JDLKY wrote:
1) It wasn't me that was resto geared but the Shammy. You misread me.
My apologies.
JDLKY wrote:
2) Didn't need to tank. I semi-retired my 69 Lock and started this Druid
about 5-6 weeks ago. Level 70 almost totally solo.
This was because our !@#$% Guild Leader* (70 Shammy) took a "hiatus" 10
weeks ago along with his 17 year old son(70 Shadow Priest) and we have not
been able to run any instances with whats left.
What about pick-up groups? Been doing those since the birth of the game and they're not all bad. At least not while leveling. Generally because those who are bad at their classes tend to not do any instances until end-game. Which, ironically, doesn't help much on their poor performance. Not that I'm saying you're bad at what you do or anything, but...
JDLKY wrote:
3) I realize that sticking to one form is not good but dang! I got away with
it ! :) Except for the elites of course. I knew I was going to have to learn
Bear, ergo this Thread. Also gonna have to learn Resto for an alt. (I really
like Druids) Oh well.
Grinding out that many levels without ever really using Bear form, not even when fighting elites, knowing that the Bear form is your tanking form. Again, I'm not saying you're bad at what you do, but a bit of instancing might've taught you that Bear form absolutely owns elites.
Out of curiosity, how did you handle accidental mass-pulls while leveling in Outland if you never used the Bear form? Must've been ghost running a lot.
JDLKY wrote:
4) Claw was left in there in the mistaken notion that I couldn't spam mangle
and needed a lower energy attack. Mea Culpa. But I find Shred incredibly
irritating. The time wasted in maneuvering for a rear shot could get an
alt quite a few levels. Plus about half my attacks fail because the !@#$%
target moves after I have launched the attack but before it connects.
On normal mobs you don't really need to use Shred if you don't want to. Without the energy cost reduction talent, it's not worth it, to be honest. However, if you plan on using your Druid for PvP or DPS in groups, I recommend maxing out Shredding Attacks, because Shred spam blows Mangle out of the water (provided the Mangle debuff is up at all times).
In solo PvE I only ever use it after opening up with Pounce, but not until I've landed a Mangle first (the debuff is what makes Shred so powerful). Sometimes I use Maim instead of Ferocious Bite for the finishing move and then use the temporary desorientation effect to get behind the target for a Shred. I've killed many a level 70 mob with a Pounce > Mangle > Shred > Mangle > Maim > Shred rotation.
Again, Shred isn't really worth it unless you have the talent Shredding Attacks maxed out, and even then it only really shines in groups and PvP.
Oh, and apologies if I sounded awfully hostile in the previous post. Not my intention.