Ailis in Hunterland

This is a truly awesome article on gear pollution and the problems inherent with Wrath’s current mode(s) of raiding progression.  Give it a read and lend your thoughts!

http://wowhats.wordpress.com/2009/12/03/gear-pollution/

What is the name, class, and spec of your primary dps?
Ailisbraeden, Shaman, Enhancement

What is your primary dpsing environment? (i.e. raids, pvp, 5 mans)
10 Man Raids

What is your favorite dps spell/ability for your class and why?
Stormstrike.  It’s a 12 second debuff that increases all subsequent nature damage done on the target.  All of my shocks are nature damage.  Yum.

What dps spell do you use least for your class and why?
Flame Shock.  It’s more of an elemental spell since its damage is increased off of Lava Burst which is a 2 second casting spell.  As melee, casting times significantly decrease my DPS.

What do you feel is the biggest strength of your dps class and why?
Raid buffs via totems.  I guess that would be said of all three shaman specs but the ability to switch out and drop a variety of totems that provide raid buffs and enemy debuffs and cleansing is really key to the appeal of my class.

What do you feel is the biggest weakness of your dps class and why?
Movement fights.  I excel when I can just stand there and wail on something.  I can keep a steady rotation up and really get some high damage rolling.  If I have to move around with a boss, however, the DPS tends to suffer a little.

In a 25 man raiding environment, what do you feel, in general, is the best dps assignment for you?
Single target killing or interrupts/purges.

What dps class do you enjoy dpsing with most and why?
Definitely my shaman.  I’ve played a mage, a DK and a Druid and, by far, the Shaman was the most fun because of the variety of things I can do.

What dps class do you enjoy dpsing with least and why?
My Death Knight.  I honestly can’t put my finger on it but I just don’t get a big thrill out of killing things with her.

What is your worst habit as a dps?
Trying to tank.

What is your biggest pet peeve in a group environment while dpsing?
Assuming I’m a caster and buffing me with wisdom.  I actually had a paladin ask me once if I was caster or melee.  I just about kissed him.

Do you feel that your class/spec is well balanced with other dps?
For a hybrid, yes.  I’ll never do as high of DPS as the “pure” classes like Rogues or Death Knights but I’m fine with that since I can bring the added balance of spot-healing if necessary.

What tools do you use to evaluate your own performance as a dps’er?
Recount, my guildmates, my husband (plays an SV hunter) and constant research into the evolution of my class.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about your class?
That we’re casters.  I actually had a conversation with someone who was surprised to learn I value attack power over spell power and I wear “hunter mail” as opposed to caster cloth.  It made me realize that being the melee sibling in a family of casters (ele and resto) creates some confusion.

What do you feel is the most difficult thing for new dpsers of your class to learn?
Skill priority versus skill rotation.  I don’t have a set rotation – I have more of a priority depending on what debuffs are still active on my target and what skills have finished their CD.  I always recommend ShockandAwe for  new Enhance Shammies because it helps you get into the priority groove instead of having a set sequence of keys to push.

What dps class do you feel you understand least?
Rogues.  Energy and combo points baffles me.

What add-ons or macros do you use, if any, to aid you in dps?
I have macros for my “use” trinkets and I use ShockandAwe for my skill priority.  Everything else is key bindings.

What stat to stack, and why?
After you are hit and expertise capped, go after Attack Power and Haste.  Our Mental Quickness talent will convert raw AP into SP which helps with shocks.  Haste makes everything go a lot faster.  Since you want to wield two slow weapons, the more haste you have, the higher damage you will do with high damage slow weapons hitting faster.  Plus, the damage from the Flametongue weapon imbue scales the slower the weapon is.  It all adds up to a lot of damage.

And my own question: what’s your offspec (if you have one) and why?
Resto.  Originally, it was to fill in as an extra healer if my old guild needed it.  Now, it’s to help in 5mans in my new little 10 man guild I help run.

Gah, finally.  Why are shamans the last ones to see their new tier set?

Well, the wait is over, somewhat.  Here’s the T10 version as worn by a male human.  I hope the race sets will be out shortly.

http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/images/news/2009/november/huge-sh.jpg

I can get behind this design.  I’m amused by the spectral goats floating out of the shoulders – would make more sense to be wolves, don’t you think?  But nothing looks ostentatious or sticks out weird.  The colors are muted, which I’m actually in favor of.  The whole set just speaks to the Icecrown zone itself.  With the Fall/Winter months setting in here in my city, the set just seems to go with everything else going on as well.

I don’t know about you guys, but it’s nice to be somewhat excited about a tier set again.  T9 fell flat on its face in my opinion.  I have two pieces and that’s probably all I’ll get.  I only really have two purchased badge items, too.  The rest of my gear is a mash of ToC, crafted and U25 gear and I’m fine with that.

Given this look and the set bonuses, however, I think I may just try for all the pieces and see what I can get my little hands on.  Here’s to hoping the rest of the loot from Icecrown and the Emblem of Frost vendor is fun and appealing as well.

If you haven’t seen this yet, please check this out.  If you can participate, do so.  It’s good when things like this happen – not only are we coming together to show support for “one of our own” but we’re also showing the world that we aren’t just a bunch of idiot, socially-inept, cheeto-loving geeks.

http://thebigbearbutt.com/2009/11/02/announcement-world-of-warcraft-raid-for-the-cure/

Ailis will try to be there in some form.  If she doesn’t show up physically, she’s with them in spirit.