The Light and How to Swing It: Shine on! A 2008 review part II
Wish List
As great a year as it's been for Paladins, I don't think it would do us any harm to wish for more good things. I'm pretty hopeful, too, because most of the problems I saw with Retribution eventually got fixed. It's not completely fixed, but this is the new, über-responsive Blizzard we're talking about here. It seriously feels good to be wanted. Of course, I'm wishing they fix all the classes to become as fun to play and as wanted in raids and in PvP, but there are just a few more things Paladins could use.
1. Please don't nerf Judgement of Wisdom and other stories
As great as Retribution is now, it isn't perfect. For one thing, as good as our DPS is now, we actually have to use Consecration and Divine Storm every time it's up in order to stay competitive. Ghostcrawler said we have to pay a tiny penalty for using AoE abilities against a single mob -- hence the cost and nerf to our mana management -- but the truth is that if we don't use Consecration and Divine Storm against single mobs (i.e. bosses), our DPS goes down significantly. If they don't want us to use AoE abilities for single targets, then for the Light's sake, make our DPS competitive without them. Even simpler, let us continue to use them and un-nerf Judgements of the Wise.
2. Un-vanillafy Crusader Strike
Corellary to number 1 is the fact that our 41-point bread-and-butter talent is nothing more than a weapon damage strike. Now that all Paladins are encouraged to cast Judgements, I understand the change to remove the refresh aspect of the spell. But personally, there has got to be something else to this ability. If there's anywhere that Blizzard can insert some sort of utility, even for PvP, it's probably here.
3. Help us catch up
Literally, help Retribution Paladins catch up to opponents. While Paladin burst damage isn't so bad -- I don't understand why people are complaining when Mages can blow up people with 7k bursts from one spell. I mean, I've had a Shaman fry me with an 8k Lava Burst -- the real issue is the ability to catch up. We're supremely kitable. In an environment where other classes can pull you, knock you back, and employ an impossible list of snares, Hand of Freedom and Pursuit of Justice just does't cut it. The only reason I can do any real damage in Arenas is because I've got a Death Knight teammate who can pull opponents into our kill zone.
The Arena representation is misleading because a lot of those Paladins are Holy. 1.5-2k heals from The Art of War-energized Flashes of Light are negligible in an environment where other classes can bust out three to four times that damage. That's not even counting Mortal Strike effects. Then again, this is a problem with Arena burst in general, and Blizzard already knows that.
4. Single target taunt
I know it's coming. I'm just impatient.
5. Crafted plate with Intellect
Brilliant Saronite. What's up with that?
Overall, I don't have too many things I can think of that the class needs right now. We're in a good and happy place, and I can only hope that trend continues. Very few classes have gotten as much love, and boy, can we feel it. Paladins are extremely fun to play in any spec now and if there's any class that exemplifies how good Blizzard has done its job, it's the Paladin. So as 2008 moves to a close, all I have to say to Blizzard is thank you.
The Light and How to Swing It tries to help Paladins, those champions of the Light, tackle the Wrath of the Lich King. Check out Zach's guides to gearing up your Holy Paladin for Haste or for Crit and your Retadin for Hit. Oh, and bonk those Death Knights on the head while you're at it.
As great a year as it's been for Paladins, I don't think it would do us any harm to wish for more good things. I'm pretty hopeful, too, because most of the problems I saw with Retribution eventually got fixed. It's not completely fixed, but this is the new, über-responsive Blizzard we're talking about here. It seriously feels good to be wanted. Of course, I'm wishing they fix all the classes to become as fun to play and as wanted in raids and in PvP, but there are just a few more things Paladins could use.
1. Please don't nerf Judgement of Wisdom and other stories
As great as Retribution is now, it isn't perfect. For one thing, as good as our DPS is now, we actually have to use Consecration and Divine Storm every time it's up in order to stay competitive. Ghostcrawler said we have to pay a tiny penalty for using AoE abilities against a single mob -- hence the cost and nerf to our mana management -- but the truth is that if we don't use Consecration and Divine Storm against single mobs (i.e. bosses), our DPS goes down significantly. If they don't want us to use AoE abilities for single targets, then for the Light's sake, make our DPS competitive without them. Even simpler, let us continue to use them and un-nerf Judgements of the Wise.
