This post continues on my theme this week of my “three non-raiding goals”.
I honestly can’t remember the first time I ever bubblehearthed. I think at some point in Outland, to avoid a massive ganksquad of Allies. I can’t say with certainty though. I can tell you though that the last time I bubblehearthed was during the last raid night before 4.0. We were working on Neck Deep in Vile and were slogging through was likely to be the last attempt of the night. Things went south and with minutes to go before raid end struck, I hastily announced, “that’s raid!” and bubblehearthed to cackle in safety/seclusion as Grid announced the trickling demise of each of my comrades. For old time’s sake, of course.
I was remiss when Cataclysm reduced the duration of Divine Shield and thus effectively murdered in a back alley a combo that’s been port of the lore of the Paladin class since Vanilla. Hell, poems were written about bubblehearthing. And it was gone, just like that!
However, all hope is not lost. As many pointed out when Archaeology first debuted, the Draenei artifact, The Last Relic of Argus, can be used as an impromptu hearthstone. With a five second cast, putting it well within the duration of Divine Shield. Which, as you can guess, makes our beloved bubblehearth possible once more.
I finally got around to digging it up last night, after lagging in my leveling of the Archaeology profession for months. With the Last Relic finally grasped between my greedy paws — like Donovan with the Holy Grail — I fired it up for a test drive and it sent me deep into the heart of Stranglethorn. Even while being sent randomly across the world(s), it felt like coming home!
For Holy, or a dps/tank stacking some crazy Haste, you can also take a look at the Dalaran ring(s) which work like a normal, hasted spell. While you have to be out of combat to equip the ring, it does not suffer a 30 second delay before becoming available.
I think the Relic cast is affected by Haste too. I suppose knowing where you’re going would be an advantage, though, if the ring works similarly.
Rhi, this is very important information you have shared with us.
Heh, only the best! :)
Thank you! Now I don’t have to feel so bad about sinking endless hours into Arch. This alone makes the grind worth it.
Seriously. I’m not sure what’s there to keep me going past Outland now, though.
Haha, I have to admit I love the ghetto-bubble hearth. I’ve used it here and there when Tol Barad dailies get a bit hairy.
I like to try and figure out where I end up without looking at the map. Last port landed me in a crypt in Badlands, facing a dwarf skeleton on a throne. Didn’t know it existed before that! (Though I suspect it’s new with Cataclysm.)
That’s crazy! I need to make a point of using it off cooldown occasionally to see where it sends me. The ultimate portal roulette, without out the portals, haha.
No, the Conan crypt was there before 4.0 :)
The “Conan” crypt was actually on the Blizzard 2010 daily calendar “A Year of Here”, which is how I found it.
When I found out about Cataclysm, I wished I’d kept all those days of art.
I’ve used the relic a few times too once i realized how fast the cast is. This makes me wonder how fast the cast is on the Tol Borad tabard….
10 second cast. Too slow, unfortunately.
In a way this is even better than the original – now the enemies can’t possibly know where you will end up! ;)
Anyway, glad to see you are still posting.
Haha, great point!
And thanks, I’m glad to still be posting. :)