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Functionality question.
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Post by
kamodius
Hey folks. I have an odd sort of question, I suppose. I've read the spec stickies, looked at the differences between holy and disc, and have tried discipline on my 62 priest. I levelled Shadow (though I'll do the holy/disc Smite-a-tron build if I roll another one), and I'm now dual-specced. I've been soloing shadow and am now levelling consistently with a 62 warrior.
I've been enjoying disc, it's fun if a tad boring to keep her shielded, toss a renew every once in awhile, and HF+Smite ad nauseum with a Penance thrown in on cd. I get that that's part of the deal, so okay.
Here's my question: What's the "feel" difference between disc and holy? I have read and understand the functional differences: disc is based on shielding and more augmentive skills, whereas holy is more brute-force healing and aoe. I also understand that in a one-on-one levelling situation, both will serve nicely. But how does holy feel to use? The couple of times that I"ve healed Ramparts/Furnace, I felt a bit frantic tossing shields/flashes on individual players. Seems that since I do plan to instance off and on, a holy build might be better, if overkill for levelling.
Hope that made some semblance of sense, and I appreciate any input you all can give me. :)
Here's
the priest if it helps. Maybe I missed something in the spec. I logged out shadow, but you can see the other build easy enough.
Post by
Paolo
It's a good question. Unfortunately the nature of the question -- "what does it
feel
like" -- is going to be hard to answer to your satisfaction.
I assume your main question is about what it's like to heal in end-game raids using the two different specs. I'll get to that in a second...
First though, the issue about leveling is a separate one. While you're leveling, it's difficult to know what priesty healing is really like, because so many instance pugs along the way are really really bad. You're dealing with players who are likely to be undergeared and underqualified (e.g., just learning to tank). And if you're asking about doing quests as a warrior/priest duo, again, that's a very short-term situation. Just have fun, you'll do fine no matter what spec you choose.
Now, as for end-game healing: there really is no way to fill out the picture for you beyond what you've already done. The best thing I can recommend is to dual-spec holy and discipline when you hit 80. Then run heroics for a few days as disc, then a few days as holy.
When people say things like "Disc is about prevention, holy is about healing damage," even if that's true, it doesn't give you a feel for what it's actually like. There's no substitute for trying out the two specs yourself.
Post by
kamodius
Agreed, Paolo, and thanks.
I also didn't consider when I wrote my first post that there's not much point in getting too excited, as a bunch of the better spells don't appear until I'm closer to 70 (PoM comes to mind).
As far as for now, the warrior and I will be levelling to 80, as we did with her DK and my mage.
I will likely try a holy build tonight for instancing precisely because of what you said. Having all the aoe healing I can will at least help me save myself from awful puggers, and give me an idea of how holy 'feels' as opposed to disc.
I appreciate the input though. +5 for you.
Post by
ande9249
while it may seem overdone the line "single target vs aoe" comes to mind. Stay with me though. When disc, you generally do click from one player to the next casting a spell or two and then moving on, and going in this manner to keep the group alive. I personally had to train myself when disc to look at my grid and say "three people need FH, it IS more efficent to sit down and cast a PoH" while doing non heroics...the feel is to fix each problem as it comes up, or if you are really comfortable with the players/instance setting up shields to absorb it soon. The other great feeling while playing disc was choosing "who gets healed next, cause the damage is still coming" and almost always letting dps die for the tank to live
Holy on the other hand will feel a little different in that you might not throw that flash heal immeadiately, because if you wait a half second and the time to cast a GH, by the time it lands the target needed it, and you will have better mana for the fight because of it. Choosing when to heal becomes much more of a issue than who to heal. AoE healing, if there are more than two hurt, is sooo much better when a holy for its efficiency.
well, there was my attempt at the feel :)
Post by
kamodius
Holy on the other hand will feel a little different in that you might not throw that flash heal immeadiately, because if you wait a half second and the time to cast a GH, by the time it lands the target needed it, and you will have better mana for the fight because of it. Choosing when to heal becomes much more of a issue than who to heal. AoE healing, if there are more than two hurt, is sooo much better when a holy for its efficiency.
well, there was my attempt at the feel :)
That is almost exactly what I'm looking for.
