SubscribeMeriones has been by all definitions is an alt that I play when I grow bored of playing Rasbora and Verdin. Prior to the expansion I invested just enough time to get him to 60 before growing bored and just showing up for raids. Druids were by default considered a healing class, however they were unable to reach the full potential that a Priest could reach, feral tanks were far and in between on Ceniron Circle. Balance was at best a trinket talent build, and not really considered a welcome addition to groups (though any caster would disagree for the extra at the time 3% crit, that is now 5%). I wanted groups so I took of restore making my third healer. With the last patch before the expansion I did get tree form, but that would change.
After leveling Verdin, Rasbora, and Pandion through the bulk of the Burning Crusade quests I had a good idea how I was going to gear and level Meriones. Another patch came along not long after the expansion that once again erased all of my talents. I took the jump and decided to go the route of Moonkin. Working off memory I went around various quest to switch out healing gear for dps gear.
Leveling means a large degree of solo play / questing. Soloing was not so bad on Rasbora as I had nice degree of dps gear. I will always pick up gear that casters do not want too augment my own solo gear. After all most healing gear does not have crit, and for sure does not have plus hit. Though I do use alot of healing gear on Larus as there is alot of crit in pally heaing gear, and I would prefer plate to spell damage mail. Not being a master of Melee damage I aim for spell damage on my healers.
It seems just during this year that there has been a massive increase in Balance Druids. By and large it seems most do not have any concept on how to gear. Often they will have a mix of what would be best for feral or restore druids. Proper idols are hard to find no matter what tree you choose to be druid wise. Hopefully someday Blizzard will fix this add on for classes that don’t have a range weapon. For balance I have a few recommendations on idols, that do not involve instance runs, except for what will ultimately should be in your raiding gear.
Idol of the Moon (level 60)
this is a bind on equip if you can buy it off Auction house I would recommend it.
http://thottbot.com/i23197
Idol of the Avenger (level 67)
This idol can be obtain by a quest in Shadow Moon and well worth the grind
Bring Down the Warbringer!
http://thottbot.com/q10745
http://thottbot.com/i31025
Idol of the Unseen Moon (level 70)
This can be obtained with 20 badges, and I consider it a rather cheap but will worth it investment.
http://thottbot.com/i33510
I also heal on Meriones so I do have few recommendations on restore idols, however they do involve grouping and instance runs.
Harold’s Rejuvenating Broach (level 64 but I have yet too see anyone do the quest chain that low)
It’s a rather long series of chain quests, most of which can be soloed till the last 4 elite, regardless I consider it worth the effort. Besides there is a lot gold, even if your not 70 from the quests and the vendor loot.
http://thottbot.com/i25643 http://thottbot.com/c18180
The Idol of the Emerald Green (level 68)
This is a drop of the first boss in Shadow Labyrinth
http://thottbot.com/i27886
There is not much else I recommend that is not in t5 level instances. I do have the idol from Kara, but I use The Idol of the Emerald Green instead as I do more heal over times (hots) then I do full heals. The badge idol does not seem near the value of the feral or balance idols. I always hear bears and moonkin sing praises of their badge idols, but I have yet too meet a restore druid that has a restore idol.
I was a bit slow on gearing Meriones as I made the mistake of trying to go all leather. On Pandion I make it a point to do all only mail, and hunters can pull it of as there are far more mail range dps gear, then there is caster dps leather gear. By doing this a sacrificed higher quality blue quality cloth gear in favor of lower quality caster leather gear. So when I did start running Karazhan I was carried for a few runs by better geared individuals. Not something I normally do, as I hate not carrying my own weight in a raid. The bulk of my current balance gear has been from badges. Belt, bracers, boots, chest piece, idol, and cloak. Gloves, pants, dagger, and an off hand are not entirely out of the picture.
The gear you will want to collect for a balance druid is going to be a mix of Intel, stamina, spell power, spell crit, plus hit, and mana regen. I’ve always been a fan of spell crit on my casting dps regardless of class. If you speced Nature’s Grace, crit means reduced casting time on your spells (as well as heals) Depending how you spec spirit can be a good thing. Agility, strength, defense, healing, resilience (unless you are a pvp moonkin), and attack power are not ideal moonkin gear. Though strangely your melee attacks while in moonkin can possible generate mana, the mana return is based on your attack power. Which has always had me thinking about having a feral druid staff to switch to when I am running low on mana.
Keeping a restore and feral set are not bad ideas. Even though balance has become a more group friendly asppect, it does not hurt to keep your options open. The next expansion will make moonkin more feasible since they are going to entangling roots to work indoors, this will make Moonkin a great form of CC. Not to mention blizzard is also supposed to remove the cool down on Hurricane. So Druid will be closer on aoe with Mages and Warlocks.
This is my possible spec for the next expansion.