Comments on: Wrath Recap http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/ So many numbers, you'll think you're getting audited Wed, 08 Sep 2010 02:40:41 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: sheki http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-6146 sheki Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:07:20 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-6146 this sucks so bad......my main is a mage and when im pvp-ing im already at a loss when it comes to rogues..not only can they get the jump on me but crippling poison shadowstep cloak of shadows tear me up to the point where ice armor isnt cuttin it anymore...downranking wiht arcane explosion was one of the few means of detecting them that i had *sigh*..another thing is frost nova i kno it doesnt cost much mana anyways but the highest rank doesnt freeze them in place for any longer than rank 1 and in tight pinches it helps alot...i can understand if it was a lock using hellfire rank1 to activate a *prayer of mending* or *earthen shield* at its highest rank but for example using rank1 soul drain to get a shard since the damage is horrible on the highest rank why not use to lowest for more mana efficient reasons? if i'm spending the gold to learn these abilities then i should be able to use them the whole time in my opinion... this sucks so bad……my main is a mage and when im pvp-ing im already at a loss when it comes to rogues..not only can they get the jump on me but crippling poison shadowstep cloak of shadows tear me up to the point where ice armor isnt cuttin it anymore…downranking wiht arcane explosion was one of the few means of detecting them that i had *sigh*..another thing is frost nova i kno it doesnt cost much mana anyways but the highest rank doesnt freeze them in place for any longer than rank 1 and in tight pinches it helps alot…i can understand if it was a lock using hellfire rank1 to activate a *prayer of mending* or *earthen shield* at its highest rank but for example using rank1 soul drain to get a shard since the damage is horrible on the highest rank why not use to lowest for more mana efficient reasons? if i’m spending the gold to learn these abilities then i should be able to use them the whole time in my opinion…

]]> By: Phaelia http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5379 Phaelia Wed, 20 Aug 2008 18:05:13 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5379 @Tone: I agree, and I really worry about the viability of a "Cat Druid." Rogues really struggle to justify their raid spots these days due to the superiority of ranged damage. How can a Druid compete if, as they've indicated, they still do less damage than a Rogue even when specialized? @Tone: I agree, and I really worry about the viability of a “Cat Druid.” Rogues really struggle to justify their raid spots these days due to the superiority of ranged damage. How can a Druid compete if, as they’ve indicated, they still do less damage than a Rogue even when specialized?

]]> By: Tone http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5347 Tone Tue, 19 Aug 2008 17:17:19 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5347 Thanks for gathering together all these recent developments and sharing your impressions. In regard to the feral notes, I hope they don't go too far with this desire to give cats and bears different "career paths." :-) I can't speak for everyone, but I know that I myself have no desire to be a "cat druid" or "bear druid"... I want to be a "feral druid!" There's a dynamic between the two that makes the spec unique and endearing. Without it, I think I'd feel like we were just lamer versions of warriors and rogues. :-( Being able to do the same level of raid DPS as a rogue wouldn't make me feel any less lame. Thanks for gathering together all these recent developments and sharing your impressions. In regard to the feral notes, I hope they don’t go too far with this desire to give cats and bears different “career paths.” :-) I can’t speak for everyone, but I know that I myself have no desire to be a “cat druid” or “bear druid”… I want to be a “feral druid!” There’s a dynamic between the two that makes the spec unique and endearing. Without it, I think I’d feel like we were just lamer versions of warriors and rogues. :-( Being able to do the same level of raid DPS as a rogue wouldn’t make me feel any less lame.

]]> By: Phaelia http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5334 Phaelia Mon, 18 Aug 2008 18:46:23 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5334 @Padwar: It sounds like they're aware that Ferals aren't where they want them to be, probably because of all the things you listed. I haven't a clue what they could do to bring them closer to Warriors. Allowing them to parry would be nice. I've been parried by things that don't even have ARMS when leveling my Feral Druid. Srsly. @Mike D: Mr. Phae (who plays a Mage) suggested that Mages may still want to map and use a Rank 1 Frostbolt for situations where they need a fast snare. It will just be more expensive to do so. I'm so glad that you've decided to switch to your Druid in WotLK. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do! :-) @James: Overall, it's a good change and for the reasons you mentioned. Pushback has been so bad against players who have to stand there and take it. @Zamir: My only concern about HoTs being changed into a form of regeneration would be the ability to associate the healing done with the Druid who cast it. Blizzard has frequently demonstrated difficulty with this (Lifebloom blooms not being associated with the Druid, for instance). I also wouldn't get your hopes up too much for Druids and raid healing. It's looking more and more like they want us to primarily focus on tanks with a lot of talents and a couple of Glyphs that make casting HoTs or direct heals on someone who already has one or more of our HoTs substantially better than casting them on someone who doesn't. This is okay with me since it's a very important role. @Arrowen: Yeah, it's my suspicion that even ineffective ticks should have the potential to trigger the proc. Otherwise, it's really a waste of 3 talent points. @Icyslush: Given the increased cost, I think we're probably going to be forced to scale back our Lifebloom to no more than 2 3-stacks over the course of the fight. Hopefully there weren't be many more 4-tank fights in WotLK. @Yggdrasil: I'm tentatively hopeful about Replenish's Energy, Rage, and Runic Power regeneration. I hope that it's better than its mana regeneration. And you make an excellent point about its usefulness for the "shadowtank." @Padwar: It sounds like they’re aware that Ferals aren’t where they want them to be, probably because of all the things you listed. I haven’t a clue what they could do to bring them closer to Warriors. Allowing them to parry would be nice. I’ve been parried by things that don’t even have ARMS when leveling my Feral Druid. Srsly.

