The primary thing you learn as a MT is simply: effective/efficient keybindings make a really huge difference. When time is of the essence--which it almost always is while tanking and healing--you need access to everything easily and quickly. "Clicking" is rarely an option, nor is spending time "searching" for a button down in the 7-8-9-0 range.
I use a 12345QERF setup myself, and Shift- versions of all of those, and I find it to be very handy while still allowing me to easily use WASD+Mouse turning to move around. The reasons for a key setup like this are two-fold: one is to allow easy access to all keybindings with minimal hand movement, thus making things faster, two is to allow easy access to actions while also moving the character, as movement is extremely important nowadays.
I've bound each of the three instant heals (PoM, Renew, PW:S) to an auxiliary mouse button in Clique, using a Deathzadder mouse. That way when I'm moving my left hand only has to worry about movement while my right hand can be rapidly insta-healing on-screen as I move.
Originally Posted by Jayde
I use a 12345QERF setup myself, and Shift- versions of all of those, and I find it to be very handy while still allowing me to easily use WASD+Mouse turning to move around.
Does that mean you gave up side-strafing ability to free the Q and E keys? I'd be scared to do that.
1 - Flash
2 - GH2 + GH7 (on shift)
3 - POM
4 - Binding Heal
G - Renew
W - Shield
C - Fade
X - SW: P (from leveling days)
Z - Healthstone
A - Desperate Prayer
I have others, but those are the ones I tend to use most often. Direct heals (FH, GH, BH) are all on mouseover. I target the person I am focused on and would likely hit with POM or renew, then mouseover heal on GRID.
On the first button push it starts casting GH. On the second button push it interrupts the cast and immediately starts a new GH. So far so good.
But on the third button push nothing happens. The second GH cast continues and the heal lands. No good.
What am I doing wrong?
I thought I heard somewhere that its actually a user-interface issue (ie the problem is on Blizzard's end and not yours). I'm on an Oceanic server, and I usually use /stopcasting to get around lag. When I experimented using the macro to actually cancel heals, I noticed the same thing you did - the second heal would go through. Pushing the button twice before the heal landed would cancel the cast but not start the next cast. To achieve the desired results consistently, it would seem like I would have to mash the button several times.
There also seems to be a timing issue with /stopcasting, in that if you cancel a spell before the 1.5 seconds is up, on the third cancel, it just happily continues and completes the spell.
You can work around this by tapping WASD (pick one) *once* on the third one, and starting your rotation again.
PoM is really the solution to most aggro issues, though. It makes a much larger difference than Silent Resolve if you look at the numbers.
With my gear, double PoM opener heals for ~1800x2 = 3600. This is larger than the size of GH2, which is a typical spam heal with 2k+ healing. Not only does this generate no threat for you, but it actually gives negative threat in the sense that you are giving the tank additional threat instead of yourself. As this healing should be further modified by Defensive Stance/Defiance, you're looking at producing probably around the equivalent of 5k healing aggro.
At that point, the tank would have to be doing a dramatically poor job to be unable to hold aggro. Each PoM when modified by Warrior threat mods results in roughly the same threat as a GH2, meaning that if you double PoM on the pull and PoM 10s later, 3 of the GH2s you land in the first 10s are "free" threatwise. (Incidentially, you probably only have time to cast 3.)
In my case, some napkin math seems to show that:
pre-PoM pull -> PoM -> Renew -> GH2 -> GH2 -> GH2 -> PoM -> GH7
...will heal for roughly ~22k while only generating ~4.3k net threat in ~15 seconds, or 286 TPS for ~1.5k HPS. This seems to leave plenty of headroom, especially considering Fade (which would drop you from 4.3k to a measly 2.8k threat), for subbing in additional GH7s without pulling aggro from any competant tank. An additional 20% threat reduction is probably not going to make a large difference here if your tank is generating lower than 280 TPS (which is ridiculously low.)
