Holytornados -- Resto Druid from Jaedenar

[Holytornados]

1. Real First Name / Age / Primary Language / Time Zone:
Hello all readers of my application! My name is Ryan and I'm 17, going very soon on 18, and although I am aware that this isn't at your requested age, I am more mature than you think. Currently in school I am duel enrolled and taking collage classes, for a real life voucher of my maturity. My primary language is English, although I speak a little bit of French, if that helps. I live in Florida and currently play in the Eastern Time zone (+3 hours from Pacific). More on how this isn’t an issue in the latter section.

2. Do you have an Authenticator? (They are Required by this Guild)
Currently, I do not have an Authenticator. If accepted I will gladly place an order as soon as I here the good news.

3. What site or person led you to Escaper / Do you know anyone in Escaper that can recommend you:
Although they do not know who I am, Grillsmash directed me here through the official World of Warcraft.com forums. As I am off server, I don’t believe anyone knows me enough to vouch for me, if at all.

4. Can You Be Online And Ready To Raid with 99% Attendance Monday – Thursday 6:15pm – 10:30pm PST?
To elaborate my previous answer: I will explain why my eastern time zone is not an issue with raid times. Because of the difference, I would have enough time (waiting until 9:15 local time for your raid to start) to finish my work I needed to get done, allowing me to get everything done and focus solely on the task at hand. I have free days Monday-Thursday, so I can make all of the raids.

5. School / Work Schedule Due To Dramatically change in the foreseeable future? No. Really. Think About it Really Really Hard Before Apping.
School’s schedule is set in stone, so that will not be changing. Work, on the other hand, is a little more unpredictable, but I am able to request days off and could get Mon-Thurs off. On a side note: if you ever do off content on the weekend, I will be unavailable. Those days are necessary for me to work.


6. Do you have any factors that may cause you to go AFK during raids (nagging significant others, kids, dogs, cats, arrest warrants)?
No current factors in my life in the foreseeable future cause me to have to afk during raids, other than the occasional bathroom break. (Sorry, I’m human)

7. Character Name & Class - Armory Link:
Total Time Played (/played) and Time Played @ 80 (/played):
Total - 55 days, 10 hours, 6 minutes
At 80 - 38 days, 21 hours, 29 minutes
http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Jaedenar&cn=Holytornados

8. Primary / Secondary Spec Links(http://www.wowhead.com):
Primary: Resto: http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#0VGzu0hZZf0fuduxVuVhsVo
Secondary: Varies A LOT. Like everyday a lot. At the moment: http://www.wowhead.com/?talent#0ZEMMsfrz0ek0huAkbAczb because my guild wanted the Feral +5% crit for Saurfang. I usually spec Boomkin for 10 man runs for the buffs also. Neither are highly geared, and in the ballpark of 5k dps.

9. Link to WOL / WMO logs of recent raids you attended:
Alas, I have actually never heard of these. I have never been required to use them. If you cared to share insight on what they were, I would appreciate it. (Also if i could access them without knowing of them at the time, I will do that also)

10. Is this Your First Main Character? If not, what did you used to play?
Years and years ago I played a rogue on a friends account. When I first started this account, this druid was my first character, and is my favorite to play still to this day.

11. Last 3 guilds you were in, including current, and reason for leaving:
Current first: For Battle and Booze--a guild made and run by all real life friends. The ~15 of us who live/lived in the same town started this guild as we grew tired of the anarchy of the guilds on our server. We aren’t very good (stretching it) and the best players are starting to apply to other guilds anyways. I jumped on the boat as well.

Guilty By Association: All of the good players, who I am quite good friends with, left to join For Battle and Booze over a leadership dilemma.

Order of Orgrimmar: The closest I had been to Hardcore raiding in a while. The guild leader and I didn’t see eye to eye and I was not going to get any raid time, so I explained the situation to him. I said I was going to leave, and he said that was fine. I took it as a subtle hint that it didn’t matter to him, so I went to GBA (above).

