CJ abilites are also good in fellowships without Burgs. Personally, it is contrary to my playstyle so I rarely trait 5 blue. I am either traiting 5 MoNF for the improved sticky gourd or 5 AM for raids. If you prefer controlling the pace of combat, the Bog-lurker may be just what the doctor ordered!

[Thorazine]

If you are a "Tank and Flank" lm, the Bog Lurker is a blast because it flanks Constantly. You are pretty much invincible with it up.

[Bagginses2007]

I know a lot of times my anticipated perception of a skill or a pet is very far off from how it actually performs. A good example of this would be the March of the Ents power. I knew exactly how long the recharge is, the amount of damage it does, and judging by how it looks on youtube, I thought it was a cool looking power. Once I actually got it however, I was disappointed immediately. It has a long recharge, even after traiting 3 deep into the red line, and the wow factor is missing for me. The reason for this is the lack of a cool sound effect, or interesting spell casting effect. You click the button and poof, a giant ent is there, he stomps his foot and that's that.

So I'm concerned that a similar thing may happen with the bog lurker. I've been playing my LM with intent on using the lurker at some point. I know exactly what it looks like, I know exactly what powers it has, and I know that it has the highest flank rate of all the pets. But I'm wondering how it actually performs in combat. What tactics do people use with this pet? It's an entirely different animal,(pun intended) since it's a ranged pet. How survivable is it compared to the bear? Can it hold aggro at all? Are the powers it has useful, or do people mainly use it for the flanks?

Thanks!

I wouldn't be so swift to write off Ents. Once you're capped, geared and traited for fire, Ents is one of our most powerful DPS skills. You can easily crit over 3k on multiple mobs. I've had dev crits over 5k (grouped). Tar down, pull 5 mobs with the pet, Ents, Sticky-Gourd, and that is most certainly that. Cooldown isn't much of an issue, it's back up pretty quick, you're just missing ISG to fill in the gaps.

Or maybe try a Rune Keeper if you like fancy skill sounds and animations?

The Lurker is great for the CC playstyle, a ranged flanking machine. There's plenty of traits to make it tougher for tanking. It does fairly decent DPS, so it can hold aggro quite well. If you want to try to solo some really tough content, take a Lurker.

[thrandiul11091]

[QUOTE=Bagginses2007;5143981]I wouldn't be so swift to write off Ents. Once you're capped, geared and traited for fire, Ents is one of our most powerful DPS skills. You can easily crit over 3k on multiple mobs. I've had dev crits over 5k (grouped). Tar down, pull 5 mobs with the pet, Ents, Sticky-Gourd, and that is most certainly that. Cooldown isn't much of an issue, it's back up pretty quick, you're just missing ISG to fill in the gaps./QUOTE]

This! Not only does it do insane damage but it stuns for 8 seconds; leaving you plenty of time to throw lightning/improved sticky gourd on the mob.

"How survivable is it compared to the bear?"

Very. I've gone link-dead before/used it to afk farm mobs and have returned to find the lurker emerged victorious.

"Can it hold aggro at all?"

No pet can, not including the bear taunt. (which is on a painful cd and attached to an otherwise useless pet) The lurker does fantastic damage but unless you are auto-attacking/only throwing up a few skills, you will get aggro from ANY pet. (You wouldn't be playing your lore master right if you weren't taking aggro! That's why flanks are in the game. Pets are a utility, not a tank.)

"Are the powers it has useful, or do people mainly use it for the flanks?"

The 3 powers are a nice dot, a debuff that makes it 5% more likely they will be ranged critted, (hunters will love you) and a skill that has a chance to start a fellowship manuever.

In terms of usefulness, the skills are medium-well. The skills do great damage but don't have the insane utility of, for instance, the eagle skills. (15-second fear and rez) However, the lurker is a lot better because of more damage and flanks.

Essentially, what you're getting when you slot the lurker and taking advantage of all his flanks is nearly unlimited moral and power. He really does flank that much. It's rather fun to take down elites with it. With improved staff strike on flanks, you will easily be laying the smack-down on mobs as well. Plus, the fact he can attack from range is a nice benefit for fellowships. (Where the unlimited power by using staff-sweep on a flank will come in handy)

[HumphreyMilkweed]

Thanks for the responses folks. I hesitated about posting the Ents comment, because I was sure someone would mention something about it. I know it's powerful and useful, and I will most likely use it in groups. The emphasis was on the wow factor however. Despite being very eager to get that particular power, I was disappointed with how it's presented.

