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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
8-14-2008 @ 6:10PM
Manatank said...
The changes to down ranking have severely limited the options of healers. Currently we can stack +healing that buffs all ranks of our spells (keeping in mind the penalties for lower rank spells) rather than the mana regen needed to spam our max ranks. This provides us with the ability to spam lower ranks with reasonable healing most of the time, and switch up to max rank when we need high burst healing.
When we have to gear for max rank healing we will have to focus more on mana regen, and our max healing potential will be diminished. We heal for what we heal, and that's it. No thinking, no variety, and no ability to handle sudden spikes. The only other option is to continue to gear for +healing and return to the days of aggressive cancel casting.
Healing just got a lot less fun.
Reply
8-14-2008 @ 6:20PM
Matthew Rossi said...
I hate to agree with such a pessimistic viewpoint, but unfortunately you've summed it up better than I did. It's very discouraging.
8-15-2008 @ 10:56AM
Vlatch said...
Wouldn't we naturally be gearing for more mana regen now considering that they...
a. nearly kept potion sickness in the game - completely changing the amount/way in which all mana users will use mana?
b. implemented spellpower - essentially gutting the concept of +heal stacking in its current form?
Abilities and rotations/methods of doing almost anything change with each expansion. The last expansion tried to do essentially the same thing by putting diminishing impact on heals under lvl 60. This expansion is eliminating it entirely. Adapt or die, IMO; I have a feeling that healing is going to become less about conserving mana and more about managing aggro - much like it has been for dps classes for quite awhile now.
8-15-2008 @ 12:31PM
Manatank said...
@Vlatch:
I'll address both your points:
a. But they changed their mind so it is a non-issue. The down ranking change might lead to more reliance on expensive pot chugging.
b. Changing from the current +healing to spell power has no effect on our desire to stack it. The +healing number will be lower but it's effect will be higher to compensate. No change on this front. A non-issue.
In regards to your comments about adapt or die... Obviously. I even stated the options we have to compensate for this. I then stated that for me personally healing with the new mechanics will be less fun. I currently love the way shaman healing is. Incoming damage feels like a puzzle I have to solve with various size heals / global cooldowns. Without down ranking, the number of pieces I get to choose from becomes more limited, and for me less fun (I love the stress and complexity of managing my mana pool).
Hope for healers like me isn't lost yet. I just saw a blue post about Blizzard's intention to introduce lower mana cost lesser heals if needed to combat the removal of lesser ranks. As long as I can have a lesser chain heal, I'll have enough puzzle pieces to enjoy healing. With all the buffs to lesser healing wave/healing wave we shamans seem to have more reason to use them now (and hence even more puzzle pieces to choose from).
8-15-2008 @ 2:09PM
ShadowEric said...
Potion Sickness is NOT gone. They removed the debuff indicator, but it's still there. See http://www.worldofraids.com/news/244.html and the screenshot they link in the news. That's dated from August 10th. WoWInsider was claiming it was gone on the 8th, but that was just the debuff indicator.
I don't have access to the beta. I suggest someone goes and checks again since there has been a couple patches since then. No news were posted regarding that.