Weblog
Aug 17, 11:03 PM: Raid Tip: Back Up
Occasionally in raid you will be given the command to “back up”. Backing up is a maneuver designed to protect you and the rest of your raid. Most commonly it is used to prevent an event or encounter from beginning before the entire group is ready, sometimes to avoid an event or encounter altogether.
The standard “back up” will have 1 or 2 steps depending on what you are doing when the command is given (i.e. moving or standing still). For our example let’s assume you are moving, the more complicated of the two starting positions. If you can master the ‘Moving to backing up’ maneuver the ‘standing still to backing up’ maneuver will be a cinch!
In the image above in phase #1 you can see our happy little raider moving forward* when the raid leader instructs him to “back up!” To do this the happy little raider will need to transition from phase #1 to phase #2 to phase #3. Below are 2 easy steps to do just that!
Step #1: Stop moving. When the happy little raider stops moving forward he immediately finds himself in phase #2. This is exactly what is supposed to happen; it’s designed into the game. If you’ve executed the stop correctly you should find yourself in phase #2 every time. It’s a good idea to practice this a few times before you get into a raid situation.
Step #2: Move back**. By moving back the happy little raider finds himself in phase #3 and has successfully executed the “back up” maneuver! As you can see in the image above in phase #3 the happy little raider is moving in the opposite direction he was original moving and is very happy.
In the event that you are already in phase #2 when the “back up” command is given, proceed directly to Step #2.
*Forward – a progressive motion deeper into an instance, towards danger.
**Back – a regressive motion over previously covered area, away from danger.
Also see my raid tips on Stacking and Rain of Fire.
