Patch 4.0.6 PTR: New restoration shaman spell animations
by Joe Perez 
Jan 15th 2011 at 4:00PM
With all the changes up on the latest build of the PTR, something that wasn't documented is happening, and it is pretty awesome. Restoration shaman spells are now getting a different animation. Until now, our casting animation was very similar to that of druids. Green energy would glow around our hands and small leaves would form within that power. While it was nature-related, it wasn't very shaman-esque. A healing shaman's element has always been water, and now our spells are accompanied by that very element.
Gone are the leaves and green; instead, our hands our now encapsulated in glowing blue orbs of water as we bargain with the element to heal our allies wounds. When Greater Healing Wave lands on a target, it has a water splash animation very similar to Riptide, and for now, Healing Surge and Healing Wave have had their leaves replaced with sprite-like things that fly up in a circle around the target. I wouldn't be surprised, though, if Healing Surge and Healing Wave get similar animations on target to Greater Healing Wave.
I don't think anyone quite expected an update like this, but it certainly a welcome one. It gives us just a little bit more of a unique flair and really fits our style of healing. It also shows that even now, Blizzard is looking at all of those little things that make the game so awesome, like cool casting animations. What do you think?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Scunosi Jan 15th 2011 5:46PM
Yeah, sounds move like a toilet than a soothing wave. Needs to be a more subtle water sound, if you understand my meaning.
Stardusted Jan 15th 2011 4:06PM
As my main is a resto shaman, I approve of this message.
Vaeku Jan 15th 2011 8:29PM
This. I don't play a resto shaman, but always thought it was weird that they had green energy and leaves like druids, despite their healing "element" being water and not plants and stuff.
That said, did they change the Chain heal animation, or is it still the stupid paladin/priest holy light/glow effect?
Also, I hope this means they change warlock fire to green fire. It's funny, because more people have requested green fire than healing water effects (that I've seen).
Timmah! Jan 17th 2011 9:18AM
Its not an animation, its an affect. Animations are model movements. Effects are effects.
Necromann Jan 15th 2011 4:07PM
I recently deleted my 40+ shaman to reroll another one. I think this is a cool change and that Blizz is willing to change something so minor in the game, yet so important to a group of players. I personally couldn't care, but my shammie friends are happy.
Falcon6 Jan 15th 2011 4:09PM
NOW WITNESS THE POWER OF PURE WATER.
*hits tank with water*
...A-are you healed yet?
(Oh, the problems this may have created in the cold of Icecrown)
LXj Jan 15th 2011 4:51PM
http://sarakleeyo.webcomic.ws/comics/pl/75129
Angus Jan 15th 2011 5:06PM
Someone already thought of this.
http://sarakleeyo.webcomic.ws/comics/3
:)
Edboy Jan 15th 2011 10:17PM
That was ... terrible.
Why is a Tauren healing a Human?!!
Rictus Jan 16th 2011 3:37AM
Because they both are members of the Argent Crusade. Reading the not so terribly large backlog of the comic might have brought this to your attention.
Senju Jan 17th 2011 12:20PM
LOL
EbonyIvory Jan 15th 2011 4:15PM
I think this change would have been better timed for around ICC time due to the fact shammy Tier 10 would have matched this effect really well.
Also maybe this will encourage my guild's Resto shammy to gear his main up instead of a filthy, filthy warlock.
Drakkenfyre Jan 15th 2011 4:24PM
I think the white needs to look a little more blue. It looks like water, but it looks like energy in water, and not water by itself.
What would be nice is if this were a minor Glyph instead, as I prefer the green animation.
Drakkenfyre Jan 15th 2011 5:11PM
Wow, I prefer the old animation, and say it should be a Glyph so people can choose.
And I get downvoted.
Did I also say I support Walocks getting a Glyph to give them green fire if they wanted? Giving people a choice is better than making the people who prefer the older way dislike it.
Drakkenfyre Jan 15th 2011 5:12PM
Warlocks*
Styvorama Jan 15th 2011 9:08PM
Seriously tired of the idea of glyphing for the few who cant learn to adjust to changes. The Tree of Life glyph was a pointless compromise imo, and will just give people something to point to any time an aesthetic change they don't like is implemented.
Drakkenfyre Jan 15th 2011 10:01PM
You seemed to have missed the point of Minor Glyphs. Blizzard themselves said minors were for minor things, like graphical changes.
So far we have gotten three. Two to change what Polymorph does, and one to use the old Tree of Life form.
There is absolutely nothing wrong with having a Glyph for a purely cosmetic use. Some people like the new effects, some people don't. I like the old one better. Does that mean no one should like the new one? No. I think the new effect could look nice, if given a little more work. It looks less like water, and more like sparkling energy in water.
Let's say you play a Paladin. Let's say they change it so every time you cast a healing spell, it had rainbows and unicorns coming from your hands. What would you say to someone who said "deal with it", if you complained about it?
This isn't as bad as that, and in fact isn't a bad effect. But some of us like the older graphics on some things. There is no harm in having a Glyph for that purpose.
And the new Tree of Life form is UGLY. It's based on the male Orc skeleton. So every time you move, you see that slouched-over pose. Not everyone likes the male Orc model.
Rictus Jan 16th 2011 3:40AM
Four glyphs. Shaman can change the look of their Ghost Wolf form into an Arctic Wolf (same skin, only white).
Anteia Jan 16th 2011 4:07AM
A lot of people hated the new Tree of Life form, and if I ever played my druid as tree (I don't, only a boomkin), I'd glyph for the old tree of life too. The new one is too masculine for me, and for all people want to say trees don't have genders, when your character DOES and you basically have a leaf goatee and lumbering around, you've given the tree values that are traditionally masculine. It's not a "Couldn't adjust". It's a "Hey, some people have played as a tree for years and really hate the new form." It'd be like them suddenly making cheetah into a stag. Personally? I'd find it cool and would probably go with the new form. But I wouldn't get all snide with people who would prefer to shift into a cheetah and used one of their minor glyph spots to do it.
Drakkenfyre Jan 16th 2011 12:46PM
Rictus, yes, you are right, four Glyphs, I had forgotten about that, thanks.