Healing tips from the master wardens plz. :-S [Archive]

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Silvershadows

07-04-2007, 09:41 AM

I was wondering about healing as a warden, it seems im struggling. Got kicked out of one group today, cause i couldnt keep the tank up (im lvl 19). We were in FMG, group of 4 of us. I was the only healer, tank was a zerker, all app 1 and nebie zone gear at lvl 18. Is there a good casting order as a warden? i watched the HOT's and as soon as one would come off i would replenish it (if needed) only casting as little as posible to save power, and keep him up but the damage he took i couldnt replenish... i would have both of my big HOT's (group and single target) plus my other 2 single target heals with HOT attachment. And when it would get real bad and my emergency Touch is up i would use that. What am i doing wrong?

Larsbohnstedt

07-04-2007, 09:56 AM

Gain a few more levels <img src="/smilies/b2eb59423fbf5fa39342041237025880.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Aside from being able to turn into a wolf the size of a small horse, you'll not only get more and better spells but also, probably, get better groups. Before level 20, some people don't bother with gear and upgrades. Not much you can do about that. Healing seems pretty simple to me, know how your spells work, upgrade them as best as possible and try to time them right, either by instinct or from experience with a given mob. As for power, better to run out while keeping your group up than to go easy and see people go down. Just my two cents.

Silvershadows

07-04-2007, 10:05 AM

That is kinda why i chose not to lock yet, that way i can actually be a Warden, and not a priest. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I am making a crafter right now so that i can make my own spells. That way i always have atleast app4 if not better. So what your really saying is just buy my time til i hit the higher lvls, and it will get better? Another question is a guardian or a pally a better class to 2 box with? I hate playing zerkers and monks for what ever reason, just not my thing.

IA~CHAOS

07-04-2007, 01:59 PM

His gear probably sooked bad if he couldnt take any hits as a tank anyways <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> When I was leveling I focused on my group mit buff being adept 3 and my single regen, followed by all other heals if I could afford it. Most of the time I found myself only being able to upgrade the single HoT as I didnt make money very fast. Most likely it wasnt entirely your fault that he was dying. After you upgrade your heal/buff spells its just as important for the tank to have decent gear. I would box a brig or a swash myself , <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Just cuz in higher level they can take hits and extend some nice dps <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

dpsman

07-04-2007, 04:42 PM

<cite>Silvershadows wrote:</cite><blockquote>I was wondering about healing as a warden, it seems im struggling. Got kicked out of one group today, cause i couldnt keep the tank up (im lvl 19). We were in FMG, group of 4 of us. I was the only healer, tank was a zerker, all app 1 and nebie zone gear at lvl 18. Is there a good casting order as a warden? i watched the HOT's and as soon as one would come off i would replenish it (if needed) only casting as little as posible to save power, and keep him up but the damage he took i couldnt replenish... i would have both of my big HOT's (group and single target) plus my other 2 single target heals with HOT attachment. And when it would get real bad and my emergency Touch is up i would use that. What am i doing wrong? </blockquote>I assume you mean Firemyst Gully, If I remeber right and it has been ages, most of those mobs are caster based there. Caster mobs will eat thru a tank, espeacially if he has junk gear. It sounds to me like the tank sucked and he was getting owned. I will say though that you really at a mijn need to have your healing spells at app4 min and higher if possible.If you couldn't keep the tank up, then either he was pulling mobs that were to high for his gear. When joining A group I would recomend inspecting the tanks gear before starting, if he is wearing complete junk, then you know whats in store for ya.

Arielle Nightshade

07-04-2007, 05:34 PM

It completely pisses me off that you were kicked from a group for your supposed lack of ability ..when you were in That Zone with That Tank. People who blame the healer when group composition, gear, zone or mobs is above their ability are noobs...plain and simple. Don't even give it a second thought, remember the name of the person who kicked you, don't group with them again, and move on.No wait. Had you started healing him early (to compensate for his lack of combat arts and armor), you would have pulled aggro that he (supposing he knew he was supposed to) could not have pulled off you. So instead, out of his own frustration, he kicks you. /rolls eyes. If I were level 18 going into Fyremist Gully, I wouldn't want to try to solo heal it. It's as hard at that level, with similarly leveled adventurers, as Castle Mistmoore is when you are 70. The mobs there are all heroic, hit hard, are all casters, path closely, and are much higher than 18 toward the back (where the quests there finish).Ok..done. All that said, Wardens are very nicely placed to be able to heal well while avoiding aggro from said healing. Start by stacking your regens, smallest to largest, then hit with the direct heals if necessary. Use Willow whenever it's available if needed to deaggro should you get it. Depending on the group, often your damage and utility are a fun sideline, but you are the healer. In a group doing a tough zone (for the group), don't waste any power doing anything but healing. Never save a heal for later when it can be used now. By the time you need it again, the timer will have wound down and it's available. Use your emergency heal to counter burst damage if you have to, but then let the group know it's down. And agreed - your wolf spell is like getting a set of good armor. Top your Wolf off with mastercrafted, and you are in excellent mitigation shape. Get the most WIS you can (at this level) which will help keep you from running out of power. Your power pool is a big issue at lower levels, and is not such a problem at higher levels where you'll start focusing on other stats.Read all your heals...what they do and for how much - and try to avoid overhealing. That drains your power very fast. If you are in a place where you are constantly struggling to keep the group up - or they are dying a lot, AND you have used your heals wisely - you are in a place that you need to grow into. No harm, no foul...just level up and go back.My 2!