It's comparable to if Gandalf, as he stood toe to toe with the Balrog at the bridge of Khazad dum, raised his staff and sword, but whispered, "you shall not pass," then the balrog fell down, roll to credits. The Ents power does all these awesome things, but there's no real sound effects or any cool inductions to emphasize just how powerful it is. That's my main grief with the power. There's no sound when this giant, mystical creature pops out of thin air somehow.

[Darlgon]

The Ents power does all these awesome things, but there's no real sound effects or any cool inductions to emphasize just how powerful it is. That's my main grief with the power. There's no sound when this giant, mystical creature pops out of thin air somehow.

Really? Last time I had it slotted, which was a while ago, it had a whoosing sound like you get with the fellowship manuver with the ent stomp, plus left the ground all cracked under the mob.

Oh, and the bog lurker is an awesome pet.

[Thrandiul110]

Thanks for the responses folks. I hesitated about posting the Ents comment, because I was sure someone would mention something about it. I know it's powerful and useful, and I will most likely use it in groups. The emphasis was on the wow factor however. Despite being very eager to get that particular power, I was disappointed with how it's presented.

It's comparable to if Gandalf, as he stood toe to toe with the Balrog at the bridge of Khazad dum, raised his staff and sword, but whispered, "you shall not pass," then the balrog fell down, roll to credits. The Ents power does all these awesome things, but there's no real sound effects or any cool inductions to emphasize just how powerful it is. That's my main grief with the power. There's no sound when this giant, mystical creature pops out of thin air somehow.

There's a "stretching"/"groaning" sound all throughout the induction. Personally I love the stomp animation as well. Makes me feel like I'm squashing the mob.

[HumphreyMilkweed]

There's a "stretching"/"groaning" sound all throughout the induction. Personally I love the stomp animation as well. Makes me feel like I'm squashing the mob.

It's not loud, at all. Click the button, swoosh, Ent appears, he makes a teenie tiny grunt, and there's a small stomp sound. Just doesn't do it for me.

[grinko.at]

The ranged debuff is weak - 5% ranged crit vs. 10% more melee/ranged damage from the bear, the latter adds a lot more damage in groups.

I also find it quite strange that the proposed "ranged" pet has to be in melee range to have a noticeable flank rate.

But it pops FMs left and right, so I like it for fun runs where BF is needed, like SG with a good group. It can tank ranged mobs who might aggro on the healer, and it is very tough when fully buffed and traited. It can kill a normal mob with ease, and a Signature mob with some debuffs thrown in. Damage is better than the other pets with the exception of Lynx in short fights and sabercat against 3+ mobs.

It is also superb for harrassing creeps on STAB/TA standoffs, because it is completely immune to combat states.

The eagle is the better utility pet, but the lurker is fun - and the new combat summoning is the icing on the cake.

[HumphreyMilkweed]

The ranged debuff is weak - 5% ranged crit vs. 10% more melee/ranged damage from the bear, bear the latter adds a lot more damage in groups.

I also find it quite strange that the proposed "ranged" pet has to bee in melee range to have a noticeable flank rate.

But it pops FMs left and right, so I like it for fun runs where BF is needed, like SG with a good group. It can tank ranged mobs who might aggro on the healer, and it is very tough when fully buffed and traited. It can kill a normal mob with ease, and a Signature mob with some debuffs thrown in. Damage is better than the other pets with the exception of Lynx in short fights and sabercat against 3+ mobs.

It is also superb for harrassing creeps on STAB/TA standoffs, because it is completely immune to combat states.

The eagle is the better utility pet, but the lurker is fun - and the new combat summoning is the icing on the cake.

Sounds good...

I just like the lurkers. I live in New Orleans where the swamp is part of most of our culture. The idea of having a swampy creature with a cat o nine tails growing out of its back is just too much to pass up for me. So it's great to find out that the pet is durable and effective.

[Velaron]

The bog is a game changer for me. It gives the LM a unique playstyle.