In the spirit...

Zwingli asked me a tough, tough question the other day, and I know I'm going to get it wrong. He asked me when starting a healer, which one would be the best to start with?

Oh, Z.

Oh no.

I literally thought about it all evening (this was a while ago--quit checking up on me!) and into the next morning. Of course I had to consider my own healing journey: the shaman was once and forever enhancement, and only recently turned on the tap to restoration (recent is a relative term). I love Momokawa who is only recently stepped toe into the Balance beam of specialties. Luperci got her way through Cataclysm by going Protection/Holy (she is not doing that silliness any more, but news on this later). My little gnome monk Luckycricket sure is fun, too, and can't wait to see what new adventures she rolls into.

I am not being disloyal to shamans, druids, paladins, and monks...

...but I'm going to have to say 'priest.'

Why? Because of all the classes, priests are the only ones who have a double-dose of healing. Yes, discipline priests are somewhat of the cross-over between holy and shadow, but no other class has two specializations that can heal, and heal damn well. But for my time, the first healer I brought up through the ranks is Zeptepi, and learning how to heal happened with her.

The other advantage to rolling a priest is so many races can play her:

Trolls (oh wow, have you SEEN the new Troll female models?!)
Gnomes
Worgen
Blood Elves
Night Elves
Draenei
Dwarfs
Humans
Goblins
Pandaren
Tauren
and all of them except Orcs...sorry, man. Put that staff away, and go be all warlocky.

Z, I don't want to overwhelm you with too many resources, but these may be a great place to start:

https://classyplayswow.wordpress.com/
http://healingmains.com/
http://www.furlinedteacup.com/bibleofdreams/
http://www.worldofmatticus.com/
http://wow.joystiq.com/leveling-guide
http://harpysnest.wordpress.com/
http://www.mmomeltingpot.com/2011/09/mmo-melting-pot-helpful-guides/

What I do know if when I'm playing Zep, the nerfs and the buffs and the RNGs giveth and taketh away, she always walks in the light. There is a sublime relationship between a priest healer and a humble with strength tank, be they Paladin, Death Knight, Warrior, or Bear.

Right now I'm leveling a discipline Night Elf priestess, to get a taste of what that's all about.

Let me know how this spiritual journey goes, sir....

Postscript: One of my early go-to's is http://psynister.wordpress.com/ - check that one out too!

Drabble: Holy man.

Marrtor

The light. A healer. The prayers, the flash, the heal. To aid, to succor. Giving strength, protection.  Fortify! Renew! Fallen warrior, illuminated stitching, and whole again.  Victory!  The shadows overcome, the blood staunched.  And yet, the blood, the shadows. The memories! The fields of battle, the blood drawn by my hand.  The forbidden words of shadow. Pain. Death!   No. The light!  But my brother, so brave, so bold.  So self-righteous.  Paladins, holy warriors indeed.  They serve, no doubt, but can they melt formless faces? The form of shadow.  The spike, the flay, the fiend.  And the horror, yes, the horror.

This drabble comes courtesy from the creative mind of Guarf. 












Theme song, my choice: Holy Man/Beck
from  Nacho Libre, one of the greatest examples of the journey of the hero.


Documentary on Joseph Campbell: http://www.findingjoethemovie.com/
(found this link via Sir Ken Robinson )

Heaven Help Me

I want to sing the praises, shout hallelujah, in honor and benediction of healers, and shine a light on priest healers in particular. The question was raised recently on one of the WoW blogs: when you enter a dungeon, who are you relieved to see?

My shoulders slumped slightly because I knew no one would respond: "Oh, thank Bronzebeard! An enhancement shaman is here to save the day!"Sigh.

But many are quite relieved to see a priest healer. Somehow they manage to meditate the nerfs, the changes, the patches, with the patience of Jobe, and the intelligence and scholarly pursuit of a Jesuit. These priests are smart. Healing is one of the most complicated roles: healers should have an automatic title of "Dr." in front of their name, because they have earned their degrees. Their careful yet lightening-fast diagnosis and triage tactics would make any battlefield medic envious. They measure threat, health, line of sight, all the while watching their own mana because they know in order to take care of everyone else, they must heal themselves, first.*

On occasion, I have met a burnt-out or grumpy healer. A healer who just doesn't dig my style of street-fighting bloodletting. Ones who have left me for dead. But these are rare, and those who know me know I would never intentionally cause any disruption in the healing process. I take my medicine as prescribed. You are my life-line: instead of giving me last rites, you give me leaps-of-faith, make me walk on clouds, and ease my burdens. I walk in a glow of peace and serenity because of you.

So, to my priest healer friends, and the shadowy ones, too (you keep life in balance): you make my spirit fly.

What a blessing.

--Mat

Theme song playing in my head:
First, it was "Personal Jesus" by Depeche Mode, but that is a bit over the top; perhaps "Undisclosed Desires" by Muse works, too, especially the line: "I want to reconcile the violence in your heart..."