08-18-2005, 05:27 PM
Hi all.
I made a similar post to this on the European Druid forums, and was mostly replied with "But you can melee with your forms..."
I've got a level 34 Pure Balance Spec Druid, and have now become frustrated by the lack of DD spells I have. Ignoring Roots (which is a root with some added small damage, not reallt a DD spell - also decause of diminishing returns...) All Druids have access to Three Direct Damage Spells. Wrath, Moonfire and Starfire. In my opinion, Wrath is just a mini version of Starfire, leaving us with really two different untalented spells. We get a third, Hurricane, as a 31 point Talent.
Consider Priests, the other 'Primary Healer' class (Ho hum, what do Blizzard do when they can't figure out how to make thier hybrid class work? Re label it as Primary Healer. Not only do Druids suffer the Hybrid penalty of not being able to use thier Ranged weapon slot, but as no longer ture Hybrids, Druids also have thier weapon timer re set by spells, unlike true hybrids...).
Priests (and I'll look at NE Priest compared to NE Druid) have access to five non talented DD spells. Smite, SW:P, Mindblast, Mana burn and Starshards. On top of that, they have the potential to learn another three from Talents. Mind Flay, Holy Fire and Holy Nova.
Not even comparing mana efficency or damage, it seems backward to me that a pirmary 'Healing' spec Priest can have 7 DD spells of various effect compared to a 'Balance' spec Druid's four (or three if you discount Wrath).
The most common response I received was that yes, this is fine as Druids can Melee in forms, Priests can't and anyway Priest can only cast spells, so they should have more of them.
I think the problem is the fudamental way the Driud forms act against each other.
As a Balance Druid, I have +Int/+Spell Dmage Gear. I have base Str and Agility. Shifting to a melee form is redundant. It makes me worse. On top of that, If I have mana left to shift, I would be better using it on a heal, root, last ditch damage spell or shifting to travel form to run away. Bear and Cat serve no purpose for me (apart from the generic uses of Stealth, Dash, Track H and the ocasional Bash...).
But what happens if I stay in Caster form? I can't melee, I only hit with a weapon to hope for am Omen Proc. BS when I get it might be nice, but as after my Moonfire is ticking away, my primary means of damage is Starefire/Wrath, BS will make these even slower...
What is a Druid meant to do? I assume Blizz entertained the notion that Druids would all, regardless of spec, shift into an animal form any time a mob get close enough to worry them. But in application, that doesn't work.
I've also been disheartened by a recent American Druid post claiming a Priest with PW:S, IF and Cloth armour whacking away with a staff out performed a non feral Bear in Melee.
So why does a Caster class, that not only can heal but out melee a Druid when spec'd as a Primary Healer have more versatility in nuking as a purely damage spec'd (as that's really all the Balance tree does) 'Balance' Druid?
As Blizz doesn't seem to invisigion Druids as damage capable casters, what is the Balance tree for?
I made a similar post to this on the European Druid forums, and was mostly replied with "But you can melee with your forms..."
I've got a level 34 Pure Balance Spec Druid, and have now become frustrated by the lack of DD spells I have. Ignoring Roots (which is a root with some added small damage, not reallt a DD spell - also decause of diminishing returns...) All Druids have access to Three Direct Damage Spells. Wrath, Moonfire and Starfire. In my opinion, Wrath is just a mini version of Starfire, leaving us with really two different untalented spells. We get a third, Hurricane, as a 31 point Talent.
Consider Priests, the other 'Primary Healer' class (Ho hum, what do Blizzard do when they can't figure out how to make thier hybrid class work? Re label it as Primary Healer. Not only do Druids suffer the Hybrid penalty of not being able to use thier Ranged weapon slot, but as no longer ture Hybrids, Druids also have thier weapon timer re set by spells, unlike true hybrids...).
Priests (and I'll look at NE Priest compared to NE Druid) have access to five non talented DD spells. Smite, SW:P, Mindblast, Mana burn and Starshards. On top of that, they have the potential to learn another three from Talents. Mind Flay, Holy Fire and Holy Nova.
Not even comparing mana efficency or damage, it seems backward to me that a pirmary 'Healing' spec Priest can have 7 DD spells of various effect compared to a 'Balance' spec Druid's four (or three if you discount Wrath).
The most common response I received was that yes, this is fine as Druids can Melee in forms, Priests can't and anyway Priest can only cast spells, so they should have more of them.
I think the problem is the fudamental way the Driud forms act against each other.
As a Balance Druid, I have +Int/+Spell Dmage Gear. I have base Str and Agility. Shifting to a melee form is redundant. It makes me worse. On top of that, If I have mana left to shift, I would be better using it on a heal, root, last ditch damage spell or shifting to travel form to run away. Bear and Cat serve no purpose for me (apart from the generic uses of Stealth, Dash, Track H and the ocasional Bash...).
But what happens if I stay in Caster form? I can't melee, I only hit with a weapon to hope for am Omen Proc. BS when I get it might be nice, but as after my Moonfire is ticking away, my primary means of damage is Starefire/Wrath, BS will make these even slower...
What is a Druid meant to do? I assume Blizz entertained the notion that Druids would all, regardless of spec, shift into an animal form any time a mob get close enough to worry them. But in application, that doesn't work.
I've also been disheartened by a recent American Druid post claiming a Priest with PW:S, IF and Cloth armour whacking away with a staff out performed a non feral Bear in Melee.
So why does a Caster class, that not only can heal but out melee a Druid when spec'd as a Primary Healer have more versatility in nuking as a purely damage spec'd (as that's really all the Balance tree does) 'Balance' Druid?
As Blizz doesn't seem to invisigion Druids as damage capable casters, what is the Balance tree for?