One could counter with the fact that most hard encounters challenge healers with huge raid damage combined with heavy tank damage. Thus, numerous shields across the raid are indeed beneficial. This argument is really just a mirror argument of the paladin vs. druid vs. shaman vs. priest^2 healer debate. Everyone has something they do better and thus in those situations the weapon would be better in the hands of that healer. Hence, there is really no cut-and-dry "X gets it" when X doesn't necessarily have the mechanics to be effective in all encounters.

I'd also like to point out that paladins aren't going to be putting out a 10k shield unless they cast 3 critting HL's and the tank never gets hit in the meantime. The paladin is more likely to put out a ~2.25k shield every HL cast.

I still say just give it to your best/most dedicated healer. I think it's pretty certain that the proc is at least not trash for resto druids, if not excellent depending on how it handles full overheal hot ticks. Barring disc priests (they got ripped off), I believe the delta between the healers using this mace is small enough that larger variables, like fight mechanics and skill, will outweigh it.

I'm pretty sure a resto druid MT healing will put up a much larger shield than holy pala. Assuming rejuv+regrowth hot + 3lb stack + wg + nourish spam (glyphed that is) as soon as the bonus procs, I really doubt any holy pala can compete with that when hot overhealing also count towards the shield, so the amount of *shielded* per second should be higher.
On a raid healing I'd say holy priests and resto shammies will be a bit ahead, but not far away. Although druids can gain a semi-ohsnap aoe cd with this - tranqulity.
Oh and obviously nobody can compete with druids uptime of the bonus.
All in all it's an okay mace, I can definately see it benefitting my healing, but not something I'd go crazy over.

Let's think about the proc in each encounter:
Razorscale Phase 1: Sporadic and slow raid damage, unlikely to benefit raid healing. Would be a small to zero increase in tank healing.
Phase 2: Large benefit to tank healing.
Ignis: Small chance to benefit raid healing during Flame Jet ticks. Large benefit to tank/slag pot healing.
XT: Good for tank healing. Amazing benefit to raid healing (even more amazing benefit to raid healing on hard mode).
Kologarn: Large benefit to tank/stone grip healing. Random raid damage, useful against Arm Sweep.
Iron Council: Very large benefit to tank healing on all three modes. Inconsistent, non-threatening (if people move when they're supposed to) raid damage on easy/medium mode. Would be good on hard mode.
Auriaya: Large benefit to tank healing. Consistent raid damage (unless this is interruptable? I dont remember), would be good here.
Hodir: Large benefit to tank healing. Inconsistent raid damage. During Frozen Blows, would be amazing for both tank and raid healing (if you were lucky enough to get the proc during it).
Thorim: Great for arena and gauntlet event healing. When Thorim jumps down, it would be a very large benefit to tank healing and inconsistent raid damage (how is raid damage on hard mode 25?).
Freya: Consistent tank damage (heavy tank damage in hard mode). Low, random raid damage.
Mimiron P1: Very large benefit to tank healing. 0 to raid healing.
P2: Amazing benefit to raid healing.
P3: Decent benefit to tank healing. 0 to raid healing.
P4: ~Equal benefit to tank and raid healing.
Vezax: Large benefit to tank healing, inconsistent raid damage. Sounds like it would be very nice for raid healing in hard mode?
Yogg P1: Decent benefit to tank healing.
P2: Random damage, low benefit. Would be a nice proc in the brain room?
P3: Consistent tank damage, inconsistent raid damage.
Algalon: Sounds like a heavy tank damage/movement fight?

Theoretically, like you calculated, the mace would be an overall increase for any healing spec. But, if the shield is not used, should that proc still count as an "increase"? It seems to me the only fights you could guarantee a raid healer's proc and 8 second shield will be used are: XT, hard mode Iron Council, Kologarn, Auriaya, P2/P4 Mimiron, and hard mode Vezax? Out of those, Kologarn and Auriaya aren't very hard and their raid damage isn't a challenge. Compare that list to fights that the proc and shield will always be a benefit for tank healing.

Revitalize can already proc despite the target of a Rejuv or WG being at full health, even if the actual Rejuv or WG doesn't actually tick. I suspect the same sort of mechanics will be used here to let overhealing HoTs contribute to the shield.

I have skimmed through this thread and read many pages (mostly the post 3.1 date). I am struggling with whether the 4pc t7.5 vs. t8.0 gear sets. The casual 25 man guild I belong to imploded once we hit Ulduar and have moved into a new guild focusing on 10 man progression (hard modes as permitted). I do all the gear research for my wife as she just plays the toon and doesn't bother with the min\max of gear. She has always been a MT healer and spreads HoT's around when time permits. Looking at the comparision the stats alone look like it would be an upgrade for her. It is the set bonus that has me questioning the pro's & cons.

Thanks

Armory

As more hard mode loot has been discovered I had been sifting through it trying to determine my personal best in slots drops along with drops that are normal attainable drops that are worthwhile secondary best in slots to use during progression. For many people, myself included, some of the best in slots will be most likely be unattainable for long periods of time or in the case of cloth items may take some extended waiting depending how loot is done. My list expands off Norfair's basic layout and uses the same reasoning that different players have different tastes in gearing.

HH = Heroic Hardmode
NH = Normal Hardmode
BiS = Best in slot based off spellpower (Some may be off slightly depending on kings/tree/gemming etc.)
P = Personal BiS choice, yours will probably vary. Initially I chose to drop the T8 gloves simply because of the larger amount of choices (and haste gloves dropping normally off Vezax) but will probably reevaluate once more hard mode drops are available to me.

