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  • 0. Common Moonkin Misconceptions(And FAQ's)   03/09/2008 11:16:45 PM PDT
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I've noticed lately, that there are many common misconceptions that have arisen around the Balance Spec - and although it often seems like myself and a few other Moonkins refute these claims on a daily basis, they still seem to pop up with some regularity.
I am a lazy person, and I'm sick of typing out a similar variation of the same information on a daily basis. To remedy this, I have created this post, which I hope can answer some of your Moonkin questions with at least some degree of satisfaction and clarity.

**My target audience here is what I know best - raiding moonkins. Therefore some of this information will be less applicable to you if your focus is PvP or you are a casual player.**


For the purposes of our theorycrafting, I have created an hypothetical Moonkin wearing typical tier 5 level gear. An attempt was made to approximate the stats an average tier 5 level Moonkin would have - despite slight gear variations. Said Moonkin was created using the 'Moonkin DPS spreadsheet Version 0.80B" created by Efejel and Lorewanderer. (This spreadsheet is a great tool, I highly recommend downloading it and playing around with stats yourselves! http://elitistjerks.com/f31/t11582-druid_moonkin_dps_spreadsheet/)

It is my intention to use an 'optimized balance druid' to compare and contrast various stats and rotations which will be discussed later in the thread.

Stats are as follows:
Spell damage - 1138
Spell hit - 151
Spell crit - 17.9%(out of form)
Stamina - 448
Intellect - 439
Spirit - 222
Mana/5 - 116

Equipped Gear:
Nordrassil Headpiece
Glyph of Power
Chaotic Skyfire Diamond
(O) 4 hit, 5 dmg - Veiled Noble Topaz

Nordrassil Wrath-Mantle
Greater Inscription of the Orb
(O) 4 hit, 5 dmg - Veiled Noble Topaz
(P) 6 sta, 5 dmg - Glowing Nightseye

Blessed Elunite Coverings
Restore Mana Prime
(R) 9 dmg - Runed Living Ruby
(R) 9 dmg - Runed Living Ruby
(R) 9 dmg - Runed Living Ruby

Armwraps of the Kaldorei Protector
Spellpower
(O) 4 hit, 5 dmg - Veiled Noble Topaz

Nordrassil Gauntlets
Major Spellpower

Belt of Blasting
(O) 4 hit, 5 dmg - Veiled Noble Topaz
(P) 6 sta, 5 dmg - Glowing Nightseye

Nordrassil Wrath-Kilt
Runic Spellthread
(R) 9 dmg - Runed Living Ruby

Moon-walkers
Vitality
(R) 9 dmg - Runed Living Ruby
(R) 9 dmg - Runed Living Ruby

Ruby D%!## of the Mysticant

Pendant of the Lost Ages

Violet Signet of the Archmage
Spellpower

Ring of Recurrence
Spellpower

Icon of the Silver Crescent

Scryer's Bloodgem

Nathrezim Mindblade
Major Spellpower

Karaborian Talisman

Notes:

- Socket bonuses were skipped when they would have resulted in a loss of damage( in example, for the legs you would drop 4 damage to gain the 2 damage socket bonus). *Damage assumed to be the primary DPS stat after hit cap
- Starfire Idol Assumed.
-24 spell damage from ring enchants

DPS rotation values are based on 8 minute fights - they include mana potions and a shadow priest.

Cast Cycle DPS:

MF/SF/SF/SF/SF - 1317.8 DPS
IS/SF/SF/SF/SF - 1247.4 DPS
IS/SF/MF/SF/SF -1284.8 DPS

[ Post edited by Alleine ]


I'm what happens when you let girls on the internetz.

