New Lay on Hands & PTR build 10747

Patch 3.3 - PTR Build 10747 has hit on the Test Realms as you can read on this link to MMO-Champion news.
You can read the details from the Blues here. For us about the latest news that I talked about on October 28th, little remains from the first wave. Were they too quick to announce untested changes ? Were we vocal enough to make them reconsider ? I don't know, but the big nerf of Sacred Shield has been changed to a removal of the Flash of Light combined hot effect (that is now limited to deep Holy), and Lay on Hands is still usable on yourself, even if it now shares a CD with our other big lifesaver tools (so it only hurts pvp mostly).

The last changes that I discussed are now these on the last build:

• Flash of Light no longer heals for an additional 100% over 12 sec if the target has the Sacred Shield effect.
• Lay on Hands is now affected by Forbearance and can now be cast on self again - Heals a friendly target for an amount equal to the Paladin's maximum health and restores 1950 of their mana. Once healed, the target cannot be targeted by Divine Shield, Divine Protection, Hand of Protection, or Lay on Hands again for 2 min.
• Infusion of Light now causes your Flash of Light to heal the target for an additional 50/100% over 12 sec.

I have no problem with the change to the hot effect, and very little with the slight nerf of Lay on Hands. They will nearly only affect ret pvp builds that, according to Blizzard, were too strong on the survivability side. As you know I'm a big PvE fan, for me WoW is a bad PvP game and other games around are much better suited for PvP (Warhammer or Aion anyone ?) so I don't PvP in WoW or very little. Hence yes, I'm pretty happy with this reversal.

My first Icecrown review later this week. Have fun and thank you for reading.

Patch 3.1 Ulduar PTR testing, part 22

Probably one of the last patch 3.1 post before live (who said next week ?).

All of the Ulduar bosses on MMO Champion, though Algalon and Yogg-Saron loot are not given, they were not tested and their capacities were probably extracted from the patch files.
About Yogg-Saron, if some of you don't know yet, it is completely inspired from Yog-Sothoth, one of the Old Ones from H.P.Lovecraft Cthulhu Mythos. If you don't know his work, I'd advise reading The Colour out of Space, and At the Mountains of Madness. Lovecraft work is sometimes disturbing, but quite unique and he has inspired many authors after him.

Back to wow news, a new build on the PTR, build 9757 on MMO Champion, not much was changed, some bosses a few achievements and a very small number of class skills. Blizzard is close from the end, I'd say.
On another note, they announced that the equipment changing tool won't be in 3.1, it is still too bugged and will be introduced into a later minor patch. Don't delete your Outfiter yet :P

To end these news, MMO Champion also wrote a full list of all new items from the patch 3.1, either Ulduar or Arena, ...etc, go give it a look.

Patch 3.1 Ulduar PTR testing, part 21

News from the PTR. (these are not 1st April jokes like that ;p)

First of Season 5 is going to an end possibly as soon as the 14th of April, according to Blizzard. I let you conclude, like me, that we can probably expect patch 3.1 on the 14th.

Some more hard mode testing:
Iron Council on World of Raids, MMO Champion
General Vezax on World of Raids, same link as above
Hodir on World of Raids, MMO Champion

On the good news, all the bosses got more hp, and do more damage. they are tuning Ulduar up, and I won't complain of that.
No change about Holy Paladin Loot, the loot table stands for now (and is probably near from final).

Patch 3.1 Ulduar PTR testing, part 19&20

This post is at least worth for 2 PTR updates :P

Two new builds this weekend, I'm putting them both as the info aren't repeated from one post to the other.

Build 9733 (03/26): MMO Champion, World of Raids
patch notes were updated, read them on WoR

Loot updated: MMO Champion (T8), World of Raids (T8), World of Raids (Ulduar & Argent Tournament)
most strength plate PvE gear was changed (less stamina, more strength)
lots of talks also on the 10-Man / 25-Man debate, on this WoR post, and MMO Champion here

Build 9742 (03/30): MMO Champion (class changes), World of Raids (Ulduar boss changes)
Happy me, all 25-Man bosses were slightly buffed, no nerf on the horizon.

