05-03-2006, 06:54 PM
I'm of somewhat mixed feeling about this change. While I'm not going to complain about getting a new ability, this just feels... wrong. I've played my druid with innervate (last 10 or so levels before 60, and first 6 months of being L60) as well as without (the last 6 months or so since 1.8 hit). I will admit that it is very nice to have, especially when things go sour and the group ends up having to blow through more heals than it otherwise should have to. Also when we were first learning MC, everyone was still geared in blues or worse and we didn't have the healing capacity that we do now, it is nice to have around. I gave up my innervate for a feral build since I enjoy playing that way outside raids, despite being in full healbot mode 99% of the time in raid.
But is it really needed by every single druid, say in a raid situation? I guess part of that depends on your raid makeup... we're almost always pretty close to 5x8, with 3 druids that have innervate currently, and hardly ever see all 3 druids having to use them. In most bosses that we've learned, often there isn't even a call for one. How would the raid do if it had none? Certainly less leeway for error if a fight went wrong, which does happen, regardless of how experienced the raid is.
How about non raid situations? Ferals who spec HotW already have a 20% bonus to their mana pool, though a common sight (which makes me shudder) is the druid with no +int in their gear at all. I guess that'll give a little bit more mana for a heal or two, though that gear will most likely have no +spr, so the benefit won't be huge, assuming it doesn't get purged/dispelled immediately. Plus often one is simply denied the opportunity to heal in PvP anyhow. Useful if you get caught in a pinch with no mana I guess.
Balance druids... loading up on +spelldmg doesn't tend to leave you with a large mana pool to begin with, though there is the Moonglow talent to help a bit. But you do tend to run of mana quickly, and don't always have time to drink up either. Could definitely be useful in this kind of situation.
I don't know... guess I'm still debating the whole philosophy of the change more so than whether I like it or not...
But is it really needed by every single druid, say in a raid situation? I guess part of that depends on your raid makeup... we're almost always pretty close to 5x8, with 3 druids that have innervate currently, and hardly ever see all 3 druids having to use them. In most bosses that we've learned, often there isn't even a call for one. How would the raid do if it had none? Certainly less leeway for error if a fight went wrong, which does happen, regardless of how experienced the raid is.
How about non raid situations? Ferals who spec HotW already have a 20% bonus to their mana pool, though a common sight (which makes me shudder) is the druid with no +int in their gear at all. I guess that'll give a little bit more mana for a heal or two, though that gear will most likely have no +spr, so the benefit won't be huge, assuming it doesn't get purged/dispelled immediately. Plus often one is simply denied the opportunity to heal in PvP anyhow. Useful if you get caught in a pinch with no mana I guess.
Balance druids... loading up on +spelldmg doesn't tend to leave you with a large mana pool to begin with, though there is the Moonglow talent to help a bit. But you do tend to run of mana quickly, and don't always have time to drink up either. Could definitely be useful in this kind of situation.
I don't know... guess I'm still debating the whole philosophy of the change more so than whether I like it or not...
Onyxia:
Kichebo - 85 NE Druid
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.
Kichebo - 85 NE Druid
Do not meddle in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy and taste good with ketchup.