Weekend (3 Apr) - Java Tries Healing

Weekend (3 Apr) - Java Tries Healing

Java has focused exclusively on being a DPSer, building up his gear for retribution spec and using that spec for questing, dungeons, and pvp. Ultimately, though, Java intends to be a healer as well.

Java took some early steps toward his healing goals over the weekend. Java updated his holy off-spec and canvassed the Auction House for healing gear upgrades. There was disappointingly little out there, even with Java conceding that he didn't care in the least what armor type it was. Java has been collecting some healing gear through quests and dungeons as well. Even so, it was ugly, but it would have to do.

As a means to just getting familiar with the healing spells, Java took on a couple of battlegrounds specced as a healer.

Oh, as a quick aside, it's been pointed out that I've been getting my factions mixed up, getting horde and alliance confused with each other. I admit I've lost control of the large Wild family brood and half the time can't remember their name or where I last left them, so I'm going to be clearer on the faction thing, particularly in battlegrounds. After all, don't want us trying to attack the wrong side; or worse, sauntering into the wrong camp.

Java's (Alliance) first battle was Arathi Highlands. The alliance team showed some early organization and composure by taking three bases and then firmly holding on to them. Java found himself stationed at the mine for most of the battle along with three others. Java's healing was pretty spotty. I hadn't set any macros for mouseover healing, so I was having to directly target players who needed heals. We did well, though, rebuffing every attack. The 3-2 bases advantage of the Alliance seemed like it would stay that way for an eventual easy win. The horde finally got their act together, though, and retook a base, and when it looked like the tide might turn many alliance players broke ranks and abandoned the base defense to go after the horde. Java stayed with the mine, as did one other player, also a paladin. He noticed Java's healing spec and asked how that was working out in pvp. Java admitted that this was his first time trying it, and I wasn't sure yet how I felt about it.

We weren't bothered at the mine over the last few minutes of the battle. The alliance hung in to win it as we had accumulated enough points to stay ahead of the horde even though the match ended with the horde controlling more bases than we did. Too little too late for them.

Java finished third in healing, a respectable performance for a level 40 in a 40-44 bracket. However, Java did next to no damage dealing while the other three DPS paladins in our group did considerable damage as well as considerable healing.

Java did learn a few lessons to take with him into the next battleground. First, I set up mouseover macros for Java to speed up his targeting and get heals out faster. Second, Java has to stop thinking like a druid healer. Druids in healing spec don't have access to the array of weapons they have in other forms such as cat or moonkin. DPS is not much of an option in healing form. Paladins keep most of their arsenal at hand even in healing spec, and Java didn't take advantage of that. Paladins can heal and deal damage at the same time.

Java's second battleground as a healer was Warsong Gulch. Java's first lesson in the frenetic fighting of WSG was that if the enemy sees someone healing, expect to get attacked. Java was focus fired on virtually every time he engaged, and with all that low armor gear, Java was feeling pretty darn squishy. He died 7 times, although to be honest that was about average in our group. I just thought as a paladin I would die less. All those save me spells didn't seem to save me very often, either. What I think saved me from a lot more deaths, though, was when I hooked up with the other paladin in the group. He was a level 44 and led our charges against the horde, whether it was after their flag or defending ours. Once he saw that Java was keeping him healed, he turned to full on DPSing and really cut a swath through the horde ranks. We finished with a 3-0 win. The DPS pally led both teams in total damage and Java led both teams in total healing. Frankly, though, DPSing with Java is a lot more fun right now than healing, but Java will save his murderous rages for the dungeons.

And speaking of dungeons, Java made some nice progress with the changes suggested by Kire, getting his best DPS to date (265 dps in DM), topping the tank (215) and the two other DPSers (178, 126). Java also won [Mograine's Might] in SM, a rare drop and a nice weapon upgrade that will finally retire Java's well loved axe, Corpsemaker.

Java is closing in on level 41.

Sunday Update - Java DINGED! to level 41 in Uldaman. Java didn't finish Uldaman, though, because the computer was apparently tired of WoW and "windows experienced and unexpected shut down." This problem has been happening every now and then and I haven't been able to track down the source. Yes, it's the new computer. I'm cursed, didn't I tell you? Although my last computer worked flawlessly for four years. I want it back. I feel bad for the group Java was in, too. We were going to rock that place.

The computer is up and running again now, pretending there isn't anything wrong.

Java had his own adventure in direction finding on Sunday. Stranglethorn Vale no longer interests him and, wanting to stay on the Eastern Continent awhile longer, decided to move on to the Western Plaguelands (WPL). Thinking like a horde (hard to shake that after so many years) and also still thinking of these well traveled zones in pre-cata terms, Java flew to the Arathi Highlands and then rode his new fast mount (courtesy of level 40) into Hillsbrad Foothills. It didn't even phase Java when he was shot at by horde guards at the wide pass through those high stone walls separating the two zones.

Java did remember that the Alliance had a base called Southshore. Every Wild toon at some point in their life has had to sneak into that place to complete a quest, not always without losing their life at least once.

Java had no idea the route he took was now guarded by even more horde. Java rode right past a sentry post. He was really surprised, too, when the sentries - several level 35 elites - killed him. When did those guys start guarding this road? Oh, yea, it must be a cata thing.

After getting himself rezzed, Java carefully avoided the sentry post. He was in for an even bigger surprise when he got to Southshore. It was in ruins. Obviously the war between Alliance and Horde was going very badly for the Alliance here. Southshore, I never really knew ye. Java was the first Wild family Alliance cousin to come here. And is likely the last because there is nothing left.

Ruins of Southshore

In fact, most of this whole area, including Silverpine Forest and Tirisfal Glades, was in the hands of the horde, or in actual combat with the alliance. Java worked his way around the fighting and the hostile areas to gain entrance to the Eastern Plaguelands, only to discover that the Bulworks, a neutral camp set across the only eastern entrance, was also now a horde only base. Foiled again.

Wild did have a trick up his sleeve for Java, clueing him in to the river that ran through the Foothills. That river would take Java all the way to the Western Plaguelands. Java retraced his steps and followed the river. He found a home away from home of sorts when he stumbled into Chillwind Camp at the southern point of WPL. Finally, an alliance camp, and one with a flight master, too. Java was at the starting point for what would evolve into the Battle for Andorhal. He was in for an engrossing afternoon.

There's more to come.