Norfair

Another tip for Mysteeq: I don't know to what extent you have optimised your interface, but having the right add-ons installed (Grid + GridStatusHots configured correctly is a must imo) can help a lot to keep track of Lifeblooms and effectively rolling them. Also using the Lifebloom macro will make your life so much easier to keep Lifebloom up while focussing on other things (like raidhealing).

Keep f**king that chicken.

 

halmmar

There are certain situations where lifebloom still works rather well as a raid heal.

Healers usually won't heal themselves up if they are lifebloomed (and have enough spare health to instead focus on some dps who needs a fast flash of light).
Any fight where the players take continuous damage.
Any time you can predict the damage.

Looking through a few wws reports (BT/MH), I can see that on average...
The DPS have a 50-70% overheal from the bloom part of lifebloom
The healers have a 25-50% overheal from the bloom part of lifebloom
My lifebloom ticks overheal for 15%
The overheal from the bloom part was higher on the earlier bosses (if you have more healers than needed, you get more overheals, it's that simple)

Since half of the total healing value of a lifebloom is the bloom, raidhealing with lifebloom will then have a 20~45% overheal. This is similar to my regrowth, which has an overheal of 35%.

My healing done is 60% lifebloom, 20% regrowth, 10% rejuvenation, 5% swiftmend, rest is procs and pots.

So I wouldn't say that raidhealing using lifebloom is terrible as long as you mix in some regrowths when a fast heal is necessary.

 

malthrin

You're missing the fact that Lifebloom ticks won't happen and thus won't generate overheal when a Chain Heal bounce or Circle of Healing tops off the person you just bloomed. The actual overheal on your raid heal Lifeblooms are considerably higher.

 

halmmar

Check how many times the aura lifebloom has been gained, multiply by 6, multiply by tick, compare total value to the amount healed by lifebloom is a rough estimate of your overheal.

And yes, my raid overheals are low because I mainly heal tanks.

 

Plox

A little off-topic, but I'm curious as to what exactly you use for keeping timers on rejuv and regrowth using grid. I'm looking for something that'll help keep time within each of the boxes on grid. here's a quick SS of my current UI, minus the other 24 players in grid...



Right now I use gridstatuslifebloom for the LB timer in the middle, have rejuv as green in the bottom left, and regrowth as yellow in the bottom right. I don't need a timer for each per se, it's mostly for seeing what I have up to swiftmend on the raid, but it's a lot more difficult for me to check up on the tanks. (Also.. lifebloom macro?)

 

Xantcha

7 actually.

Lifebloom can be useful for raid healing is really depends on the fight - predicatble raid damage/damage over times/movement fights, but I would have to say it's fairly useless for fights where people have to be topped asap, if just your "bloom" gets sniped thats already 50% of your LB, usually its considerably more (dying before 7 seconds is up is also a possibility).

I also like to imagine it has a fairly decent synergy with chain heal on very heavy raid healing fights, since the minor bounces on CH tend to not fully heal targets and also auto-target low hp players CH and LB co-exist fairly happily as long as druids and shamans are targetting smartly. i.e. Don't LB targets which need "heals now" let shamans chain heal those targets and as long as Shamans don't directly target a LBed target.

 

Firepatch

Personally I use Lifebloom to keep everyone but the tanks topped off. For the tanks I use Rejuvenation and keep my swiftmend handy should I need a bigger instant heal to keep them topped off.

 

Ared

These attempts aren't really representative of how we approach Twins in general as we were experimenting with a different (entirely unsuccessful for obvious reasons) healing setup. Usual assignments would have two or three shamans on raid healing on our ranged camp, another on the melee, druid and paladin on the warlock tank, paladin, druid, priest on Sacro tanks and a smattering of priests supporting raid and tanks as required - 10 healers total. Our recent kills have been one and two-shots so there isn't really a large amount of sample data just now. I'll have a dig through of our WWS and see if I can find something more representative that would help people answer Mysteeq's questions better.

