Wrath of the Lich King made a number of fundamental changes to the game, many of which went through so many iterations that it can be difficult to get the facts. You can find a summary of these changes as related to the Restoration Druid in this extensive FAQ!
Thanks to the generosity of a reader who asked to remain anonymous, I’m now the ecstatic owner of a beta account for Wrath of the Lich King! The reader in question e-mailed me yesterday afternoon, surprised that I hadn’t yet gotten my hands on a beta key and generously offering me the one he had. Once Valenna pried me off the ceiling over my cubicle, I accepted his offer. I tried to send my benefactor a Tree-Shirt to say “thank you,” but he graciously declined. 
By the time I got home from work yesterday and got the beta client installed and patched, it was 11 o’clock, so I didn’t have as much time to play as I would have liked. I managed to convince myself not to call in sick to work today, but I’m watching the clock for 5 PM! In my so far limited time in Northrend, I did discover a few things I thought worth sharing:
- Playing with the default UI is painful. Most addons aren’t WotLK-ready, yet, including any of the mainstream action bars. Luckily, WoWInterface.com has created a whole new category for those addons that are working in the WotLK beta, including a new action bar addon called N52Bar that’s modeled after the layout of my Nostromo game pad. That’s all I’ve installed so far, but I’m going to add a few more tonight, including agUnitframes, Outfitter, and hopefully Baggins.
- There are a lot of monsters in Northrend. A lot. And they all want to eat me. Also, much like fiery ground effects, floating ziggurats = bad.
- Phaelia looks much better with no marks on her face. I’m so happy that they’re allowing us to remove/change them. I ended up picking the Dwarven hairstyle with the hair pulled loosely back to the nape of your neck with a single braid. Very Gaelic chic. I’ll probably change again tonight. At 12 gold a haircut, it’s a good thing I brought a bunch of money with me!
- Respecs only cost a copper on Beta. That made the accidental misclick of 2 points in Natural Perfection a LOT less frustrating. It also means that I’ll get to play with lots of different talent specs.
- I love the new learned pets and mounts system. It was really nice to be able to clear out so much bank space, though a bit disconcerting when my Frost saber POOFED on me when I went to mount for the first time! (I seriously freaked out before I remembered that he had been added to my mounts list.)
If you also happen to have a beta key and have an active character on the PvE server, please say hello! My character name there is THAELIA (the name “Phaelia” was taken /shakes fist at her impersonator). Maybe if there are enough of us that are as-yet-unattached, we could form an all-Druid, all-the-time guild. If we do, we’re totally getting a rabbit tabard to symbolize our ongoing dedication to acquiring Critter Form! We could even call the guild, “Critter Form or Bust” I’m soooo not getting tells now, am I?
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If you have any other anonymous generous readers…PST.
DAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAMN YOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUU!
(sorry but this is ALL I have to say on the matter… *grumpy*)
P.S Grats! <3
Grats!
Hopefully we’ll get the inside scoop soon!
Bartender 4 works just fine, Phae.
Congratulations Phae! Have fun, and good luck with the add on hunting!
Saresas last blog post..Sar Tunes Up
Aw I wish I were in the beta so I could help you start that guild.
Anyway, grats on the beta key and be sure to give us all the juicy secrets of wotlk.
/Jealous
I’ve got a friend who got a beta invite from the opt-in. Really jealous from that. I’m planning on visiting her in about 1 1/2 weeks. I’m hoping she’ll dish all of the wonderful insides of the beta. >=)
I would love to get a beta key, but I wouldn’t be able to help you with the guild as I’m a Hordie… I wonder if they’d allow a faction/race change for character copy to beta… hmmmm. Or I could make a Horde Guild of “Critter Form or Bust”
Donjios last blog post..My first tank
Sweet! I’ll have to hit you up!
<- Kaibear on teh Beta ^_^
/want in to beta guild! anyone have another free beta key they arent using? :p
I like that they are allowing female NEs to forgo those face markings. I had to look twice at that beta shot.
Awesome! I’ve been wondering when you’d get a key!
I’m not a druid but I’ve been a lurker here for a few months now; my first ‘main’ character was a druid until in a moment of sheer frustration and stupidity, I deleted her. I love my warrior to death, but I regret that deletion and miss the original Thestrel dearly. But the point is, hello!
