Questions & Feedback #18:
The feedback and questions have been coming hard and fast lately. I love it. Keep it all coming. Every Friday we're going to post Questions and Feedback!
Feedback from me: Guys and Gals, I’ve had a bit of a rough 6 weeks so if I’ve been harsh to any readers I apologize. I really do. The articles are often written a month or so in advance. This lets me write articles when I’m in the zone. Unfortunately for me about 2 months ago a doctor put me on some medication which had some pretty poor side effects. I have a hereditary blood condition which means I cannot take a long list of foods and/or minerals/vitamins. Well long story short, this doctor prescribed some supplicants that slowly poisoned me. To be honest it’s my own damn fault since my first impression was this doctor was incompetent. I’m no longer on these supplicants and on my way to a speedy recovery.
While in recovery I’m still going to have content come out but I’m going back to a 3 posts a week schedule. Thank you all for your patience.
Feedback: Regarding: Busting Lag - http://www.theholypaladin.com/healing-in-3.3-busting-lag.php
Well, I am a network engineer. :)
Thanks for your review, I've been researching SSH tunnels on and off for a few months now and I have some comments for you.
Basically, encrypted (aka secure) traffic gets a higher priority when traveling over the Internet which is what SSH Tunneling allows you to do.
In an SSH Tunnel, you make a secure connection to a server and then local changes on your computer route all of certain types of traffic to that server over the Internet, since the connection is encrypted, the Internet routers select the faster paths (ie. lowest response times) along the way.
For a company to effectively provide this service, they need to have servers as physically close to the final provider (ie. Blizzard data centers) as possible and software then selects the traffic type and then the tunnel encrypts it between your computer and their server; since they are already extremely close to Blizzard (preferably with the same ISP for example), you see better performance because along most of the distance your data is traveling it gets a performance boost. It's like traveling from Canada to Florida using the highways instead of using the backroads or if you're familiar with the far left lanes being the HOV lanes, getting to use those while the people in right lanes are moving along much slower.
Your username and password should be safe since Blizzard already wraps that information in their own secure traffic (assuming you're not already using an authenticator, which everyone should be using!), but my concern is the WTFast software adding a keylogger to your machine that effectively bypasses detection until it is too late.
Don't get me wrong, I think WTFast is probably offered by people that are 100% reliable and truthful, but do you have malware detection utilities on your system? Did you scan and re-scan after installing WTFast just to be sure?
My ping times are roughly in the 100ms - 200+ms range, so I'm not as desperate as others to improve their response, but I just might try WTFast because I do have some lag issues in 25 man raids.
Response: I so could have used you when writing this article ;)
Security is always a concern when trying out new software and/or services. Yes I did a virus scan of the software before and after and a scan each day after the install with nothing malicious found.
I also practice what I preach. I wrote an article a little while back about using an authenticator. I really suggest that everyone gets one of those.
I would really like to know how you benefit from this service. If you could let me know that would be great, thanks.
Follow up Feedback: Well I purchased a 1 month paid subscription for testing WTFast; I also scanned for viruses/spyware and the WTFast client came back clean. I had tried free utilities with other SSH tunneling services and I am very pleased with how easy it is to use WTFast.
My average latency was in the 300ms range before and with WTFast it dropped to 60-80ms, so it was a pretty good increase in my response time.
The first raid I was in after purchasing WTFast was Wintergrasp, but literally everyone in /1 complained that the lag was horrible - druids shapeshifting had to wait as long as 10 seconds to see themselves transform; it wasn't that bad for me, but nevertheless not a great test because everyone was seriously lagging - however I seemed to have far fewer issues than others QQing.
I was then in an ICC 25 run and my latency was still hovering around 80ms and I have to say that many of the issues I normally have in 25 man raids were eliminated or drastically reduced. It almost felt like I was running a 10 man. It is very typical in 25's to have "You can't do that right now" and "Another action is in progress" or see myself attempt to HoP someone only to have them die anyway - this was every much reduced and I am pleased with this early testing.
Then I got into an Ony 25 and I had almost no problems except the typical issue seen when massive numbers of whelps spawn in Phase 2 - our group had 3 people d/c almost immediately when the whelps came out and about 2 others were unable to respond in time and died quickly - although my fps dropped to 5, I was still able to maneuver and heal and keep all the tanks alive so I'd say it was a success here as well (we eventually downed her with no other significant issues).