Discipline seems as though it's relatively simple to figure out, yet extremely busy and frenzied when I'm the only healer. Thanks, but I've got a holy paladin main for "god I hope I can keep up" moments.
Holy
seems
like more of what I'm wanting to do at this time, which is know that I can probably keep everyone alive, just a matter of how I want to do it. A little bit more strategic, which is a nice change from holy pally healing and tanking.
Thanks a bunch for the reply. :) Any other opinions?
Post by
karlusdavius
Holy - AoE specialist
Discipline - Mitigation Specialist
Holy and Discipline are two different things. You say you have a paladin for those "God i hope i can keep up moments". I guarantee Discipline is nothing like that.
Discipline, you are a Mitigation
expert
.
Each Critical Strike you do proc's a
mitigation effect
Which no other class has.
You can
Instantly absorb
a
high amount of damage while gaining a life saving haste buff
.
You have
ride wide mitigation
which will almost always be active.
Your Shields give a
passive effect
to yourself and your target.
You have the
best single target reactive heal
in the game.
You cast Cast PW:S
as fast as your GCD allows you too
You can
reduce any and all incoming damage by 40%
You can reduce all incoming
Physical damage by 10%
after each critical hit
Holy, you are an AoE power house
You have an amazing
instant cast AoE heal
, which has the
potential to hit 6 people
.
You have fast reactive healing in the form of a
proc
.
You have
extended range
on your most important AoE heals.
You have a
instant cast
initial hit on your only HoT.
You have
improved regeneration
.
You have
passive spell power increase
from your spirit.
You have arguably the best life saving and throughput increasing
spell
in the game.
You have the ability to
decrease the cast time
on two of your biggest heals.
You have a lot of
Throughput
increasing
talents
And im not even getting into play style and freedom of choice here.
So what will it be?
Post by
kamodius
So what will it be?
First off, wow. Thanks for taking the time to compile the info, karlus.
Second off, as an update, I specced holy last night and ran around Hellfire Pen. with my warrior levelling buddy. It. Was. Ridiculous. There wasn't a number of mobs she could pull that I couldn't heal her through.
Here
is the spec I put together. I know I skipped several core raiding talents in favor of doing a bit more dps with Smite. That being said, I love the holy spec for it's sheer
powah!
and I don't even have Prayer of Mending or some of the other really good utility spells.
The long and the short of it is that I'm rapidly considering dropping shadow and dual-speccing disc/holy for maximum flexibility. My main has been a prot/holy paladin for the last two years, and I'm liking my priest from a "fun to play" standpoint right now at 62(!) than I am the pally at a moderately-well-geared 80.
As a not-insignificant aside, by the way, the priest forums have been, in my experience, one of the most helpful and mature on the boards....by and large. :)
Thanks guys.
Post by
karlusdavius
well to get a taste of end game.
Here is my BiS wish list ;)
http://www.chardev.org/?template=244298
Glad to help and thanks for the compliments. If you have any more questions on holy, pop it in the Holy PvE guide and ill try and answer them
Post by
kamodius
well to get a taste of end game.
Here is my BiS wish list ;)
http://www.chardev.org/?template=244298
Glad to help and thanks for the compliments. If you have any more questions on holy, pop it in the Holy PvE guide and ill try and answer them
My only question based on my brief experience last night would be about regen, but I probably just need to wait until I have more points to devote to Meditation. Other than oomin more frequently with Holy than Disc, it was a joy.
Post by
karlusdavius
Meditation is a must stat for all three spec's. However, in endgame there are plentiful trinkets out there that give passive Mp5 in high amounts just on Equip. So yes, it will be hard at first. But with more gear, regen just simply falls into place.
Post by
366971
This post was from a user who has deleted their account.
Post by
kamodius
I'll have to check out Power Auras. I've just been using Mik's Scrolling Battle Text, and it pops up when things like that proc on my mage.. Instant Pyro, etc.
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