Hit > Damage > Crit

I used to be Alaterial - now I'm trolling under a new name.
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  • 1. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:17:16 PM PDT
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Common Moonkin Misconceptions

Moonkins benefit from stacking intellect:

Wrong.
Stacking intellect is a stupid idea. Don't gem for it, don't enchant for it, don't itemize for it - just don't do it.
I already know what you're going to say, "But when I socket/enchant intellect I also get crit, damage, MP5 and, of course, the mana.
Yeah, I know. I get it. Intellect gives you some mana and a minuscule amount of other beneficial stats.
Here's the deal.
Moonkins were given a talent called 'Lunar Guidance'. It was meant to compensate for the lower damage values that moonkins typically have. This meant that while moonkins were stacking damage, we would receive extra damage from the incidental intellect that is itemized on practically all caster pieces.
Lunar Guidance is not justification for stacking intellect at the exclusion of the more important stats, but rather it's a bonus - something to keep us viable against other casters.
As mentioned earlier, the best stats for a Moonkin druid are Spell Hit(up to 151 w/BoP) > Spell Damage > Spell Crit. Although you are correct that intellect provides a minuscule amount of regen, damage and crit per point, you need to understand that you could NEVER get the proper amount of hit/damage/crit/regen by stacking intellect alone. Counting on intellect to satisfy gaps in your stats is counter productive - you're spreading your key stats too thinly.

Example:

Weapon Enchant Comparison

30 Intellect = .38% critical strike, 7.5 spell damage, 3/MP5, 450 mana
OR
40 spell damage

Essentially you're losing 32.5 spell damage in favour of a 3/MP5, less than half a percentage of critical strike and not even enough mana to cast two starfires.

Exchanging the 40 spell damage enchant for the 30 intellect one on our spreadsheet shows an immediate DPS loss. On average you can expect to lose 17DPS off of each rotation. Please bear in mind that the spreadsheet does take mana and mana regen into account.

My point is that 99% of the time, if someone is having mana issues, it has far more to do with spec, spell rotation and consumable use than it does with an adequate mana pool.
Gemmimg and gearing for intellect is inefficient - it adds so little for the cost of a socket that you may as well have not done it at all, and I highly doubt it goes a long way to alleviating your mana issues.

Regemming our sample moonkin for intellect and mana regen(dazzling talasites, brilliant dawnstones) shows an increase of 15 mana/5(1800mp/5 over 10 mins) and 74 intellect(1110mana) resulting in 2910 extra mana during the course of a 10 minute fight at a loss of 80 + damage.

At the point where my mana regen is so poor that I go OOM in (x)minutes, intellect WILL up my DPS, by virtue of lasting longer - however, the 'longer' is such a ridiculously small amount of time. I would get far more longevity by changing my consumables to ones that help my mana pool and regen than I will by replacing a few gems.

Elixirs, well-feds and oils are far better choices for stacking regen. They're not permanent, and add far more regen than our gems ever could. One flask of mighty restoration completely trumps our gemming attempts, gaining us far more MP/5. Adding Blackend Sporefish and Superior Mana Oil will likely solve our OOM issues without resorting to gemming for intellect. (Consumables are a great way to fill in gaps in your raid kits guys)

Utilizing mana regen consumables during a 10 minute fight will net us a staggering 5640 additional mana.

In the face of 5640 mana from consumables - the pitiful amount of mana from the enchants/gear doesn't look like much, and may be over-kill, if anything.

In conclusion - I'm of the mind that there are many solutions to OOM that don't involve wasting gem slots/enchants on mana. After you've exhausted all of these other options, and you're STILL going out of mana, it's likely the content you're trying to do is higher than the level of gear you're attempting it in.



Moonkins should stack critical strike:


Nope.
Moonkins are not crit-based casters. We do not benefit from critical strike nearly as much as many other casters do. We do not receive double spell procs like our Elemental Shaman friends, nor do we have mana refunded from critting like our Paladin pals do. These casters have a clear and distinct reason to stack as much critical strike as they feasibly can - it gives them mana or ups their DPS.
When a Moonkin crits, they receive a buff called 'Nature's Grace' which shaves off .5 seconds off of our next spell cast. In terms of damage spells, this buff ONLY EFFECTS STARFIRE. Wrath, Moofire and Insect Swarm gain no benefit whatsoever from Nature's Grace - due to the Global Cool Down(GCD) you cannot cast a spell faster than 1.5 seconds currently. In patch 2.4 Haste Rating will be effecting the GCD but as of yet Nature's Grace is not classified as Haste and therefore does not. Nature's Grace is not a significant source of DPS increase, and the benefit is negated by any mana issues. With a finite mana pool, you're basically accelerating your approach to OOM-ville without upping your DPS.
Critical strike stacking also has the added detriment of unpredictable damage amount which can result in unpredictable aggro - which is problematic for a caster with no aggro drop.
In general, you will see a greater amount of steady DPS come from spell damage stacking.