 

Norfair

I'm using GridStatusHots and have it configured as: Lifebloom > Rejuvenation > Regrowth. So it will always show Lifebloom timers first if that is up, then Rejuvenation and if that isn't up Regrowth. I have the texts in different colors so you can immediately notice which spell the timers mean.

Besides that, I have a "buff" on the top-right corner, showing Rejuvenation > Regrowth. Firstly, this is to know if my Rejuvenation on the tank ran out without having to resort to DoTimer all the time (because I roll Lifebloom on them, I cannot see the Rejuvenation/Regrowth timers). This way you can't see if Regrowth is up, but the hot isn't that strong and lasts a long time, so it doesn't really matter if there are times when it isn't up (usually I notice it when Rejuvenation runs out and I see no 'buff' on the tank anymore). Also am using this for Swiftmend, as it will show other druid's hots. Here's a screenie of my UI:

http://img209.imageshack.us/img209/9385/ui2vi0.jpg

With the Lifebloom macro I mean the /cast [target=tankname] Lifebloom macro. I haven seen druids actually rolling Lifebloom by manually targetting the tank every refresh which makes it difficult to keep it up.

Keep f**king that chicken.

 

Benita

@Plox: Increase grid in size, it has probably 90% of your attention and deserves some space.
I have the same setup as Norfair with a slight difference. I only show regrowth and rejuv on that timer and add a third text to it (GridIndicatorText3) which shows the exact LB duration with decimals (GridStatusLifebloom). Makes keeping track of your own hots a bit easier on the timing.

 

Plox

I kinda want to solve this problem without needing DoTimer, or any kind of mod outside of the actual grid frame (I've tried it, and found that my brain just can't handle all these bars everywhere). Not looking for a precise timer like I use for lifebloom, but something much simpler... such as changing the color of the buff's box when rejuv or regrowth have under, say, 3 seconds left.

I have GridStatusLifebloom already, but GridIndicatorText3 looks like a winner too.

 

Jasyla

GridStatusHots will do what you need. I have mine configured so that Rejuvs show up as a purple dot in the bottom left corner, and change colour when it has only 3 seconds left. Regrowth shows up as a green dot on the bottom right corner and also changes colour when it's running out.

 

airmessy

My grid set up is frame red for agro. Top right corner is lb stacks, bottom right is colored on lb duration left. Top left is regrowth, again colored on time left. Bottom left is rej again color dependent on time left.

After playing with lots of different setups and tweaks over months i have come to like this one the most.

my ui http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/5...8015322tx0.jpg

 

MystRayne

Thank you for the responses so far. I am still trolling thru wwstats, trying, as Evenara says, to find a more suitable one.

I do currently use Grid and its associated adds, as well as Clique. It was suggested, and I did, that I install Chronometer, to keep timers up on the LBs, and then it was suggested I rather use Lifebloomer. So of those 2, which is the better one to use?

 

Benita

Chronometer only shows you bars when you start the cast, you have to look at that and then notice which box on grid to clique to refresh it (or do it by macro if applicable). Meaning you have to focus on 2 seperate areas of the screen at the same time.

Lifebloomer shows you frames that you have to preconfigure, meaning before the fight you set the X tanks and then click their frames for the hots which then show up as bars on the frames. Downside to this, is that it cant show new frames dynamically if you pick up new targets for lifeblooming.

GridStatusLifebloom shows you a timer (as number) on the grid frame in the TextIndicator field. Its as dynamic as it gets, because you cant create new clickable frames mid combat anymore. You can also use the above described methods of colour changing depending on the duration of hots as corner indicators.
I found center text to be the better info display than colour indicators, but thats merely a personal preference of information display.

In any case the approach of info in the area where you also take action (click on the frames and frame shows you when to click) and not having to preset frames should be better for anyone.
You could compare it to seeing 4 colours on a screen and one lights up, having a touch screen and just pressing the field that lid up is always faster than having 4 buttons on a console and pushing those depending on colours (intuitive design).

