Reader Treibh of Vek’nilash (US) recently submitted a video capture of his guild Cohors Praetoria successfully downing the Illidari Council. You may remember an earlier video from Ammeli of Defias Brotherhood (EU) that generated discussion on the use of Healing Touch to heal that fight. Here Treibh presents an alternative strategy wherein he stays in Tree of Life for the duration.

Since I (still) haven’t seen this fight, I asked Treibh a few questions:

How would you describe your role in this fight? Are you primarily healing a single MT? Multiple MT/OT? MT + raid?
I’m responsible for rolling Lifebloom on the Gathios, Zerevor, and Malande tanks, and then using my 4th GCD for whatever. Typically, that means helping out on the Veras tank when he is up or tossing in a Rejuvenation on one of my Lifebloom tanks or even the raid if needed.

Do you ever have trouble avoiding Flamestrike? How important would you say the speed enchant is for boots in this fight?
Avoiding Flamestrike isn’t too bad if you are aware of your surroundings and are ready to move. I can’t say I’ve died to AoE on this fight since we’ve learned it, and I’ve always done it in Tree Form. I’d say Boar’s Speed is pretty important - for this fight and really the majority of late-T6 and Sunwell fights that I’ve done so far.

I see two Trees in that video. Can you see the forest … for the Trees?
The other Tree (who also has the same assignment I do) in the video is Vashir. We have a third Tree Druid (Ibou) who wasn’t there that night, but all three of us are usually in the raid. Our guild has done pretty much every first kill from the start of T5 through Brutallus with three Tree Druids in the raid. Three Tree Druids on, for example, a seven-healer Brutallus kill isn’t what you’ll find on any of the common strategies, but we’ve made it work for our guild for the last year pretty well.

For those curious about the video soundtrack (someone inevitably asks), the first song is “Galvanize” by the Chemical Brothers and “Anthem” by Moby.

Thanks for sharing, Treibh!

Related Posts

• Ammeli vs. Illidari Council
• Restoration Druid vs. Uvuros
• Welcome Auryann’s Lifebloom and You

This is in response to the Blog Azeroth Shared Topic Top 10 WoW Memories from Cathmor of Eye for an Eye.

1. During the last few hours of the open beta, Phaelia was level 12 and fishing in the lake in Moonglade. I pulled up a Golden Pearl which sold for a whole GOLD to the vendor. I used the proceeds from my find to  buy a dress and some flowers so I’d “go out in style.”
2. Back when Scholomance could be raided with up to 40 people, I was there with my  first guild. In the last room with the balconies overlooking where Darkmaster Gandling eventually spawns, we were standing outside of the room with the ridiculous number of skeletons historically used by Paladins to pad the DPS meters. I had a cosmopolitan (cranberry juice and vodka) sitting beside my keyboard and, in the process of standing up from my desk, my leg bumped the keyboard tray, pushing it into my desk and knocking over my drink. Frantically trying to mop up the mess, I must have hit the autorun button on my mouse because before I knew it, I was charging into the room alone. I’m pretty sure we wiped.
3. I’m sure that most Druids would agree that one of their most memorable moments was turning level 68 and training Flight Form. Flying was (and still is) one of my favorite things in Warcraft. And the feeling of freedom from insta-cast Swift Flight Form is far better than the casting-time based mounts that other players get. They can’t jump off of Aldor Terrace and shift halfway down (just make sure you don’t shift into Tree form like I did earlier this week).
4. During my single season as a “hardcore” Arena player, my husband and I played a 2v2 game against a 2-Rogue team. Now, I know that some people say Druids are OP in Arenas (and they must have been for me to be able to reach 1915, to be honest), but that doesn’t mean that playing one isn’t incredibly stressful. Melees were the worst for me. I hated the feeling that someone was trying to kill me/not letting me heal my partner (yeah, I was definitely not cut out for PvP). Anyway so we play this 2 Rogue team and I’m terrified. Despite this, I think I played my best Arena game ever, keeping away from both Rogues, keeping Abolish Poison on both me and Mr. Phae, and rolling HoTs at the same time. When we won, we got 28 points from them, which means they were much higher rated than we were. I have to keep telling myself that they weren’t the alternates on a “farm team.”
5. Phaelia is a Tailor/Leatherworker. I was one of the first players on my server to craft the Primal Mooncloth set. I remember sinking 800 gold or so into buying enough cloth to craft the belt (I made the robe first) so that I could complete the set bonus. Putting all three pieces on was a huge accomplishment and set me belt and shoulders above most of my guildmates at the time.
6. For weeks, I diligently did the Daily Fishing Quest, hoping to get one of the cute little baby crocodiles (I’m from Louisiana originally, so it has sentimental value as well as matching my robe). I was beginning to get really discouraged as day after day I got the same junk: hooks, elixirs of water walking, and the occasional fishing knife. One Friday afternoon, though, Valenna was over to play poker with Mr. Phae. I turned in my quest, asked him to cross his fingers (which he did), and lo and behold out came Toothy! Now if only he could help me get a Fishing Hat! 
7. Like many guilds, Aegis Hestia stalled out on the Gruul encounter since it was really the first raid we tried in 25-man progression. I think we probably worked on him for 6 weeks before finally downing him, so that first victory was extra sweet. 
8. My very first non-combat pet was the White Kitten, given to me by my good friend, Fikus. I guess he camped Lil Timmy, Boy with Kittens enough times to get kittens for several friends. “The Abominable Snowball” is still in my bank’s kennel and retains her sentimental value.
9. I got my introduction to MMOs in EverQuest, playing for five years as a Ranger (ouch). My limited experience with healing in an MMO came in the form of raiding with Clerics. The raid content in EverQuest 1 was relatively shallow, with corps of clerics dedicated to casting their Complete Heal spell in regular intervals. So that other Clerics could keep track of their place in line, they would make simple macros like:
   