Replacing all of the +9 damage gems with +8 critical strike and adding blasting to our gloves changed our unbuffed stats to 1082 spell damage and 19.8% critical strike(out of form). The result was a drop in overall damage to the tune of about 16DPS.

I would not advise a Moonkin to begin to socket for critical strike until they are hit capped and have over 1100 unbuffed spell damage.

[ Post edited by Alleine ]


I'm what happens when you let girls on the internetz.

Hit > Damage > Crit

I used to be Alaterial - now I'm trolling under a new name.
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  • 2. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:17:47 PM PDT
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Wrath is a better spell than Starfire:

If you had unlimited mana, Wrath would be higher over all damage/DPS than Starfire.
That being said, you don't have unlimited mana. And by unlimited mana I don't mean you're grouped with a shadow priest - our hypothetical moonkin goes out of mana WITH a shadow priest while utilizing a wrath-based rotation somewhere around 7 minutes.
That being said, in a raid wrath spam is great on trash and terrible on bosses.
In a flat comparison of Wrath Vs. Starfire you're essentially doing 10% more damage but utilizing 30% more mana.
However, in a raid environment, Starfire scales with Curse of Shadows which affords it 10-13% extra damage and also benefits from Nature's Grace where as Wrath does neither.
Wrath CAN benefit from the stormstrike de-buff - but not as reliably due to competition with other Nature-based DPS casters.
In conclusion, Wrath = trash; Starfire = bosses.


You are stupid/selfish/smelly if you do/don't take Improved Faerie Fire:

Basically there's two camps of endgamers who are arguing over who is 'more better' - druids who drop talents into IFF or druids who don't.

Lets agree on some things:
1) Improved Faerie Fire will make a difference in your raids DPS. How much is debatable and we have seen no solid data thus far on what those increases are.
2) Improved Faerie Fire will have a negative impact on your personal DPS in terms of incorporating it into your rotation.
3) Depending on what spec you choose to incorporate Improved Faerie Fire you will lose either mana regeneration, damage talents, or threat reduction - all of which can further lower your DPS.
4)Guilds kill Illidan every day while utilizing Improved Faerie Fire.
5)Guilds kill Illidan every day while not using Improved Faerie Fire.
6)Improved Faerie Fire is a non-essential although potentially marginally useful de-buff.

The fact of the matter is that while IFF is a form of utility, high end moonkins often ignore other utility spells, such as Insect Swarm, and often lower their raid utility by taking their own innervate.

If Improved Faerie Fire were as good as some people would have us believe, you would see far more high end guilds utilizing moonkins - for this very ability. There would be no debate - it WOULD be essential and you would not be allowed to raid without it. Much in the same way that guild bring a Disc Priest for the Spirit buff you would bring a Moonkin for Improved Faerie Fire.

Depending on how melee heavy your raid runs, you will get more mileage out of this talent. If you can afford to lose mana regen or threat reduction then go right ahead and pick up this raid utility talent, if you can't I wouldn't worry too much about it.

See my extensive theorycrafting for IFF here: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=5754666714&sid=1

[ Post edited by Alleine ]


I'm what happens when you let girls on the internetz.

Hit > Damage > Crit

I used to be Alaterial - now I'm trolling under a new name.
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  • 3. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:18:19 PM PDT
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Moonkins can tank:

Technically, yes, you as a Moonkin can 'tank' a mob.
Normally being technically correct is the best kind of correct - however this time said correctness is a perversion of everything a balance druid is generally accepted to be(and indeed everything that is good and pure in this world).
Balance druids are ranged DPS casters. We stand 36 yards away from something and cast fire from celestial bodies at it. We stack the stats that allow us to maximize our DPS such as spell hit/spell damage/spell crit.
A tank is the guy who stands right in front of the gigantic monster and gets hit by it. They stack things like stamina, defense, dodge, parry, block and armor.
The only thing that a Moonkin generally has in common with his tank is high armor values.

