#0 - Oct. 5, 2009, 9:26 p.m.
When I look at a change like this, the first thing I try to think about is "If" it goes through, what will be the repercussions. I will list some of the observations I have determined
Pros:
-In 2v2, Resto Druids do exceedingly well, a nerf like this might bring them in line for that bracket
-The talent as a whole was exceptionally powerful, perhaps to the point that it needed nerfed
Cons:
-This will Discourage Hybrid Specs
-This may push Resto Druids out of existence in 5v5
-This will move the game closer to cleave in 3s
-This limits the variety of playstyle as a whole for Resto Druids
Pros Explained:
2v2:
In 2v2, Resto Druids are doing fairly well. If you look at Realm History
http://www.realmhistory.net/arena-statistics/class-breakdown.html
Druids are sitting at about 12%. I personally do not like trying to balance based on the implication of specs within a class, but if you do look into it, you will see Resto is the dominant spec for Druids in 2v2, but is less to a degree than some of the other healers that are have better representation than resto druids. Nevertheless, a change such as this cannot buff Resto druids ( I mean it is an obvious nerf). However, I do not think its implications will reach far. Resto druids do so well in 2v2 because the damage is more controllable, and as such Trees can heal using heals that take far less mana increasing their teams longevity, while being able to save other heals (such as Swiftmend and Nature's swiftness) incase something goes wrong when the druid goes offensive. Overall, I think this change will do little to actually bring Resto Druids closer to balance in 2v2s, but it will still help some.
Is the talent too powerful?:
This is not something I can really support with any form of data. However, let's be honest. For 2 talent points, Improved Barkskin allows Resto Druids to pop into human form to cc even if they are being focused, and it makes powershifting in travel form a very viable way to escape CC. This one talent completely changes the play style of Resto Druids, and as such it is not unreasonable to question whether such a talent should be in the game.
Cons Explained
Hybrid Specs:
Hybrid Specs (primarily and almost entirely I am speaking of the multiple variants of the 24/0/47 build) flourish by forcing a healing druid into human form to provide pressure similar to a disc priest, while still offering the druid survivability and a slightly decreased healing capacity. I do not particularly know where I would find the quotes I am looking for, but I believe there is a common consensus that Blizzard encourages Hybrid specs complexity to the game and uniqueness to classes. This nerf however will pigeon hole many if not all resto druids into the cookie cutter 13/0/58 resto build in 5s and 3s, and many from 2s. As a whole I cannot be certain that Blizzard wants the achieve balance by narrowing the game.
5V5:
In 5v5, Resto Druids are generally just undesirable. Our heals favor longer/enduring matches, and 5v5, being devoted almost entirely to burst, has little place for a resto druid that focuses primarily on healing. However, some resto druids do well by compensating for their healing by being extremely offensive cyclone spammers. The problem is, resto druids need to be in human form to cyclone, and a quick switch to a resto druid in human form in 5v5 before the barkskin change meant death, now it will still most certainly be negative. Although I do not particularly enjoy 5v5, many players do, and removing that part of the game from them does not seem just to me.
Cleave & 3v3s:
Let us be honest. Anyone that plays 3v3s has played the resto druid that runs with any combination of Ret/War/Dk/Rog who sits in tree form the whole game healing never once to pop out and do anything more. Such comps, as we all know, constitute cleave. However, what a lot of people don't see is the resto druids that run comps such as War/Lock/Druid, DK/Lock/Druid, War/Mage/Druid, Hunter/Dk/Druid, ect. Such comps, in order to work, require a Resto Druid that is heavily offensive, and as such in human form much of the game. With this nerf to Resto Druids survivability in human form, those comps will become even more uncommon, and we will see an increase in the number of Resto Druids healing cleave, and as such more cleave.
