Holy Paladin 101 Position

Alright, as I was reviewing some information for this series, I decided to literally start at the very beginning for being a Holy Paladin. These first few posts are literally the basics of play, but I think we all should be on the same page. Another way to look at it is that when you have a baby, the first big thing that they learn to do is roll over, then it is to sit up, and they progress from there. So, in light of this, we are going to start off easy and then we will move on to some other things.

The very first thing that we learn as a Holy Paladin trying to heal is that we have to get in a good position. For quite some time the only heals that we will be able to use will have a casting time frame. As such, it is imperative that we learn how to position ourselves in a group. What I try to do is find a central location where I should be able to see the majority of the party and keep them in range. When in a room, so long as there is not something that mob does which will mess you up, try to position yourself in the middle. This will allow the party to maneuver wherever they need to, and you will be able to see them. Another option is if there is a raised surface that you can stand on, try to get on it. This will allow optimal line of sight, which we need in order to cast our spells.

The second aspect of finding a good position, is to realize that you may end up needing to move. So try not to get wedged somewhere that is hard to move. This is more of a concern on a raised surface or darker area (where you may not notice an obstacle). We have to keep in mind that, especially in an instance, we need to be able to follow the tank. If the tank is fighting a mob that has a knockback ability, then we will need to make sure to keep an eye on the range of our spells and if the tank is hit with such a move, make every effort to close back in range.

As you level positioning becomes even more important, so by learning early the range of your spells and forming a habit of looking for the best spot will only help you whether you are soloing, questing, running an instance, participating in a raid, or in a battleground/arena match. It is not always easy, but better to learn it early on rather than getting screamed at by other players.

I know this is a simple concept, but I have run in groups where healers stand still and expect the tank to bring the fight back into range. This is unacceptable behavior for any healing class and unfortunately it happens. So, this is literally the very basic of concepts to learn. Tomorrow we will take a look at what is the stats of choice to be concerned with as a holy Paladin and how to approach gearing properly for what you are trying to do.