Proving grounds

[nulz]

So after many attempts (and ragequits, and refusing to put myself through the pain for months on end), I finally got "The Proven Healer" title! I made it to wave 34 at the Proving Grounds and then flopped spectacularly, but I got the title and that is all I was interested in

Comments

[dragonhawker]

I got 30 seconds from the last wave of Gold Healer and then gave up... but I'd been scraping bottom on mana for a good five minutes before that, so I think I must be doing something wrong.

[nulz]

I changed my gear around quite a bit - as many sockets as possible and two trinkets that increased my spirit. I had around 7k spirit and used a spirit flask too, so 8k overall. I was still very low on mana at points so had to be as conservative as possible with heals. Sometimes I was lucky and the NPCs would finish the waves off with about 10 seconds to spare, so I'd have a few seconds to recoup some mana, but I was usually going from one wave to the next with no let up.

[dragonhawker]

Yeah. I had gotten used to never being without mana. I thought I was a big hotshot healer -- but no, I was just overgeared. Very humbling!

[nulz]

Haha yep, tell me about it. I'm very used to just throwing down a mushroom then using wild growth and rejuvenation when needed. I think that's why I enjoyed the proving grounds - you are forced to use your abilities wisely. I think it's good preparation for WoD, where we won't be able to outgear dungeons and raids for quite a while.

[shadenoff]

I was very excited when I heard about this feature for the first time: I really like healing, but I also feel very nervous when I need to go into a dungeon without some practice after a break (some people tend to yelling at you, if you not heal them properly). So, I see Proving Grounds as brilliant safe place for training, as well as for development of self-confidence. If I do well on the arena, and when something go wrong in a dungeon - then it just means that it is not my fault, and so I can relax and once again try to perform a miracle

[nulz]

I hated healing in dungeons when I first started. The tanks would always move way too fast for me and I'd panic and spam my big heals then wonder why I went OOM :|

Yeah, half an hour of focusing is really tough actually. I'm not sure I'll go back and try and beat my personal best, I'm just relieved that I finally managed to get the title.

[shadenoff]

Well, in my case it was a little different story: First, as early as I read the description of classes, I decided that I wanted to play as a healer (I just hesitated in choosing between priestess and druid) - I knew nothing about dungeons or other in-game stuff at this time, I just wanted to play as character who can help others. Second, when I first time got into a dungeon with a group, it was not some random PUGs, but a couple of people whom I met in game - so it was much more friendly atmosphere than in modern LFG. I think that's why I liked healing a bit more at my beginning than you at your beginning

[kodiak_bear]

I think I suffer from ADD in the game. I've poked at proven a few times and got endless 14 but I just don't want to waste the time on something that nets me nothing but a title. Really wish the waves were 30 secs vs. 60 secs.

[nulz]

I think 60 seconds is a bit much, too. I guess they wanted it to reflect dungeon or raid encounters which is why they went fot 60 seconds but it's very difficult to focus for a full 30 minutes.

[iponly]

Lich King was a twenty minute fight, anything shorter than that would be a bit odd.

[farfaraway2014]

I do want the title but I generally have so much other stuff I want to do in the game that I haven't made time for it yet. I guess I should go take care of it before the expansion is over.