How Good Are Healer Frames in Midnight?

Summary

The video discusses the evolving state of healer raid-frame add-ons in World of Warcraft: Midnight, highlighting Blizzard’s gradual easing of UI restrictions and ongoing collaboration with add-on developers. While tools like Dander Frames already offer improved customization, key features such as buff ordering, blacklist/whitelist options, debuff control, and cast-target visibility remain limited. The creator expresses concern that pre-patch raid frames may feel incomplete but remains hopeful that expanded add-on permissions in version 12.0.1—along with upcoming updates from popular add-ons like Cell—will deliver fully functional, reliable healer frames by the expansion’s launch.

Takeaways

• 😀 Blizzard is allowing more add-on customization, which is a big win for players who rely on add-ons for enhanced gameplay.
• 😞 However, there are still significant limitations in healer raid frame add-ons, especially with Blizzard's default frames and Dander Frames.
• 🙂 Dander Frames offers features like buff movement and overshield tracking, but lacks key customization options like whitelisting/blacklisting buffs.
• ⏳ The pre-patch might not offer the ideal healer add-on experience, but there's hope that the expansion launch (Midnight) will improve things.
• 🚀 Blizzard has set up a PTR for *Midnight* where more add-on restrictions will be lifted, potentially bringing better raid frame customization for healers.
• 🔧 Add-on authors, like the team behind Cell, are pushing for more features, and they will continue development in January to address these issues.
• 📝 Players can expect features like customizable buff orders, debuff management, and target spell tracking, but these are still missing from Dander Frames.
• 🙋‍♂️ Viewer feedback is encouraged to help raise awareness about these issues and push for improvements in healer add-ons before the expansion's launch.
• 💪 Despite current limitations, there’s optimism about upcoming updates and expansions bringing the flexibility healers need for effective raid frames.
• 🎮 While some healers may get by using the default UI or workarounds like tracking atonement, there is a significant struggle for players managing large groups in raids.

Q & A

What is the good news about healer add-ons in *Midnight*?

The good news is that Blizzard is allowing add-ons to do more than the default UI. They’ve been working on allowing specific buffs and tools to be tracked, such as Maelstrom for shamans, which helps healers customize their UI and track essential resources.

What is the bad news about healer add-ons?

The bad news is that there hasn’t been much progress in terms of healer-specific add-on features, especially for raid frames. The concern is that the features available in pre-patch may not meet the needs of healers, as many customizations are still lacking.

What feature does *Dander Frames* offer for healer add-ons?

*Dander Frames* offers several useful features, such as moving buffs around, adjusting overshield bars, and removing certain absorb effects like the 'Louis Vuitton' effect seen in beta. It also allows manipulation of externals and debuff positions within the frame.

What limitations exist in *Dander Frames* for healer customization?

In *Dander Frames*, you cannot blacklist or whitelist buffs, reorder buffs, or have targeted spell visibility. The add-on also doesn't allow for debuff blacklisting, so things like Warlock Gateway and Blood Lust clutter up the frame even when out of combat.

What is the issue with Blizzard’s raid frame design?

Blizzard’s default raid frames include a large external buff indicator that cannot be clicked through, blocking parts of the frame and making it difficult for healers to interact with the UI. Additionally, debuffs like Warlock Gateway can’t be removed from the frame, which is inconvenient for healers.

How do current raid frames affect healing gameplay?

The lack of customizable raid frames makes it hard to see key information, especially when multiple buffs are stacked in a cluttered frame. This is particularly problematic when playing a healer like a Druid, where buffs can block important parts of the UI, like the tank’s health bar.

What features does Jack hope Blizzard will add to raid frames?

Jack hopes Blizzard will allow features such as the ability to reorder buffs, blacklist or whitelist debuffs, and see when players are targeted by specific spells. These features would help healers make faster, more informed decisions during gameplay.

What is the current status of add-ons like *Cell*?

*Cell* is confirmed to continue development and will be updated for *Midnight* in January. Jack plans to make a video about the new version once it's available for testing, and he is optimistic that it will provide more customization options for healers.

What additional customization would Jack like to see in add-ons?

Jack would like to see the ability to change the color of raid frames based on specific abilities, such as Rejuvenate or Helmet. Although he doesn’t personally use this feature, he recognizes that it would be a valuable convenience for many players.

Why is Jack concerned about the timeline for pre-patch and healer add-ons?

Jack is concerned because the pre-patch is fast approaching, and Blizzard has yet to prioritize healer add-on features. With the expansion launching soon after the pre-patch, there’s limited time to address key issues before the release.