Frametree

07-04-2007, 10:20 PM

You're level 19, so there's a huge bright side here. You now know that this is a tank you never, ever want to group with again. Sometimes it takes until much higher level to learn these things. So all in all, count yourself lucky. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

KannaWhoopass

07-05-2007, 03:31 AM

Upgrade your spells to adept 3 asap... at 24 you will get your master II choice it will help. at your level your heals are not great i imagine . still using noobie level heals i think ... As a warden your gist is a large power pool and great power efficiency... dont be scared to over heal. We are not reactive healers we are proactive .. its fine to start healing as the fight starts and the tank is at full health. We start healing slowly ..and build momentum .. in a ew seconds we can build enough momentum to heal ALOT of DPS. Dont be scared to use your fast casting group heal to top up a tank .. Our Hot's stack .. i forget the name of the spells at that level but if you went thru an order like ill use symbols <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> ... small hand praying hands ... single leaf (HOT) Open palm(Group burst heal) single hand . Chlorostorm(group heal) ... praying hands ..... And the tank died ........ he sucks ..... you should tank <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />if you run out of power ..its because DPS is too low for the zone you are in ...

Arielle Nightshade

07-05-2007, 05:56 AM

At level 18, I'd be careful about overhealing. When you get higher leveled, with a bit better gear and a better power pool , then the previous poster is absolutely correct - we can overheal with not much power penalty.

Alao

07-05-2007, 06:22 AM

Yea I'd say it's ambitious of the group if the tank is taking that much damage.. but at low level's like most have said it's the power of your heals.Wardens are more proactive but can shine if the group is taking damage. It may take a few seconds to get going (as your heals stack) but once it's going it's just a matter of refreshing. I've found that tanks and such tend to panic if they take burst damage that isn't immediatly healed.What most don't realise is that a wardens heals take that few seconds to get going but with decent power efficiency and a good pool of power we can usually out last most other healer types.Your 1st point in your acheivement tree should help alot now as shapeshift is now a optioned ability so if you want to use the crit heal "Treant" form them it will help. I find that it helps in the long run.Like the others have said make note of ppl like the one who kicked you from the group and don't group with them again.On a side note it's always the healers that get the blame lol, as if we can make up the shortfall for ppl have rubbish equipment or them not having a clue. Don't worry things only get better <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Silvershadows

07-05-2007, 07:45 AM

Thanks, I really enjoy playing my warden, and it seems kinda like a big truck engin... takes a while to get going, but it only continues to build up power the farther along i go. I have started getting rares, and spells for when i hit lvl 22 so that i can be a little more perductive as a healer. Thanks for the encouragement to keep pressing on and to get out of the lower lvl teirs, and to actually allow my warden to become a warden.So do healers always get the blame for crappy groups? Do other classes truely think that healer classes are the saving or breaking grace of a group? One healer cant do it all especially when there is a trigger happy happy wizzy who thinks it fun to pull agro from the tank, a scout on his own program pulling extra mobs cause he has almost tank mitigation and 1 taunt, and a tank that thinks his roll is DPS and that taunting is for old school tanks. And then they all get mad at you when you cant keep the group up, or get mad when some dps freakshow is pharshing the groups numbers and you are always shown at 0 0 0... And they think you are just there enjoying the ride.. It gets frustrating that you just want to have your group engage a mob, and not heal (making sure thorns is off) ... just to watch the entire group fall before your eyes.... <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and then the mob returning to its origianal location not even caring about you. The only servivor in the group is the healer. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> How many healers have ever wanted to do that? Or have done it?

Alao

07-05-2007, 11:02 AM

Silvershadows wrote: <blockquote>So do healers always get the blame for crappy groups? Do other classes truely think that healer classes are the saving or breaking grace of a group? One healer cant do it all especially when there is a trigger happy happy wizzy who thinks it fun to pull agro from the tank, a scout on his own program pulling extra mobs cause he has almost tank mitigation and 1 taunt, and a tank that thinks his roll is DPS and that taunting is for old school tanks. And then they all get mad at you when you cant keep the group up, or get mad when some dps freakshow is pharshing the groups numbers and you are always shown at 0 0 0... And they think you are just there enjoying the ride.. It gets frustrating that you just want to have your group engage a mob, and not heal (making sure thorns is off) ... just to watch the entire group fall before your eyes.... <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> and then the mob returning to its origianal location not even caring about you. The only servivor in the group is the healer. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> How many healers have ever wanted to do that? Or have done it? </blockquote> Yea there is always someone who blames healers, even in guilds "what happend!? why did I die!?!" are the usual questions from the tanks. as to the just letting the group die heh yea I've done that <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> .. usually when we've been in freethinkers hideout and the tank does a poor body pull and brings 4 x 74(x4) epics into the raid and takes massive burst damage and dies.. the mobs then go on a rampage around the raid even tho the Main assist tank tries to control it <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Don't tell my guild tho <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