   /rsay ~* Casting COMPLETE HEAL on %t ~~ 10k HP in X seconds! Primadonna, you’re up next!! *~
   /cast Complete Heal

   When I first started instancing with my friends, I made similar macros for all my heals:

   /p Incoming Healing Touch on %t!! 500 hp in 3 seconds!

   I was promptly informed (by Valenna) that this was annoying and that if I didn’t stop, he would put me on ignore.

10. Last month I was standing outside of the Magister’s Terrace instance, waiting for my group to do whatever it is that group’s find to do while you’re waiting at the summoning stone and some random person of some random class came up to me and said, “/cheer I love your blog!” That made my whole evening.

Related Posts

• It’s Not ALL about the Heals
• [70+] Personal Quests (Complete)
• Unworthy …

Thanks as always to news sources MMO Champion and WoWInsider, we have some wonderful new Druid-specific information from the Worldwide Invitational!

• The attacker/target range mechanics are being re-evaluated it might be changed for Wrath of the Lich King to fix most of the existing bugs, including the ones affecting the attack range of Feral Druids.
• There is a plan to give player access to two talent specs to switch between them without having to respec all the time.
• There will be a new model for the Druid’s Dire Bear Form and the Dire Cat Form will be introduced.
• Entangling Roots will be useable indoors.
• Nourish will be a new healing spell, healing for more hit points for each HoT effect on the target.
• There isn’t any plan to change Cyclone.
• You will be able to use your flying mount again at level 77, and might be able to take passengers at level 80.

Congratulations, Feral Druids! I couldn’t be happier to see you getting the attention you have long deserved with regard to the range bug and skin updates and additions. Dire Cat Form sounds incredibly cool (Dire Tree Form … not so much). I’m also very excited about the news of a second talent spec that you could switch between. Mayhaps it will be implemented similar to the system I described in Purchasable Talent Specs! It should make deciding on my leveling spec a lot easier if I can also keep an auxiliary Balance/Restoration spec!

Concept for “Dire Cat Form” by Magnus Lindstrom NOT AN OFFICIAL MODEL (but we can dream)

We’ve been expecting the news about Nourish and Entangling Roots, and I’m not sure what to think of the announcement that Cyclone isn’t planned to change (there were previously rumors that its Diminishing Returns would be removed for PvE).  Michael Gary from WoWInsider paraphrases Chilton’s explanation thus:

Blizzard had entertained thoughts of removing the diminishing returns from Cyclone, to help provide Druids a little more utility in instances. But the large cast time of Cyclone compared to its duration meant a Druid would spend at least half its time in instances casting that spell, and only that spell.

I’m guessing the restriction on flying until level 77 is likely to apply to Druids, as well. It seems kind of LogicLOL that we should “forget” how to fly, especially considering Druids forfeited a standard skill at level 68 to get the ability, but I can understand the desire to ensure players are “forced” to see the new content.

And from the Developer Panel Summary and Developer Q&A Panel Summary over on World of Raids:

Potions, on-hit effects and items will work in forms.

Will we be able to use flying mounts in Northrend?
Yes, but they will require some sort of attunement, “defrosting.” New mounts will be introduced too, possibly ones that can carry other players.

Will feral druids get new skins in WotLK?
They talked about it, but while some players would like it, other wouldn’t, like when the Rogue stealth animation was changed.

Will druids get male or female optional forms to choose from?
There is plan for a new dire bear form model and the introduction of the dire cat

Will druids have an epic ground form?
No plans.

Naturally, I’m disappointed that there are no plans for gender-specific modifications for our forms, but I’m even more sad that there are no plans for an epic ground form. I earlier suspected that changes to Entangling Roots being able to be used indoors might indicate plans to make all Arenas indoors only (thus preventing the use of Cheetah form). This seemed all the more likely with the possible bonus armor in Tree of Life and the removal of its movement restriction. It would have also meant that Druids could be considered for an epic-level ground speed form. Alas!

