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.

[Garth_of_Sarlona]

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.

try swapping those healers for an intimitank, then you don't need to even heal the dogs any more

Garth

[bunkerhugger]

Maybe we can have a session in there for non clerics - "Self Reliance 501: How you can help your healer." Cover topping off between fights, protecting your squishie friend, and when to stop swinging and start healing.



- I did a pug hound the other day, tried to intimitank, had the heals aggro the hound onto the healer (I have no intimidate), and I quickly became the healer for our new tank. Good times. Cleric lived though.

[Dexxaan]

Dear Sam:

You are the winner of the "REAL MEN OF GENIUS" award.

Heres to you "Mr. NOOB DDO Cleric/FVS performance Level Improvement Trainer"



. Grats on the patience level.



.

[Original]

Dear Sam:

You are the winner of the "REAL MEN OF GENIUS" award.

Heres to you "Mr. NOOB DDO Cleric/FVS performance Level Improvement Trainer"



. Grats on the patience level.



.

Sam does have patience... maybe too much me thinks...lol

[REALb0r3d]

Intimi on Xxyzzy is 69 on normal. Its hard finding an intimi with those stats (for me anyways) which is why most people use a chewtoy.

[cdr]

The funny thing is that it's really not hard to hit that or close with a little equipment. Most people just never think to try I guess.

[Catiriona]

try swapping those healers for an intimitank, then you don't need to even heal the dogs any more

Garth

Very true but its not that hard to keep the dogs healed... as long as they stay buffed and you have to basically zone out everyone else. The problem often is the rest of the raid expects heals too...sorry except for raising another cleric or possibly a rezzer they have to be on their own in there.

[The_Great_Samulas]

Thank you for the support.

I don't envision this strictly as a new player training session. I do plan on training these guys, but that will mostly consist of advice on dealing with poor pugs, limiting their buffing, and using crowd control. Much of clericing advancement is simply knowing the right road to take and support for dealing with the @sses in the game that want to blame their cleric for all their woes.

There are also plenty of level 20 healers out there who need to learn alot more. Plenty of level 20 healers that are out of mana before or after one round in part IV of the shroud. Plenty of level 20 healers that can't solo VoD or the Hound. One aspect of the training can be to take you through one of our raids and have you do these things (with another healer in the wings to back you up as you learn).

Yeah, I'll see how it goes. I'm hoping that I can contribute some, without turning the game into something other than a game.

As far as the whole Hound thing. I don't know the whole story, but something to get used to in my role here is I am ALWAYS on the cleric's side. Clerics get blamed way to often for things out of their control or when things go bad when they don't have the proper support. The hound story sounds like a total failure on the part of the person with the star. Going through 4 clerics and still failing? Never seen it before. It only takes one cleric to do the Hound, if he is good. But everyone has to learn at some point. What was the bard doing? Even my warchanter hits the dogs with heal scrolls and assists the main tank in recovering from bees. Was the chew toy keeping stuff off the clerics as appropriate? Were you collapsing to the middle prematurely? People like this rather problematic strategy, but if things don't go right, the chances of recovery are very low. Was the central strategy of healing the dogs even discussed before the raid began? It certainly sounds like there had to be multiple issues, which are usually blamed on the healer in bad PUGs. And people wonder why there aren't enough competent healers in the game and why the competent ones won't join a PUG. A good leader would not be surprised by the fact that there was a healing issue in the middle (what do you think you are supposed to be doing as a leader on the way there?), and would have taken steps to compensate.

No Deans Butter, I don't want this to get too complicated. I play to have fun. I'm willing to help, but it is still a game.

[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.

[Rob_Nealand]

hey sam great idea I can always use some healing input i would mind participating in your next session. I can bring a clr or fvs just as long as i don't have to heal dexx or butter **** guildies can heal themselves

Beeneira 20clr / jackei 20 fvs