Academia di Curatio

[The_Great_Samulas]

I have been told that this would be a good idea and upon reflection do agree, provided it is done in moderation. I am going to start up a limited venue designed for the sole purpose of increasing the level of player skill and knowledge in the use of the cleric/FvS class. The influx of new players and desire of clerics to advance in their playing ability is the main driving force behind this. The idea is to promote the advancement of clerics/FvS in a much faster pace and avoid the common roadblocks to this advancement that can often cause the disillusion with these classes. For background information see here.

Let me know if you have any ideas that might add to the experience or are interested in participating by posting here or by private message.

Benefits:
-Real-time commentary during practice sessions with immediate feedback from reliable experts in clericing.

-General advice on pertinent aspects to healing.

-Training exercises specifically designed to promote advancement. See the waterworks excercise as an example.

-Possible videos to help others, not directly involved in the academy.

-Vent channel to facilitate learning in a private manner.

-Facilitating contacts with veteran players and guilds.

-Get exposure to strategies from outside your circle of friends.

Formats:
-Group oriented play in both raids and quests.

-Discussion groups to discuss tactics, builds, ability use, advancement, and solo play.

Initial Discussion Topics:
-"Dealing with Problematic PUGs"
-"Mass Healing in Raids, Common Misconceptions"

[Quikster]

I can provide the mana sponge if needed

J/K this would be great if it works. Newer players (not the current crop, almost all newer players) can learn a ton about this game clericing. The problem is many get so stuck watching health bars, and overhealing, they miss many aspects that might otherwise be obvious.

GL with your academy, and let me know if im free if i can help.

[twizznach]

Lol i can help by providing critisizm panzy style!

[REALb0r3d]

Genius.

[Original]

Hey Sam can I be the Dean... I'll slap the Butter out of them!


PS: I would like to help... but my attitude towards new players probaly will not help. So probaly best if i just slap the special ones around....

[REALb0r3d]

Ran a hound PuG today. 1st run, healers let dogs die. Kicked 2 healers, brought in 1 healer I know to give healing directions and 2 others. Healers let dogs die again. Brought in 2 healers I know for a third run and 2 other healers. 2 Extra healers only healed party, completion... so sad.

[Tyrande]

Heyas, sam, I love playing with you on my characters other than cleric.

I hate playing my cleric. Can your Academia di Curatio change that?

Basically, I hate healing and watching red bars and not enjoying the game.

[The_Great_Samulas]

Yeah Tyrande, that's the latter part of cleric advancement. Going from a healbot to a real cleric that uses melee and offensive casting as a cohesive battle strategy. Being a healbot is what causes many people to quit playing their clerics. There are several roadblocks to advancement that can trap people in a healbot stage, which is one aspect I was referring to. Basically you have to stop being the safety net ready to save poorly built or played toons sitting around watching health bars, and start having fun yourself and being a stronger contributor to the party. You still assist them with healing and keep an eye on them, but if they play bad or have major weaknesses, they die. Its their fault not yours. Most veteran players will agree with this outlook by healers.

I can explain it in more detail in the discussion sections.

[The_Great_Samulas]

I am planning on starting the first discussion session for the Academia di Curatio this coming weekend, with a tentative time of 9:00 PM EST on Friday (4/23).

The topic for this first roundtable discussion will be "Dealing with Problematic Pick Up Groups (PUGs)". Many PUGs tend to blame their cleric for their various problems which can include lack of leadership, poor strategy, poorly built/played toons, lack of cohesion, and rudeness. Poor experiences like this are prevalent at the lower levels, but vistages of this remain even in raiding groups at the endgame. We will discuss experiences people have had, develop skills in spotting the problematic aspects of PUGs, and successful coping strategies.

Anyone that would like to share observations in dealing with PUGS that may be helpful in this discussion are welcome to post in this forum thread. Your experience level in PUGing doesn't really matter, in that I will serve as a filter for what makes it into the discussion.

Will advise further.

[The_Great_Samulas]

Hello,

I moving the time to have less conflicts with my own raiding/epic schedule as well as others core playtimes. First discussion will now be this Sunday at 11 AM EST (4/25).

I have an outline of the discussion as follows, session will be stopped afer 1 hour, regardless of completeness:

"Dealing with Problematic PUGs"

-Open discussion of problems encountered by the group

-Identification of the problematic PUG, early warning signs
*the warning signs
*gettting out before you become too invested
*knowing the biggest problem, so you can adjust your playstyle to compensate

-Coping strategies
*judicious use of healing
*developing a triage list (healing priorities)
*supporting leadership and providing it
*communication

-Special problems in PUGs
*Dealing with warforged characters
*Dealing with the guy who thinks he's UBER, when he isn't

Once again if you have anything that might help as far as insights, let me know.

[The_Great_Samulas]

We did this last Sunday and were able to help out a few people. I don't think I'll be doing it this Sunday, but I'll let you know if I do.

Next topic will be "Mass healing, common misconceptions". If you have anything you think might be useful in the discussion, feel free to post.

[rendet]

Heyas, sam, I love playing with you on my characters other than cleric.

I hate playing my cleric. Can your Academia di Curatio change that?

Basically, I hate healing and watching red bars and not enjoying the game.

Who says being a cleric means you can't enjoy the game? Give yourself a little strength, grab a weapon and help out with some dps
Cheaper than casting offensive spells and believe it or not clerics can do respectible numbers with some gear. I dual wield longswords and self buffed have a 42/42 +to hit. Base number is 25 and I crit for 65 base with my min2's. And that's all with 14 strength base.

[Tyrande]

Who says being a cleric means you can't enjoy the game? Give yourself a little strength, grab a weapon and help out with some dps
Cheaper than casting offensive spells and believe it or not clerics can do respectible numbers with some gear. I dual wield longswords and self buffed have a 42/42 +to hit. Base number is 25 and I crit for 65 base with my min2's. And that's all with 14 strength base.

I know what you meant.
This works if you are soloing. It is in some groups people prefer you not to aggro any monster.

Usually in those groups, you're not enjoying the game. I prefer playing my arcane casters than my divine casters any ways. My capped bard just sells stuff for me and my cleric is sitting at the bank gathering dust. I'll probably solo the cleric to 20 and then TR to FvS and forget about it.

[The_Great_Samulas]

Yeah, its a shame how some people think of clerics. Those people are really going to hate my new version of my cleric (although I'll probably boot them out of the group anyways). I TRed him recently (he is level 7 atm). He has intimidate, so the whole thing about not getting agro, just goes out the window. How am I supposed to get mana back if nobody is swinging on me? If I'm mass healing, I might as well be taking damage and getting mana.

I'm looking forward to the radiant servant. Should be set up well for that.

Anyways, if you are in a group where they don't want the cleric to get agro, I think you are playing with some unskilled players anyways. Most of the people I group with actually think less of a cleric who doesn't do anything worthy of agro.

[The_Great_Samulas]

The Academia di Curatio will be meeting this Sunday 5/16 at 11 AM EST. I'll put up an LFM as last time. We shall be discussing mass healing. I'll post more later on in the week.