Author: Administrator on Mon Dec 14, 2009 6:11 am
Area Healing -- One of the major arguments against Discipline is its lack of area-of-effect healing. While this is true to a degree, the gap between the two builds isn't as much of a chasm as it first appears. The two best ways to maximize your group healing potential involve glyphs and Discipline's haste abilities. With the Glyph of Holy Nova (+40% healing, -40% damage) the amount healed is almost comparable to Circle of Healing. Obviously, Holy Nova has a substantial range disadvantage, but the lack of a cool down gives it its own edge in fights that don't require heavy spacing. Prayer of Healing is also extremely powerful in the hands of a Discipline priest, especially if you acquire the glyph that heals for 20% of the initial amount over the next 6 seconds. "But aren't these glyphs that Holy priests would have, too? Won't they be doing the same thing, but doing it better?" Yes and no. Their spells will pack more of a punch, but yours will fire off faster. Prayer of Healing has a long cast time, making it difficult to use in some situations. This is where the Discipline twist comes in. Discipline can obtain a natural 5% spell haste through the Enlightenment talent, and Power Word: Shield grants a nifty 25% haste buff to the next spell cast. By chaining it on to the end of Greater Heal or Pennance, you can spread quick, powerful single target heals to the rest of your party, using Flash Heals to fill the cool down gaps. If the shield is chained correctly, you should easily be able to pull off a hasted Prayer of Healing if things get rocky. In the event of a true emergency, pop a quick Power Infusion (-20% spell casting time, -20% mana cost) on yourself to really speed things up.