Ok having major problems with my oracle

[Antmf]

Hey all, The dps is good and I like the class a lot but because I only don 2200 HP I am getting killed by melee. Because of the view and when I am in a dungeon or cave by the time I see the mobs its to late they are on me already. What do i do and what do you guys keep on you lmb and rmb and it is a pain to say click squall or lightning bolt and have to target with mouse because in order to do that you have to stop running and then I get crushed. Can someone tell me what to do before I lose my mind and give up lol... Thanks...

[nemhauser]

hi, you need to post some more info (char level, which act are you, your stats, what's your weapon, skills etc...)

basically a "standard" caster that has spirit will use Ternion on left mouse button and some spell on RMB

one other thing - you can zoom out (by default on mouse wheel i think) so you will see broader area

[Antmf]

Well, I used defiler to copy my character over and create an oracle to see if I would like there game style. And I do but I just cant the whole kiting thing and pointing and clicking. Like when I am being attacked by melee how do I run and cast? I cant run and hit the hot key for a spell and then click the reticle on the mob because if I do that they are killing me lol. I just want to know how you guys do it and what you have RMB and LMB assigned to. And why cast squall on melee? Thanks...

[Irma2]

Max Deathchill aura for the slowing and then get some other form of slowing, freezing or stunning for crowd control. Thunderball is decent for mobs, Freezing Blast is OK for single targets.

However, I don't like either of those skills for myself, so I go with a Bitter staff and/or jewellery, and relics that give slower attack for 3 seconds as a completion bonus. I want everything I do to be slowing and controlling enemies, not just selected skills like Thunderball or Freezing Blast. Deathchill + some other form of slowing is usually enough to keep monsters from swarming you imo.

I take it you're in Act IV Normal now. If not, then cheer up - wherever you are now, Act IV gets ten times worse in terms of deadly melee foes.

Oracle is just very fragile, especially in late Normal when the Liche King tank is also at his weakest. You just need to play very carefully and seek out the right gear.

Whatever you do, don't go rushing about casting Squall everywhere. It attracts monsters to you like a magnet, you'll be swarmed in seconds by far more monsters than you can handle. Instead, play slower, aggro monsters one by one and deal with them individually or in very small groups.

In late Normal, Squall is only for tackling ranged groups (mages, archers)when there are no melee monsters about, or casting in places where the monsters can't reach you (on the other side of a dungeon wall, for example). In that case, it usually doesn't matter if you aggro the whole lot, because they can't get to you.

[Irma2]

Originally Posted by Antmf

Like when I am being attacked by melee how do I run and cast? I cant run and hit the hot key for a spell and then click the reticle on the mob because if I do that they are killing me lol.

You are using Shift-attack, yes? That allows you to attack melee foes from further away, which gives you a bit of extra time before they reach you.

Kiting is just a case of practice. Don't use spells on them (unless you have one-clickers like War Horn, Flash Powder or DR/TR), use your staff. In that case, it becomes just like a bow - run and shoot. Move when the enemy hits, and hit when the enemy moves.

Originally Posted by Antmf

I just want to know how you guys do it and what you have RMB and LMB assigned to. And why cast squall on melee? Thanks...

My Oracle has Ternion on LMB and Squall on RMB. Squall's synergy Obscured Vision cuts monster resistances and reduces their damage too. So it's very good to cast on melee monsters. They don't hurt as much when they hit you, and they die quicker from your staff shots and spells. Of course, the base skill does damage as well. The synergy just makes it even better.

[Defgarden]

Normal Act 4 was god awful, but I managed to make it through with my Oracle. I didn't really pump Liche King at all in normal since he's pretty terrible. Instead I just tried to max squall, and have a soul shiver artifact as well as a staff with attack -> health. It helps somewhat against hard hitting melee, though, you're bound to die.

Currently I'm in Act 2 Epic, and it's so easy. The only problem I had so far was the Minotaur King. He gave me fits until I learned how to use my Liche King as a tank (Wraith Shell rocks).