KannaWhoopass

07-05-2007, 11:30 AM

Well you could be like me when i was a younger warden. I told the groups .. ill heal you with my group heal .. i only direct heal the tank .. If you pull mobs and die deal with it .. If the tank doesnt get the mobs off the group tell them to yell at him .. If the tank and i are the last 2 people in the group to die .. i did my job. You can never compensate for a poor tank.. Look at his gear .. inspect him .. if he isnt in mastercrafted armor.. and is yelling at you. Tell him to upgrade his stuff ..Young tanks think they are the heart and soul of groups. That will change when you are a lvl 50 warden .. and solo the mobs that just wiped the tanks grp ... Stick with it IMO the warden class is the most rewarding healer class to play solo and in 6 man groups .. Raids .. well i like my defiler <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

terzaghi

07-05-2007, 11:49 AM

You know, I actually find having a brawler as a tank easier for me to keep alive, at even levels that is. It sucks to say, but their self heal is a great complement to your HoT's. Go down the strength line, get the melee heal proc, and eventually Rahoteps scepter... Between those two I do a large amount of my healing. I know that doesn't help much at lower levels.

Silvershadows

07-05-2007, 12:12 PM

I dont plan on lvl locking at low lvls to aa grind, especialy if the tanks are going to suck this amazingly!!! I was more afraid that i was going to be a gimped out healer class, and not be able to keep tanks up. And even worse i didn't want to find my self on that wonderful "black listed healer" list. Also, can i look forward to running into some better tanks as i lvl up? or will i just be with the same idiots, just with more buttons for them to smash? <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I am actually going down the STR line so that i can get that heal, if nothing else to just sit there and auto atack the mob while healing, and get a few "bonus" heals. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> while doing a little dps.

Liyle

07-05-2007, 01:24 PM

Everyone has their own style, but here is what I generally do if the damage is coming in fast and heavy and the tank is capable of holding agro off me. Cast biggest single target HoT and follow with the next biggest single target heal, then the third biggest. Cycle through them as the timers allow. Never take focus off the MT to try to heal off targets. If my power is holding up I use the group HoT to keep off targets on their feet and as a supplement to the single target, but group takes a lot more power. If you are getting AoE's, heal from your max range. Cures can be expensive power-wise, but you pretty much need to keep up with them. Afflictions can slow down the group's progress against the mob and increase your healing burden. Having a tank standing there stunned and unable to function is bad news. Some people let afflictions go un-cured but I don't like to do that unless I have to. Focus. Well, you can target the mob or the MT. Both have advantages. If you target the mob, you are sure of who is really taking the damage, and sometimes this is where you need to be looking, esp if the tank has trouble holding agro and the encounter isn't too big or too tough. If you target the MT, you are sure that all your heals go towards keeping her up and not accidentally onto someone else who pulled agro for a split second. 8^) Also you are sure that you are focused on the mob that is the center of attention, not some off-target. I usually target the MT but if the situation needs it I switch to the mob. One time you might consider focusing on the mob is when you are fighting a tough single target. Death. When I am between a rock and a hard place, I heal the MT and let the others die. I figure they can be rezzed after the battle. You just have to close your ears to the whiners who want to be rezzed in combat despite the fact that the tank is going down and you are spamming heals as fast as you can go. It's better to win and not have to go back to the start and do it all again. Sometimes you all die anyway. That's the game. It's not RL. Our group will often find that we have to "try and die" a few (many) times before we discover the key to defeating a particular mob. This is esp true if your group doesn't like to use the cheat sheets. It's more fun but you will die. Often. Bring a second set of armor if you like to play this way. If you like healing but find yourself longing to be closer to the center of the action, consider starting a Templar or Inquisitor as an alt. In fact, playing other classes has really helped me understand healing a lot better and I find that I can use solutions from other styles from time to time. You should have your big HoT at the highest level you can afford/find but at lower levels you don't want to be spending huge wads of plat for spells you will outgrow in a week. So, you have to take into account the kind of grouping you will be asked to do, and if your guild will contribute to keeping your spells upgraded. Be sure to get all the special spells from Splitpaw and D'Mortes. It's been a long time since I was there and there might be others... my Warden was my original character at release. Since power management is the main issue, be sure that as the quests are available you get Manastone, Screaming Mace, Urn of Feyrun, Effreeti boots and the Prismatic Mace. Also anything with Flowing Thoughts and the other mana enhancing stats and adornments are a plus. Carry power potions and link them in your hot bar (don't need to be equipped to be used.) Have a drink running that gives you the best power regen and stats. The stats run all the time and the regen, while out-of-combat only, will help keep you topped up if the tank is pulling faster than your power comes back. Keeping a few low power, low level spells available on your hot bar is not a bad idea either. Often you will find that pulling a few points of healing out of your behind will save the group in a long fight. I punch my Manastone every time I notice it is up and keep the Urn in my pocket for emergencies (it has a long reuse timer.) WIS potions are on a different timer from Power ones and have fairly long duration. Be sure you are wearing the correct armor for your class. Unless you are experienced enough to have special needs, stick with leather over cloth and as much WIS as you can find. You are usually better off with a one-handed crushing weapon like a maul or hammer, paired with a buckler. Staffs and wands are better left to mages for the most part. WIS-based hex dolls and INT for the other slot is what I usually go for, tho the Urn often replaces the INT doll in my inventory. Keep charm slot stuff on your hot bar so you aren't opening up your inventory looking for the "Use" button in the heat of battle. Read and re-read the spell descriptions. Sometimes an idea will come to you of ways you can use something that hadn't occured to you before. You can always go out and practice a new routine on your own or with a trusted friend. Don't forget to practice with your root spells. These can be a little tricky but they are worth learning to use properly. Side note: the spells run in "lines": you replace most of them with versions that are just increments of the past ones, so you can learn the really new ones a few at a time as they come up. You can keep track of upgrades using sites like this one: <a href="http://home.comcast.net/~eq2gamedata/main.html" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://home.comcast.net/~eq2gamedata/main.html</a> Don't feel too bad about getting kicked. It's not uncommon to have a bad experience with pick up groups. I remember one with 5 tanks (of varying classes, and one mentoring) that I got into for ToV in Stormhold (why do I do these things?) Talk about your classic nightmare! Of course they blamed me for not keeping the entire batch of them up, despite the fact that they were too low level for the instance and bounced agro around like a pingpong ball. The best course of action is to find a group that you can go with on a regular basis and just learn from your own experience. You will understand your spells a lot better as you go along, and you certainly get more powerful as you level up.