Also noted are Cloth and Crafted drops as the availability of those can vary.

Items are generally ranked by category from best -> good.

Head:
Crown of Luminescence (BiS, HH, Crit, Cloth)
[Conqueror's Nightsong Headpiece] (Set, Crit, P)

Neck:
[Sapphire Amulet of Renewal] (BiS, HH, Haste/Spi, P)
[Charm of Meticulous Timing] (HH, Haste/Mp5)
[Evoker's Charm] (Haste/Spi)
[Freya's Choker of Warding] (Haste/Mp5)
[Life-Binder's Locket] (Crit)

Shoulders;
[Shoulderpads of Dormant Energies] (BiS, HH, Crit)
[Conqueror's Nightsong Spaulders] (Haste, P)

Cloak:
Sunglimmer Cloak (BiS, HH, Haste, P)
Drape of the Sullen Goddess (HH, Crit)
[Cape of the Unworthy Wizard] (Crit)
[Shroud of Alteration] (Haste/MP5)

Chest:
Vestments of the Blind Denizen (BiS, HH, Haste)
[Conqueror's Nightsong Robe] (Crit, Set, P)

Bracers:
Grasps of Reason (BiS, HH, Haste, Cloth, P)
[Unsullied Cuffs] (Haste, Cloth)
[Bracers of the Broodmother] (Haste)

Gloves:
[Handwraps of the Vigilant] (BiS, HH, Crit, Cloth, P)
[Gloves of the Frozen Glade] (HH, Crit)
[Handguards of Potent Cures] (NH,Crit)
[Grips of the Unbroken] (Haste)
[Conqueror's Nightsong Handguards] (Crit, Set)

Belt:
[Belt of Arctic Life] (BiS, Haste, Crafted, P)
[Cord of the White Dawn] (Crit, Crafted, Cloth)
[Belt of the Crystal Tree] (Haste)
[Unravelling Strands of Sanity] (Regen)
[Flamewrought Cinch] (Crit)

Legs:
[Conqueror's Nightsong Leggings] (BiS, Crit, Set, P)
[Leggings of the Lifetender] (Haste)

Boots:
[Boots of Fiery Resolution] (BiS, HH, Haste, Cloth, P)
[Spellslinger's Slippers] (Haste, Crafted, Cloth)
[Boots of Wintry Endurance] (Crit, Crafted)
[Boots of the Servant] (Haste, Cloth)
[Boots of Hasty Revival] (Crit)

Rings:
Conductive Seal (BiS, HH, Haste/Spi,P)
[Fire Orchid Signet] (BiS, NH, Haste/Mp5,P)
[Glowing Ring of Reclamation] (Crit/Spi)
[Radiant Seal] (Haste/Mp5)
[Ring of the Faithful Servant] (Crit/Mp5)

Trinkets (again refer to this thread, but my personal opinion is as follows):
[Sif's Remembrance]/Show of Faith (BiS, NH/HH, throughput/regen)
[Illustration of the Dragon Soul]* (BiS, throughput)
[Spark of Hope] (Mana intensive fights)
[Pandora's Plea] (Honorable mention for certain fights)

*[Scale of Fates]/[Eye of the Broodmother] (for those like myself that never got an Illustration of the Dragonsoul)

Weapon 2h:
[Staff of Endless Winter] (BiS, HH,Crit)

Weapon 1h:
[Val'anyr, Hammer of Ancient Kings] (Obligatory mention, BiS, P)
[Guiding Star] (Haste, P)

Offhand:
[Ironmender] (BiS, Haste, P)

From GC, clarification on the proc. I think it's pretty clear now that full overheal hot ticks also contribute to the shield.

Source: World of Warcraft - English (NA) Forums -> Explain Val'anyr please

I just want to correct you on a few things, the hots only proc the shield when they heal. From blue post "If it helps to explain it, the blessing is triggered by healing being done." that means no over-healing. So when they are ticking off on someone they will proc the shield (15% chance) but not when they are not ticking, it will do nothing.

Also this is a personal thing, but i would never stack lifebloom up over 1 since the mana cost is such a high amount, and stacking LB higher will not help your nourish spamming.

I think you're confusing a few things here. The blue post you quoted makes a distinction between the blessing and the "bubbles" (shields) it creates. Your hots only proc the blessing (ie the 15 second buff you get on yourself which allows your heals to shield people) when they heal actual damage. Once you have the 15 second blessing buff on yourself however, all your heals - including full overheals, which also includes HoTs "ticking" on a target who is at full health (which don't even show up in the combatlog) - will shield your target.

i already saw some discussion about the 4p T8 setbonus, but i want to share my experience about it.

Here it is a stat from 2 Vezax try + 15 try on Yoggi + a kill from yesterday.

STAT

To be honest iam quite happy with the result. The bonus did 9% healing overall.

i got 2630 sp raidbuffed

- mostly iam healing with reju
- WG when it's cooled
- regrowth > nourish
- iam using nourish only for burst healing
- LB on tanks

Too bad this bonus is not working with the reju glyph.

noob question:
what is the best gem for a blue slot?
[Purified Twilight Opal] 9 sp + 9 spirit
vs
[Sparkling Sky Sapphire] 16 spirit

Im using the first atm, you probably already answered this question somewhere :P
Thanks