Guild Mum

There’s been this healing circle thing going round. Started by Miss Medicina, who I found when I was researching Disc Specs and guides - she’s got a shed load of great stuff on her blog - take an afternoon off sometime and read.

I’ve been reading all the answers. I’ve been meaning to do it for ages, but I’m not really blogging (yeah, right), I’ve got poorly kids, I’ve had Ulduar hard modes to do (0.8% wipe on FL+4 is NOT funny). I printed it off and wrote all my answers, but haven’t got round to typing it up until now. So here it is with a random picture of a bubble and POM frizbee in it to liven up the text

What is the name, class, and spec of your primary healer?
Sephrenia, Priestess, Holy (13/58/0), recently started playing Disc (57/14/0) and loving it – such pretty spells and bubbles.

What is your primary group healing environment? (i.e. raids, pvp, 5 mans)
Mostly 10-man raids (in a strict 10-man raiding guild)

What is your favorite healing spell for your class and why?
Holy: POM – pretty, powerful, cheap, easy!
Disc: PW:S – bubbles for all

What healing spell do you use least for your class and why?
I always forget to use Divine Hymn. Actually (blushes) until recently I thought it was a damage dealing spell – learn to read tool-tips Seph. I never use lesser heal either. Not used it since I was level 16 and got heal as well as renew.

What do you feel is the biggest strength of your healing class and why?
Versatility – we have a heal for all occasions

What do you feel is the biggest weakness of your healing class and why?
That it’s easy to forget the flexibility we have and not use all spells available to us. Also we’re far too squishy.

In a 25 man raiding environment, what do you feel, in general, is the best healing assignment for you?
I’m happy to do anything – I feel I have a spec and the spells to cover it all and to fit in where needed.

What healing class do you enjoy healing with most and why?
I like healing with another priest because I understand them and I like comparing notes. I also like healing with a druid so I can leave the dots to them (it’s easy to slack when healing with a druid).

What healing class do you enjoy healing with least and why?
Shaman, but only because I’ve not played one and don’t really understand their healing yet. They always seem to get a bloody heal off before me though.

What is your worst habit as a healer?
Just popping a quick heal on someone else (I like all my bars on healthy) while it’s quiet and oops, did my tank die?

What is your biggest pet peeve in a group environment while healing?
People not moving out of the way of stuff and expecting me to cover their sorry asses, then blaming the healers when they die, rather than looking in the mirror!

Do you feel that your class/spec is well balanced with other healers for PvE healing?
Yes. I think I can fit with any other healer.

What tools do you use to evaluate your own performance as a healer?
I use Skada to keep my eye on things during a raid and World of Logs to go through after to see what I did or didn’t use, remind myself what I forgot to think about it next time, etc. Mostly I’m happy if we achieved something and not too many people on my watch died!

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about your healing class?
That we fit best in a particular role.

What do you feel is the most difficult thing for new healers of your class to learn?
How to use all the spells we have available to the best way possible.

If someone were to try to evaluate your performance as a healer via recount, what sort of patterns would they see (i.e. lots of overhealing, low healing output, etc)?
Overhealing on renews (mostly because other people panic and heal them anyway), lots of POM (probably twitchy fingers casting it every time I can rather than watching where it’s gone), a few “Oh shit” Guardian Spirit uses.

Haste or Crit and why?
Haste for Holy, Crit for Disc, but a balance between the two really.

What healing class do you feel you understand least?
Shaman. I’ve played a druid (at lvl 70) and a Paladin (was my Dads at lvl 80) a bit, but never a shaman.

What add-ons or macros do you use, if any, to aid you in healing?
Grid and clique mainly with some keybindings. Also decursive for dispelling.

Do you strive primarily for balance between your healing stats, or do you stack some much higher than others, and why?
I pick Intellect, Spell Power, and Spirit in that order mostly. I try to keep a balance. I used to stack Spirit, but did some reading and with 3.2 moved to more Intellect and love having a big mana pool. I try not to go to extremes because I read so much and am easily influenced to change. Am working on trusting myself and how I want to play.