I know this subject has been brought up, but hopefully I am asking something new or looking at it in a different light.
Once Cataclysm drops I want to level a new alt to experience the redesign of Azeroth. I have ranged dps, melee dps, and tank toons so I want to try a healer and I'd like to roll a druid. I know the fastest way to level is as feral, but I'd like to be resto so I can practice and learn that build since that is what this toon will be endgame.
With the new LFD and BG systems I am aware I can be resto and just queue for those to gain xp, but I'd rather do a fair share of questing since part of the whole point is to experience the new world from 1-85, not just sit in one place and run dungeons/heal BGs. With the proposed new talent system I won't be able to create a hybrid because I will initially have to choose one tree and so couldn't put points in both resto and balance until 70. I can just utilize dual specialization, but that option isn't available until level 40.
Option 1: Just ***** it and level feral dps. Worry about resto once I hit the level cap.
Option 2: Level as resto and just grit my teeth and do it. Slowly. Get dual spec at 40 and then go balance for questing. Or vice versa: start as balance, then at 40 go dual spec with resto.
The crux of this question is which heirloom gear I should purchase for this toon? I need to know which path I am taking since feral won't have much need of spellpower heirloom gear.
Any thoughts or suggestions? I appreciate the feedback.
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You know this actually brought another question to mind.
I mean we know we can heal in the other spec's fairly well atm. But I wonder with locking you into a tree, if they are going to lock you into a role as well (i.e. choosing balance means you can't select 'healer' for a dungeon role). Because if not, you could probably get away with choosing balance and healing most of the intro dungeons.
Who knows how much this will change come Cata...
I mean we know we can heal in the other spec's fairly well atm. But I wonder with locking you into a tree, if they are going to lock you into a role as well (i.e. choosing balance means you can't select 'healer' for a dungeon role). Because if not, you could probably get away with choosing balance and healing most of the intro dungeons.
Who knows how much this will change come Cata...
That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
Word is they are working on giving healers some decent damage capability for just this reason. If newbies start the game then select resto for their first talent point, Blizzard don't want them quitting at level 14 because it is taking so long. It won't be as fast as straight damage of course, but it shouldn't be too bad, particulary when you will have pretty quick pops for the random dungeon tool compared to a DPS.
Quote:
Level as resto and just grit my teeth and do it.
This, while leaving your teeth alone. It's really not as bad as you'd think. I found leveling a lowbie ret Pally considerably worse than what I am experiencing with my resto druid now
Level as Resto, get two sets of heirlooms. Then show people how talents don't even matter until level 40.
I hope it stays like that to some degree, I like kittypwning Allies in BGs occasionally.
I hope it stays like that to some degree, I like kittypwning Allies in BGs occasionally.
someproteinguy wrote:
Because if not, you could probably get away with choosing balance and healing most of the intro dungeons.
How far along could I go as balance specced and still be an effective healer? All the way until Outland? Or at least until 40 and then get dual spec?
From the comments it sounds like I should just go with spellpower heirlooms and either go full resto or start as balance. Maybe I will hold off until my main gets to 85 and see what the new Cataclysm heirlooms look like and what it takes to get them.
Thanks for the advice everyone.
Healing as balance till 40 shouldn't be too much of an issue. There's a lot of balance talents low on the tree that benefit both healing and DPS anyway: Genesis, Moonglow, Nature's Majesty, Nature's Splendor and Lunar Guidance for example.
After that it'll probably start to get more touch and go. You'll have trouble if that tank is under-geared, or you get a melee hunter, or something like that. Really you'll just be less able to carry sub-par groups then if you are Resto. However, if you are running with a friend or two, there's no reason you can't pull it off for quite a while. Really it's at least fairly viable until Northrend, when all the AoE stuff cause you to want Wild Growth sometime in the low/mid 70s.
So it's kind of a question of how much fail do you want to be able to carry?
After that it'll probably start to get more touch and go. You'll have trouble if that tank is under-geared, or you get a melee hunter, or something like that. Really you'll just be less able to carry sub-par groups then if you are Resto. However, if you are running with a friend or two, there's no reason you can't pull it off for quite a while. Really it's at least fairly viable until Northrend, when all the AoE stuff cause you to want Wild Growth sometime in the low/mid 70s.