Aan'azyroth

07-05-2007, 01:29 PM

In my experience, 95% of the tanks at lower level have mediocre gear, or don't know what they are doing, and often both. I'm an altoholic, and i found that keeping the group up with my warden is much easier than with my defiler and templar. Though probably i just suck at playing cleric/shammy <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> As for tank experience/gear, things will get better at T4, where about 40-50% of the tanks have the right gear for their level. At T6, most tanks should be ok, though my warden has healed groups in the Clefts with lvl 50 ish plate tanks wearing lvl 24-28 armor... <img src="/smilies/2786c5c8e1a8be796fb2f726cca5a0fe.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> At lvl 70, loads of tanks drive their healers to madness by still using a full xegonite set, this is where a 2nd healer can be quite useful (mostly i dislike having another healer in my group: if you have a good tank, imo only Castle MM and Nizara need 2 healers...) I just love the warden class <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Arielle Nightshade

07-05-2007, 05:05 PM

Silvershadows,With regard to your question about 'do we always get blamed for deaths' - I read this in some thread, and am too lazy to find the thread, so I'll repeat it here (because it is funny and mostly true)DPS dies, it's DPS's faultHealer dies, it's the Tank's faultTank dies, it's the Healer's fault.This statement is only true if everyone is doing their job. It doesn't count if they aren't. And 'their job' also includes being properly geared, spelled or Combat Arted, prepared with drink and food, and having some rudimentary idea of how to play the class they have signed on to play.(True story: I had a tank once tell me he never taunted because 'it doesn't do any damage' (ie, he was holding aggro through damage alone). Back slowly away from those tanks...leave raw meat or something and run.)You haven't even gotten into our favorite discussion: "Do we save the overnuking Wizard, or not?" (usually a short discussion...the answer is always 'no'<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />If your whole group is taking damage, there is something wrong with either the Tank's ability to hold aggro (not your fault) or the people who are being damaged's ability to resist it (also not your fault..that's usually a gear issue).Unless you truly do suck it's usually not your fault when a wipe happens. It's almost always that the encounter was just too much for the group at the time. This means either an add that you couldn't handle due to power issues, or the mob was simply too big for the group's abilities.In my view, anyone who is here asking for thoughts on how to be a better healer falls into the 'You Do Not Suck' category. If you suck, you don't care. If you are just new at the class, or to the role of healer, well...we can help with that! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

MysidiaDrakkenbane

07-06-2007, 01:28 PM

I wouldn't worry about upgrading your spells beyond Adept I or gear until your 50's (since you blow through levels these days fairly quickly). I got along just fine with Adept I and treasured stuff until my 50's. My suggestion is just find a better tank. It didn't sound like you were doing anything wrong from your description. If you see him spike in damage, toss more than just one regen on him. If he starts to go into the yellow, spam the heals until he gets in the green again. If he's a decent tank, he should be able to hold the aggro to allow you to spam the heals. I've solo healed quite a bit with no issues and as a Warden, we do a pretty good job of that. Don't let it get to you. PUG (Pick Up Groups) you have to weed through the bad players to find the good ones. The good tanks you do find, /friend them. A good tank is always a great find.

