I find it frustrating to be in a group, as a healer, when people don't understand how rampage is established, and when the caster gets rampage, they claim it's not their fault. So, I'd like to help clarify how rampage is determined.
Most importantly, ramage has nothing to do with the amount of damage dealt. Regardless of whether 1 dmg or 10,000,000 dmg is dealt, rampage will not change*.
Here's the low-down: Rampage is based entirely on position in the mob's hate list. Specifically, whoever appears first on the mob's hate list, AND is not holding agro, WILL have rampage. If a mob is incoming to camp, currently only the puller (MT in this case) is on the hate list, if the mob is slowed or tash'd, or whatever, that character will then be rampage (when they don't have agro).
There are only a few circumstances where rampage can change targets. The first being, character with rampage dies; next character first on hate list, not holding agro, is new rampage target. The second circumstance deals with bouncing agro. If MT pulls a mob, and 2nd person to appear on mob's hate list grabs agro, then MT will be rampage until he/she regains agro, and then rampage will change to 2nd person on hate list (below MT).
Also, realize that if only one person is on the mob's hate list, a mob will still rampage. Rampage damage is not dealt if they are the only person on the hate list.
Finally, consider that most rampage has a range of 200. Most spells have a range of 200. Very few spells naturally have a longer range; mage bolt spell line comes to mind (but not limited to that). Obtain extended range items, practice casting at max range; this way, you will be able to hold rampage and avoid being hit. Healers will rejoice in your presence for being an elite, professional player.
Edit 1: minor clarification
Edit 2: major clarification, added here: Instead of rewriting the entire post, I'll just make the addendum here. Most of the above is correct, however, if a character is out of a mob's rampage range, the mob will select the next highest character on it's (Edit 3) Rampage (/Edit 3) list, who is in range, to be the new rampage target. Use extended range foci or 200+ range spells, to avoid being rampage target (if you'd otherwise be rampage, within the 200 range).
Edited, Tue Aug 9 15:16:05 2005 by tchzarmok
Edited, Tue Aug 9 15:21:59 2005 by tchzarmok
Edited, Wed Aug 10 11:31:04 2005 by tchzarmok