I'll keep evaluating and let you know if I find anything of interest.
Thanks for evaluating/reviewing this!
Response: Thanks for the feedback! It’s always good to get an independent view on these things.
If you want to read more about WTFast, go to http://www.theholypaladin.com/healing-in-3.3-busting-lag.php.
Feedback: Heya, just a quick msg from a female player who's been in wow for approx a year. PLS PLS PLS keep this site going, i love it, and i check it religiously for updates. Sometimes i think wow seems to be a magnet for whinging, and I’m disappointed to find out u are getting such immature emails.
Keep up the excellent work, I tell people all the time about this site.
Response: I appreciate it! Lately I’ve been feeling the pressure of time lately and it’s been harder and harder to keep the content coming. I’ll keep the site coming as the advertising is paying for the hosting. If people want to submit some articles from time to time I’d welcome it ;)
Question: What do you think of Althor's Abacus? It finally devolved to me tonight in our 25man after priests and druids already had it. I like what it has to offer but I love the +int on the Talisman of Resurgence too. It'll be useful on Valithria for sure but I was wondering if you had any thoughts on it or had heard anything about it that might make or break it. Btw - I have Solace of the Defeated (non-heroic) in my other slot.
I can't wait to give the abacus a go in PvP though.
Response: It's not too bad, but it's far from great. I'd guess it'd be better in PVP or really good for the Flash of Light spec.
Yes, I see it as something that would be great for Dreamwalker.
Feedback: I read the article on Flash of Light healing style and I am willing to learn to be holypaladin, today I am dps. What other style that has? It would be using the main Holy of Light? Would like to put a manual too? For the glyphs, I realized that if I use the flash of light style, 2 glyphs are different, the only one that remains is the Bacon of Light. What is the best for PVE? Thanks
Response: I get questions like this all the time. If people take the time to read through the site, many of these questions are answered in multiple places. Take the time to read through. I’m not going to spend my time hand feeding those who couldn’t be bothered to do any of the legwork themselves, especially when those questions are already answered.
Feedback: Just wanted to say that I'm one of the many who enjoy what this site has to offer. Like you said, the positive feedback greatly outweighs the negative. I hope to see you continue to write for a long time!
p.s. I liked the term "keyboard cowboy". Haha, I'm going to have to use that one from now on! :)
Response: Thanks. Keyboard cowboy is a term that we coined years ago in a previous business to categorize what can happen to normal people in online forums. I had used it so often I hadn’t realized that it’s a new term to most others. You never know, someone may have come up with the term before us... the term just made sense to use.
Feedback: Yeah for the weapon enchant i have done some math and it would be more viable to have 30+ int on the weapon...think about it 30 int is like 300int and multiply that by ur 20% increase SP from int so 300 x .2 = 60 spell...so u may loose 3 spell but ud gain 300 int base not including kings and more
Response: umm, yeah, if you multiple it by another 5 it’ll become 300 * 5 = 1500 which is clearly better than 63…[/sarcasm off] I think you meant to say 30 int with talents is 33 int… is like a little over 495 mana before raid buffs. With your talents you only get to multiply the intellect by 20%, not the mana to get your extra spellpower. So 33 * .2 is 6.5 extra spellpower.
Feedback: In regards to the boot enchant my guild is requiring icc raiders to have tuskarr vitality because the minor speed boost proves to be more valuable than the 15 crit rating
Response: My guild is similar. While it’s not required, it is highly recommended.
Feedback: Good thing there is a free trial; I play on a european realm and it worked like a charm for maybe 20secs, tried it in an instance and lag was a bit higher than normal.
Went for a full 20 mins which is as long as the free trial allows
Response: That’s a good thing to know. Where are you in Europe?
[Email address bounced].
Feedback: Awesome site - I've been debating a Holy Off-spec as I am Prot right now, and the site has been pretty awesome with helpful tips. However, I'm of a belief that I should master one art before starting another and I am still mastering the art of a Prot Pally. Hence my question - I haven't found a site on a Prot Pally as informative as yours - do you have one for Prot only?
Answer: No. My experience with prot is… virtually zero.
Question: I run ICC25 with another Pally who off tanks for the group. He consistently uses Judgement of Light to generate threat, which of course I would rather throw since it reflects my total healing for the raid. Does it matter who is doing JoL?
