04-21-2005, 12:47 AM
I love my druid. L60 on Kel'Thuzad. Damage output is low (very low), though somewhat decent if you get some nice cat gear. But you can last a long time, and roots/travel form (or cat + dash indoors) can give you that escape from an unwanted fight. Stealth + track humanoids is great for when you just don't want to be seen.
That said, I don't think a druid is for the impatient. A lot of battles are a matter of outlasting the opponent (be it PvP or not). We just don't have the damage output typically. But we have big heals, and a big damage sink in bear form (heard stories of 10000+ armour; only managed about 7000 myself). While there is the disadvantage of having to shift forms for different abilities; overall the class is quite powerful once you figure out the best form for each situation, and when to shift/shift back.
You'll end up being called for as healer a lot later in game. I resisted the full restoration build for a while (being balanced between restoration and feral), but around the time the guild started doing Uldaman/Maraudon, I really needed the points in Subtlety and Nature's swiftness. I still miss feline swiftness ... may respec one of these days for the PvP utility, but innervate has come in handy too many times as well. Being one of the few healers in the guild (Canadian guild, and we're full of hunters ... go figure) has meant that I'm called upon all the time, but as a few others have worked their way up, I've had the chance to play with the other forms more (always keep a separate set or two of feral gear around).
Have been primary healer in 5-man groups through BRD, Scholomance, both sides of Stratholme (despite being called upon constantly to 10-man raid the places for loot). Also have had the chance to tank in BRD and Scarlet side Stratholme when I've had the good fortune of having 2 healers who are able to come along that day. Priests have do have the advantage of being able to shield someone in an emergency, but we can get the job done as well, but it is a bit trickier (NS once every 3 mins... use it wisely!). Sneaking around the Lyceum in BRD with a rogue to snag the torch, duo the elemental guard, and light the braziers is particulary fun when you don't have aoe damage to quickly take out the mobs before they respawn (though I guess it got a lot easier with the 1.3 patch; my memories are back when the place was harder). Admittedly, you could solo the elemental guard yourself, but it'll take you about 2 minutes to defeat it, and the torch only lasts 5 minutes after you loot it...
I've had the privilege of running with a pretty good group, which always keeps things fun.
The druid's skillset allows you to solo elites/bosses that others wouldn't be able to. Princess Theradras could once be kited with DoT's prior to 1.3; now that she has a knockdown and is smarter, that won't be possible anymore, but I do plan to go back there once I've acquired better armour and +sta gear. First tried to take her down solo when I was about L54 or so. Volchan in Burning Steppes can be easily root/starfired to death. Incendius in BRD; haven't had luck with Ambassador Flamelash, but will give it another go when I have more fire resistance. Mother Smolderweb in LBRS (got my Wildheart boots solo; though expecting her to be buffed in some patch one of these days to prevent that). Hearthsinger in Stratholme for my Songbird Blouse and Piccolo of the Flaming Fire.
PvP ... most 1v1's I come out of alive if nobody else comes to help. The thing is a lot of the time you hardly ever get even 1v1's, and with the slow killing speed of the druid, often times the battle won't be over before someone else comes to help (from either side). Group PvP ... heal your members, stop the people who are trying to flee (root, feral charge, hibernate druids in forms/shaman ghost wolves).
So thus comes the dilemma ... if I were to start another character after playing and loving the versatility of the druid (basically my only character so far; L14 mage in open beta doesn't count), would I ever be satisfied with anything else?
That said, I don't think a druid is for the impatient. A lot of battles are a matter of outlasting the opponent (be it PvP or not). We just don't have the damage output typically. But we have big heals, and a big damage sink in bear form (heard stories of 10000+ armour; only managed about 7000 myself). While there is the disadvantage of having to shift forms for different abilities; overall the class is quite powerful once you figure out the best form for each situation, and when to shift/shift back.
You'll end up being called for as healer a lot later in game. I resisted the full restoration build for a while (being balanced between restoration and feral), but around the time the guild started doing Uldaman/Maraudon, I really needed the points in Subtlety and Nature's swiftness. I still miss feline swiftness ... may respec one of these days for the PvP utility, but innervate has come in handy too many times as well. Being one of the few healers in the guild (Canadian guild, and we're full of hunters ... go figure) has meant that I'm called upon all the time, but as a few others have worked their way up, I've had the chance to play with the other forms more (always keep a separate set or two of feral gear around).
Have been primary healer in 5-man groups through BRD, Scholomance, both sides of Stratholme (despite being called upon constantly to 10-man raid the places for loot). Also have had the chance to tank in BRD and Scarlet side Stratholme when I've had the good fortune of having 2 healers who are able to come along that day. Priests have do have the advantage of being able to shield someone in an emergency, but we can get the job done as well, but it is a bit trickier (NS once every 3 mins... use it wisely!). Sneaking around the Lyceum in BRD with a rogue to snag the torch, duo the elemental guard, and light the braziers is particulary fun when you don't have aoe damage to quickly take out the mobs before they respawn (though I guess it got a lot easier with the 1.3 patch; my memories are back when the place was harder). Admittedly, you could solo the elemental guard yourself, but it'll take you about 2 minutes to defeat it, and the torch only lasts 5 minutes after you loot it...
I've had the privilege of running with a pretty good group, which always keeps things fun.
The druid's skillset allows you to solo elites/bosses that others wouldn't be able to. Princess Theradras could once be kited with DoT's prior to 1.3; now that she has a knockdown and is smarter, that won't be possible anymore, but I do plan to go back there once I've acquired better armour and +sta gear. First tried to take her down solo when I was about L54 or so. Volchan in Burning Steppes can be easily root/starfired to death. Incendius in BRD; haven't had luck with Ambassador Flamelash, but will give it another go when I have more fire resistance. Mother Smolderweb in LBRS (got my Wildheart boots solo; though expecting her to be buffed in some patch one of these days to prevent that). Hearthsinger in Stratholme for my Songbird Blouse and Piccolo of the Flaming Fire.
PvP ... most 1v1's I come out of alive if nobody else comes to help. The thing is a lot of the time you hardly ever get even 1v1's, and with the slow killing speed of the druid, often times the battle won't be over before someone else comes to help (from either side). Group PvP ... heal your members, stop the people who are trying to flee (root, feral charge, hibernate druids in forms/shaman ghost wolves).
So thus comes the dilemma ... if I were to start another character after playing and loving the versatility of the druid (basically my only character so far; L14 mage in open beta doesn't count), would I ever be satisfied with anything else?
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.