In the before time, the long long ago, there was no balance druid gear whatsoever. You kids think you have it bad with only tier pieces and badge loots and only 'x' amount of balance leather drops in raids? When I was a Pre-BC Balance druid, there were NO pieces of tier gear, NO badge rewards and NO end game drops. No leather, only cloth. Also, there were some hills, and walking up both ways and such.
Anyways, Druids were designed to wear leather. However, balance druids were forced to wear cloth to obtain the proper stats that a caster needs to DPS with(and pissed off a great many mages in the process). The moonkin form armor increase basically turned cloth into leather in terms of armor values. A balance druid could wear cloth but maintain his Druidy durability.

Now that there is adaquate Balance Druid itemization and we're free to clothe ourselves fully in leather, we end up being a highly armored caster. Our armor is far higher than it needs to be and doesn't help us perform our job(ranged DPS) any better. Outside of PvP armor on a balance druid is practically useless. In a tier 5 or 6 instance if you pull aggro and you are not a tank - you are likely going to die. Your 12000 armor in moonkin form is not going to make a difference 99.9% of the time. At best it can be the difference between a one shot and a two shot. Although you may have armor like a tank, you certainly lack the stamina, defense, dodge, parry and block of a tank. People assume Moonkins can tank because they put out an asston of threat. Understand that the stats that make you put out that threat are NOT the same ones that allow you to get smacked in the face with some guys' axe. In order to get enough stamina and armor to be an even semi-viable tank, you're losing the hit/damage/crit that allowed you to create tank - level threat in the first place.

There are videos circulating of a Moonkin tanking Prince/Gruul/your mother/whatever. The guy tanking these encounters FAR FAR FAR outgears them - and so does the rest of his raid. This is a gimmick, it's a joke, it's something guilds who have had Illidan whipped for like 6 months do to entertain themselves. Unless you are in one of these guilds, it is unlikely that you will be tanking something for more than 10 seconds - and probably not on purpose. I have no idea how he's managing to tank these things - for a more detailed description of druid tanking please see one of the many bear tanking thread that these forums have to offer. And while you're at it, if you want to tank, be a *!*@ing bear.

You already have a form for tanking - it sounds way less retarded when it gets hit. It has taunt, it has more health, and it synergizes with tanking stats - bears are MADE to tank.
Tanking in Moonkin form is like wanting to melee DPS as a Tree. Sure you can DO it, but it's tantamount to trying to pound in a nail with your face while having a hammer in your back pocket.

http://www.myconfinedspace.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/02/unique_by_krash.jpg

Leather is better than cloth:

Not always.

True story; I was on the PTR the other day with my Moonkin pal Florana. We were discussing many Moonkin-y things when we were accosted by a "balance druid"(and I use the term loosely) who was wearing a strange mix of greens/blues/purples who informed us, rather frequently and loudly that we were 'ghetto moonkins' because we had cloth pieces equipped. It was also explained to me that a grey leather belt is superior to an epic cloth belt - because druids should never under any circumstances wear cloth. It makes you a bad person. Wearing cloth makes you want to kick puppies and chew with your mouth open in public places.

No, seriously - most balance druids aren't this extreme, obviously, but there is a stigma attached to the usage of cloth. As I mentioned earlier, our armor multiplier in Moonkin form basically takes a piece of cloth and puts it up to leather armor level - and besides that, armor is a useless stat in PvE(also discussed earlier in the thread).

Wear whichever piece has the best stats. Don't choose leather simply because you have an irrational dislike of cloth. Sometimes you really won't have too many options.

Moonkin? More like OOMkin.....