So it's kind of a question of how much fail do you want to be able to carry?
That monster in the mirror, he just might be you. -Grover
I healed with a feral spec all the way through BC. Had to give it up in LK though, incoming damage was just too high.
Particularly if you have a lot of decent dungeon gear (compared to the crap quest gear) you should have zero issues. Like Norellicus, I healed as feral for a long time (not as much in BC). Pretty much all the old world stuff would be fine as feral, let alone Boom.
Overlord Norellicus wrote:
I healed with a feral spec all the way through BC. Had to give it up in LK though, incoming damage was just too high.
Cause we had Intensity for mana regen. Was lulz in retrospect.
Hellbanned
idiggory wrote:
Drinking at home. But I could probably stand to get laid.
Well I had mp5 out the butt on my gear too, plus the lulz of lifebloom rolling.
If my memory serves me correctly Blizzard is going to lower the level for dual-spec and as everyone probably knows they are making leveling experience so much better. (gettin Moonkin at lvl 10 for instance) I think that you would do absolutely fine, especially having heirlooms, if you quested as balance and had a resto dual spec. Quest as balance and heal the dungeons with resto.
http://www.wowtal.com/#k=.9mn.druid
Just check that talent Lunar Justice on the second tier in balance. That should solve all mana problems once an for all. I understand that the trees aren't set in stone but something like this will definitely stay to ease balance questing.
http://www.wowtal.com/#k=.9mn.druid
Just check that talent Lunar Justice on the second tier in balance. That should solve all mana problems once an for all. I understand that the trees aren't set in stone but something like this will definitely stay to ease balance questing.
MMO Champ is listing Cat form as level 8, plus you pick up Mangle at 10 if you decide to go Feral. If I were leveling a Druid all over again, that's what I would do.
5 posts
Although I encourage people to play whatever spec they enjoy, and blizzard has certainly made that easier. I wouldn't recommend leveling a Druid all the way as resto, especially if your an experienced player. I don't really think the extra practice will make much difference, especially since you get new (important) spells close to eighty and will have to learn to incorporate them in anyway. It can definitely be done but you would be better off leveling feral or balance in my opinion and switching to Resto in the 70's to finish up your journey to level 80.
Krixenwow wrote:
Although I encourage people to play whatever spec they enjoy, and blizzard has certainly made that easier. I wouldn't recommend leveling a Druid all the way as resto, especially if your an experienced player. I don't really think the extra practice will make much difference, especially since you get new (important) spells close to eighty and will have to learn to incorporate them in anyway. It can definitely be done but you would be better off leveling feral or balance in my opinion and switching to Resto in the 70's to finish up your journey to level 80.
This actually makes sense.
edit: I hit 4k, I'm going to bed.
Edited, Jul 27th 2010 1:01am by Horsemouth
Hellbanned
idiggory wrote:
Drinking at home. But I could probably stand to get laid.
Horsemouth wrote:
Krixenwow wrote:
Although I encourage people to play whatever spec they enjoy, and blizzard has certainly made that easier. I wouldn't recommend leveling a Druid all the way as resto, especially if your an experienced player. I don't really think the extra practice will make much difference, especially since you get new (important) spells close to eighty and will have to learn to incorporate them in anyway. It can definitely be done but you would be better off leveling feral or balance in my opinion and switching to Resto in the 70's to finish up your journey to level 80.
This actually makes sense.
edit: I hit 4k, I'm going to bed.
Yes, that does make sense. Especially if I can heal dungeons pre-70 as balance anyways. And that's basically what I did with my warrior: I went fury until Northrend, then switched him to prot.
And grats Horsemouth.
Edited, Jul 27th 2010 11:24am by CountFenris
Especially with the option of dual-spec. Gratz on your ding Horsemouth.
Edited, Jul 27th 2010 11:17pm by RareBeast
Edited, Jul 27th 2010 11:17pm by RareBeast
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