At the risk of sounding pedantic, double PoM opener does not heal for 3600. It heals a *maximum* of 3600. As a somewhat contrived example: if Vicious Mob hits for 500, (at which point you may have re-applied PoM), then 500 and then Mortal Strikes for 5000, you've only offset about ~500 threat and now you need to generate ~2500 to heal him back up.
Which is one reason to not simply reapply PoM blindly when you're trying to do a little Priest Misdirection. You get your maximum benefit only when there is minimum overheal.
I'm going to try a 1/5 SR build tonight for our Mags, HKM, Gruul's night. If I pull aggro and die I'm sending you guys the bill.
Cruumash you are of course correct, however if the mob only hits for 500 you need not reapply the 2nd PoM directly either. However, I would also point out that if the mob is hitting for that little DPS, you don't really have an aggro issue scenario anyway, do you?
Richelieu, as for your question... yes, I got rid of my specific strafe keys simply due to the built-in behavior of mouse-look movement. Holding down the right mouse button automatically transforms A and D into strafing, and transfers turning to the mouse. (Picked up this habit mostly PvPing and MTing, as accurate and quick turning is more or less beyond the capabilities of the default A/D keys.) I find the Q and E keys to be highly valuable due to their placement and worth re-binding as strafe is redundant if you mouselook turn.
I, too, have noticed the stopcasting issue...it is very frustrating. The only solution I have found is simply to watch out for it, and be prepared to move-cancel if you notice that it isn't responding.
Cruumash you are of course correct, however if the mob only hits for 500 you need not reapply the 2nd PoM directly either. However, I would also point out that if the mob is hitting for that little DPS, you don't really have an aggro issue scenario anyway, do you?
I was responding to slight exaggeration on the effects of PoM and how its usefulness as a Misdirect is really tied more to the damage being taken, not the +healing of the priest.
I did mention it was a bit of a contrived example, but as I pointed out before this kind of scenario plays itself out more in Heroics than in 25s (at least in my experience). Best example being the double bog lords in UB with a single tank and single healer. Smallish (relatively) hits followed by unpredictable large hits. I've pulled healer aggro there many a time even with 4/5 Silent Resolve.
I'm taking the no Resolve challenge tonight. Who's up for clicking off their Salvation and comparing results?
Honestly, the main reason that priests in our raids get BoS is that the shadow priests far outnumber the healing priests - and they need it. If we only have two pallies the priests get BoW/BoS (unless it's something like Solarian, in which case it's BoW/BoK). When asking to change your pally blessings you should consider the other members of your class who are not necessarily acting in the same role as you.
Honestly, the main reason that priests in our raids get BoS is that the shadow priests far outnumber the healing priests - and they need it. If we only have two pallies the priests get BoW/BoS (unless it's something like Solarian, in which case it's BoW/BoK). When asking to change your pally blessings you should consider the other members of your class who are not necessarily acting in the same role as you.
Just ask the paladins to give you a seperate blessing. With the new 10 minutes single blessings it's not as awkward as it used to be.
I thought I heard somewhere that its actually a user-interface issue (ie the problem is on Blizzard's end and not yours). I'm on an Oceanic server, and I usually use /stopcasting to get around lag. When I experimented using the macro to actually cancel heals, I noticed the same thing you did - the second heal would go through. Pushing the button twice before the heal landed would cancel the cast but not start the next cast. To achieve the desired results consistently, it would seem like I would have to mash the button several times.
I've already said it a million times on other threads, but I'll say it again here:
This is a UI problem. Whenever you interrupt a spell and immidiately cast a new one, you will see a castbar however no cast animation and your client will behave as if you're not casting. When you /stopcasting at this situation your client doesn't send it to the server because it thinks you're not really casting, and when you /cast it sends the cast to the server and the server says "ok you're casting" or something like that and you'll get a casting animation that will stop once the server will tell you "you finished casting the spell".