DwarvesR

07-12-2007, 06:08 AM

Arielle Nightshade wrote: <blockquote>(True story: I had a tank once tell me he never taunted because 'it doesn't do any damage' (ie, he was holding aggro through damage alone). Back slowly away from those tanks...leave raw meat or something and run.)</blockquote>Heh. My best story along that line is the tank who said he never taunted becuz "They don't work" -- he seemed to labor under the misapprehension that they acted as 1-button rescues. How he got to level 41 I have no idea. . . . we wiped on the 1st mob in the zone 3x before we said "screw it" and broke the group up.That said, I have since learned that apparently that's how taunts work in WoW, so he may have learned to use them in that manner and not realized that he essentially should be spamming his taunts as often as they're up until he gets a feel for the group and its capabilites. So if he was simply uneducated I guess I can forgive him. . . .although each of us in the group were telling him to taunt repeatedly. . . he just wouldn't do it.

Arielle Nightshade

07-12-2007, 02:51 PM

Well, My uber EQ tank is also an extremely uber WoW Tank - and he gets how they work. Mostly because he, like, read them and stuff? It's not just that, though - a good tank (and this can open up a whoooole new topic) understands what they are there for. You are right though, they do work differently and (from what I understand) a WoW Tank doesn't have as many of them. Also the way spell progression works in WoW - every time you get a new spell, it's usually a semi-automatic upgrade of an old one. The tank you are mentioning might have a whole Knowledge Book full of little pointy fingers and not realize that they are separate combat arts. That still doesn't make me want to group with a tank that hasn't read his abilities, or listened to anyone when trying to figure them out...most likely leaving a pile of dead healers behind him. My favorite [Removed for Content] remark to that is: "So, have you checked the poster in Qeynos? How many Healers have you killed? You must be 'Slayer of' by now? " (this only is effective on non pvp servers...)

DwarvesR

07-13-2007, 06:21 AM

<cite>Arielle Nightshade</cite> <blockquote>That still doesn't make me want to group with a tank that hasn't read his abilities, or listened to anyone when trying to figure them out...most likely leaving a pile of dead healers behind him.</blockquote> Oh yeah, I'm totally with you on that. Since I was most vocal person in the group about his need to taunt constantly and that he really should turn on his taunt proc (he didn't even know he HAD it), he kept sending me tells afterward that I didn't know his class and shouldn't be trying to tell him how to tank, etc etc and made my ignore list. Kinda funny since while yeah, he's right, I don't have a bruiser, I do have a monk, and their taunts and taunt proc work the same. And I duo'd my fury from 18 to the mid 50's with a bruiser too, so I do have some idea of how good a bruiser can be, ya know?

Silvershadows

07-14-2007, 06:36 AM

Thats guys and gals,I have found that wardens can heal really well, infact there heals are so fast, that i can keep 2 and sometime 3 people up when taking damage. It is actually quite fun being a healer, but haveing a decent tanksure makes me look all the better, when he never even gets to the yellow. And my then my maxed Focus skill never gets challenged either which is rather nice. Ive also found that im not that ez to bring down in pvp, cause my heals are so fast casting and they have a decent duration on them. Happy smiles! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> But i have found that my dps, is kinda low and have trouble bringing down the mobs, in a resonable amount of time. Is it better to have a fast weapon or a slow weapon? I use a shield cause i like the proc, and the +damage Ardement when i take damage as well as the sholders. <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Im courious though since the AA lines, kinda encourage us to become Melee wardens, do any of the wardens out there still sit back root, nuke, nuke, rince, reapeat, repeat, /laugh? Or do the majority of people out there now do the CA thing now? Ive found for me it depends on the situation, cause i can sit and cast or, i can jump around like a mad man CA'ing them to death, only stopping to root, back up heal, and run back in for more. ( I love picking peoples brains so i can become a better warden)

Aan'azyroth

07-14-2007, 09:40 AM

Slow weapons are always better than fast ones, but they really start paying off if you have a high melee crit chance. Since i don't like soloing and going melee / nuking in a group, i am pure healing specced. The few times i do solo, i don't bother rooting, and just meet the mobs face-to-face. Our +melee skills buff, Spores, and damage shield work very nicely this way. I know my soloing would be a lot better if i respec to melee, but i just don't like it. I am a healer, not a scout... And we are not "forced" in any way to spec melee, we just get the option. A dps-specced druid is a very effective solo machine. For those people who prefer questing/soloing instead of grouping/raiding, a melee specced warden/fury is a very viable option. And yes, druids rock when things get messy. In group situations, perfect tanks are boring <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Silvershadows