2. Un-vanillafy Crusader Strike
Corellary to number 1 is the fact that our 41-point bread-and-butter talent is nothing more than a weapon damage strike. Now that all Paladins are encouraged to cast Judgements, I understand the change to remove the refresh aspect of the spell. But personally, there has got to be something else to this ability. If there's anywhere that Blizzard can insert some sort of utility, even for PvP, it's probably here.
3. Help us catch up
Literally, help Retribution Paladins catch up to opponents. While Paladin burst damage isn't so bad -- I don't understand why people are complaining when Mages can blow up people with 7k bursts from one spell. I mean, I've had a Shaman fry me with an 8k Lava Burst -- the real issue is the ability to catch up. We're supremely kitable. In an environment where other classes can pull you, knock you back, and employ an impossible list of snares, Hand of Freedom and Pursuit of Justice just does't cut it. The only reason I can do any real damage in Arenas is because I've got a Death Knight teammate who can pull opponents into our kill zone.
The Arena representation is misleading because a lot of those Paladins are Holy. 1.5-2k heals from The Art of War-energized Flashes of Light are negligible in an environment where other classes can bust out three to four times that damage. That's not even counting Mortal Strike effects. Then again, this is a problem with Arena burst in general, and Blizzard already knows that.
4. Single target taunt
I know it's coming. I'm just impatient.
5. Crafted plate with Intellect
Brilliant Saronite. What's up with that?
Overall, I don't have too many things I can think of that the class needs right now. We're in a good and happy place, and I can only hope that trend continues. Very few classes have gotten as much love, and boy, can we feel it. Paladins are extremely fun to play in any spec now and if there's any class that exemplifies how good Blizzard has done its job, it's the Paladin. So as 2008 moves to a close, all I have to say to Blizzard is thank you.






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
NoTomorrow Dec 31st 2008 10:21PM
Hey you guys should totally celebrate by bubble hearthing! The rest of us will be over in this big floating thingy killing big bad monsters. It's ok, they will be gone soon.
Shhhhhhhhhhhhh...
Jk, jk
Slaytanic Dec 31st 2008 10:29PM
(sigh) Why do Pally haters even READ this column?
Zach rulz. Happy New Year.
NoTomorrow Dec 31st 2008 10:44PM
I honestly don't hate you guys, I just gotta poke fun of other classes sometimes. I get enough crap as it is, being called (jokingly, i think...) a "fury bitch" by my guildies. Of course, I then proceed to bash their skulls in with my two two handed swords.
As for the bubble hearthing thing, a lot of alliance pallies on the server Gul'Dan seemed to have a tendency to bubble hearth the hell away from me, at least while I was leveling. Just switched servers (to pve), so I have yet to see any where I am now.
Love ya pallies, and all other classes.
Happy New Year!!!!!!!!!!!
Oppali Jan 5th 2009 9:39AM
personally i don't think the bubble hearth combo is all that great. we cant actually use it in any PVE situation for fear of being shunned by our guildies and group mates, and certainly it does not compensate for being squishy and kitable.
but on the other hand i am very pleased with the way palis have developed since 3.0.2 were finally getting some "street cred". lol when i changed server after the WotLK release i had to change my toons name. i was not happy with this so i decided to be a smart elic. hense the name OP pali. cause i truely belive that palis are over powered in the right hands.
Sterling Dec 31st 2008 10:32PM
Shhh, don't say Thx. Blizzard might take that as we are happy and they will have no recourse but to nerf us. Happy classes are taboo arround there -.O
Kiristo Dec 31st 2008 10:43PM
He's right, I had no qualms about my warlock and look what happened. Let's just keep bitching about the nerf to judgements of the wise.
Coldbear Dec 31st 2008 10:37PM
Great column. But not a single word about the horrible OP situation that is ret pallies in pvp right now.