There are 2 problems this causes:
1. /stopcasting won't cancel when you want to. Solution: always cancel by tapping a movement key.
2. Clickling /stopcasting (when you have the bugged castbar) starts a client-side global cooldown that cannot be reset by any means, so if you clicked. Solution: never hit the macro except either after moving or after you know the server will get the /cast command after finishing casting your current spell (or in other words, use the macro too late rather than too early and save yourself a lot of GCDs lost).
Can there be a thread or something regarding a proper use of /stopcasting so this topic doesn't pop up over and over again in every thread that has something to do with a caster class?
Some suggestions for additions to the consumables section:
Dark Runes
Demonic Runes
Charged Crystal Foci
All of these items share the same cooldown as healthstones, but are on a different cooldown timer to potions. The runes can be a lifesaver when all your other mana restoration methods are on cooldown, and the Charged Crystal Focus is essentially an extra, stackable healthstone in your inventory.
Demonic Runes: BoP, drop from various demons around Azeroth
Dark Runes: Drop in Scholomance, tradable, can be bought on the AH
Depleted Crystal Focus: Drop in the BEM plateaus, tradable, require an Apexi Crystal to "charge", become BoP on charging.
Honestly, the main reason that priests in our raids get BoS is that the shadow priests far outnumber the healing priests - and they need it. If we only have two pallies the priests get BoW/BoS (unless it's something like Solarian, in which case it's BoW/BoK). When asking to change your pally blessings you should consider the other members of your class who are not necessarily acting in the same role as you.
Yep, this is my experience as well. I usually ask the Paladins for Kings instead of Salvation in the rare case we only have 2 Paladins on any given night. As we typically have 2/3 Shadow Priests in the raid, they always Greater Bless Salvation as a priority for those guys.
I personally prioritize blessings as Wisdom > Kings > Salvation > Light
Silent Resolve has hardly any use in bossfights, but IMO nice on trash. You are fighting a lot of trash during the week and it makes things go smoother. In a perfect world all trashmobs have a tank or is under CC, but things go wrong. It's like imp taunt for tanks, it's not needed, but nice to have. Shield is useful on some occasions (Azgalor, Illidan p3 come to mind, before some pulls), but only time it's really good is when the tank has MS-debuff. I use it a few times during a clear, but I prefer Silent Resolve.
It's all down to personal taste where you place the talentpoints, no point in making a big thing out of it.
Regarding bossfights and aggro, fade should make you safe and priests should be doing the most healing when aggro is a problem. Highest rank fade reduces threat with 1500 (fade > GH7 on tank during switch on Hydross, for example). Assuming BoS, 4/5 SR and subtlety enchant, 5000 healing generate (5000/2*0,7*0,84*0,98) 1440 threat ... you will still be below 0 in threat while fade is active. At least I use fade on every pull the tank is taking damage before proper aggro is established.
PoM, renew on tank before pull, run in and fade, stop and flash heal, get in position and start normal MT-healing
1. /stopcasting won't cancel when you want to. Solution: always cancel by tapping a movement key.
I generally do this, but it makes me go crazy on the Shade of Aran when I can't move. Any suggestions for a way to stop casting without moving for this fight while still using my Quartz friendly /stopcasting prefixed Gheals?
Escape key works in a pinch to cancel a cast. It's a bit awkward but doable.
And re: pally blessings, I certainly don't ask the pallies to give all priests the 30-minute Kings. I know the shadow priests want Salv; I tend to just ask for 10-minute Kings. The buff-by-class model for blessings should probably be changed now that so many classes have different viable raiding specs. But that's neither here nor there.