07-14-2007, 10:19 AM

That is so true, that perfect tank can be a blessing sometimes, and a bore other times. Someitmes i like that insane tank that runs uncontrollably into a room, agroing a named, his friends, the other 4 groups of 4 yellow tripple ups, and a nuke happy warlock agros the next roon with a hand full of poorly timed AOE spells. Sometimes that is fun, if you have the firepower to combat that when it happens, and you end up not wiping... Then other times I would rather be in that over powered group on a mission that imaculetly clears a zone without a flaw. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I do think that through AA a warden that is specked for Melee can almost be more devistating than a nuke/root/notouchie warden. Though i dont have alot of hard evidence for that, that is just my speculation, as we can get more damage and heals if we are CAing so we can kill "2 rocks with one Bird" <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> But hey I think anyone who plays any class can play them how were they feel like playing it. They are paying to play it, they should at least have a little fun with it, eh? So this next question comes up, i havent been PVPin much and the pvp i run into is usually a 2X raid vs me or some scout that trys to gank me when im harvesting, so I really have nothing to go on here. How well does a melee warden do against a casting warden, or an INQ specked for Melee isnt there another Melee healer out there too? [Removed for Content] i ask alot of questions. lol ( i have been reading the forums for other posts too) <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Chay

07-14-2007, 12:41 PM

Arielle Nightshade wrote: <blockquote>Silvershadows,With regard to your question about 'do we always get blamed for deaths' - I read this in some thread, and am too lazy to find the thread, so I'll repeat it here (because it is funny and mostly true)DPS dies, it's DPS's faultHealer dies, it's the Tank's faultTank dies, it's the Healer's fault.This statement is only true if everyone is doing their job. It doesn't count if they aren't. And 'their job' also includes being properly geared, spelled or Combat Arted, prepared with drink and food, and having some rudimentary idea of how to play the class they have signed on to play.(True story: I had a tank once tell me he never taunted because 'it doesn't do any damage' (ie, he was holding aggro through damage alone). Back slowly away from those tanks...leave raw meat or something and run.)You haven't even gotten into our favorite discussion: "Do we save the overnuking Wizard, or not?" (usually a short discussion...the answer is always 'no'<img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />If your whole group is taking damage, there is something wrong with either the Tank's ability to hold aggro (not your fault) or the people who are being damaged's ability to resist it (also not your fault..that's usually a gear issue).Unless you truly do suck it's usually not your fault when a wipe happens. It's almost always that the encounter was just too much for the group at the time. This means either an add that you couldn't handle due to power issues, or the mob was simply too big for the group's abilities.In my view, anyone who is here asking for thoughts on how to be a better healer falls into the 'You Do Not Suck' category. If you suck, you don't care. If you are just new at the class, or to the role of healer, well...we can help with that! <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote> LOL! True. Though I like to blame DPS for everything bad that happens <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> (Mez broke? DPS did it, Aggro stolen? DPS did it, Adds? DPS did it, Wipe? DPS did it... etc...). Mind you I have a lot of DPS alts. Generally at low levels you still have players that are learning the nuances of their class and how to work together in a group. Playing in a group requires one to adapt a bit to the group make up and pay attention to the flow of the fights. At lower levels most people are still in the "just let lose with everything I've got" and they don't really worry about the rest of the group. The tank that didn't taunt is a prime example of that: more concerned about personal "glory" than doing their job. Each job has priorities... Tank to be the focal point for incoming damage. Healer to keep the Tank up (followed by the healer, other healers, utility, and lastly DPS). The job for DPS is to do damage without stealing aggro. The jobs of utility are to enable all the others to do their jobs better through aggro management, crowd control, regen and so forth. Sometimes the tank is going to fall no matter how proactive you are. I was in HoF for the first time in a long time and out tank went down fast in one encounter. I made the comment "Man I suck" and was promptly told "You don't suck, hard to keep up if the tank is two shotted"... well something like that. The truth is there will be a lot of fights where the tank is going to be knocked down to very very very few hps. You just got to keep healing and be ready to switch if they fall. Don't give up, don't be in a panic. Just keep doing your job because they aren't dead till they are dead. And let's face a tank needs to EXPECT to die... OFTEN. Its part of the job description.

TheOnlySariah

07-16-2007, 11:16 AM

This is probably the most aggravating thing about being a healer. I played everquest online adventures for about 3 years before starting eq2, and I played a druid. I considered myself a decent healer but you'll always get that tank/group that will blame you the healer for every death. Scouts/mages that don't watch their dps get [Removed for Content] when they die because they have taken the aggro from the tank and now you have to heal two people which is not always doable. Tanks get [Removed for Content] because they are going down faster than you can heal them, more often than not this is their fault. My advice would be just to chin up and keep your spells upgraded as best you can.