12. Do you have any alts – if so would you be willing to run multiple raids either for learning purposes or to farm content?
Currently, I have two 80 alts. Mahamoti (rogue) http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Jaedenar&cn=Mahamoti and Blôodlust (Death Knight) http://www.wowarmory.com/character-sheet.xml?r=Jaedenar&cn=Bl%C3%B4odlust . I would transfer them also if you requested it, but I would prefer to have some character to play with my friends on off days.

13.
Vanilla WoW Content Completed @ 60
MC - Did not play at this time at the max level.
BWL - Did not play at this time at the max level.
AQ40 -Did not play at this time at the max level.
Naxx -Did not play at this time at the max level.

The Burning Crusade Content Completed @ 70
SSC -Did not play at this time at the max level.
TK -Did not play at this time at the max level.
Black Temple -Did not play at this time at the max level.
Hyjal -Did not play at this time at the max level.
Sunwell -Did not play at this time at the max level.

Wrath of the Lich King Content:
Heroic Naxx - Kel’thuzad 6-7-09
Heroic Malygos - 6-19-09
Heroic Sartharion - 12-27-08 (+2 on 7-2-09)
10 / 25 Normal Ulduar - Though Yogg on 25, and through all keepers on 10. ( Omit General on 25 as well as 10)
10 Heroic Ulduar – all, omit mim, General, and Yogg.
25 Heroic Ulduar - No hardmode kills past the first four bosses
10 / 25 Normal ToC - Full clear 9-23-09, 10-27-09 respectively
10 Heroic ToC - up to Lord Jaraxxus in 10,
25 Heroic ToC - None
ICC 10 - Experianced all fights up to Sindragosa, only downed through Festergut
ICC 25 - See ICC 10
10 Heroic ICC - None
25 Heroic ICC - None

14. How you would like to benefit from being in Escaper; why did you choose Escaper?
In joining the guild, I would like to experience as much end game content as possible before it becomes outdated. I chose Escaper because of its easy raid times and progression at time of this application. I also noted your high priority for my class, and figured it was worth a shot if nothing else.

15. How do you feel about playing a role off the bench? Can you be ready on short notice if called upon? (Even if there is an opening for your class, it does not guarantee you playtime.)
Being a top guild in the U.S. means something. That being said, I would feel honored to even be accepted, and would gladly take any spot you offered me.

16. Are you willing to spend 400 gold a night in repairs and consumables, stay focused and wipe for 4 hours straight, come back the next day and do it all over again until a new boss dies (or even a "farmed" boss)?
Well, I am doing it right now with my current guild, on Rotface 25, and I haven’t been complaining. I imagine that I wouldn’t have a change of heart, especially considering the caliber of your guild and knowing the boss WILL die, unlike my current situation.

17. Can you maintain a high level of professionalism during raids AND on public forums – how sensitive are you to criticism?
I fell I take it quite well. During raids, I only speak when necessary, as to avoid lapses in judgement, and to maintain professionalism (we all get mad sometimes; this is an intense game during progression).

18. Do you have any PC or disconnect issues we should know about? If possible list your system’s specs. Who is your ISP?
On my server, I experience no issues to speak of. I have zero technical knowledge, but I’ll say what I know about my system: it is an Asus with a Nvidia GeForce 9800m graphics card. Unfortunately I don’t know anything else. If someone here could explain what to do to look in to this, I’m certainly not hiding anything.

19. Can you use Vent? Do you have a Microphone and Headset? Are you comfortable speaking on Vent?
I can and very often do use vent. I do own a headset/microphone and am comfortable using it whenever necessary.

