Assigning Healing Strategy – Part 3: The Pivot Healer

Welcome to the third in a 5 part series here on World of Matticus. For the next several weeks, I’ll be covering the rare topic of assigning raid heals. No one really wants to do it but it’s the most important job in the raid and I’ll provide a basic overview of the process and some advanced tips!

In case you missed it:

  1. Week 1: Recognizing Class Strengths
  2. Week 2: Double Shifting Your Healers

Last week, I discussed the concept of double shifting your healers. I instructed that it is possible to assign one person to look after more than 2 people simultaneously. This week, I’m going to discuss the pivot healer.

What is the pivot healer?

Simply put, pivot healers are single target healers that switch between two or more assignments. It’s a technique to make life a little easier for your healing lead. It’s a way to minimize idle healers and recycle them.

A case study

Still unsure of what I’m referring to? Let me give you an example.

The first dual phase fight that comes to my mind is that of Leotheras. There are two main tanks required for the encounter and they alternate themselves depending on what phase Leo is. If Leo is a demon, the Warlock tanks him. If Leo is in his Elf form, he get’s controlled by a standard tank.

In true Matticus-like fashion, I’ll park 2 Paladins and a Priest on the main tank during Elf mode. Once phase 2 hits and Leo turns super saiyan, the same 2 Paladins and Priest immediately pivot over to the Warlock tank. At this point in time, the main tank is no longer taking the brunt of the damage so the healers that were on them can be rotated off of them.

pivot

And that’s today’s lecture! Hopefully the really cheesy graphic above can help illustrate what I’m trying to say. Remember they switch targets after a phase is over and look after whoever is holding the attention of the boss!

Matticus Joins the Wrath Club

I scored a beta key from a friend and guildie today! I’m so incredibly happy! I’ve scoured the Internet and various WoW blogs as much as I could but I could not find much beta stuff from the perspective of a Priest.

Today that will change.

I’ll post a beta journal every few days or so chronicling what I’ve been up to, what I’ve found to work, what doesn’t and such. Master Lume informs me that the name Matticus has been taken. In case my other alternative names are taken, then I’m at a loss as to what I should name my Priest.

In any case, don’t expect too much just yet. I still have exams to write at the end of the week. But after that, that’s when the real fun begins. With luck, I hope I can continue to be a tried and true source of information for all of us Holy Priests as we gradually shift towards the expansion.

Of course, I need to download the client first.

And it takes 5 years.

Canada just got cable TV and running water last week.

Two cans and a string is what consists of our Internet connection.

Blogging Delayed, Batman to Blame

Curse that Batman fellow for keeping Matticus away from his writing pad and past his bed time.

Caught the 11 PM showing 3 hours after my raid ended early (BT cleared after 4:42:36 total from Tuesday and Thursday night).

Ran into a few of my friends. They’ve already seen it before but they wanted to watch it again. Then they’re going to go see it on Saturday at the IMAX theatre downtown in Vancouver.

And they have the nerve to call me obsessed. Hrmph.

Oh and yes, I did make up the 36 seconds.