I've made it entirely very clear that I am upset with a lot of what is going down in Patch 4.01 and Cataclysm. Unlike major patches in the past which I have complained about (namely making gear incredibly easy to obtain by having all instances drop Conquest/Triumph badges and nerfing Lifebloom and "fixing" Rejuvenation), I think Blizzard has finally broken me.
And while yes, change is good, I was always completely satisfied with what I had. New content is exciting; I am so excited to make a Worgen and fight alongside Stormrage. I can't wait to fly around Azeroth and enter the depths of the ocean to chill with the Naga. I can't wait to get Guild achievements and rewards.
But there's definitely a limit to how much gameplay change I can take. I haven't played any beta or anything, and we're not sure how all these changes are all going to play out. There's also still plenty of time for Blizzard to change their minds.
First we're being told to dps more. They're putting dps talents in the restoration/holy trees. Then we're also being told that healing isn't about topping off anymore, but keeping people "alive". We need to be more conscious of who gets our heals, when and how much, specifically because of spell's mana costs (now by percentage). We re apparently getting a shit ton of intellect, but that will greatly effect our mana (or lack of) output. Spirit is mana regen. (I do like this simpler approach to stats. Honestly.) And we're getting tons of mana regen Cds and Meditation-like moves.
I feel like I'm getting mixed signals.
The idea of healing rotation (due to dps-type talents that affect mana regen and healing) is something not entirely out of the ordinary. It'll remind me of my Resto Shaman strategy for Valithrea. But that is a pure heal-the-crap out of one target. I wonder how this will play out in raids. Clearly, I will have to test out healing rotations.
According to Raid RX (WoW Insider), Joe, the shaman columnist is using a rotation in the beta that takes advantage of the new dps talents in the resto tree. And what he proposes (2 heals, Dps, 2 heals, Dps) does make sense, and it will allow for some excellent mana regen. I wonder what kind of damage we will be facing in fights, and whether heals will be easy to keep a basic strategy, or if they require some quick reflexes, like WotLK raiding has taught us.
The fact that increase in health pools will assure us that tanks won't get two shotted is comforting. It also changes healing roles (or perhaps more clearly defines them and makes them what they always were supposed to be). It allows for healers to keep everyone at 50% then move on (to perhaps dps. cuz Ghostcrawler says so...). It does also make me think that druids can toss out hots and top them off. I always feel like my druid's hots are kinda pointless, especially in big raids. People are so reflexive and want to top health off that even when I time hots to say, fend off the aoe damage in an incredibly short amount of time, it either becomes overhealing or causes the other healers to overhealing. I suppose this is why people do healing assignments, but I have yet to do a PuG or run with actual healing assignments. Maybe healing instructions, but not really assignments.
Perhaps this is what Blizzard always wanted from healers. But I admit that the thing I love most about healing is the reflexiveness of it. It looks like Cataclysm will kinda milk that a little bit. Looks like meters aren't going to be reliable any more (they really never are, but people still live and die by them)
I feel like my healing days are numbered. I'm already throwing in the towel for my Tree. I don't care how cool the Tree cd is.That's a blow I'll never come back from. Efflorescence (bed of flowers under target crit by Regrowth) is the only mechanic that I think is cool in theory.
I've definitely grown into loving Shaman heals as of late. And the changes for resto shamans are definitely exciting to look forward to. Healing Rain just sounds cool. The idea of it is cool, but again I won't be able to make my decision until Cata comes. The changes to Healing Wave and adding of Healing Surge is something I can easily adjust to.
I haven't read up on Priest or Pally heals. To be honest, I have focused on druid and shaman for a reason. When Cataclysm hits, I don't plan to rush to 85. I plan to enjoy the new content. I find that I lose my flare with WoW when I raid too much. Life isn't always about getting gear. I plan to level a Worgen (not sure what kind though), maybe a horde warlock, although I'm not sure which race I will choose.
Cataclysm is releasing on December 7th, with Patch 4.01 due any week now. Change will always be imminent as long as Blizzard keeps earning money from WoW. I just don't know when I'll finally snap.
(Can I just say that the new move for Balance Druids, the Wild Mushroom, is the DUMBEST thing I have ever heard of. What a load of useless bullshit...)
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