The Warden's healing spec?

[Zerker101]

I have a few friends and we are all going to level together, I wanted to be the healer, so I rolled a warder, since they looked awesome, well I'm enjoying it so far, but I wonder what is the optimal healing spec? (Keep in mind I'm brand spanking new to EQ) Any help would be so nice.

[Zerker101]

Shameless bump

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>'Pure' healing, vs. melee healing is the STA and AGI line in AA's.  The STR line has a heal proc with melee hits, which does quite nicely, but better heal crits are in the two I said.  To be a decent healer while melee spec'd requires that you have a few AA's to start with to put into STR and the Warden combat arts, so I'd focus on the spells the game gave you, and equip yourself to be a healing/nuking Warden till you get some points.  By then, you'll be able to do the trickier melee line, and will know a little bit more about how you play, IMO</p><p>If you are a brand new Warden, I'd focus on getting enough WIS for a decent power pool and working on your abilities like slashing, crushing, ministration, subjugation, etc.  Many of your Warden line AA abilities beef up a spell or skill that uses those qualities, and 100% increase to nothing would still be nothing, right? <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />    Build your foundation, and you will not have to go back and catch it up is my advice.</p><p>You'll want Spirit of the Wolf maxed for your group, otherwise, I'd start in on the Druid tree in AAs and start with STA first....I think by the time you have STA to the last ability, you will have a really good idea how you want to go further, but this will at least give you a good place to start.</p><p>This is my 2...happy to listen to other 2's <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></p>

[xandez]

Cant add much since Arielle pretty much nailed it, just keeep your heals upgraded at start and that should be enuff.When you start gaining AA:s.. hmm tricky one here maybe the AGI line before STA thou? Shrug... nothing wrong with STA either. ++Xan

[Arielle Nightshade]

<p>I wouldn't do AGI before STA...no matter what spec, personally.  STA has so many nice defensive things in it, plus that heal crit.  It's really the most valuable of all the lines in the Druid tree, IMO.  Everything else builds on that one.</p><p>If I were spec'ing melee, I'd do STA and STR, with points maybe in AGI to get to that heal crit, but it'd be the 3rd line I spec'd.  This is assuming an non-raiding healer, since I don't think melee spec maxes your healing ability and wouldn't choose it cause of that.</p>

[Torri]

<p>This was just my personal preference, but I could not wait to get my Spirit of the Wolf maxed. I spent my first point in the shapechange of course, then I put 3 in the fire combat art and then I was able to go diagonal and get the SoW upgrade so it took my first 9 points to get it, but if you are questing as you level in one of the newer starting areas, you should have that by the time you are 20 or so.</p><p>After that I'd also suggest taking the heal crits from the stamina line before the agility line ability. Since I like to melee even in a group I'd also take the strength line before the agility one. I <3 Natural Boon so much!</p>