Shaman builds, RR, etc.

[Beardypete]

Leveled a shaman to 14, but I am being told its the worst healer for destro. But it's the coolest looking one in my opinion. I am not a fan of the experimental changes myself. Think I prefered the instant/free cast. Do the changes make me a better healer though? All the shamies I ask how we are supposed to play now shrug their shoulders. Does anyone have a leveling build I can respec out of at 32 or so? I play NA times and will have to grind levels out and it's painfully slow so far. What's your rotation for killing mobs? Spamming brain busta seems more effective than applying 3 dots. When does it get better? Is there aoe damage later to speed it up?

[Azarael]

I wrote an explanation of the experimental changes within the Rules and Guidelines section of the forum. If, after reading that, you still believe that the only use a healing Shaman has for the old mechanic (instant spec knockback from Gork with 5 stacks, compared to constant 1.2s cast with any stack on the new one) is worth forgoing the new one, you're more than welcome to it.

I think a number of people will only appreciate the power within the .ex mechanic when they are unable to opt out of it, which isn't too far off.

[Beardypete]

I tend to be the only or one of two healers in any scenario. And while I love the idea of an actually successful hybrid, it would take a lot more to persuade me to tab target and cast a brain bursta than an improved cast time, especially when my team is getting destroyed. I appreciate the attempt at making it worthwile, and maybe it's just me personally, but I have never found hybrid healing/dps classes to be good at either, or even acceptable at either.

I will say I eagerly await the day I have to eat my words so keep up the good work. Experimenting like this is how you get there.

[Sigimund]

Tab target and cast I'll Take That!

[Azarael]

Read the changes again. The intent is not to force hybridization, though the experimental changes do allow that playstyle if desired. You're meant to take advantage of how I'll Take That!, Waaagh! Frenzy and optionally Fury of Da Green work with mechanic points in .ex mode to patch up the flaws with Shaman. The healing output of both of these skills is massively improved, they cast on the move with mechanic, they proc Restorative Burst and other direct heal effects and the tactic gives I'll Take That! an AoE heal component. There is nothing about playing without .ex that justifies losing that.

[Beardypete]

I see. I am probably not high enough level to appreciate it yet.

[Beardypete]

Upon further testing I just had to get it in my mind you think of ill take that no as a damage spell, but another heal I can throw on my target after my 2 HoT that just happens to need an enemy target to leach from. I guess the only "bad" thing about essentially having another "heal" is when your health target is under a lot of fire and you really need this and the opponent disrupts/blocks/has any number of shields/morale protections up you just wasted time that could have been spent on your (admittedly easier to setback) long single target heal.

I suppose it would be op to allow the heal portion to work even if the spell is disrupted. But with people stacking dodge/disrupt now as practically everyone does thru rr, it's unreliable and risky when someone's life is on the line.

Again I would stress I'm all of level 15, so I don't know if disrupt is a huge concern in tier 4, but it got a few of my team killed yesterday when it did not work.

[Azarael]

I'TT! has 20% disrupt/block strikethrough when using mechanic points, so unless you're hitting Hold The Line! or a defensive morale, it shouldn't really fail.

[catholicism198]

but I'll Take That!'s and Fury of Da Green's damage has been severely nerfed in the process, which turns Path of Da Green into just another (pure) healing mastery when it is meant to be a hybrid. Yes, it they are still intel based without Gork's Waaagh! but their cast time is increased by 0.8 seconds, which makes a huge difference in rvr.

[Azarael]

The hybridization inherent in the class is between Gork and Mork for a healer. I need Da Green to function as it does for it to be of relevance to both specs.