Arielle Nightshade

07-16-2007, 10:27 PM

<cite>Silvershadows wrote:</cite><blockquote>That is so true, that perfect tank can be a blessing sometimes, and a bore other times. Someitmes i like that insane tank that runs uncontrollably into a room, agroing a named, his friends, the other 4 groups of 4 yellow tripple ups, and a nuke happy warlock agros the next roon with a hand full of poorly timed AOE spells. Sometimes that is fun, if you have the firepower to combat that when it happens, and you end up not wiping... Then other times I would rather be in that over powered group on a mission that imaculetly clears a zone without a flaw. <img src="/smilies/69934afc394145350659cd7add244ca9.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> I do think that through AA a warden that is specked for Melee can almost be more devistating than a nuke/root/notouchie warden. Though i dont have alot of hard evidence for that, that is just my speculation, as we can get more damage and heals if we are CAing so we can kill "2 rocks with one Bird" <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> But hey I think anyone who plays any class can play them how were they feel like playing it. They are paying to play it, they should at least have a little fun with it, eh? So this next question comes up, i havent been PVPin much and the pvp i run into is usually a 2X raid vs me or some scout that trys to gank me when im harvesting, so I really have nothing to go on here. How well does a melee warden do against a casting warden, or an INQ specked for Melee isnt there another Melee healer out there too? [I cannot control my vocabulary] i ask alot of questions. lol ( i have been reading the forums for other posts too) <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote>[Removed for Content]....you are going to be meleeing Inquisitors??! This means you are......GOOD? /spits. That's it. No more advice from ME!(ok..just kidding). and it's not nuke/root/notouchie, it's DoT/scaretodeath/root/laugh/laughsomemore/refreshroot/laughagain/nuke/nuke/kill/notouchie. And I think in our discussions here, from what I've gathered and from trying both sides of spec - it's personal preference whether you like being an InYourFace Melee Warden, or a RootNuke Warden. So just try both kinds, is my advice and see what you like best. And depending on the x2 and your group...it's possible to get 'em all. I am not an emote spammer (in spite of the previous paragraph...the /laughing is all inside...), but in that case, I make an exception.If you want some REAL fun...do a x4 vs a x4 in Qeynos Harbor.

MaryJane666

07-17-2007, 05:12 AM

<cite>terzaghi wrote:</cite><blockquote>You know, I actually find having a brawler as a tank easier for me to keep alive, at even levels that is. It sucks to say, but their self heal is a great complement to your HoT's. Go down the strength line, get the melee heal proc, and eventually Rahoteps scepter... Between those two I do a large amount of my healing. I know that doesn't help much at lower levels. </blockquote> I agree. Having a brawler as a tank is nice. My husband and I duo a bruiser/warden and it has worked out amazingly well. As for tanks getting better. Yes. Most eventually figure out how to play their class. You will still run into those who don't, some people refuse to learn anything. So don't worry things will get better. I would also go to the other aa tab and max out your SoW enhancement. Running at 45% is REALLY nice! And it's fun to do drive by SoW's too!

Melianteas

07-19-2007, 01:17 PM

I stopped to play my warden a couple of years ago precissaly around your same level 18-19, Because my mana/power was consumed faster, soloing was horribly, grouping was boring because I only could see life bars, etc.Our guild main healer stopped to play due his work so I started to use my warden again to help low guild members and to have a healer in group as my main char a conjuror was not usefull for healing <img src="/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />.Little by little usually mentoring other guild members my warden started to grow up all the masters I looted with my main char (not many but yes the main healings) I kept them for the warden without care if will take me ages to arrive to that level or having for ages in bank the main item to craft mastercrafted spells instead sell it. Anyway, with my main char I was always thinking of the future of my warden (both created almost 3 years ago).Soon I realized be warden was not boring at all and if the group behaves well (dps not overagroing and tanks taunting well) I discovered that I can say noones dies grouped with me 95% of the times. Only is fustrating if tank gets a first big blow when fight starts and my emergency spell is not ready. But if I manage well with that possible deadly initial blow then is not a problem nor struggle at all.To the dps classes I always let them know to behave because I am going to focus in main tank and here and there I will use group heals. But if someone overaggroes all the time that person can consider dead because doesn't know how to play his/her char letting tank build the aggro and use their taunts (oki some tanks are crap). But I cannot let full grup die because tank was not healed because a dps overaggroed.Also because my main char is a conjuror I pay special attention to pet classes. Some healers forget a pet dead means summoner dead so my group spells are up also to don't let down the pets.I am getting there now I am level 58, considering that this char was created almost 3 years ago and I am always mentoring lower mebers is not bad at all and gives me extra time to know better how a warden is more efficient and to enjoy more my warden.Now I am bored from my conjuror level 70 and I am focusing more in my warden because I enjoy toplay her more.Don't give up. Your char still is young and it is fustrating at those levels. People ask to much to young healers but in a few levels you will become one of the most loved classes.

