Raiding Melee Wardens - Lemme pick your brains

MysidiaDrakkenbane · 07-06-2007, 03:51 PM

I've been an INT/WIS spec Warden since...shit... a long time. The guilds I've been in pretty much required me to be that way because of the lack of classes we would have to go with on raids.

Now that I'm in a guild where that is no longer an issue, the raid leader asked me to consider becoming a melee warden.

...this is some unfamiliar territory since Druids ...well... never really could tank!

As raiding Wardens, are your heals hindered because of not going down the Wis line? I know that the Str line, you're given a group heal if you melee, is it that significant?

Any tips you'd be willing to share to an old wolf who's willing to learn new tricks?? /wags tail

My Str stat is quite low because of the KoS fabled gear I currently own/wear. A few STR adornments shouldn't be that big of an issue to get. (Just gotta farm the plat for it) Any weapons I can look out for that are a "must have"?

Any help is appreciated. =)

Relica · 07-06-2007, 08:45 PM

Why not do wis and str line and give up int? that is what several wardens i know do.

DoomKat · 07-08-2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysidiaDrakkenbane

As raiding Wardens, are your heals hindered because of not going down the Wis line? I know that the Str line, you're given a group heal if you melee, is it that significant? [...]

Any weapons I can look out for that are a "must have"?

Before I became a melee warden I went with WIS/STA (STA for crit heals, WIS for auto-rez and because I didn't know any better...). Then I swapped WIS->STR (4-4-7-8-1) and I gotta say, I don't miss the WIS line at all. Anyone correct me, if I'm wrong but there's nothing in that line that is in any way related to your heals (except for the tiny bits of extra power due to increased WIS) - so you might as well scrap it. Also, melee is fun.

As for the melee-triggered group heal (Natural Boon): during the last Inner Sanctum (off tank group) run it accounted for 21% of my heal amount (19% Fierce Chlorostorm, 17% Wave of Healing, 15% Verdant Bliss ...)

The weapons I currently use when meleeing:
Silver Sword of Rage (Labs), Sledge of Smashing (Labs), Fated Cipherblade (BM Ice Spires). I'm sure there is decent EoF stuff out there as well, but it didn't drop for me yet.

MysidiaDrakkenbane · 07-09-2007, 09:01 AM

Sorry, I meant the STA/INT lines. I don't know why I kept thinking Wis.

I got my EoF wrists last night (YAY) and if I get 3 pieces, I'll probably respect to the STR/STA way. There's a really nice 1 hander (blunt, I believe) that adds a boots to elemental damage if I decide to use spells or convert them to CA's.

With the Natural Boon triggering, did you find yourself having to play "catch up" with heals for people who couldn't handle AoE's? And what stat would make it proc more?

DoomKat · 07-11-2007, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MysidiaDrakkenbane

With the Natural Boon triggering, did you find yourself having to play "catch up" with heals for people who couldn't handle AoE's? And what stat would make it proc more?

Increased attack speed does make it proc more - get something with haste (Cloak of Flames, the melee bracelet from DT access, ...) or low-delay weapons. Not sure if it helps to max out the double attack ability of the STR line.

Natural Boon does not render your other heals obsolete if that is what you ask. You still have to watch over the health bars of your group or even the raid - especially if the raid gets hit by AoEs. Sometimes (mostly on trash) you don't need to heal at all, then just cast some cures and/or regens. When it comes to named fights, healing has always priority of course.

MysidiaDrakkenbane · 07-12-2007, 01:31 PM

Great info. Thanks so much for the help. =)

I think once I get a few more of my EoF pieces, I'll respec again.

Tenal · 07-12-2007, 04:43 PM

The key to the heal proc is being able to hit the mobs so make sure that your skills / weapons up to the task. I love the STR line and would never re-spec out of it.

DoomKat · 07-12-2007, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tenal

The key to the heal proc is being able to hit the mobs so make sure that your skills / weapons up to the task.

For fighting trash or easier nameds you can cast Primitive Instinct on yourself, the skill increase should make the mobs easier to hit. For a hard mob or for a ranged fight, though, cast it on someone who can make better use of it in that situation (MT, OT, etc.)

Oakmiser · 07-13-2007, 04:43 AM

So glad you corrected yourself lol. To me, anyone outside of PVP picking wis line is a bit coocoo. STA AGI STR and INT are all better.

MysidiaDrakkenbane · 07-13-2007, 08:44 AM

I'm still Sta/Int right now. I'm trying to save up to buy some STR adornments before anything is settled. (And that they screw with our trees one more time so I can get a free respec. I think I'm up to 5 plat now.)