I’ll try to keep this post up-to-date with any new information being distilled. Please be sure to visit MMO Champion and WoWInsider for all the new and exciting news!

Related Posts

• Druid Changes May Indicate Possibility of Indoor Arenas
• Dire Cat Form … Extinct?
• Phaelia’s (Completely Made Up) WotLK Preview

Breen of Steamwheedle Cartel (EU) has created and made available a very nice set of animated Druid avatars with versions of both the default Tree of Life skin as well as a pretty-in-purple variation. These were actually submitted a while ago, but I’ve been saving them for a Community Spotlight. Thanks, Breen!

It’s also time for a brand new crop (HAHA) of Restoration Druid blogs along with a few great selections from the “lesser” classes we sometimes deign to heal:

• Bringin’ the Wood
  Jivethelle of Kul’Tiras (US) is a Restoration Druid into endgame-raiding. He’s also male and a Night Elf, which is perhaps even more impressive.
• Chick GM
  Auzara of Medivh (US) blogs about the joys and struggles of guild leadership within World of Warcraft, writing from the perspective of someone leading their guild through endgame content.
• Daily Druid
  Jadeyhorn of Scarlet Crusade (US) chose the right class (Druid), the right spec (Restoration), and even the right server (Scarlet Crusade). Unfortunately, she opted to play Horde so now we can’t stay up late together, giggling over Spirit-gear, and pruning each other’s branches.
• Daraxxus the Warrior
  Another Scarlet Crusade (US) player, Daraxxus plays on the Alliance side. Given the fact his Warrior is a Dwarf, however, I don’t think we’ll be painting each other’s toenails. (Can you even find Dwarf toenails under all that hair?)

• 31 Talent Points in Balance by Claire Hummel

  Destructive Reach
  Saresa of Cenarius (US) plays both a Warlock and a Druid (a popular combination, it seems). She shares some of both along with the rare real life (TM) tidbit.

• Heals Don’t Grow on Trees
  Of course, we all know that isn’t true! A young but aspiring blog writer, Siarah plays and writes about her Restoration Druid.
• Lume the Mad
  Intelligent discussion of raiding, guild leadership, and Druiding from Lilume of Proudmoore (US).
• Magickly Moo
  Moo is a Restoration Druid. One can only assume he plays a Tauren. If not, his mother had a really cruel sense of humor. Then again, I suppose that’s even more true if he is a Tauren!
• One HoT Rogue
  Don’t be mislead by the stealthing, stunlocking, cheesemonkey mentioned in the title. Aedos of Aggramar (EU) writes a wonderful blog about Druiding in an endgame raiding guild and a little bit about her Rogue alt.

Also of note, Gararf has recently updated the Spirit Guide addon with a graphing function. Be sure to check it out.

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I am currently in the process of making revisions to a couple of the designs in the Tree-Shirts shop. I was contacted by the shirt-maker, Spreadshirt, because a few designs were too intricate to be cut and printed by hand.  Apparently there are three different methods by which they can digitally print: digital direct, digital transfer, and digital transfer overlay. Digital Direct doesn’t have any restrictions since it’s completely automatic, but the other two methods have to be cut out by hand so there are limitations and requirements with regard to design thickness and negative space.

The two designs that I’ve had to change are the Carbon Footprint and Moonglade Swirl. I’ve essentially thickened the borders around the design and eliminated negative-space so they can be cut out by hand. Here is an example of the difference between the old Moonglade Swirl design and the new:

Sample of Original “Moonglade Swirl” Design	Sample of Revised “Moonglade Swirl” Design Note Interior Fill

The above changes give the design a more art-nouveau feel (which I actually really love), but it does reduce how delicate it appears and makes it less appropriate for shirts that have a lighter background. I still think it will look nice on a Navy Blue which is my preference. The change to the Carbon Footprint shirts includes a white border around the leaves and changes the gradient glow around the lettering to a solid line which hopefully shouldn’t interfere with its comic book “feel.”

Sample of Original “Carbon Footprint” Design	Sample of Revised “Carbon Footprint” Design

If you have been contacted by Spreadshirt about your design being on hold, this is likely the reason. I want to apologize for the delay; I’ve never done this before and, despite having looked through the documentation on their site, didn’t find these restrictions until after I was called. I understand that anyone whose orders have been placed on hold will have the option to cancel them (if you don’t like the revisions to the design, please don’t hesitate to do so — your satisfaction is worth more to me than any commission) or to move your design to another shirt that allows digital direct printing. Going forward, I should have a much better idea of what can and cannot be done and there (hopefully) shouldn’t be any more problems of this nature!

Also, sorry I keep posting about the shirts, but I wanted to make sure anyone who had purchased one was aware of what is going on. I now return you to your regularly scheduled Midsummer Festival nonsense.

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