@Mike D: Mr. Phae (who plays a Mage) suggested that Mages may still want to map and use a Rank 1 Frostbolt for situations where they need a fast snare. It will just be more expensive to do so. I’m so glad that you’ve decided to switch to your Druid in WotLK. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I do! :-)

@James: Overall, it’s a good change and for the reasons you mentioned. Pushback has been so bad against players who have to stand there and take it.

@Zamir: My only concern about HoTs being changed into a form of regeneration would be the ability to associate the healing done with the Druid who cast it. Blizzard has frequently demonstrated difficulty with this (Lifebloom blooms not being associated with the Druid, for instance). I also wouldn’t get your hopes up too much for Druids and raid healing. It’s looking more and more like they want us to primarily focus on tanks with a lot of talents and a couple of Glyphs that make casting HoTs or direct heals on someone who already has one or more of our HoTs substantially better than casting them on someone who doesn’t. This is okay with me since it’s a very important role.

@Arrowen: Yeah, it’s my suspicion that even ineffective ticks should have the potential to trigger the proc. Otherwise, it’s really a waste of 3 talent points.

@Icyslush: Given the increased cost, I think we’re probably going to be forced to scale back our Lifebloom to no more than 2 3-stacks over the course of the fight. Hopefully there weren’t be many more 4-tank fights in WotLK.

@Yggdrasil: I’m tentatively hopeful about Replenish’s Energy, Rage, and Runic Power regeneration. I hope that it’s better than its mana regeneration. And you make an excellent point about its usefulness for the “shadowtank.”

]]> By: Yggdrasil http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5329 Yggdrasil Mon, 18 Aug 2008 15:10:44 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5329 While Replenish kinda loses its luster in terms of regenning mana (in my opinion), I like the idea of it regenerating energy and rage. Its effectively up to 100 additional rage, or 200 additional energy per minute (assuming that the HoT is perfectly maintained over the course of a minute, and tics count whether any healing occurs or not). The extra rage/mana isn't a huge deal for the MT of a raid, but its huge for someone who is "shadowtanking" (trying to remain 2nd on threat, to absorb boss abilities). Also huge for Rogues and DPS Warriors (I'm thinking more for Warriors than Rogues). While Replenish kinda loses its luster in terms of regenning mana (in my opinion), I like the idea of it regenerating energy and rage. Its effectively up to 100 additional rage, or 200 additional energy per minute (assuming that the HoT is perfectly maintained over the course of a minute, and tics count whether any healing occurs or not). The extra rage/mana isn’t a huge deal for the MT of a raid, but its huge for someone who is “shadowtanking” (trying to remain 2nd on threat, to absorb boss abilities). Also huge for Rogues and DPS Warriors (I’m thinking more for Warriors than Rogues).

]]> By: Icyslush http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5324 Icyslush Mon, 18 Aug 2008 13:27:34 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5324 @Phaelia: Thanks, that makes sense. Sometimes I have to tilt my head just so for my brain to fall back into the little hole and get everything working again. :P So the issue is really is the increase in cost of LB going to be offset enough by increase in mana pool and in effectiveness. While I like being OP'd :), it does seem rather too much that I can keep casting LB at a medium pace pretty much forever and not run out of mana. @Phaelia: Thanks, that makes sense. Sometimes I have to tilt my head just so for my brain to fall back into the little hole and get everything working again. :P

So the issue is really is the increase in cost of LB going to be offset enough by increase in mana pool and in effectiveness. While I like being OP’d :) , it does seem rather too much that I can keep casting LB at a medium pace pretty much forever and not run out of mana.

]]> By: Arrowen http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5309 Arrowen Sun, 17 Aug 2008 07:56:56 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5309 From what I have heard the T3 2-set bonus, which has the (relatively) same effect as Replenish did give mana/rage/energy back even on "ineffective" ticks which will hopefully mean that Replenish will do the same. Secondly looking at mmo-champion it seems as though LB will cost 10% of base mana making it use the second least amount of mana next to Nourish which supposedly uses 9%. (Can't be completely positive on those numbers but from what I have read that is currently what they are) From what I have heard the T3 2-set bonus, which has the (relatively) same effect as Replenish did give mana/rage/energy back even on “ineffective” ticks which will hopefully mean that Replenish will do the same.