Julio Biason Jan 1st 2009 6:20AM
Not to pick on you, but you should read the article again. Although ret paladins have a nice burst, the whole class is incredible kitable. As holy, it's incredible hard to fight (or even escape) mages with their 5k single-shot hits while they can easily kite you with frost and evade hammer of justice with blink.
Paladins have incredible burst, yes, but they are far from being OP at the moment (yes, I'm looking at you, mages.)
Quiz Dec 31st 2008 10:41PM
I got news for you ret pallies: you're not even halfway down to the ground yet. And it's coming fast.
NoTomorrow Dec 31st 2008 10:45PM
Quick! Parachute Cloak!
Arcticwolf Dec 31st 2008 11:13PM
Bubble just before you hit the ground. Doesn't make the fall any easier but at least when you land you are still alive.
Julio Biason Jan 1st 2009 6:22AM
Bubble? Hand of Protection! Forbearance timeout is shorter than Divine Shield cooldown.
Saeverud Dec 31st 2008 11:54PM
Ret Paladins really aren't OP at all. We're a heck of alot more squishier compared to DK's are Fury/Arms warriors except when our bubble is on. And if our bubble is own, our damage plummets with the lack of stealable/purgable wings. If you're getting beat by a paladin, it's because he's more skilled than you.
They definitely still need to finalize our mana issues. As prot I'm not too horrible because I'm blockcapped, def capped with 34k raid buffed HP. So Blessing of Sanct keeps me fairly topped off.
As ret however, unless I'm extremely careful or there's enough raid damage to keep me up through Spiritual Attunement, I'm OOM in half a boss fight.
And even if I'm not our DPS compared to a Rogue or DK's (which besides our raids MT I completely despise) is a heck of alot lower in comparative gear. Especially since a DK with half the amount of AP I have, along with maybe a third of the epics I have can match me in a hybrid tanking/DPS spec is ridiculous.
Leon Dec 31st 2008 11:58PM
I admit I have bubbl-hearthed a couple times. I'm ashamed for doing so but it's amusing. :P
turkeyspit Dec 31st 2008 11:58PM
Ret Paladins aren't OP in Arena.
Good Arena players are able to handle them.
Bad Arena players can't.
Don't feel bad. PvP isn't for everyone.
Don''t confuse OP with 'difficult' or 'challenging' or 'not the free HKs you had back in TBC'.
Too many people play this game with the attitude that if a specific class/spec is giving them problems, it must be OP, and choose to ignore the possibility that maybe they need to get better at the game.
Lots of people are running comps that don't include Rets or DKs and getting 1900+. I guess they just must be better at Arena, eh?
Don't worry though, you scrubbies should be able to /afk in AV for gear you don't deserve in about 3 months or so. You can keep thinking that you are good and that WoW is seriously unbalanced, but us minority of 'good' players will still know the truth. You would be cute and all, if you weren't stealing our herbs and ore.
Happy New Year - here is hoping that more baddies cancel their WoW account for 2009!
turkeyspit Jan 1st 2009 12:07AM
Oh and Zach, in addition to crafted healing gear missing INT, how about we get a decent PvE Badge Libram for 2009? Pisses me off that I will have to use an Arena Libram to maximize my PvE DPS.
Nyanko Jan 1st 2009 12:54AM
Im with you on the Crafted Plate. Just today, I decided, "Why don't I try out holy for a little bit?" only to find out that hardly any of the Brilliant Saronite gear has any int on it. The belt even has strength on it! Its put me off speccing holy for the time being, at least, I should have kept my Holy quest rewards instead of vendoring them.
Really, if I wanted to go do some PvE healing I should just grab some Mail, thats the sort of itemization Im talking about, the PvE mail set
hiphophomies Jan 1st 2009 1:44AM
Unless you want to see that crusader strike cd go way up, keep your instant whack and appreciate it.
Heilig Jan 1st 2009 8:24AM
Please go away.
Crusader Strike had a secondary effect for two years. They pulled it in 3.0 to encourage Holy Pallies to judge from range. They NEED to give it a secondary effect to justify it being a 41 point talent.
Alanid Jan 2nd 2009 5:10PM
a threat to game mechanics coming from some random guy OH MY GOD IM SCARED :P
It really isnt worth the 41 points it takes atm