Good reading.

Patch 3.1 Ulduar PTR testing, part 18, build 9733

Two bosses hard modes were tested on Wednesday night: General Vezax, and Hodir. You can find the loot/changes details on MMO Champion.
About Holy Paladin loot, there are some news with new Vezax loot, you can look at it on the Holy Paladin Ulduar complete loot table. The best in slot of 10-Man cape is now taken :P

A new build has been deployed on the PTR Thursday night, build 9733, more details on MMO Champion and World of Raids.
The build changes are slim, let's consider it as a sign that live isn't too far away. I hope.

A quick link to a post about healing in Ulduar on Restokin. This is a druid healing discussion, but it seems Ulduar is changing enough to be interesting for druids. I'm not sure it'll be as fun for paladins, with our crappy 3.1 nerfs and the aoe damage / mobile fights. But at least it is encouraging on the "feeling fresh" side, I think we really all need something fresh right now ... and I said right now ! :P

Ulduar *Holy Paladin full loot list* compilation

(updated 04/28 - added several new items from hard modes and Yogg-Saron first kills, a few changes to best in slot)
(updated 04/17 - added new live loot, new best in slot shield to replace KT25)

I'll start be restating the net change from full T7 to full T8 that was nicely detailed on Banana Shoudlers:
+46 Stam, +41 Int, +39 mp5, +203 Armor, -45 Crit, +46 Haste, +72 Spellpower, plus a change in gemming (1 red & 1 yellow going to 2 blues).

As I've stated before, these changes are just bad for us, and if you add them to set bonuses that are worse than T7, I expect T8 to not be used much. So then, what replacement could you find if you're not full T7, or if you want to change a few pieces?

The answer is given by analysing the Ulduar loot available to us.
note: All slots have not been discovered yet, every boss in Ulduar drops a healing plate item, either in 10-Man or 25-Man and the list don't have them yet. I'll try to update this list with upcoming loot.

Ulduar Holy Paladin loot:
(I won't cheat and only target plate armor, no mail, no leather, no cloth !)