LeonTheKnight

08-03-2007, 05:17 AM

Duoing with my brother, a Monk, I had no problem keeping him alive with Master II Regrowth. That spell is absolutely beastly, though it is beginning to wind down now that I just hit level 20. Our gear is ok, but I don't think it's anything too special.

Sciari

08-04-2007, 12:41 AM

Read the Thread and adding my tidbits of advice here. If you find toons you enjoy grouping with, put them on your friends list and note what guilds they belong to. You may find that a number of them are actually alts of level 70 mains. Joining a guild will give you opportunities to group with like minded folks. I find guild groups much more predictable and enjoyable ;p Power - try to obtain either from your friendly provisioner or off the broker (go to a person's house to bypass broker fees) the highest level food and drink for your tier. (wis / sta) wis giving power / sta giving health. Level 35 spell - Spirit of Bat (Buy off broker or have friendly sage craft it / spell recipe from Bloodline Chronicles expansion) Health - having a tank "turn" a mob away from the group helps group avoid directional damage from mob. If tank is still learning this skill, try to position yourself opposite the tank WITHOUT going past - ie. further in dungeon or zone - than the tank (might aggro more mobs with your druid tushie! - voice of experience ;p) (oh this assumes tank is able to maintain aggro ;p) Gear - Quests can provide some nice gear at lower levels without breaking your bank acct. No point in buying Mastercrafted (ie. require rares) in Tiers 1 and 2. Some alts you will see in Tier 3 with Mastercrafted. Tier 4 - 6 is a toss-up as to buying dropped vs. Mastercrafted depending on level. See your broker for comparisons. Tier 7 try to get raid gear. You will need it for the more difficult dungeons. Resist gear becomes more important in Tiers 6 and 7. As you level, don't forget to put a hex doll into your charm slots. Every bit of increased Stat helps. Heals - as the other Master wardens have already posted - Heals over Time stacked plus quick heals to top em off works well. Cutting your losses - If a group is wiping consistently in the first 10 - 15 min.. you might wanna consider finding a better group! ;p (often not the healer's fault if healer is healing tank) Spell quality - Didn't really start pushing for Master level spells until my warden hit 50s. Once you do start buying Masters - consider price, and how much of an upgrade (actual spell benefit) it is over your current spell. I tried to build Masters in my group (good until cancelled ) Buffs, Deaggro spell, Heals over Time, Quick heals. Don't forget to spend some time maxing out your spell skills (ie. ministration / Ordination etc) as you level. Wardens are a Great Class! We excell in keeping groups alive over longer encounters. May you have a truly enjoyable Career as Warden!! Sciari Silverwind / Unrest / Random Evac

metacell

08-06-2007, 06:57 AM

For the really tough fights (where the MT takes huge amounts of damage right at the beginning) I do like this: <ul><li>The MT moves forward and the mob notices him</li><li>I start casting my primary regen</li><li>The MT taunts</li><li>My primary regen finishes casting and starts regenerating(*) </li><li>I cycle through my quick heal, big heal, quick heal again, and if necessary, throw in a quick group heal before refreshing my primary heal.</li></ul>Primary regen: The green leaf icon that does massive heal-over-time Big heal: The hand icon that does a large instant heal plus some heal-over-time Quick heal: The hand icon that does a smaller instant heal, but with faster casting time Yes, I know, healing the MT with a group heal is a waste of power, but if you have to, you have to. If you have to heal this massively, though, you're probably in over your head. You're at the limits of what you and the MT can take. And you will very likely get aggro after a few seconds. Still, it might be worth it. The MT gets a few precious moments to recover when the mob is pounding on you, and may peel the mob off of you with rescue or by doing massive damage. At level 45 you can also give the MT a defensive boost with Sandstorm. At lvl 52 and 55 you can get emergency spells that heal someone right at the moment they should have died (Tunare's Watch / Nature's Respite). Useful if the mob is one- or two-shotting the MT. You can also waste your emergency heals just to keep the MT up during those first critical moments. Don't forget to cure. Even at lvl 70, a lot of priests don't bother removing all the spell effects from the MT in raids. If you have the time, why not cure? Even if the spell effects don't do any damage, they lower the MT's stats, or drains his power, or makes it harder for him to land hits on the mob, which might cause him to lose aggro later in the fight. (*) It's important that your regen doesn't start until the MT has thrown off his first taunt, or the mob will go straight to you.

Eniwyn

08-16-2007, 05:16 AM

After reading this post, I thank you all for the information you have provided. This has all made me want to level my 52 Warden again. She has been placed in the dusty corner for far too long, 6 months to be exactly. <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /> Shame on me.I left her because of the lack of fun to play, but if I just get some good groups, she will flourish again. I have written down some notes for myself, so I will definitely start working on her again. <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />Thanks, fellow Wardens!