20. Short Essay: This portion of the app is here for you to provide your "personal touch" and demonstrate your ability to articulate and show us what you are worth. Show us what sets you apart from the rest of the candidates; what makes you better? What can you bring to Escaper? What do you want us to know that wasn’t covered?
To whoever takes the time to read this: thank you for even expressing this compliment to me. I feel happy knowing that a guild of your caliber may even consider me, even if for a split second. I would like to state that I openly and willingly will accept any criticism and suggestions made; if nothing else they will help me define myself as a better played for a possible future guild, whether it be Escaper or For Battle and Booze, or beyond. To end I would like to state that I think that, as a player from another server, you may think I will be hard to keep in contact with. My email is attached to this account on your forums, and I can assure you that I will be checking this forums quite regularly.

Please don’t hold back on your comments; I embrace them! Thank you one last time.

Also, if I left anything out (again human) please allow me to prove my knowledge and correct myself, I will gladly correct my error.

[Zowi]

I will be with you in a moment.

[Promethius]

taking collage classes, for a real life voucher of my maturity.


17. Can you maintain a high level of professionalism during raids AND on public forums – how sensitive are you to criticism?
I fell I take it quite well

These typos give me funny mental images. But don't worry, they're only very slightly detracting here as opposed to on something like a job application.

/derail

[Zowi]

Resto Druids aren’t terribly difficult to play as a class – your true test of skill will come from knowing how to use the few tools druids have available to them well and not spending most of your time dead or a burden.

With that said your experience and gear is light years behind what we would normally accept, however your app is well put together so I may be inclined to take you on as a Build A Tree assuming you can give knowledgeable responses to mine, and I am sure Yoshi’s, questions. (Build A Tree terms and conditions will be explained at a later date if I think you are a good candidate.) This will be a lengthy conversation so if you don’t want to put forth the effort, run away now.

Also – if you can’t be here Monday –Thursday missing no more than I would say 1 raid a month, we can’t use you – our healing team is small and requires near perfect attendance.

Starting with your gear:

1. The only real theory with Resto Druids is in regard to Haste: What is the haste softcap – Why is it important to achieve the haste softcap - Why aren’t you at it?

2. Why are you wearing Chest, Bracers, Cloak and Belt that have crit over haste?

3. What items could you get that would be better in those slots?

4. Do you have mana problems in raids? Is that the reason for MP5 Head and Shoulder Enchants as well as the Insightful Meta?

Spec:

1. Why do you weight Living Seed to be greater than revitalize?

2. Why do you not have Empowered Touch?

3. What is the point of having 1 point in Tranquil Spirit?

4. Do you find Rapid Rejuv beneficial to your healing? What other Glyphs would you consider swapping in for that spot depending on what the fight called for?

5. Skinning is not an acceptable raiding profession – are you willing to drop it and if so what would you pick up?

Experience:

We are UI junkies around here – if you could give me a screenshot of your UI and a list of mods you use to help you raid most efficiently.

WMO – WoW Meters Online and WOL – World of Logs are real time damage and healing parses that show every last little detail of what happened in a fight. You don’t need to worry about providing one, I can tell you right now from going over your gear and spec your performance will be far behind what we generally look for. If you WOW me with your answers and I take you on as a Build A Tree, it will be your money that is wasted if your situational awareness sucks and you die too much to keep on.

Please explain to me the Hardmode versions of all of the fights in ICC 25 - in as much detail as you see fit, including how you as a Resto Druid would best be utilized on the healing team in those fights.

[Holytornados]

Starting with your gear:

1. The only real theory with Resto Druids is in regard to Haste: What is the haste softcap – Why is it important to achieve the haste softcap - Why aren’t you at it?
The haste softcap, assuming Boomkin aura (imp.) and WoA totem, while specced correctly, is ~22%, or 735 rating. The four pieces you mention would certainly help me get my hots to 1sec global cool down, I could also rearrange some gems to try and reach the cap (I know, for instance, that I have a sp/crit gem in my bracers that I am currently trying to fix, for example). It is important simply because, more hots = less healing other healers have to focus on. Rejuvenation blanket, essentially.

