Breakfast topic: The brotherhood of buffbots
by Elizabeth Wachowski 
Apr 3rd 2007 at 8:07AM
One of the things I love about my new blood elf paladin is being able to buff random people. Running past me in Tarren Mill? Here's your Blessing of Might! Lost in the woods of Ashenvale? How about a Wisdom to help you get out alive? Level 70 and standing in Orgrimmar? Heck, have whatever you want. Neither of us is going anywhere, and I like seeing the pretty animations. And in return, I get Arcane Intellects and Prayers of Fortitude tossed right back at me. It's certainly a change from my rogue, who can ... open lockboxes, really.
Do you give out random buffs, if you're a buffing class? Do you like receiving them if you're not?
Filed under: Druid, Mage, Paladin, Priest, Breakfast Topics, Classes, Buffs
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Friggas Ring Apr 3rd 2007 8:16AM
That's the exact reason I toss buffs at random players when I see them. Especially as a pally, my 5 minute buffs are incredibly cheap and I usually get a 30-minute STA or INT buff in return. And, of course, I'm always secretly disappointed when I buff someone and don't get anything in return.
Lenny Apr 3rd 2007 8:17AM
When I'm out and about collecting motes of whatever I usually see a fellow horde or two out there as well. Usually before I leave the area because I'm sick of farming I give them whatever food or water I conjured and an AI for good measure. The responses I get vary immensely, but I always do it because one time I was asked if I could DE some items for an Orc and he said I could keep half the mats I made. They are pretty nice guys in their home world after all!
Surtr Apr 3rd 2007 8:25AM
It's fine except on my priest. The Fort and Divine Spirit buffs at L70 are *very* mana-expensive, and when I get buffed I feel the compulsion to return them, which can mean I'm stuck drinking. Water I probably had to pay for, to boot.
Gridneo Apr 3rd 2007 8:31AM
It's all about the MOTW... Nuff Said...
Toolio Apr 3rd 2007 8:43AM
I have a macro designed specifically for when a Pali gives me a BoW job. A Pali is a hunter's best friend (next to the pet).
On my druid I usually give marks to others on ships or passers-by.
BenMS Apr 3rd 2007 8:51AM
Yeah, I'll totally buff people on my 70 mage, and after I've farmed up a Primal Might at the Plateau, I'll always cook some food up for whoever I've seen around. The competition for the kills is always fairly steep, but when I'm done, there's no hard feelings.
Kirby1612 Apr 3rd 2007 8:58AM
being a druid, giving out Mark's isn't really a hassle. The mana cost is really cheap and I usually get an int/stam buff in return. I usually give anyone I see passing by a buff and get one in return, no big deal if I don't get anything.
cynthias Apr 3rd 2007 8:53AM
I love buffing random strangers with my 70 druid with full ranks of improved MotW. I'll stand at the FP and buff away till I'm out of mana. Recipients usually return the favor, or at least say thank you. It's a great buff and I'm happy to share it. Same with the 30s priest and mage and the forty-something pally.
Jacob_THG Apr 3rd 2007 8:56AM
I do give out random buffs, but I'm more careful about it now. I gave someone that was tagged PVP Mark of the Wild without knowing it (I also ehaled him as he was at about half health). I was immediately stabbed by a stealthed level ?? night elf rogue for my troubles.
Ah, being a noob is fun.
hsubaru Apr 3rd 2007 9:00AM
I random-buff people with my lvl 14 (heck yes!) Priest. Usually I get a laugh in return, since it's only buffing their stamina by a few points, but I usually get a Mark of the Wild and/or Thorns buff'd on me. Good times.
mittens Apr 3rd 2007 9:12AM
I only dislike buffing strangers when they repeatedly demand "buff me!" Usually I'll just give them a fear ward and shadow protection and be on my way.
Moonfox Apr 3rd 2007 9:13AM
I miss being able to "MOW" people when I'm not playing my druid, now that I'm raising a shaman. I have all kinds of buffs, but you have to stay with me to get them! Still, though, shaman is awesome.
Ehud Apr 3rd 2007 9:18AM
Basically what the other priests are saying. When one fort buff takes almost a quarter of my mana, I no longer buff random people (unless I'm waiting for a boat or something). If someone tosses me an int or wisdom buff or something, I of course reciprocate, because it's just polite. People who demand being buffed go immediately on the ignore list. Ignoremore ftw.
Merkal Apr 3rd 2007 9:28AM
Quit complaining about mana cost guys - Arcane Intellect and Arcane Brilliance cost nearly a whole bar!! The Brilliance buff especially!
I love just randomly buffing people up coz a mage needs all the buffs they can get back but they are very expensive manawise!
Still - our water is free I guess ;-)
kendolph Apr 3rd 2007 10:14AM
I find it strange and uncool when I can't randomly buff people. I'm glad Blizz made it so that the level of PW:F (and others) automatically adjusted to the appropriate level instead of just saying they are too low. So handy.
Elbows Apr 3rd 2007 9:43AM
I only played one class, a warrior, for about 2 years and I would always love when priests would toss me a random Fort buff. Now that I have my priest alt, I buff everyone I see as long as I have the mana.
Alahandra Apr 3rd 2007 10:02AM
On my priest I will throw a Buff regardless of candle cost or mana on anyone, since I'm the one mooching water from random mages just before a instance run.
Razhlok Apr 3rd 2007 10:16AM
My favorite thing to do on my alt Alliance Shadow Priest is to go to STV, look menancingly over a Horde player 4 levels lower than me, mind control him and give him Fort and then wave and ride off into the sunset.
Dah Cheet Apr 3rd 2007 10:03AM
I random buff whenever I can and usually get a buff in return. It's good to help out my fellow horde members.
felkdogg Apr 3rd 2007 10:05AM
Water Breathing for Everyone! But you have to earn that Detect Invisibility unless you are hanging out in Undercity and want to see the pretty ghosts.