Not Just a Druid – An Arch One

Shifting Higher

This post is part of the For the Record series, which suggests new ideas for Achievements.

If you read one of my two previous posts, there is really no need for another fancy exposition. If you haven’t, you are really forcing my hand. But well, I guess I have to give a short reminder anyways.

Achievements.

Ok, that might not be detailed enough…

Class-specific achievements.

Still vague?

Achievements, that having completed all of them, would prove your fellow players that you have mastered somewhat your class. It indicates you know where your various skills are, and are not afraid to use them, even when sometimes the achievement requires you to use them in a silly way.

Heck, it’s just another method to have some fun, and spend those dead hours when you don’t have anything better to do.

Did I mention it might grant the Archdruid title?

Those are achievements for Druids by the way, and they are coming up after this link.

Review of Nature – the Embrace

This post is part of a series of posts titled Healing Inspection, which discusses healing abilities and styles.

Hm… That didn’t come out well. What I did mean to write was – Nature of the Review – Embrace.
Gah! Not that either…

Embrace the Review – of Nature? Review of the Embrace – Nature?
… One more try, this time from the heart.

Embrace of Nature – the Review!

I made it! (*flex*)
But I also let my train of thought derail once again, instead of blogging to the point.

Today.
Today I shall continue to delve into my latest invented skill – Embrace of Nature. On my last post, I have simply introduced it, with a minimal explanation, little details and a lot of non existent considerations.
So today I shall bring such considerations into existence.

Namely, after this hop.

Embrace of Nature

Embracing Nature

This post is part of a series of posts titled Healing Inspection, which discusses healing abilities and styles.

This one might be tricky. Tricky because Druids got changed quite a bit in WotLK, while other healers had their concept remains relatively conserved.

Druids used heals over time, almost all the time. Over time, such heals became so efficient, they were the only thing the Druid used. And yes, that was a pun right there (*self-satisfied grin*).

In Northrend, the all powerful Druid trademarked HoTs are being pushed aside by something quite new to the shapeshifting class, a flash heal-esque spell, healing moderately but cast rapidly.
The idea behind the addition is providing Druids with the tool to handle burst damage; and like any other good thing, it was provided with nerfs to compensate – diminishing the strength of the lovable Lifebloom.

Now, is it just me, or it is no longer so HoT in here?

But back to the Burning Crusade’s difficulty, when Druids had to struggle in keeping someone alive, when he was taking big amounts of damage, fast. There were times where a full stack of HoTs couldn’t outheal the incoming damage, Swiftmend was constantly being used, Regrowth was too expensive to spam, and Healing Touch was nerve-breakingly slow. For such a time, I had an idea in mind.

But Nourish was born out of the Beta servers, and with an evil twist of magical bits, it rendered my idea void. Vanish! Begone! Go back to the shadows, you shall not pass kind of thing you! (*calm down*).
Truly, it was no longer needed, so I decided to come up with something new.

From the title of this post, the clever can already guess what it would be named.
Embrace of Nature, and it is right there after the break.

Wrath of the Healer – Druid

WotLK Healing Talent Tree (Druid)

This post is part of a series of posts titled Healing Inspection, which discusses healing abilities and styles.

In an ancient grove, a distinct tree stands.

This tree, It has been thriving in the past. Ensuring its surrounding was kept rejuvenated, swiftly mended, growing and blooming with life, again and again.

The tree was glad, for it recalled how it traveled through its gardens in the passing days, showering flora and fauna with shining health and sparkling life.

It sadly recalled days of blights and parasites, which were very hard for him to handle, for those struck quickly and viciously, sometimes affecting many of the garden creatures at the same time.

But the tree was content, for it knew its job was done to the best of its ability, and that was an innervating feeling for the tree.

It was a tree bursting with life.

But soon, snow and hail will drop from the sky, and the ancient grove will quickly become as white as the heavens in the clouds. For the tree, this is a sign of good fortune.

For trees in Northrend might just be a little bit taller, or maybe thicker.

Wondering what the heck am I babbling about? Read on.

Healers and their Niche

Where does the healer hide?

This post is part of a series of posts titled Healing Inspection, which discusses healing abilities and styles.

We got 4 classes which are capable of healing (no, bandages and racials do not count), but each in different situations. In WoW jargon, I suppose it is common to say that each healer has his own niche.

It doesn’t mean that healers are squirrel-like creatures that like to hide between the rocks (but maybe some do, I don’t know). It means that different healing specs feel more comfortable in different encounter types.

If we intend to delve into a healer’s lair, to somewhat refurnish it, it would be wise to know what to expect.

Before I start, I would like to claim that I am not a top notch professional where it comes to healing. I have done my share of healing as a Druid, a bit as a Paladin, but nothing high level as a Priest or Shaman (but I believe I do understand the mechanics). I hope I will not be stoned for still giving out opinions, and I hope they will not be too far from being correct.

Following the link, I will give a short summary to where each of the following healers excel – Restoration Druids, Holy Paladins, Holy Priests and Restoration Shamans.

Relentless Chase – Part One

Get 'im!

For quite a while now, we have been talking how to avoid damage and close quarter combat. While this is relevant for most classes, it isn’t for all of them. There are numerous classes specializations that for them, being close is being in the zone.

Today (and on the upcoming Part Two) I’m dedicating my post for the following: Feral Druids, Protection and Retribution Paladins, Rogues, Enhancement Shamans and Warriors.

They are not the majority (10 out of 27 main specs).
They like it up front and personal.

But what can they do to get what they want?
Let’s see.

Note: This is just a short break from my ongoing Escaping the Crowds series. Rest assured I will continue to cover Shamans, Warlocks and Warriors not too long from now.

Escaping the Crowds, or The One That Got Away

Laters, aligators.

This post is part of the Escaping the Crowds series, which focuses on escape mechanism for PvP.

Yesterday I have listed a (rather long I’d say) compendium of abilities that help each class to survive incoming damage.

Today I’ll start to pinpoint which classes have the upper hand, and which might need a helping one.

I think we’ll have to consider an arena setup. In this setup, you’re fighting in a closed environment, for a limited duration of time. Moreover, you usually have some allies at your side, so delaying your opponent a bit will usually be enough to get some help.

Under such a setup, we’ll have to consider a few things.

• Ability Cooldown. Abilities that can be used once a fight are obviously less effective than those that can be used multiple times over the duration.
• Efficiency. Does the ability guarantee an escape ? To what extent ?
• Ease of Use. Title says it all. Defining factors are if the ability is target-able, is cast quickly, requires facing the enemy, etc.

Let’s start with a class that is nowadays considered to be one of the best in arena survivability – the Druid.