by Jeff Woleslagle on Jun 02, 2005
Contents:
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=214">Intro
& Credits
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=215">The
Basics
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=188">Spell
List
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=216">Spell
Discussion: Breakdowns & Upgrades
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=217">Equipment
(Weapons, Armor, and Accessories)
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=371">Important
Quests
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=5792#5792">Where
to Solo
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=admin&pnadmin=admin&sid=2975a80402449b7caff11b5e6700866c">Visit
the TTH Warden forums! Or email your comments, suggestions,
and additions straight to Ethec!
1.0 - Why a Warden?
What makes Warden healing special?
Some say that because the HoT doesn't redress damage as its taken, that
wards and vitae are clearly superior. I haven't found this to be
the case, a good healer, no matter what type, will keep his/her party
"in the green" as long as the power pool lasts, and a great healer will
make the power pool last a long, long time. More on how to
accomplish this in the "Spell Breakdown" section. I would argue
that HoTs (Heal over Time) offer one incredible advantage over other classes' special
heals, HoTs will heal damage a
groupmate has already taken, even out of combat. Wards
don't do this, period, and vitae will only heal accrued damage if the
target gets hit for less than the effect of the spell tick.
Wardens also get a STR/AGI buff (stats very important for the Tank- the
groupmate who should be receiving 100% of the damage throughout the
fight) that they carry with them throughout their class. This,
plus a Warden's excellent buffs, damage shields, debuffs, and (Wardens
only!) evac capability makes a Druid an excellent pick for a secondary
healer in any group at any level, if not a primary healer later on.
What's the difference between Fury
and Warden? Furies have a
more aggressive spell lineup than do Wardens, including lots of
elemental direct-damage (DD) spells- a few of which are Area-of-Effect
(AOE) spells, afflicting a number of enemies at once. Furies also
have group speed buffs and group invisibility spells. In their
offensive and group-support capacities, Furies resemble Wizards.
Albeit nerfed Wizzies that can heal pretty well!
So, again, why a warden?
Upgraded damage shields (which do damage to an attacker instead of absorbing damage), power and
health pool buffs, a combo AGI, WIS buff (excellent for tanks
and other healers), evac and spirit of the wolf spells (which are otherwise a specialty of
scout classes only), a random close-area hate-reducing teleport and root
(excellent for when you draw the mobs attention away from the tank by
accident in wide-open spaces), some other hate-reducing spells, and a
wolf-form spell with lots of offensive goodies included. These
reasons, in my opinion, make Warden the best choice for a group-support
Druid designed for a
secondary healer role in high-level play (though again Wardens can hold
their own as primary healers), and also the most viable Druid in solo
combat. Also, Warden, to me, most closely resembles the Druids of
EQLive, which is kinda cool too if you're a veteran Druid like myself!
1.1 - Attributes and Starting Race
WIS (wisdom) is any priest's fundamental attribute. WIS is the
single variable for spell power cost and spell efficiency, and more WIS
increases your power pool, to a point. High Elf both starts with the most WIS and has two
seperate racial attributes that improve WIS.
Running a distant (but important) second are defensive stats like AGI,
(simply) Defense, and STA. A number of healer friends have
told me that they were concentrating on WIS so much that they couldn't
figure out why solo blue mobs were owning them in their 30s. The
answer: defensive stats are very important to build too, even though
you're by no means a tank. Because Druids are stuck with light
armor (other healers get medium at the very least), survivability is
much an issue for us, because healers will
occasionally draw aggro. AGI improves avoidance, which for light
armor wearers is a better starting point than just building hitpoints
(which is the function of STA). AC and Defense will lessen the
blows you receive, and finally, work on that STA so you won't be a
two-hit kill for that angry mob.
STR isn't as important. In group situations, you'll receive a ton
of STR buffs, and stuck as you are with 1H weapons- you won't be doing
a ton of melee damage.
Contents:
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=214">Intro
& Credits
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=215">The
Basics
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=188">Spell
List
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=216">Spell
Discussion: Breakdowns & Upgrades
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?module=ContentExpress&func=display&ceid=217">Equipment
(Weapons, Armor, and Accessories)
Important Quests (Coming soon! 6/9/2005)
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=viewtopic&p=5792#5792">Where
to Solo
href="http://eq2.tentonhammer.com/index.php?name=PNphpBB2&file=admin&pnadmin=admin&sid=2975a80402449b7caff11b5e6700866c">Visit
the TTH Warden forums! Or email your comments, suggestions,
and additions straight to Ethec!