Chiming in a bit late with some Binding Heal love. It really is a great spell, and can be quite a bit more than just a "situational" heal. Recently when we were learning Karathress the healing leader was trying to set up assignments, and a pally was assigned as the sole Karathress tank healer at first. But after an attempt or two he mentioned that it was really difficult to heal both himself and the tank after a Cata Bolt. So I suggested Binding Heal. Now I solo-heal the Karathress tank and it works like a charm. Sometimes it can be a bit of a strain on my mana if the raid is slow on getting the adds down, but we always have a couple feral droods with available Innervates, and I have no qualms about asking for one in a situation like that given the amount of throughput I'm required to provide. At any rate, I think that situation really opened up some eyes in my guild about how useful the priest toolbox can really be.
I generally do this, but it makes me go crazy on the Shade of Aran when I can't move. Any suggestions for a way to stop casting without moving for this fight while still using my Quartz friendly /stopcasting prefixed Gheals?
Jumping works fine, although it's not preferable due to the amount of time it takes. You can still cast instants mid-air, so could use it as an opportunity to cast PoM/Renew/PWS if needed.
Calya, Karathress is a great example of a fight that Binding Heal just rocks for all-around. Regardless of your assignment, cata bolts, spitfire totems, or multi-shots can cause a serious risk factor which Binding Heal removes very quickly. It is also very uber for healing on Carabdis, as you can more or less just ignore the volley's effects on yourself time-wise.
Other earlier-tier 25-man examples are Gruul Shatters/Cave Ins, Void Reaver trash, Al'ar Flame Buffets, Morogrim Earthquake, Vashj Forked Lightning, Kael'thas Arcane Disruption, etc.
Yeah, I was actually assigned to Caribdis first, and I was using BH very liberally there as well. It really is great on that fight.
Pretty much any time I'm missing health I just look for someone else who needs a heal and use BH. On trash when tons of people are missing a chunk of HP I sometimes feel like I'm conducting a healing lottery.
Jumping works fine, although it's not preferable due to the amount of time it takes. You can still cast instants mid-air, so could use it as an opportunity to cast PoM/Renew/PWS if needed.
Sorry, are you saying that Jumping doesn't cause the flame wreath to kill everyone? This is good to know (as it's something I never would have experimented with on my own).
EDIT: are you 100% sure that jumping is ok? Wowwiki says that it will still trigger the flame wreath:
All forms of player movement, including jumping, sitting down, standing up or turning
Sorry, are you saying that Jumping doesn't cause the flame wreath to kill everyone? This is good to know (as it's something I never would have experimented with on my own).
EDIT: are you 100% sure that jumping is ok? Wowwiki says that it will still trigger the flame wreath:
Have done it on many occasions without blowing people up.
Wowwiki is a steaming pile of sludge when it comes to actual accurate boss mechanics.
The mechanic for flame wreath is simple: there is a band around each central point (3 points total) roughly 4 yards in distance, which is basically a thick circle of flame. If you at any point hit, cross, jump on, smack, run through, or touch that fire, it explodes the flame wreath.
You can move +/- 4 yards inside the flame wreath with no adverse effects. I always do this on Aran, since I may need a bit of range from where I was standing to reach someone across the way. No issues whatsoever.
Jumping only triggers the flame wreath if you're standing on the edge of the circle. If you're in the middle, you're fine.
My guild's done a little work on Karathress, and they've had me healing everything but Caribdis so far, and I wholeheartedly agree with the fact that Binding Heal rules for that fight. I honestly don't know how I'd get by without it, anymore.
I generally do this, but it makes me go crazy on the Shade of Aran when I can't move. Any suggestions for a way to stop casting without moving for this fight while still using my Quartz friendly /stopcasting prefixed Gheals?
Other than the suggested jumping I'm afraid there's no way to cancel the heal without moving, although it's worth testing to try to recast and then /stopcast and then maybe it'll send the /stopcast to the server. I logged off already but I'll test it tomorrow.
Anyway most fights there is absolutely no problem to move 1 step to cancel your heal. Over time your position might change but you can fix this by canceling with moving backwards some of the time.
10/24/07, 2:52 PM
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