HA! How clever! An insult based on the mana issues traditionally associated with balance druids!
Balance druids used to have severe mana problems - back before the Burning Crusades was released.
Fortunately we now have several talents to combat this - namely Intensity and Dreamstate. Both of which up your Mana/5. Unless you are assured of a shadow priest contantly and have some pretty uber gear, you're going to want to spec into these talents - they make a considerable difference. It should be obvious, but I'll just mention that Moonglow is essential as well. Our regen is only going to get better with the release of 2.4 which is revamping how spirit scales.
Other things you can do to combat OOM-ness is utilize proper enchants - your boots and chest can both have mana regeneration applied to them. Do not, however, gem for intellect or MP5 - the loss in DPS stats is rarely worth the minuscule gains(covered earlier).

The most common issue with Moonkins who are having issues managing mana is spell rotation. If you're spamming wrath - you're going to go OOM. The most mana efficient spell rotation is IS/SF/SF/SF/SF. If you're having problems lasting an entire fight, stick to that for maximum DPS time. Remember to potion early and every time your cooldown is up - I start potions at 75% mana. Use your own innervate if you can - if you're expected to give that innervate away, ask to be grouped with a shadow priest. If you can't get a shadow priest because they're in the healer group and you're STILL innervating healers - have a discussion with someone.

[ Post edited by Alleine ]


I'm what happens when you let girls on the internetz.

Hit > Damage > Crit

I used to be Alaterial - now I'm trolling under a new name.
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  • 4. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:18:50 PM PDT
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I would just like to take this space to say;

OMEN OF CLARITY IS A FERAL TALENT. IF YOU'RE MELEEING FOR MANA THERE IS LIKELY AN UNDERLYING ISSUE AND A PROC FROM A FERAL TALENT FOR A FREE SPELL EVERY BAJILLION SWINGS ISN'T THE BEST WAY TO GO ABOUT SOLVING YOUR OOM-NESS.
STOP SPECCING IT.


Thanks.



Other Frequently Asked Questions:

1) Which item is better?

Compare the stats! Figure out what stats you're lacking and choose the item that best satisfies your need. A great add-on to use to compare items is Rating Buster(http://files.wowace.com/sw-r.html). It adds up all the stats on the items in-game, and does all of that pesky math for you, so that when you mouse over an item, it will tell you exactly what you stand to gain or lose, without ever equipping it.

2)Is this spec good?

Depends on what you want to do. You can check out my spec for a standard balance raid set up. You can check out guys like Gifted for a build that includes IFF. For PvP, Armory Bottleorum or Tradix.

3) What spell rotation is best?


Depends on alot of factors - gear level, mana issues, group composition.
Highest DPS - MF/SF/SF/SF/SF
Highest DPM- IS/SF/SF/SF/SF
Tier 5 set bonus - IS/SF/MF/SF/SF OR IS/SF/SF/MS/SF/SF if you have some haste rating.

4) Which professions are good for a balance druid?

It doesn't really make a difference. The benefits of each are present but none are game breaking. Crafted gear is quickly replaced so don't let that be the deciding factor.

5) Can Moonkins raid at a high level of progression and not suck?


Yes, plenty of Moonkins are raiding tier 6 right now who rip up the charts and add great utility to raids. Madrox is the King of Moonkins, and can hit over 2000DPS.

6) What do Moonkins bring to raids?


5% critical for group, 2% mitigation to tank, 3% hit to melee, battle resurrection, innervate, off-healing, great single target DPS.

7) Should I break my tier 5 set bonus?

Only after you collect 4 pieces of tier 6 and equivalent pieces.

8) Cake or pie?

Waffles.

9)Where else can I find out information about Balance Druids?

Check out the "Balance One-Stop Shop" thread at the top of the forums - which is far more insightful, and covers the basics of balance druids. Also, Efejel is way nicer than me. http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=2215646573&sid=1

10) How much Spell Hit does a balance druid need?

151 with the Balance of Power Talent.

11) What should my gear level for "x" be?

In general, this is a difficult question to answer. Your guild's gear level is a far better approximation. If you are performing well in raids in Karazhan and keeping up DPS-wise and your guild is about to start Lurker attempts, you're likely at a decent gear level for SSC. Same would go for starting Hyjal or BT - as long as you're stacking the appropriate stats and keeping up with your guildies, you're likely on track gear-wise.

