While I appreciate you don't want Elitist Jerks material, I also think you're operating under a misunderstanding of what they do. Aside from the more in depth theorycrafting threads they also have a thread with the information you are asking for set out very clearly and readably for the majority of specs. It even has a clicky index so you can find just the right infor you want!
Elitist jerks is actually a pretty good community, and the name isn't intended to be taken seriously, they have a fantastic reputation for trying to make this info accessible.
Also, admittedly this is a personal gripe but saying you don't really care how your class works, then asking for us to just give you a list of things to do and then saying you want to be good/your best is kind of contradictory. To be your best (that phrase has echoes of Dollhouse for me now and sounds weird to type ^.^) you do have to understand how your class works at least on a basic level. I'm not saying to be the best moonkin in the history of every, but to play any class well you need to have some understanding of how it works, because for the majority of classes there are multiple situational/proc based/variable decisions that need to be made to really get things out of them, and you need to understand how the class works and how the various factors play off of each other to do that well.
I have read EJ before, and I know what they have, I appreciate the link though. What I was asking for, in regards to not having to read EJ, was someone to give me a simplified version. Instead of having to wade through a long-winded summary of every single stat wanted, and why you should have it, and exactly what percent of what stat you need, I wanted someone to be like, "Hey, you need stamina and intellect and SP." (That was for example, I know what stats I need.)
I guess I might be a little bias against EJ simply because when I first was told to look it up, it was not as easily read as what is out now, and I just got tired of trying to get through it all. That, I do admit.
However, I do have to say, I never said that I didn't care how my class works. I very much do, and I believe I have a solid knowledge of most of its workings. I was in no way asking for shortcuts, or asking for someone to tell me how to do it without caring, or knowing basic mechanics. I only wanted clear, precise information that I could understand and implement. I wanted someone who would be able to tell me, someone with experience playing the class currently.
I said I didn't want to be server top DPS or anything, just to be my best, meaning, I don't want to have to max all my reps to get two enchants that will raise my DPS by 2 points, when I can have an adequate item without grinding rep for weeks. Basically, what I meant was that I was to be good, I want to know, simply, how I can improve, but I don't necessarily want the BIS, because it is not my current goal to be server best. In the future, sure, I'd love to try for TOP BEST DPS EVAR!, but what I want to do at this point in time, right now, is fix my toon/playstyle/whatever needs fixing so that I can honestly say that I am doing good and worthwhile DPS. I don't know if I'm conveying what I mean to. I think maybe I worded it wrong, and that's why you misunderstood what I was trying to say.
If you click that link you'll see an index, it has things like "Spell Rotation: The Short Version", and "Stats", that you can click on and it will take you right there. It quite seriously isn't possible to say it more simply than the information under those headings. Everyone who's given you information has taken it directly out of there in one form or another. It's in very simple English and quite literally not more than 4 lines of text.
That said I'm sorry if you feel attacked, it wasn't my intention, but it is worth pointing out that the place you're refusing to look because of a bias has everything you want right there, really easy to find and read.
And if it's the gem comments that have bothered you people are trying to explain why it's seen as an odd thing to do, and what people's expectations are of people they're pugging with, which seems to be something you could benefit from knowing because you don't seem really clear about that. It is meant constructively, but you need to take it that was as well. you have asked for help and that does mean people are going to pick apart your choices to help you improve, it's kind of in the nature of the question.
Everyone who's given you information has taken it directly out of there in one form or another.
I even said that I don't play a druid (my druid is a whopping 42) and the advice I gave was pretty much copy paste from EJ. If someone that doesn't even really play the class can pick out what's important (all I did was go to the spec, glyph, and rotation headings) I think someone that's actually familiar with the class should also have an easy time with it.
It came across to me like you just wanted kind of a do this type list without any real explanation of why you should be doing things, and while I realise that is how some people play I do consider that kind of problematic and can't help but comment.
Anyway, people have given you a list of places to look for gear already. But have you tried the new dungeon journal? It has a loot pane you can look up by boss/instance to see what's available for you at whatever level you're laooking for. Although wowhead is a much more organised way of presenting the info and you can compare items there etc.
@ your edit, no one is attacking you. they're just being honest and frank. you asked, after all. I just want to know, straight up, how I can improve. people are telling you, straight up.
and you are contradicting yourself. I was in no way asking for shortcuts I wanted someone who would be able to tell me, someone with experience playing the class currently. and how do you think they got it? 95% of the time, reading elitist jerks, which is why everyone is telling you to go there.
also, being your best -is- gemming, enchanting, and doing those "horrid" rep grinds (which, really, slap on the tabard and continue to grind dungeons. you even make a profit questing to get to friendy to get the tabard, if you've not done that already in leveling to 85.)
also. none of your gear is reforged, your trinkets are for healing and PVP, and your robe, bracers, and belt are cloth so you aren't getting your 5% int bonus for wearing all leather. http://us.battle.net/wow/en/character/the-venture-co/Darshiva/advanced see all those little nasty red symbols? and the entire part that says "character audit"? enchant all of those. buy decent, cata-quality gems. your gear isn't bad. most of it is epics, there is no excuse to not gem and chant epics properly.
also, if you are an alch (which i see is maxxed, but not your herb? o.O) you should have that flask for alchies up all the time. it's unlimited use, and that 80 int or whatever it is is damn nice.