2. Why are you wearing Chest, Bracers, Cloak and Belt that have crit over haste?
Currently, I am behind on frost badges; I missed a few weeks of raiding and am saving badges to buy tier. The badges would make up for the gear that has crit, I intend wholeheartedly on buying the haste gear, it is just the mere fact that I simply haven’t had the amount of badges I need to purchase them.

3. What items could you get that would be better in those slots?
As mentioned, the badges chest would be a upgrade (Vestments of Spruce and Fir). For the belt, it’s badges again. The Belt of Petrified Ivy grants haste instead, but loses spirit, so I would op for the Cloth badges belt, Circle of Ossus. With this option, I lose only minute spirit, and trade off only armor, while also gaining a red socket as opposed to a yellow one. PP also drops a nice haste belt, that if I could ever down him, (lol) would easily fit into my gear setup. Saurfang hasn’t dropped my haste cloak to upgrade my current Maiden’s adoration. As for the bracers, my limited research hasn’t shown any significant upgrades in my personal future of bosses I can down. Badges have none, and all other upgrades have crit as well. This is something I will have to look into; my eyes have been opened.

4. Do you have mana problems in raids? Is that the reason for MP5 Head and Shoulder Enchants as well as the Insightful Meta?
I’m not going to lie--I have had past issues with mana. I tend to see it necessary to spam my pool down to low in order to keep the raid alive (poor healers backing me up). I foresee that with better healers, I think that these issues would become less frequent.

Spec:

1. Why do you weight Living Seed to be greater than revitalize?
Personally, I view the talents as even. Although I have no numbers to back it up, the benefit from Revitalize doesn’t seem to, over the course of a fight, make a huge difference, while Living seed takes a bit of the load off of other healers, at least in ways easily visible to my eyes (Bigger meters, meh). I would easily switch to the other if I see numbers to disprove my own testing, or even claim from a druid that has more knowledge than myself.

2. Why do you not have Empowered Touch?
My roll in my guild calls for me to be purely raid healing support. We have a solid tank healing core for what we do, and for this reason I do not tank heal often, if at all. Those two points would better server me in other areas (current spec) because Nourish is low on the % done of my heals, and Healing Touch is next to nothing (an occasional Nature’s Swiftness + HT for a OMG moment).

3. What is the point of having 1 point in Tranquil Spirit?
The one point allowed me to enter the next tier of talents; I personally thought it more useful that 10% more reduced threat for a Resto druid.

4. Do you find Rapid Rejuv beneficial to your healing? What other Glyphs would you consider swapping in for that spot depending on what the fight called for?
I feel the faster ticks prevent, if nothing else, healers from wasting mana. Nothing is worse to me than having just finished a cast to have it all go to overhealing because the rejuvenation just ticked for the 4.5k I was about to heal. Possible alternatives are Regrowth and Nourish. Nourish would be for a more tank healing roll; regrowth would be similar in that it would be a nice healing boost to keep it rolling on tanks. Innervate is a weaker third to help alleviate mana issues for anyone, not just me.

5. Skinning is not an acceptable raiding profession – are you willing to drop it and if so what would you pick up?
Gladly; I currently have it to farm some gold back up, to be honest. I am a bit strapped for cash as I have been loaning money out to the real life friends I have been mentioning.

Hardmode fights in the process of being typed: making sure you knew I was alive still.

[Zowi]

1. The only real theory with Resto Druids is in regard to Haste: What is the haste softcap – Why is it important to achieve the haste softcap - Why aren’t you at it?
The haste softcap, assuming Boomkin aura (imp.) and WoA totem, while specced correctly, is ~22%, or 735 rating. The four pieces you mention would certainly help me get my hots to 1sec global cool down, I could also rearrange some gems to try and reach the cap (I know, for instance, that I have a sp/crit gem in my bracers that I am currently trying to fix, for example). It is important simply because, more hots = less healing other healers have to focus on. Rejuvenation blanket, essentially.

