Why The Paladin?

I have a ton of healers. An unhealthy amount even. So one question I get a lot is "Why do you play your Paladin? What makes you like it more than your other healers?" It's kind of a hard question to answer, but there's a few things about the Paladin that just have me hooked.


Utility Spells

This is probably the biggest reason. While all classes have some utility spells, the difference between a good Paladin and a great one is how well they use their entire toolkit. Using a freedom on a kiter to break a slow on hard mode Saurfang, popping a Hand of Protection on a healer that has pulled agro, Using Divine Guardian when most of the raid doesn't have enough spores on Festergut, and saving a wipe with a well timed Lay on Hands. Things like that are what make it fun for me. Long cooldown abilities that require split second decisions on whether or not to use them. It fits the way I like to play.

I Like Tank Healing

When it comes to tank healing, Paladins are the best. Even with the changes to the healing system, I feel like Paladins are still slightly ahead in this department. Raid healing is fun sometimes, but for me, I have a better time when I'm focused on managing a few targets that are getting hit hard over a large number taking moderate damage. Of course, I enjoy being that asshole Paladin with a beacon on the tank nuking all your hot targets to e-peen on meters too. I mean, I like to help out with raid healing when the tanks aren't in danger.

I Prefer Chunk Heals Over HoTs

I just don't like HoTs. It's why I stopped playing Age of Conan. I guess I'm just kind of an instant gratification kind of guy, but I really dislike waiting for hots to tick out. My resto druid sees the least playtime of all my healers, and this is the biggest reason. It's not that I don't find them powerful or recognize their incredible use, it's just not for me.


I've Had The Character For a Long Time

I can't change mains at this point. I've got too much invested in my Paladin. My shiny "Light of Dawn" title, my frost wyrms, rare stuff from BC. There's just too much time put into her to change now. It seems silly, but I'm attached to her. I absolutely adore my other healing toons, but they will never get the attention my Paladin does because of this.


Pallies Fit The New Healing System Well

Paladins fit the new triage healing system wonderfully. I've played all of my toons at endgame and she is just the most fun for me. While a huge toolkit, such as a Priest's, is a blast at times, I enjoy just having a limited amount of heals and a ton of utility spells. Plus, Holy Power is a fun change.

I Didn't Always Like My Paladin...

I'm not just a general Paladin fanboy in every game I play. I've never played one in anything else, and I don't think it will be my go-to anywhere else either. Matter of fact, back in vanilla, it was the one class I refused to play because "Those stupid Paladins are so cheap! I get them almost dead and they bubble, then I do it again and they LoH, argh! Why would anyone play that stupid easymode class?!" But, here I am. My Priest will always have a special place in my heart, my Shaman will always be a total blast, and my Druid will always be a fun change of pace, but my Paladin is my true love.

So What About You?

Why do you play what you play? Why is your main your main? What draws you to that over your alts? Or are you someone that just can't pick a main? Post a comment here, or, if you have a blog, write up a post about it and link it here. I'm interested to see why folks choose what they do. Plus, with RL eating me alive these last couple weeks I've been reading more and writing less. Hopefully that will change again soon.

/bubblehearth