If you're looking for a more solid answer, this is my PERSONAL suggestion for the bare minimum based on my own experiences;

Karazhan: (the closer you can get to 151 the better)100+ hit rating(+balance of power), 800+ spell damage, 15%+ crit in Moonkin form.

SSC: 151 hit rating, 1000+ spell damage, 16%+ crit in Moonkin form.

Hyjal/BT: 151 hit rating, 1100+ spell damage, 20%+ crit in Moonkin form.

12) What is the best idol for a balance druid?

The Idol of the Unseen Moon will net you the most DPS.

168 x 3 = 504
Proc rate is 50% so 252

The starfire Idol works out to 165.

Assuming the standard MF/SF/SF/SF/SF rotation.

13)How should I gem my gear?

Pve Gemming basics for Moonkin Druids:

R: Runed Living Ruby (9spell damage)
Y: Veiled Noble Topaz: (4hit/5dmg) Note: Socket these until you are hit capped, at which point you can socket Potent Noble Topaz (4crit/5dmg). More on Reckless Pyrestones later
B: Glowing Nightseye: (5dmg/6stam) Note: You only need two of these to meet meta requirements. After 2, it’s best to socket Runed Living Rubies in the rest of your blues
M: Chaotic Skyfire Diamond (12crit rating/3% crit dmg) requires 2 blue gems.

Note: This all assumes easily obtained rare gems via the Auction House and Common Crafts. Heroic gems can throw this out of whack, adjust accordingly. Epic gems follow the exact same concept only with higher numbers.

As far as haste gems go, first please read Nakedduck’s Haste thread - http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=5784520939&sid=1&pageNo=1 before stepping into haste too rashly. When you feel you are ready for spell haste though you want Reckless Pyrestone in either reds or yellows (6dmg/5haste) Quick Lionseye in Yellows (10 haste) and Forceful Seaspray Emerald in Blues (5haste/7stam). The same rules apply though in regards to amounts, 2 blues to meet meta reqs only.

(Thanks to Wisprunner my favorite troll, <3)


COMING SOON: Haste rating and you.



A special thanks to all of the other fantastic Balance druids who have helped me theorycraft, explain and understand this spec to the best of my ability.
They include but are certainly not limited to Balancedruid, Vandiego, Tiggar, Madrox, Pant, Efejel, Nakedduck, Wynne, Floriana - all great players who know their stuff back and front.

[ Post edited by Alleine ]


I'm what happens when you let girls on the internetz.

Hit > Damage > Crit

I used to be Alaterial - now I'm trolling under a new name.
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  • 5. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:22:05 PM PDT
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How about, "Alaterial is a good moonkin?"

c wut i did thar

Anyway, how many "Reserved" posts do you need?

P.S. -

http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29793
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29287

Think carefully.
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  • 6. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:29:14 PM PDT
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I agree with a lot of your information. But for me at least a lot of my damage came in the form of crit/burst damage. I admit to being addicted to seeing those big numbers pop up on my screen and hiting new records for myself. However, I may be in a minority on this. I have forwarded this information to our class leader. Thank you for posting.


Shana

People that hate on female wow players are just jealous because they have their gf/wife in the background yelling "get the hell off that stupid game and come watch american idol with me" ~ Satani
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  • 7. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:31:16 PM PDT
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Q u o t e:
How about, "Alaterial is a good moonkin?"

c wut i did thar

Anyway, how many "Reserved" posts do you need?

P.S. -

http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29793
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=29287

Think carefully.


Thanks, and U R HILARIOUS. :P

I'm what happens when you let girls on the internetz.

Hit > Damage > Crit

I used to be Alaterial - now I'm trolling under a new name.
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  • 8. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:32:23 PM PDT
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Q u o t e:
Thanks, and U R HILARIOUS. :P


No prob. This promises to be a very helpful thread, so I approve. ^_^
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  • Illidan
  • 9. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:34:38 PM PDT
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Who let the chickens in the raid????? omg
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  • 10. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:38:01 PM PDT
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I did. Chickens are OP.