This is what i was looking for. I am not a math person, but haste is pretty much the equivelant of spell power below the softcap. Achieving as close to a 1 second global is priorty ONE. There is Haste Food and an Elixir to use if your gear / gems isn't gonna reach it alone.


2. Why are you wearing Chest, Bracers, Cloak and Belt that have crit over haste?
Currently, I am behind on frost badges; I missed a few weeks of raiding and am saving badges to buy tier. The badges would make up for the gear that has crit, I intend wholeheartedly on buying the haste gear, it is just the mere fact that I simply haven’t had the amount of badges I need to purchase them.

3. What items could you get that would be better in those slots?
As mentioned, the badges chest would be a upgrade (Vestments of Spruce and Fir). For the belt, it’s badges again. The Belt of Petrified Ivy grants haste instead, but loses spirit, so I would op for the Cloth badges belt, Circle of Ossus. With this option, I lose only minute spirit, and trade off only armor, while also gaining a red socket as opposed to a yellow one. PP also drops a nice haste belt, that if I could ever down him, (lol) would easily fit into my gear setup. Saurfang hasn’t dropped my haste cloak to upgrade my current Maiden’s adoration. As for the bracers, my limited research hasn’t shown any significant upgrades in my personal future of bosses I can down. Badges have none, and all other upgrades have crit as well. This is something I will have to look into; my eyes have been opened.

Yoshi likes to look at gear - i will leave this for him to comment on.


4. Do you have mana problems in raids? Is that the reason for MP5 Head and Shoulder Enchants as well as the Insightful Meta?
I’m not going to lie--I have had past issues with mana. I tend to see it necessary to spam my pool down to low in order to keep the raid alive (poor healers backing me up). I foresee that with better healers, I think that these issues would become less frequent.

One reason you are probably struggling is because you are using Rapid Rejuv. It is not a very mana friendly glyph. If you were to use it with your gear - i would use the Idol of Awakening over the spellpower ones.

Spec:


1. Why do you weight Living Seed to be greater than revitalize?
Personally, I view the talents as even. Although I have no numbers to back it up, the benefit from Revitalize doesn’t seem to, over the course of a fight, make a huge difference, while Living seed takes a bit of the load off of other healers, at least in ways easily visible to my eyes (Bigger meters, meh). I would easily switch to the other if I see numbers to disprove my own testing, or even claim from a druid that has more knowledge than myself.


2. Why do you not have Empowered Touch?
My roll in my guild calls for me to be purely raid healing support. We have a solid tank healing core for what we do, and for this reason I do not tank heal often, if at all. Those two points would better server me in other areas (current spec) because Nourish is low on the % done of my heals, and Healing Touch is next to nothing (an occasional Nature’s Swiftness + HT for a OMG moment).

3. What is the point of having 1 point in Tranquil Spirit?
The one point allowed me to enter the next tier of talents; I personally thought it more useful that 10% more reduced threat for a Resto druid.

I will address these together. If you spend the majority of your time raid healing via blanket rejuv (and without the critting rejuvs at that) - you won't be critting enough to make Living Seed viable - at best Living Seed has been less than 1% of my healing done when I have used it. It is more of a PVP / Tank Healing Build Talent. You also would want 2 points in Empowered Touch as well as Natural Perfection to support critting spells to make the most of that talent.

Revitalize is very beneficial to Raid DPS and logs also show a great amount of mana returned over the course of the fight - especially for Rejuv blanketing healers. It is invaluable for Prof Putricide Abom Drivers.


4. Do you find Rapid Rejuv beneficial to your healing? What other Glyphs would you consider swapping in for that spot depending on what the fight called for?
I feel the faster ticks prevent, if nothing else, healers from wasting mana. Nothing is worse to me than having just finished a cast to have it all go to overhealing because the rejuvenation just ticked for the 4.5k I was about to heal. Possible alternatives are Regrowth and Nourish. Nourish would be for a more tank healing roll; regrowth would be similar in that it would be a nice healing boost to keep it rolling on tanks. Innervate is a weaker third to help alleviate mana issues for anyone, not just me.