-Higher-ilvl gear is stronger. Intellect usually increases very regularly with ilvl, so we have a predictable gain. -More sockets are better (since they allow us to stack more Intellect, primarily). -As far as secondary stats, gear so as to maximize haste. Your next best stats after that is Spirit/hit or mastery (these are interchangeable due to reforging). Therefore, Spirit/haste (or hit/haste) and haste/mastery items are the best. -When picking items, don't worry about being over or under the hit cap--that will be addressed in reforging
your hit cap is 17% spell, by the way. this number is 1742 rating. and not that every gem socket should, but if you did put a +40 int gem in every socket? that's be 440 int. that is a LOT. plus the stats from your meta: http://www.wowhead.com/item=68780 plus whatever int you'd get from enchanting. for example, my lock gets the following from gems and chants: +779 Intellect +125 Haste Rating +70 Hit Rating +45 Crit Rating as well as this proc: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/item/52733, a few other procs, and run speed to get out of the bad stuff faster.
oh. and i've never played a moonkin, but i can tell you straight up, i got all of this info from EJ, and it will increase your dps noticeably. frankly, if you want to be your best at WoW, just like being your best at anything else, you have to put effort into it.
I can understand the OP's unwillingness to visit EJ, having been in that postition myself when I first started gearing up. I think the first page I visited - and bear in mind I was new to WoW at the time, still getting to grips with addons, and a whole variety of things - came up and suddenly there were all these huge calculations in front of me. I felt swamped and panicked.
However, there were also some great druid blogs out there too, with decent and up to date druid guides, which is where I spend the majority of my time learning what I should be doing rather than EJ. And now I know lots more,have more confidence, EJ's just another info site. (Have posted a couple of balance druid blog links on my comment further down.)
Amusingly though I found visiting EJ does still scare me - but this time for a different reason! The last time I visited it (a good while ago now)one of their ads was dodgy and led to me running a spyware and virus check immediately afterwards!
Having said that, I'm certainly not disagreeing with nat_catastrophe over this. You do need to put effort into being your best, if you want to be your best. Wherever you get the info, you do need to get to find somewhere that can give you that info in a way suitable for you. Whether it's blues posts on the actual forums, blogs, EJ, whatever.
Oh, and you need to take time out at the practice dummies too. That's a given!
i second the practice dummies notion. i only got really better at playing my kitty when it became muscle memory. i'd also suggest moving around while you're attacking a dummy. so many fights require you go get out of the bad (tm).
I can understand the OP's unwillingness to visit EJ, having been in that postition myself when I first started gearing up. I think the first page I visited - and bear in mind I was new to WoW at the time, still getting to grips with addons, and a whole variety of things - came up and suddenly there were all these huge calculations in front of me. I felt swamped and panicked.
Hah, I've always hated math, and I remember the first time I went to EJ and hit a huge equation or a graph, my eyes would glaze over and I'd just scroll past it until I hit the information I needed that was in plain english. lol.
It's less than that isn't it? Heroic bosses are level 87 so that makes them +2 levels above, I thought that gave a 94% chance to hit which means you only need another 6% hit rating to max.
Also, don't druids have a spt->hit conversion talent like SPriests?
The balance one is here:
http://elitistjerks.com/f73/t110353-balance_cataclysm_4_2_a/
Elitist jerks is actually a pretty good community, and the name isn't intended to be taken seriously, they have a fantastic reputation for trying to make this info accessible.
Also, admittedly this is a personal gripe but saying you don't really care how your class works, then asking for us to just give you a list of things to do and then saying you want to be good/your best is kind of contradictory. To be your best (that phrase has echoes of Dollhouse for me now and sounds weird to type ^.^) you do have to understand how your class works at least on a basic level. I'm not saying to be the best moonkin in the history of every, but to play any class well you need to have some understanding of how it works, because for the majority of classes there are multiple situational/proc based/variable decisions that need to be made to really get things out of them, and you need to understand how the class works and how the various factors play off of each other to do that well.
/my two cents
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I guess I might be a little bias against EJ simply because when I first was told to look it up, it was not as easily read as what is out now, and I just got tired of trying to get through it all. That, I do admit.
However, I do have to say, I never said that I didn't care how my class works. I very much do, and I believe I have a solid knowledge of most of its workings. I was in no way asking for shortcuts, or asking for someone to tell me how to do it without caring, or knowing basic mechanics. I only wanted clear, precise information that I could understand and implement. I wanted someone who would be able to tell me, someone with experience playing the class currently.
I said I didn't want to be server top DPS or anything, just to be my best, meaning, I don't want to have to max all my reps to get two enchants that will raise my DPS by 2 points, when I can have an adequate item without grinding rep for weeks. Basically, what I meant was that I was to be good, I want to know, simply, how I can improve, but I don't necessarily want the BIS, because it is not my current goal to be server best. In the future, sure, I'd love to try for TOP BEST DPS EVAR!, but what I want to do at this point in time, right now, is fix my toon/playstyle/whatever needs fixing so that I can honestly say that I am doing good and worthwhile DPS. I don't know if I'm conveying what I mean to. I think maybe I worded it wrong, and that's why you misunderstood what I was trying to say.
