+hit, and Style vs Substance. . .

First of all, thanks to everyone who left comments on my recent Shammy vs Druid post. Your comments and insights were extremely helpful and helped me reach a decision.

I have decided I really dislike the hit cap. I decided this when trying to gear my paladin for retribution, and thinking about having a caster DPS has re-inforced this even more. The hit cap seems like the defense cap for tanks: you must have this level to play. It wouldn't be that horrible except that there seems to be so few ways to accumulate it outside of raids and sporadic heroic drops. Can I use emblems to get +hit mail? Ok well surely there is some crafted gear that has it. . .oh, its cloth. No jewelcrafting necklaces (that I saw, I might be mistaken) or rings. Sure, I could socket a bunch of epic gems, but how many pieces have sockets anymore? Not many. I hate to say it, but the more I think about it, the more I am in favor of simplifying gear as blizz said they were going to do in Cataclysm. Hit, crit, haste, spellpower, DPS wants drastically different gear from healers, even if they're the same class. Its enough to give a guy a headache.

Now, having said all that, and firmly considered, I have come to a conclusion. Before I come out and say it, I have done a lot of considering about what is important to me in the game. I think most decisions (apart from faction) come down to a question of style vs substance. Sometimes, certain questions are answered for us (you want to be a druid, you are Tauren or Night Elf. . .for now). Sometimes it comes down to a choice (Horde side, you want a warrior, you can be any race except blood elf). How you make that choice determines what is important for you. Some people like the look of Tauren, I don't. That is why my highest level warrior is an Orc. I think orcs look bad ass. Likewise, my horde shaman is an orc. I like the look of them. I made a conscious decision of style over substance. Would my warrior benefit from extra health? Hell yes! But I have to spend hours looking at him and quite frankly, I want him to look cool. That is also why I prefer human paladins and pretty much humans in general.

Which brings me to my point. I have heard Druids can put up respectable numbers. Both healing and DPS, they are powerful. However, although I don't mind tree, I can't STAND moonkin. Can't do it. I can't look at an owlbeast's ass for hours at a time. What's the point of collecting cool looking gear if you never see it? Call me stupid, call me old fashioned, I am playing a video game because I want to see my avatar do cool stuff. The end effect is not as important to me as how you get there. Also, let's be honest. I am not super hardcore raider guy looking to top the DPS or healing charts on every run. When I heal, I want to do enough so the group doesnt wipe. If a few DPS die, well. . .it happens. As a DPS, I want to do enough damage so the tank doesn't get overwelmed and die. I want to achieve pulling my weight level, not elite level.

I will save the PvP vs PvE discussion for a later post, I have far too much to say to go on about that here. . .