P.S. Ala - I tanked Prince in standard balance PvP gear, with a cloak from Mechanar and two rings from Karazhan. I was being healed by alts with more blues than epics, and our top DPS was a mage in spellfire. Outgeared the instance, my feathery butt.

^ epeen flex btw feel free to ignore it
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  • 11. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:40:13 PM PDT
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You're using 4pc t5 and you didn't include IS SF SF MF SF SF rotation?

UI: http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5315/wowscrnshot013008041959gh5.jpg
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  • 12. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:41:14 PM PDT
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Q u o t e:
You're using 4pc t5 and you didn't include IS SF SF MF SF SF rotation?


IS/SF/MF/SF/SF -1284.8 DPS

I'm what happens when you let girls on the internetz.

Hit > Damage > Crit

I used to be Alaterial - now I'm trolling under a new name.
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  • 13. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:43:29 PM PDT
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Q u o t e:


IS/SF/MF/SF/SF -1284.8 DPS


IS SF SF MF SF SF

It leaves room for spell haste and also gives you less time in the GCD for more SF casts.

UI: http://img227.imageshack.us/img227/5315/wowscrnshot013008041959gh5.jpg
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  • 14. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:44:41 PM PDT
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Q u o t e:


IS SF SF MF SF SF

It leaves room for spell haste and also gives you less time in the GCD for more SF casts.


A tier 5 balance druid will not have haste.
The rotation your quoting is less DPS according to the spreadsheet - 1283.9

I'm what happens when you let girls on the internetz.

Hit > Damage > Crit

I used to be Alaterial - now I'm trolling under a new name.
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  • 15. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:46:40 PM PDT
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You could actually have a little haste - supposing you got the ZA neck and decided to keep your T5 set bonus through BT and picked up Anatheron's Noose and Zhar'doom...I mean it's technically possible to get a meaningful amount. I could theoretically obtain all that gear and I'd still be using my T5.
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  • Kargath
  • 16. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:49:00 PM PDT
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I have a question about the whole int thing. I understand your disdain for it, and I am not gonna argue the fact, but the truth of the matter is int is part of itemization. Based on the 1.4:1:0.7 equivalencies I have 1 int as equalling the equivalent of .44 spell damage. Here is why: 1 int = .25 spell damage + .19 for crit (1 int = .0125% crit *22 crit rating * 0.7)

Gearing for int would obviously be inefficient, however sometimes the extra spell damage and crit from the base int on one item pushes one item above another. Not that big of a factor if 4 or 5 int is in question, but if there is a larger int gap between two items, say 20, that is an extra 5 spell damage and 3.85 crit rating that needs to be factored in.

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  • Dalaran
  • 17. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:50:28 PM PDT
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I would like to expound upon two things:


Q u o t e:
Nature's Grace is not a significant source of DPS increase, and the benefit is negated by any mana issues. With a finite mana pool, you're basically accelerating your approach to OOM-ville without upping your DPS.


I cannot emphasize how right you are. If your current mana pool and mana regen are only capable of doing 200,000 damage, Nature's Grace will make that 200,000 damage happen a little faster, but you'll be out of mana faster, doing 0 damage.


Q u o t e:
I would not advise a Moonkin to begin to socket for critical strike until they are hit capped and have over 1100 unbuffed spell damage.


There was a thread on these forums a while ago (last August?) discussing Damage versus Critical equivalences, and it was determined that 1 Spell Damage = 1 Critical at approximately 1500 spell damage. (Standard Rotation, independent of Critical.) So I would aim for about 1200+ spell damage before utilizing gems with Critical, and even then, only things like Potent Noble Topaz and Pyrestones. No Gleaming Dawnstones or Lionseyes.
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  • Illidan
  • 18. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:54:12 PM PDT
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I got my T6 chest today, and I am a feral tank. For the fun of it I linked my moonkin T6 chest and said /g GUILD MOONKIN INC! and the officers got pissed off rofl ;[
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  • 19. Re: Common Moonkin Misconceptions   03/09/2008 11:54:22 PM PDT
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Having talked to Alleine on Khadgar, can say he (I'm assuming) knows what he's talking about. Great stuff here. I'm going to have to look it over some more.
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