Razorscale
Breastplate of the Afterlife (Plate Chest - Spell MP5) - 10-Man
Eye of the Broodmother (Trinket - Spell crit)
Guiding Star (1H Mace - Spell Haste MP5) - 25-Man
Razorscale Shoulderguards (Plate Shoulders - Spell Haste MP5) - Razorscale-25
XT-002
Pulsing Spellshield (Shield - Spell crit haste) - 10-Man
Armbands of the Construct (Plate Bracers - Spell crit MP5) - 10-Man
Breastplate of the Devoted (Plate Chest - Spell) - 25-Man-Hard
Charm of Meticulous Timing (Neck - Spell Haste MP5)
Horologist's Wristguards (Plate Bracers - Spell crit MP5)
Ignis
Pauldrons of Tempered Will (Plate Shoulders - Spell crit haste) - 10-Man
Lifeforge Breastplate (Plate Chest - Spell crit MP5) - 25-Man
Pyrelight Circle (Ring - Spell crit haste) - 25-Man
Vezax
Belt of Clinging Hope (Plate Waist - Spell haste MP5) - 25-Man
Bracers of Righteous Reformation (Plate Bracers - Spell haste MP5) - 10-Man *new 03/25*
Cloak of the Dormant Blaze (Cloak - Spell crit mp5) - 10-Man *new 03/25*
Drape of the Spellweaver (Cloak - Spell crit haste) - 10-Man *new 03/25*
Shroud of Alteration (Cloak - Spell haste MP5) - trash mobs 25-Man *new 03/25*
Pendant of Endless Despair (Neck - Spell crit MP5) - 10-Man *new 04/17*
Aesuga, Hand of the Ardent Champion (1H Mace - Spell crit haste yellow socket) - 10-Man hard *new 04/28*
Flame Leviathan
Energy Siphon (Trinket - Mana) - 10-Man
Glowing Ring of Reclamation (Ring - Spell crit + spirit) - 25-Man
Freya's Choker of Warding (Neck - Spell haste MP5) - 25-Man
Hodir
Ice Layered Barrier (Shield - Spell haste MP5) - 10-Man hard *updated 03/25*
Frostplate Greaves (Plate Legs - Spell crit MP5) - 25-Man
Auriaya
Runescribed Blade (Sword - Spell crit + spirit) - 25-Man
Greaves of the Rockmender (Plate Boots - Spell crit MP5) - 25-Man
Ring of the Faithful Servant (Ring - Spell crit MP5) - 25-Man
Libram of the Resolute (Libram - Holy) - 25-Man *link fixed 04/17*
Kologarn
Gloves of the Pythonic Guardian (Plate Hands - Spell crit MP5) - 25-Man
Unfaltering Armguards (Plate Bracers - Spell haste MP5) - 25-Man *new 04/17*
Iron Council
Radiant Seal (Ring - Spell haste MP5) - 25-Man
Unblinking Eye (Neck - Spell crit +spirit) 25-Man
Ancient Iron Heaume (Plate Head - Spell crit haste) - 25-Man *new 03/21*
Pauldrons of Tempered Will (Plate Shoulders - Spell crit haste) - 10-Man *new 03/21*
Lady Maye's Sapphire Ring (Ring - Spell haste + spirit) - 10-Man *new 03/21*
Watchful Eye (Neck - Spell haste +spirit +yellow socket) 10-Man hard *new 03/21*
Sapphire Amulet of Renewal (Neck - Spell haste + spirit) - 25-Man hard *new 04/28*
Freya
Legplates of the Flourishing Resolve (Plate Legs - Spell crit MP5) - 10-Man
Fire Orchid Signet (Ring - Spell haste MP5) - 10-Man hard *new 04/28*
Mimiron
Pulse Baton (1H Mace - spell crit MP5) - 10-Man *new 03/21*
Asimov's Drape (Cloak - Spell crit + spirit) - 25-Man *new 03/21*
Pandora's Plea (Trinket - int + proc spell power) - 25-Man *new 03/21*
Cable of the Metrognome (Plate Waist - Spell haste MP5) - 10-Man *new 04/28*
Conductive Seal (Ring - Spell haste + spirit) - 25-Man hard *new 04/28*
Thorim
Wisdom's Hold (Shield - Spell crit haste) - 25-Man hard *new 04/17*
Pendant of the Shallow Grave (Neck - Spell crit haste) - 10-Man hard *new 04/28*
Sif's Remembrance (Trinket - Spell power, mana regen) - 10-Man hard *new 04/28*
Gauntlets of the Thunder God (Plate Hands - Spell crit haste red&blue sockets) - 10-Man hard *new 04/28*
Yogg-Saron
Shawl of Haunted Memories (Cloak - Spell crit spirit) - 25-Man *new 04/17*
Faceguard of the Eyeless Horror (Plate Head - Spell crit MP5) - 10-Man *new 04/28*
Sanity's Bond (Ring - Spell haste MP5) - 25-Man *new 04/28*
Show of Faith (Trinket - Spell power, mana regen) - 25-Man hard *new 04/28*
Signet of Soft Lament (Ring - Spell crit + spirit) - 10-Man *new 04/28*
unknown
Shawl of the Caretaker (Cloak - Spell haste MP5) - 10-Man *new 04/17*

BoE Crafts:
Plans: Girdle of the Righteous - Flame Leviathan - 25-Man
(Plate Waist - Spell haste MP5)

Emblems of Conquest (25-Man):
Legguards of the Peaceful Covenant (Plate Legs - Spell Haste MP5)
Girdle of Unyielding Trust (Plate Waist - Spell crit MP5)
Gauntlets of Serene Blessing (Plate Hands - Spell Haste MP5)
Evoker's Charm (Neck - Spell haste + spirit)
Frozen Tear of Elune (Neck - Spell crit MP5)

Now, for my view on these items.

First of most of the emblems items are just crap, more haste, no crit, that will for sure not complement a T8 already crit deprived, pass them but for the waist.
The BoE craft waist is mostly bad too, same reason, get the emblems one.

