>>No, really, I'm serious. If you're applying to be a healer for a >>raid and you're specced Dreamstate, you need to go >>respec. Sure, maybe you can make it work, but why would >>you?

Because trying different things is fun? Especially for the kind of people who enjoy playing hybrids?

Sadly if you're trying to get into a real raiding guild, one that is serious about progression, there's a fair bit of max/min'ing that's going to have to take place. Dreamstate might be viable, but it just doesn't compare to the cookie cutter build when you run the numbers.

Another example would be rogues. Our raiding spec is combat swords. Combat daggers and even mutilate are still viable options but combat swords is still better overall.

When you start raiding, the game really just devolves into world of mathcraft.

When you're a Dreamstate Druid, you're just another direct healer. Your raid probably already has another 5-7 of those. You can heal, and sure you can heal just fine, but there's no reason to bring a Dreamstate Druid over anyone else at that point. You're not going to put out better healing, you're not going to sell yourself or set yourself apart.

However, as a tree properly rolling HoTs you DO bring something else to the table that no one else does. The important part about 25 man raid healing is engaging all of your healers together to work as a team. Everyone plays to their strengths, and it goes much more smoothly.

When my tree ass is not in a raid for some reason, while the HoTs may not seem like a big deal to me, their loss is felt handily by the other healers. The buffer for tank HP they offer, as well as being extremely responsive to damage taken is invaluable.

Dreamstate Healing, Moonkin tanking, Shaman tanking... all of these things CAN be done, but they're not optimal and when it comes to selling yourself as a productive member of a 25-man raid, they're not likely to be what people seek out.

I am used to much better commentary from WoW Insider. Did this blogger get beaten on the heal meters one night? Or wake up with crumbs in his bed? I'm a druid healer, hybrid per my armory but not a cookie cutter dreamstate build, and certainly not a tree. I am in a guild at the end of TK and SSC and keeping myself at the top of the meters. Go cry to your guldies mate. You're showing your lack of knowledge here.
QQ