Thanks, this is what I was looking for.


On that note, fuck you blizzard for valuing dodge almost as highly as crit. :angry:

<edit> Wait, explain this bit. Does this just mean you can set a baseline of 100% as a head/chest/leg/2h piece, and the rest has the given % value worth of stats? Just double checking.

So 1MP/5 sec = 2.5 points of spirit in stat value. In application though, is it that simple? I keep forgetting how we equate the two.

Yup, it's simple as that when thinking about interchanging individual stats. The convluted parts come when you look at items with a combination of stats, or items across slots/rarities/iLvls.

4 spirit = 1 mana/tick = 2.5 mana/5

When the 5-second rule is not in effect, 1.6 spirit is equal to 1 mana/5.

But that's nothing earthshattering. Of course spirit is better when you aren't casting.

When you have the 5-second rule in effect, for a shaman or paladin, 1 mana/5 is worth infinite spirit.

For a priest or druid with 3-piece tier 2 and mana regen talents (30% total regen), 1 mana/5 is worth 5.33 spirit.

Choosing between the two depends on personal preference, how you heal, and your own estimation of how often you are getting full spirit ticks during situations that matter. The more frequently you're getting full ticks, the closer to 1.6:1 your personal valuation should be. The less frequently, the closer to 5.33:1 it should be.

Personally, I use 2.5:1 as my mental yardstick and it works well enough.

That's nonsense everybody knows +damage is the only stat that matters.

Edit: Serious reply -- yes, for a mage with 45% regen 1 mana/5 is equal to a mere 3.56 spirit while chaincasting. This would seem to suggest that spirit is best for mages relative to mana/5.

That would be wrong, however, because mages spend far, far, far more time affected by the 5-second-rule than do any healers (except perhaps Flash-spamming paladins). So even though the mage spectrum only ranges from 1.6 to 3.56 instead of 1.6 to 5.33, mages are going to fall much farther along that spectrum in practical use.

The only complicating factor is Evoc. Factoring that in is tricky.

And clearcasting procs that happen in a row to boot.

I'm pretty sure only shamans get 100% regen through clearcasting.

Actually, I consider this a perfectly serious reply regarding Mage gear choice. At least, it's what need to be beaten in to the head of 95% of Mages.

You're right about MP5 for mages. Since we never stop casting anyway, MP5 is more effective than spirit, so the value of our 45% regen factor is dubious (and when we do want to regen, we just ask for a JoW :P ). Spirit really exists to beef up Evocation.

Not really. 1 Spi generates 15 mana during an Evocation. In those rare fights where Mage mana is a factor, we're almost certainly Evocating, so Spi is strictly greater than Int. You only need enough Int so you don't start have mana issues in trash situations (which is just annoying).

In 2-minute fight (no time for Evocation to be useful):
1 Int gives 15 mana
1 Spi gives 6.75 mana
.4 MP5 gives 9.6 mana

In a 6-minute fight:
1 Int gives 15 mana
1 Spi gives 35.25 mana
.4 MP5 gives 28.8 mana

In a 10-minute fight:
1 Int gives 15 mana
1 Spi gives 48.75 mana
.4 MP5 gives 48 mana

Sorry Alliance mages don't count. :P

Mana matters a fair bit more for Horde, without JoW and, even with Tranquil Air, in situations where aggro concerns restrict you to chaincasting Arcane Missiles with Subtlety. There, pure damage builds end up lagging far behind well-rounded builds with ample mana regen.

Also, is it really true that each volley of AM now can independently proc JoW? That's so silly.

Any time a spell costs zero mana it doesn't break your spirit regen.

Clearcasting definitely works the same for mages and druids as it does for shamans

either way that mana regen is insane. Yep MTT is definately equal to JOW.