Secondly looking at mmo-champion it seems as though LB will cost 10% of base mana making it use the second least amount of mana next to Nourish which supposedly uses 9%. (Can’t be completely positive on those numbers but from what I have read that is currently what they are)

]]> By: Phaelia http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5305 Phaelia Sun, 17 Aug 2008 00:09:45 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5305 @Icyslush: Rank 3 of LB cost 415ish mana before the change. Rank 1 was still available at its normal cost. With the elimination of downranking, Rank 1 now also costs 415, double what it does now. @Icyslush: Rank 3 of LB cost 415ish mana before the change. Rank 1 was still available at its normal cost. With the elimination of downranking, Rank 1 now also costs 415, double what it does now.

]]> By: Icyslush http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5304 Icyslush Sat, 16 Aug 2008 22:42:26 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5304 I must be missing something... They're eliminating downranking by making all ranks of spells cost the same amount of mana yet you say the higher ranks of Lifebloom in Wrath cost up to twice as much mana as the lower rank one. Erm... I'm confused! They can't both be true. I must be missing something… They’re eliminating downranking by making all ranks of spells cost the same amount of mana yet you say the higher ranks of Lifebloom in Wrath cost up to twice as much mana as the lower rank one. Erm… I’m confused! They can’t both be true.

]]> By: Zamir http://www.resto4life.com/2008/08/14/wrath-recap/comment-page-1/#comment-5302 Zamir Sat, 16 Aug 2008 16:17:46 +0000 http://www.resto4life.com/?p=930#comment-5302 The idea of HoTs ticking faster would be a great talent deep in the Restoration tree. What we try to do in order to prevent healing over a druid's HoT is have people in the guild all use the same addons. It definitely falls into Blizzard's responsability to make HoTs more visible. Now the question is how you're going to prevent a Chain Heal, Prayer of Healing or maybe a Tranquility to waste our Lifebloom. Of course with the current cost I rarely care that much if another healer casts over me. What's quite difficult to determine is how the new spells and new ranks of existing spells will affect our healing patterns. Even with what I understand from the changes to Lifebloom, chances are we're still going to spend a good chunk of our time maintaining our stacks. There will be added variety with Replenish and Nourish. I think that Nourish will most definitely rank among our most useful spells, but only right after Lifebloom. As for Healing Touch I still don't see us using it but situationally. It's most probably dungeon and encounter designs that will encourage the use of it even if it's usable in Tree form. Currently casting it feels inadequate both because of the mana cost (without even factoring in the shifting cost) and the casting time. I have yet to see anything that adresses it in WotLK. Being able to NS+HT without leaving Tree form will be nice but just nice. It will save lives no doubt about it, but it already does. Finally, in addition to the changes to the spells themselves, it is inscription that may adress some of our raid healing issues. Imagine this one: Your Lifebloom spell has a chance to heal the party of your target for 50% of its effect. Yes it's overpowered as hell but there will be Greater Inscriptions that do affect how we can heal very significantly. There's already one affecting Lifebloom's duration after all. The idea of HoTs ticking faster would be a great talent deep in the Restoration tree. What we try to do in order to prevent healing over a druid’s HoT is have people in the guild all use the same addons. It definitely falls into Blizzard’s responsability to make HoTs more visible. Now the question is how you’re going to prevent a Chain Heal, Prayer of Healing or maybe a Tranquility to waste our Lifebloom. Of course with the current cost I rarely care that much if another healer casts over me. What’s quite difficult to determine is how the new spells and new ranks of existing spells will affect our healing patterns. Even with what I understand from the changes to Lifebloom, chances are we’re still going to spend a good chunk of our time maintaining our stacks. There will be added variety with Replenish and Nourish. I think that Nourish will most definitely rank among our most useful spells, but only right after Lifebloom. As for Healing Touch I still don’t see us using it but situationally. It’s most probably dungeon and encounter designs that will encourage the use of it even if it’s usable in Tree form. Currently casting it feels inadequate both because of the mana cost (without even factoring in the shifting cost) and the casting time. I have yet to see anything that adresses it in WotLK. Being able to NS+HT without leaving Tree form will be nice but just nice. It will save lives no doubt about it, but it already does.
Finally, in addition to the changes to the spells themselves, it is inscription that may adress some of our raid healing issues. Imagine this one: Your Lifebloom spell has a chance to heal the party of your target for 50% of its effect. Yes it’s overpowered as hell but there will be Greater Inscriptions that do affect how we can heal very significantly. There’s already one affecting Lifebloom’s duration after all.

]]>