And yeah, what’s with the name-taking? I had to use Thestral on the beta server, boo.
looks like I am the only one who stuck in old good Burning Crusade..
Congrats Phaelia!
I’d love to join up for a all druid guild, but I think the US and EU betas might be on different servers, what’s yours called? I’m on “Coldarra” (the EU server). 
Gz!
Please test feral build and let us know your impressions, especially tanking an instance? Pretty please?
I’m really curious how the whole “less stamina and armor” thing will work out… So actually I guess right now is too early to test it, until the devs add/change our talents to buff us back up to acceptable levels.
Solidstates last blog post..SL Normal PuG
Thank you generous, anonymous reader!
Phae, can we start spamming you with questions?
@Thestrel: you can ask a GM to restore it; the higher the level, the better your chances are.
Awesome. Now if I could just find a generous moonkin to send me one.
Grats on the beta.
Im so happy you got in. It will be nice to read the articulate insights of someone who understands resto druids.
>>Maybe if there are enough of us that are as-yet-unattached, we could form an all-Druid, all-the-time guild.<<
/e points at himself
(I joined in Jan/05) 
/s Member of Druids of the Thorn, all druid guild on Perenolde since Dec 2004
@Crythia: Ha … Korryna would kill me.
@Andrige: <3 You know you have but to ask and I'll share any kind of information you want me to look for!
@Kelerain: Definitely! I'm taking lots of pictures. I haven't decided what kind of approach to take yet, though. Resto4Life has never set itself up to be a "beta free zone" or anything, but I wouldn't want to ruin anyone else's fun, either.
@Athryn: One version I downloaded didn't work at all for me, but Fiord from Married IRL was able to hook me up with a version that did. Yay!
@Saresa: Thank you! Playing in beta has been cathartic so far. I never knew I could play without one trillion addons. Of course, I’m not raiding yet.
@Gelaende: I wish you were too. =( Keep your fingers crossed! It sounds like they’re inviting more people every day.
@Donjio: Yeah, but Tauren critter form would have to be scary and non-cuddly. Cockroach form!
@Kai: *waves* Last night was a blast!
@Zackoria: I think you can create NElfs with no facial markings now; I just made the mistake of wanting to look more “authentic” when I originally created Phae.
@Thestrel: Awww, that story makes me very sad. =( Every time someone deletes a Druid, a kitten dies. Or a bear. Or a Tree … or a Chicken … Thanks for commenting, and hello!
@Warscreamer: Haha, sorry! Maybe you’ll get lucky and be able to come bear tank for me!
@Oni: I actually don’t remember what mine is called, but it’s not Coldarra (unfortunately).
@Solidstate: I am not really qualified to test the Feral stuff. My baby Feral only got to 46 before I got my beta key and temporarily retired her. However, I’ll try to work something out … I care about all specs, even the less awesome ones than Resto!
@Hokuto: Yes, of course you can! I make no promises about being able to answer them, but I’ll try my best!
@Graylo: That would be awesome. I’d love to play with you! =)
@Lotha: Yes, or at least someone who appreciates a variety of hair styles and colors!
@Icyslush: That’s a very cool guild name. Can’t top “Critter Form or Bust” though …
Too bad I play a big ol’ cow or else i would totally be in for joining “Critter form or bust” =P. Also I would need a beta key /sadface
@Arrowen: Awww! I’m sorry you play a cow. /mooooooo We also renamed the guild “Shift Happens” though we’re still a couple of signatures short of being able to form just yet!
Congratulations! ^_^
Now get us all some of that druid info we are dying to get our hands on. You know we want to.
Although my main’s a Shadowpriest, I have been slave-whipping a druid alt into becoming my first real healer, and some of my guildies have already been kind (?) enough to test my skills to breaking limit.
I always loved the way resto druids healed (HoTs and DoTs, baby!) so I am hoping to get my chance at feeling the treehugging at the next expansion.
Natarumah
Natarumahs last blog post..Motivational endeavours
@Natarumah: I’m working on it! Trying to get a few levels under my belt so I can run some instances. In the mean time, I’m collecting information for guides that I’ll release once the expansion comes out (I don’t want to spoil some people’s surprise). Expect an analysis article here in the next week or so, though.