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That said I'm sorry if you feel attacked, it wasn't my intention, but it is worth pointing out that the place you're refusing to look because of a bias has everything you want right there, really easy to find and read.
And if it's the gem comments that have bothered you people are trying to explain why it's seen as an odd thing to do, and what people's expectations are of people they're pugging with, which seems to be something you could benefit from knowing because you don't seem really clear about that. It is meant constructively, but you need to take it that was as well. you have asked for help and that does mean people are going to pick apart your choices to help you improve, it's kind of in the nature of the question.
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I even said that I don't play a druid (my druid is a whopping 42) and the advice I gave was pretty much copy paste from EJ. If someone that doesn't even really play the class can pick out what's important (all I did was go to the spec, glyph, and rotation headings) I think someone that's actually familiar with the class should also have an easy time with it.
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It came across to me like you just wanted kind of a do this type list without any real explanation of why you should be doing things, and while I realise that is how some people play I do consider that kind of problematic and can't help but comment.
Anyway, people have given you a list of places to look for gear already. But have you tried the new dungeon journal? It has a loot pane you can look up by boss/instance to see what's available for you at whatever level you're laooking for. Although wowhead is a much more organised way of presenting the info and you can compare items there etc.
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and you are contradicting yourself.
I was in no way asking for shortcuts
I wanted someone who would be able to tell me, someone with experience playing the class currently.
and how do you think they got it? 95% of the time, reading elitist jerks, which is why everyone is telling you to go there.
also, being your best -is- gemming, enchanting, and doing those "horrid" rep grinds (which, really, slap on the tabard and continue to grind dungeons. you even make a profit questing to get to friendy to get the tabard, if you've not done that already in leveling to 85.)
also. none of your gear is reforged, your trinkets are for healing and PVP, and your robe, bracers, and belt are cloth so you aren't getting your 5% int bonus for wearing all leather.
http://us.battle.net/wow/en/character/the-venture-co/Darshiva/advanced
see all those little nasty red symbols? and the entire part that says "character audit"? enchant all of those. buy decent, cata-quality gems. your gear isn't bad. most of it is epics, there is no excuse to not gem and chant epics properly.
also, if you are an alch (which i see is maxxed, but not your herb? o.O) you should have that flask for alchies up all the time. it's unlimited use, and that 80 int or whatever it is is damn nice.
also, here is your info about gearing:
http://elitistjerks.com/f73/t110353-balance_cataclysm_4_2_a/#Gear_Selection
or, since you are so loathe to read it, their simple bulletpoints:
-Higher-ilvl gear is stronger. Intellect usually increases very regularly with ilvl, so we have a predictable gain.
-More sockets are better (since they allow us to stack more Intellect, primarily).
-As far as secondary stats, gear so as to maximize haste. Your next best stats after that is Spirit/hit or mastery (these are interchangeable due to reforging). Therefore, Spirit/haste (or hit/haste) and haste/mastery items are the best.
-When picking items, don't worry about being over or under the hit cap--that will be addressed in reforging
your hit cap is 17% spell, by the way. this number is 1742 rating.
and not that every gem socket should, but if you did put a +40 int gem in every socket? that's be 440 int. that is a LOT. plus the stats from your meta: http://www.wowhead.com/item=68780
plus whatever int you'd get from enchanting. for example, my lock gets the following from gems and chants:
+779 Intellect
+125 Haste Rating
+70 Hit Rating
+45 Crit Rating
as well as this proc: http://us.battle.net/wow/en/item/52733, a few other procs, and run speed to get out of the bad stuff faster.
oh. and i've never played a moonkin, but i can tell you straight up, i got all of this info from EJ, and it will increase your dps noticeably.
frankly, if you want to be your best at WoW, just like being your best at anything else, you have to put effort into it.
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However, there were also some great druid blogs out there too, with decent and up to date druid guides, which is where I spend the majority of my time learning what I should be doing rather than EJ. And now I know lots more,have more confidence, EJ's just another info site. (Have posted a couple of balance druid blog links on my comment further down.)
Amusingly though I found visiting EJ does still scare me - but this time for a different reason! The last time I visited it (a good while ago now)one of their ads was dodgy and led to me running a spyware and virus check immediately afterwards!
Having said that, I'm certainly not disagreeing with nat_catastrophe over this. You do need to put effort into being your best, if you want to be your best. Wherever you get the info, you do need to get to find somewhere that can give you that info in a way suitable for you. Whether it's blues posts on the actual forums, blogs, EJ, whatever.
Oh, and you need to take time out at the practice dummies too. That's a given!
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Hah, I've always hated math, and I remember the first time I went to EJ and hit a huge equation or a graph, my eyes would glaze over and I'd just scroll past it until I hit the information I needed that was in plain english. lol.
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Also, don't druids have a spt->hit conversion talent like SPriests?
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But, seriously thanks for the info.
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