So, for those who have yet to read the PTR patch notes for 05/09/13, let me copy them:
Now, this means that every single "diminishes after 6-target" AOE heal, that was previously causing huge input lag due to "uncapped" targets, healing pets etc, has been fixed. The only remaining "true" aoe heals I can remember off the top of my head now are:Monk (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
- General
- Spinning Crane Kick now functions like a smart heal, healing the 6 most injured friendly targets within range, and minor guardians are no longer targeted (Wild Imps, Bloodworms, Snakes from Snake Trap, etc.). There has been no change to the total amount of healing granted by the ability.
- Talents
- Rushing Jade Wind has been redesigned and replaces Spinning Crane Kick.
- Rushing Jade Wind: The Monk summons a whirling tornado around them, dealing damage to nearby enemies (heals nearby allies for Mistweavers). Rushing Jade Wind has the same costs, Chi generation, and periodic rate as Spinning Crane Kick, but, deals 80% of the periodic damage or healing, lasts 6 seconds, is instant, and not channeled.
Paladin (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
- Holy
- Holy Radiance now functions like a smart heal, healing the 6 most injured friendly targets within range, and minor guardians are no longer targeted (Wild Imps, Bloodworms, Snakes from Snake Trap, etc.). There has been no change to the total amount of healing granted by the ability.
- Talents
- Light's Hammer now functions like a smart heal, healing the 6 most injured friendly targets within range, and minor guardians are no longer targeted (Wild Imps, Bloodworms, Snakes from Snake Trap, etc.). There has been no change to the total amount of healing granted by the ability.
Priest (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
- Holy
- Holy Word: Sanctuary mana cost reduced to 3.8% (down from 6.3%), and now functions like a smart heal, healing the 6 most injured friendly targets within range, and minor guardians are no longer targeted (Wild Imps, Bloodworms, Snakes from Snake Trap, etc.). There has been no change to the total amount of healing granted by the ability.
Shaman (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
- General
- Healing Rain healing has been reduced by 30%, and the area-of-effect has been increased to 12 yards (up from 10 yards). In addition, Healing Rain now functions like a smart heal, healing the 6 most injured friendly targets within range, and minor guardians are no longer targeted (Wild Imps, Bloodworms, Snakes from Snake Trap, etc.). There has been no change to the total amount of healing granted by the ability.
Mushroom Bloom.
Revival.
Divine Star/Halo.
Daybreak (paladin-holy shock splash).
However, isn't this going to have significant impacts on the healing balance in SoO?
If every AOE heal is now a 6-target smart heal that heals the lowest targets, it means that all AOE-healing is basicly going to be like druid's Wild Growth or a holy priests CoH, and it means that countering burst damage (think lulin's meteors) is going to be alot easier to deal with.
Meanwhile, people who are "almost topped off but not quite" are going to rely on HoT's from monks and druids to actually tick them to full HP, while the AOE heals deals with "real" damage.
Also, Tortos/Malkorok are going to be PITA boss fights for healers now <.<
Question also is, won't this be a significant nerf to both shamans (harder to keep up the 10% hp buff), and paladins (harder to keep their mastery shield from running out)?
Thoughts?