After healing with Rapid Rejuv I find it a very situational and not very beneficial glyph - and most of the time it produces less effective healing than the normal rejuv glyph. Even on fights with constant dmg auras - like Blood Queen - having more rejuvs on more people and being able to cast OTHER spells - like Regrowth and Nourish is a much bigger benefit.

Nourish should always be used for Dreamwalker.

Battle Rez bringing people to 100% health is a good one at times too.

Innervate is alright if you have mana problems - with better gear you will not.

5. Skinning is not an acceptable raiding profession – are you willing to drop it and if so what would you pick up?


Gladly; I currently have it to farm some gold back up, to be honest. I am a bit strapped for cash as I have been loaning money out to the real life friends I have been mentioning.

There are several guides available on how to power level most of the professions. If you have an alt capable of farming for you - that is always a plus. Either way we will require a non- gathering profession, i would suggest engineering - rockets boots, hyperspeed to gloves and extra spellpower to cloak are really good for druids.

I will comment more later.

[Yoshi]

3. What items could you get that would be better in those slots?
As mentioned, the badges chest would be a upgrade (Vestments of Spruce and Fir).

For the belt, it’s badges again. The Belt of Petrified Ivy grants haste instead, but loses spirit, so I would op for the Cloth badges belt, Circle of Ossus. With this option, I lose only minute spirit, and trade off only armor, while also gaining a red socket as opposed to a yellow one. PP also drops a nice haste belt, that if I could ever down him, (lol) would easily fit into my gear setup.

Saurfang hasn’t dropped my haste cloak to upgrade my current Maiden’s adoration.

As for the bracers, my limited research hasn’t shown any significant upgrades in my personal future of bosses I can down. Badges have none, and all other upgrades have crit as well. This is something I will have to look into; my eyes have been opened.

Just off the top of my head I could think of these items, some are from raids but there are alternatives other than sing frost badges and putting yourself even farther behind.

haste belt: http://www.wowhead.com/?item=45556

haste chest: http://www.wowhead.com/?item=47292 (toc25)

haste bracers: http://www.wowhead.com/?item=47277 (toc 25) http://www.wowhead.com/?item=49809

haste cape: http://www.wowhead.com/?item=40723

sometimes getting haste cap'd requires you to go back just a bit to find suitable gear that will match what you're looking for. I know I had to switch to my haste offhand from ulduar to remain cap'd with trauma for awhile.

How do you feel about the t(10) set bonuses, and when do you think that would be most beneficial over wearing something different?

[Zowi]

This is a snap shot of just how much mana revitalize returns the raid - from only 1 druid, usually we have 2. It also shows the energy the Abom Driver gets from it as well. Overall, it is a huge benefit to the raid.

http://www.worldoflogs.com/reports/rt-isgvkcyqnr3quyc7/spell/48542/?s=10189&e=10654

http://www.worldoflogs.com/reports/rt-isgvkcyqnr3quyc7/spell/48540/?s=10189&e=10654

[Holytornados]

This is a snap shot of just how much mana revitalize returns the raid - from only 1 druid, usually we have 2. It also shows the energy the Abom Driver gets from it as well. Overall, it is a huge benefit to the raid.

http://www.worldoflogs.com/reports/rt-isgvkcyqnr3quyc7/spell/48542/?s=10189&e=10654

http://www.worldoflogs.com/reports/rt-isgvkcyqnr3quyc7/spell/48540/?s=10189&e=10654

Well that opened my eyes; I just switched.

Regardless, I am going to reanalyze my current situation based on your comments, and on that note I wish to withrdraw my current application from your considerations.

I seriously am not running from the enviornment or questioning, but in reality feel that I have not the knowledge or research to back authorizing even myself into joining your guild.

Thank you again for your considerations. Who knows what the future brings. Best of luck in your hardmode attempts.

[Zowi]

Best of luck to you.