Answer: It doesn’t really matter who judges what, but Judgement of Light doesn’t generate any threat unless blizzard changed it recently.
Way back, Judgement of Light generated threat which made it tough on Retribution Paladins since they were the best people to cast it and then also had to deal with threat issues due to that. This is probably what your tank is thinking about.
Question: Regarding the cloak augment, if you're a tailor, would the embroider for 400 mana on cast be better than 23 haste?
Answer: Being a tailor as a Holy Paladin isn’t exactly the option that I’d suggest taking to start with. I haven’t done the math but I’d think it would depend on if you’ve got more than enough haste. The extra mana looks nice but I doubt it would make up for the loss of intellect you suffer from taking Tailoring over Jewelcrafting or Blacksmithing.
Follow up question: So, are you like suggesting I drop tailoring and pick up something else? He was my first char and I dont really want todo it all.
Answer: It depends on your goals. If you want to perform at your absolute best, yes, drop tailoring for either Jewelcrafting and/or Blacksmithing. These are the two best professions for a holy paladin. If you’re more of a social player running in pugs and heroics, then the tailoring will do fine. I’d guess the tailoring buff is better than the haste buff so long as you have enough haste already.
I don’t really like to tell people what to do with their professions since they’re often so personal and change the way to make and spend gold. It all depends on your goals.
Feedback: I didn't get a chance to finish reading the whole question and feedback but really wanted a chance to say something on the dispute between FoL and HoL styles.
No one advocates using HoL exclusively and no one in their right mind does. That's not what you advocate and that's not what a good Holy Pally does. I have personally seen 1 very good Holy Pally go the Fol route and he said it couldn't hold a candle to the standard HoL. If you bring Fol to Festergut you're doing your raid a disservice. If you bring it to ICC at all you're trying something novel and mathematically unsound for no good reason. No one would seriously defend a dual wielding Unholy DK why is there this incessant talk about a healing style that's good for heroics and old content.
As for the guy who suggested an Mp5 gem - not in any raid I'm in.
As for solo healing stuff I recommend the 2 most recent bosses in VoA10 - fun times. Good luck pulling that off with the FoL style.
And finally, for what it's worth: 245 Libram + Frost Wyrm Flask + Seal of Light Glyph for Valithria. That should do for most but any SP trinks are good too.
Feedback: Please update this. I really really like it.
RE: http://www.theholypaladin.com/holy_paladin_gear_for_heroics.php
Response: There are lots of things that I would like to keep updated and simply have to make the choice of what misses out. The usefulness of gear for heroics hasn’t really changed that much. Off the top of my head the main changes are a few crafted items, which most people who are looking only to do heroics wouldn’t want to fork out the gold for these. The other thing would be the trinket from normal Toc 5 man, but that’s more of a heroic than most heroics.
Another Question: To heal heroics, I wold need 15k mana and about 1200 spell power? Unbuffed (roughly). Does it all have to be plate, or could some be mail until I get better gear?
Response: It all depends on who you’re running with and how they’re geared. Late in an expansion people get a little funny about who they’re running with. The truth of the matter, you need less gear now than you needed at the start of WoTLK since everyone’s gear is better. If everyone else has bad gear, then your gear requirement is higher.
Question: What type of gemming would you suggest for a FoL build? Would you try to get socket bonuses or just gem for haste and or spellpower?
Answer: Spellpower is the main gem for FOL build. Socket bonuses depends on the bonus and how chose you are to the haste cap and the color of the socket.
Feedback: Been reading your site for months and found it a good resource however, I must send you feedback on your recent item enhancements feature.
My recommendations for 3.3 would be:
Head:
30SP - 10mp5
Shoulder:
24SP - 8mp5
Cloak:
23 Haste
Chest:
250 Mana or +10 All Stats
Bracer:
+16 Int
Weapon:
+30 Int or 63SP
Shield:
+25 Int
Feet:
15 Stam & Minor Run Speed
Legs:
50SP & 30 Stam
Belt:
Eternal Belt Buckle
Gloves:
28SP
Epilogue:
Keep the feedback and questions coming. Believe it or not, it makes me go out and research some things. Sometimes the results surprise me and we'll all learn something new together!
Be sure to send them in, if you're asking the question, others are going to be asking too.
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