Good deeds
by Jennie Lees 
Jan 24th 2006 at 5:00PM
Issue 28 of The Escapist has two
pieces that look at the good deeds players do, and both are interesting to read. Mark Wallace's "One Night in Arathi" is a tale of cross-faction
co-operation, and John Walker's "Sick of Healing"
talks about the problems healers can face as a support class.I've encountered cross-faction friendliness a number of times, occasionally instigating it. My PvE server characters shy away from unnecessary combat, and although my PvP toons are much more battle-hungry, some bad ganking experiences make me steer clear of any rogue Alliance players. Sure, it's the carebear way to play, but one of the great things about WoW is that you can have moments like Mark Wallace's Arathi adventure as well as some terrific in-the-field PvP.
As for the healing, I wholeheartedly agree that healers tend to get a raw deal. One slip up--one!--and it can all be over in a heartbeat, with the healer getting the blame for everything. Fortunately, the death penalty in WoW isn't as severe as in some other games--John Walker's article talks about City of Heroes, which uses an "XP debt" system to make death a real pain. I enjoy playing a healer most of the time, but John is spot on about many players' attitudes to us.
Filed under: WoW Social Conventions, Odds and ends
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Aurielias Jan 24th 2006 5:55PM
I feel for healers - my guild was calling out for some and in response I created a Troll Shaman, maybe not the best choice, but it allowed me to get a balance between being able to play solo and do good work in a party. However my first trip into RFC saw me in a part with a hunter (a guildie), a mage and two priests. All of a sudden I was a tank. Fine, the shammy andthe hunter's pet can kinda pull it of until we hit the big elite. The hunter was taken with a single blow and I was doing my best to keep the guy off the rest of the party when I too was knocked down to nothing - party wipe.
On the run back one fo the priests starts accusing the other of not doing anything, he had full mana when he died. It seemed strange but I tried to calm things down and have another go. This time the bossman went down. I died, but got rezzed by the recalcitrant. And the accusations started again.
The accusing priest hearthed away. The mage hearthed away. And we're left halfway through our RFC run with a party of three. We fill our quota of troggs and leave.
I watched this guy from this point, and he kept me alive throughout the fights with the troggs. He was using a wand to preserve mana and keep active. He wanted to do more than heal. Which is kinda fair enough. It might not have been the wisest tactic, wands are a little annoying and I only use them personally when I am OOM and need to do damage, but at least he awas trying to do something - I dunno diferent - he didn't deserve to be insulted. Maybe some friendly advice one priest to another, but not flamed.
Forlex Jan 24th 2006 8:38PM
30 paladin on Draka. I'm pretty happy as a healer. I get a warm feeling when i use my holy light hotkey (can I be any nerdier?)
It's also nice when you do "courtesy rezzes" for random people, and it's even nicer when they give ya stuff and money.
But if the death system were worse, I have a feeling there wouldn't be as many healers.
Stormgaard Jan 25th 2006 8:55AM
I play a healer in all of our guild team activities - Priest, Pally, and Shammy. It's my opinion that a healing class is the keystone of any MMO group. It's the difference between a good group and a GREAT group.
That being said you should really have a regular team you play with. Pick up groups suck. Not only do you have people who blame you, you have idiots who don't know how to play their own classes that you waste mana on!
Also, this may sound anal, but if you're gonna play a healing class put both feet into it - don't dick around. Throw all your talent points into anything and everything that will support a group - healing first and then buffing. Don't screw around with damage. That's for other classes.
~
http://www.se7ensamurai.com
Praetorius on Greymane Jan 25th 2006 2:11PM
Why do i have this feeling Stormgaard is one of those 'finger pointers' who has no problem telling people what is or isn't their job during an instance, raid run, etc.
I've been on plenty of pick up groups and have to says 90% of the time i enjoy myself. Most folks are kind, polite, and do the best they can. Some of course, aren't, but not everyone you meet is going to be l33tsauce either.
And as a pally, i love giving away free rez's to random folks, casting the odd blessing to someone i cross paths with on a road. It's nice to help out others when you can.
Old Jan 27th 2006 12:26PM
Playing with P/U groups adds another layer of frustration and danger to the instance run. It increases the challenge for the Healer. More ways to die and more need to negotiate with (sometimes) idiots who rely on you when they're not pretending not to need you around.
I think we all prefer to work with our friends in a well rounded group but P/U groups are another type experience, that's how I look at it.