Now, on the Ulduar loots. My point is simple: T8 already has plenty of haste, we only need a little more than 600 haste rating in a raid environment if we play correctly, so get more is just a waste of item points. I'll always go for +crit first then mp5, haste. I'll also always pass on +spirit items if there is a choice on the slot, just because spirit is worth crap for us.

Best in slot list:
T8 or -
Head - Ancient Iron Heaume - Iron Council 25-Man
Spell crit, spell haste, good socket color, nothing to rant about this helm, grab it!
Shoulders - Pauldrons of Tempered Will - Ignis 10-Man / Iron Council 10-Man
they are inferior to the 25-Man but 1% crit is nicer than MP5, unless perhaps on fights like Vezax if MP5 works
Chest - Breastplate of the Devoted - XT-002 25-Man-Hard
is a clear winner, no choice, but hard mode
Lifeforge Breastplate - Ignis 25-Man
isn't that shabby either
Hands - Gloves of the Pythonic Guardian - Kologarn 25-Man
not much choice for now, we will probably see more than one of these items soon
and choice appeared :
Gauntlets of the Thunder God - Thorim 10-Man hard *added to list 04/28*
with the two sockets they have more potential than the Kologarn ones, though it's hard mode and Kologarn isn't that hard if you have a good Ulduar 25 raid
Legs - Frostplate Greaves - Hodir 25-Man
very nice legs, great for mana regen
out of set -
Bracers - Horologist's Wristguards - XT002 (25-Man?) *added to list 04/01*
Waist - Girdle of Unyielding Trust - Emblems of Conquest
Boots - Greaves of the Rockmender - Auriaya 25-Man
Neck - Charm of Meticulous Timing - XT002 25-Man
another very close candidate (with slightly more crit and less of others)
Pendant of the Shallow Grave - Thorim 10-Man hard *new 04/28*
or (slightly inferior but easier to get and has spell crit)
Frozen Tear of Elune - Emblems of Conquest
Cloak - Asimov's Drape - Mimiron 25-Man
Some spirit but still a very good healer cloak, and the only one up to now. Besides, if you don't know Asimov, go read some good SF asap !
a very good 10-Man cloak has been added now:
Drape of the Spellweaver - Vezax 10-Man *new 03/25*
Spell crit, spell haste, a good deal of intellect, that's a very good candidate until you can get to Asimov (that healers using spirit should get before you).
Trinkets - not much choice
Eye of the Broodmother - Razorscale
Energy Siphon - Flame Leviathan 10-Man, this one is outdated on the mana regen and should be replaced by one of the two following trinkets:
Sif's Remembrance - Thorim 10-Man hard *new 04/28* and even more
Show of Faith (Trinket - Spell power, mana regen) - Yogg-Saron 25-Man hard *new 04/28* (basically a good upgrade of Sif's Remembrance)
Pandora's Plea - Mimiron 25-Man
Pandora's Plea is *the best* trinket that Holy Paladin can get, 108 int is a massive boost to our mana, regen, and crit, no discussion grab it if you can !
Other healers have a +100 spirit trinket on Mimiron, so try to leave them this one and get the int one.
Rings -
Pyrelight Circle - Ignis 25-Man
Ring of the Faithful Servant - Auriaya 25-Man
Fire Orchid Signet - Freya 10-Man hard *new 04/28*
Sanity's Bond - Yogg-Saron 25-Man *new 04/28*
They are all good candidates, chose depending on your need (crit/haste/mana regen).
Shield - Ice Layered Barrier - Hodir 10-Man
According to the ilevel, I'm not sure it drops on 10-Man, it's haste/MP5, so not I really like, but the other alternative (Pulsing Spellshield) is just plain bad (way too much stam).
Wisdom's Hold (Shield - Spell crit haste) - Thorim 25-Man hard *new 04/17*
This is now the clear best in slot, but Thorim 25-Man hard mode, get to work on it people.
Kel'Thuzad Voice of Reason is still a very good shield anyway.
Weapon -
I'm rather sad with the weapon choice up to now (I won't talk about the legendary mace,Val'anyr, Hammer of the Ancient Kings, of course if you can go for it, then go)
1H Sword Runescribed Blade - Auriaya 25-Man
Nice but spirit points are wasted for us.
1H Mace Guiding Star - Razorscale 25-Man
Haste and MP5 ... no crit, sad pally.
1H Mace Pulse Baton - Mimiron 10-Man
Crit and MP5, not a bad mace, but 10-Man is inferior to Kel 25.
Aesuga, Hand of the Ardent Champion - General Vezax 10-Man hard *new 04/28*
Now we're talking, this mace has all the stats we want and a nice yellow socket. I won't say it's clearly superior to KT sword, but with the gem it has a slightly better allocation with less stam and haste for more spell power and crit potential.
If you have Kel'Thuzad sword The Turning Tide, stick to it I'd say.