 

malthrin

Am I weird for not using any hot-specific timer mods? I have Quartz to show me the duration of buffs on my current target and that's really all I've ever used.

 

Jasyla

GridStatusLifebloom is nice because you can use text and colour indicators. I have center text counting down how much time is left on the lifebloom. The text is also colour coded to tell me how many stacks are up.

I've tried some other HoT-timers, but I find it's much easier to keep all the information contained within Grid. Keeps my UI cleaner too.

 

Cube

I tried using the GridStatusLifebloom counter, and I didn't like it that much. Chronometer is much nicer for that, especially because it keeps Grid a bit less cluttered-I already have all 4 corners populated with rejuv, lifebloom, boss-specific debuffs(i.e. deadly poison on IC), and incomming heals markers. I also use both text lines with names/poison/curse on one and player's missing health counts on the other.

Also, does anyone know if it's possible to color-code other indicators? For example, if poisons and player names are setup on the same text field, Grid doesn't recolor the name, it displays the poison name instead. Is it possible to have Grid display names and just recolor that?

 

Kiriia

I like the Hotcandy add on better than the Grid version for keeping track of my Lifeblooms and all my HOTS.
I also LOVE using Clique along with Grid for healing. Hotcandy does NOT however keep track of it within Grid. But my grid boxes I keep fairly small-- and I already have curse/ poison info plus some other things on them. So I find having the bars (which are changeable and moveable) helpful.
Hotcandy, Grid, and Clique are must haves, in my book, for resto druid healing.

 

• Arawethion

I ran HotMan for a little while, then realized I was never really looking at it. The problem is that I don't want to have to look away from Grid to check HoT durations, nor cross-reference people by name mentally. The point of Grid, for me, is to localize information about a target into that person's square.

Here's what I use now (attached). CenterText3 has LB duration, color-coded by stack size. Border is colored by LB stack (helps bring eyes to LB targets at all times). Tinkering recently, I replaced the ManaBar slot (left edge of each frame) with LB duration, but not too sure if that's very useful. I'd thought a visual "bar"-type representation of the HoT duration would be more intuitive, but I actually think I like the text better, just because it's more precise. Only issue at the moment is that CenterText3 is covered up by CenterIcon.

Attached Thumbnails

 

Answers to Moonkin questions:
0) Read the TTT/use the spreadsheet: http://elitistjerks.com/f47/t66856-moonkin_pve_dps/
1) Maintain high DoT uptime. Use WiseEclipse.
2) Nothing beats 2T8.
3) Yes, sometimes you cast many Wraths and no Eclipse procs. Deal with it.

 

• giansm

This is what my UI looks like when it's pretty busy, although most of the time I just look at Grid. I really agree with Hamlet's idea that you should never have to cross reference names, since that wastes time. Like he says, this leads to attempting to stuff everything into Grid (also the reason my Grid frames are quite a bit larger than the default). I don't use the center icon at all because I don't like that it obscures the center text (which I use for a lot of things). In this shot, I'm healing Burns, and I am really not looking at anything other than my Grid. It shows me slash stacks (left icon), whether someone has burn (unit frame red, right icon showing, and duration elapsed is in the lower center text). Lifebloom timer is in the middle center text, and the top right icon is either yellow (lifebloom but no rejuv/regrowth), dark green (regrowth but no rejuv), or bright green (rejuv)

One thing I think is important to mention is that I'm usually ignoring most of my UI, but that doesn't mean I'm always looking at Grid. For example, on a boss like Council or Illidan phase 2 where I am using every GCD to keep up a hot rotation, I ignore Grid completely and just look at Chronometer. I find it helps me know if I should pause a bit to let Rejuv tick out before refreshing it, if I have enough time to get an extra spell in, things of that sort. I don't use the lifebloom timers on Grid in those sorts of situations, since Chronometer provides more detailed timing information and I think it's not really necessary to clutter Grid up with that. Grid still gives me a timer on Lifebloom, which I feel is important, but just gives an indicator for the other stuff. If I'm not running a strict hot rotation that is really all I want to know.

Anyway I guess the point is that I have a lot of redundant information in my UI, and I look at whichever "view" on the information is most appropriate given the situation. Usually that's Grid or Chronometer but generally not both.

Attached Thumbnails

 

 

malthrin

Wow, Hamlet, you have an absolute ton of information crammed into the lower half of your UI - very nice. I especially like the buff list down there, that gets it out of the way nicely. Do debuffs go there too?

Here's my minimalist UI. Like Hamlet, my Quartz GCD spark is right above my Grid. The GCD spark and the Quartz buff timers right above the spark are what I use to time my blooms.

edit: doh, apparently I've already attached that screenshot somewhere. Anyway, I also like the Grid frame highlighting for Lifebloom, that would help when groups are being swapped around for lusts.
Can you guys see this link?

 

• Arawethion

Debuffs are in the empty space in the middle-right (opposite Grid). Ability cooldowns are right above the GCD. Also, since the I took that shot, Violation in the lower-right has been replaced by RaidCooldowns.

Looking at the picture now, the bossmods seem really obtrusive. I think I never payed much attention to them since they're not present when I'm sitting in Shattrath (or AV) playing with my UI. Will probably move those around to keep the top part relatively clear.

Answers to Moonkin questions:
0) Read the TTT/use the spreadsheet: http://elitistjerks.com/f47/t66856-moonkin_pve_dps/
1) Maintain high DoT uptime. Use WiseEclipse.
2) Nothing beats 2T8.
3) Yes, sometimes you cast many Wraths and no Eclipse procs. Deal with it.

 

Daedalix

I'm a fan of keeping Grid relatively small to decrease the amount of time it takes to target different members of the raid, though it's just large enough so that I can see everything. Super big boxes, for me, makes it hard to react to everything.

I have a very similar layout to Hamlet with everything important on Grid. I have DoTimer for buffs etc. but don't look at it. I tend to get tunnel vision and prefer redundancy over compartmentalizing everything in different places. I also put 2 small rows of buttons right next to my Grid/GCDspark for BRez, mana pots, click-trinkets, Barkskin, etc.

I think I have BRez and NS in three different spots on my bar. Kinda stupid but I find that having everything in a few different places helps my reaction time (and comes in even more handy for pvp where I could be switching priorities extremely quickly).

@Myst - finding what addons work best is something that's a personal decision. Is Andro a new tree to the raid or are you? Sounds like you just need to shake off some old bad habits. Perhaps he's reluctant to share his ideas because he's not really sure himself what he's doing vs. you. Making sure the appropriate hots never fall off tanks and keeping those HoTs on multiple targets is probably your biggest weakness, judging from your posts. Though if you've killed Illidan, chances are you aren't that bad at it.

In particular you didn't use Swiftmend in some situations (Supremus, for one). If you don't have it, I'd get a Global CoolDown timer (or spark, as it's called from Quartz) to help you time your heals and tighten up your rotations so that you can work in things like Swiftmend while not jeopardizing your HoT uptime any. With a little haste and some forethought you should be able to pick things up a notch.

 

Melador

I use SorrenTimers for watching cooldowns, but to be honest at the moment I use it more for "did my innervate cast on who I intended it to cast on" or "is IS and/or FF down on the boss" than I do for my HoTs.

Primarily though, I use GridStatusHots. LB is upper right, Rejuv is middle right, Regrowth is lower right. Each is color-coded so they start out green, then go yellow with a couple seconds left and red just before they expire. It doesn't display the number of stacks I have on anyone because that strikes me as kind of irrelevant -- it should pretty much always be 3 on whoever I'm lifeblooming, and if it fell off I knew it because the LB dot disappeared. But just the color-coding is plenty for me to keep all the cycles going I need to.