Thank you to MMO Champion for all the data that I used to compile this list.
If you have any remark, feel free to post a comment.

Patch 3.1 Ulduar PTR testing, part 12, a healing paladin view

Now for some updates of the PTR, from a healing paladin point of view.

Several new bosses have been tested this weekend, that were delayed before. And the Flame Leviathan was submitted to more testing too.

Hodir

Hodir Testing - World of Raids, MMO Champion

Hodir seem to have been tuned down (sigh) since the first tries on him, he was downed by several guilds both on 10 men and 25 men, and even on hard mode. He has a 9mn enrage timer. The hard mode is to kill him in 3mn ... don't tell me a 9mn fight is tuned well if it can be done in 3mn !

The friendly adds encaged at the beginning of the fight seem not very useful, frozen in ice at each Hodir's Flash Freeze, they seem to be roughly worthless (sad mechanic, I hope more tuning there).

Overall I'd say I'm disappointed in Hodir, he seems to be too easy, and the friendly adds were an interesting mechanic but end being not worth dealing with ... tuning Hodir up and changing the adds to be effective would be much more interesting. It's a little harder on the adds AI, is Blizzard not able to do it ?

Now things I hate as a raiding Holy Paladin. Frozen Blows (the switch of Hodir to frost damage on the tank) was changed to that:

Physical damage reduced by 70%, but attacks deal 40000 additional Frost damage. In addition, all enemies suffer 3000 Frost damage every 1 sec. for 20 sec. This is cast randomly now rather than it being predictable.

I guess you can see what I don't like there. "In addition, all enemies suffer 3000 Frost damage every 1 sec. for 20 sec." That means a lot of raid damage, just not a nice mechanic, which is the reason for the nerf of spiritual attunement
for paladins (more on that in another article). Raid damage is bad for a healing paladin, greatly increasing the utility of other healers again over us. Add that "This is cast randomly now rather than it being predictable." That is just bad, unpredictability for damage pushes healers to be spammy to prevent this unpredictable aspect to kill anyone. And spam healing is just a bad thing, no brain, just power.
Let us play a game, and not mindlessly push aoe healing buttons ...


Auriaya

Auriaya Testing - World of Raids, MMO Champion

After some delay she was finally tested this weekend for the first time.
This seem to be a strong adds fight and will most probably require at least 3 tanks (one for Auriaya and two for the adds, at least in heroic).
I like the Sonic Scheech mechanic, but I hope it won't be too buggy. These original positionings are fun gimmicks that make a boss encounter different one from another.
Let's see what this fight becomes with further builds.


Mimiron

Mimiron Testing - World of Raids, MMO Champion

This is a 4 phases fight, where we will have to fight Mimiron big robot construct. Phase one is the legs, phase 2 the body, phase 3 the flighing head and phase 4 the whole robot.
The thing I found the most interesting is one of Mimiron's achievements:

Force Mimiron to combine the parts of his greatest creation within 20 minutes on Heroic Difficulty.

This will be a long fight, yay for that !
There will be some aoe raid damage in this fight too sadly: Hand Pulse: Deals 7069 to 7931 Fire damage in a 5000 yard radius (pretty much unavoidable). But only during the last phase at least.
According to MMO Champion, Mimiron could loot his aerial combat unit as an epic (310% speed) flying mount. That would be sweet.