UI post: Resto Power Auras

This is a topic I've wanted to post for a while now, and should only be the first of many. I really enjoy making and customizing UIs. At my peak/worst, I would overhaul my entire setup from scratch once a month. While it got hard to keep up, I had some neat things here and there. Because I've put so much time into playing around with these, I thought I'd put some effort into sharing some of what I do. This post will only cover the amazingness that is Power Auras. My instinct is to start with an overview first, but I'm still tweaking a lot of things since 4.0.1. What I'll likely end up doing is following this up next week with an explanation of my Balance auras, then an walk-through and justification of my somewhat odd keyboard setup, once I'm used to the Razer Naga that should show up tomorrow. Then I'll do a post about my general UI, another about my Vuhdo settings, and then whatever else comes to mind.

To start, let me say that there are two broad UI categories that I really enjoy: minimalist design and HUD layouts. With this in mind, it should be no surprise that I use Power Auras. This won't be an intro post, you can find a good explanation and walk through of exsactly what PA is from Matticus, here. This is merely going to document and demonstrate what I use for raiding as Restoration, as well as save the exports in case something in my PC blows up.

Restoration Power Auras


I'll start with some auras I use in both specs, but shot them with my Resto auras to save space. Only the little yellow numbers have been added to these shots.

1. Show's up when I'm in a raid group, not in combat and lack the well fed buff. Any buff. Borrowed this from Keeva of Tree Bark Jacket here. This post was the inspiration for a number of these settings. Check it out.
   

   Version:4.2; b:0.2078; g:0.4; icon:Spell_Misc_Food; buffname:Well Fed; r:0.5843; x:33; texture:10; alpha:1; PowerType:0; combat:false; size:0.2; inRaid:true; y:-90; texmode:2; inverse:true; anim2:1; finish:0

2. Same thing, same source, but for Flask of the Frost Wyrm.
   

   Version:4.2; g:0.4392; icon:INV_Alchemy_EndlessFlask_04; buffname:Flask of the Frost Wyrm; r:0.4863; x:-29; texture:10; alpha:1; PowerType:0; size:0.2; inRaid:true; y:-90; texmode:2; inverse:true; finish:0

3. Rebirth cooldown timer. Simple, and a little off to the side. You'll notice that I like the digital alarm clock look. I find it pretty unambiguous, which is good for graphics you only want to have to glance at.
   

   Version:4.2; b:0.0549; g:0.251; icon:Spell_Nature_Reincarnation; buffname:Rebirth; x:307; customname:48477; isAlive:0; bufftype:15; texture:15; alpha:0.1; isResting:0; PowerType:0; textaura:true; size:0.14; y:-43; texmode:2; inverse:true; anim2:1; finish:0; timer.h:1.36; timer.Texture:Digital; timer.enabled:true; timer.y:-93; timer.x:-316; timer.Transparent:true

4. Innervate timer. Same deal.
   

   Version:4.2; g:0.502; icon:Spell_Nature_Lightning; buffname:Innervate; r:0.1961; x:-307; customname:48477; isAlive:0; bufftype:15; texture:15; alpha:0.1; isResting:0; PowerType:0; textaura:true; size:0.14; y:-107; texmode:2; inverse:true; anim2:1; finish:0; timer.h:1.36; timer.Texture:Digital; timer.enabled:true; timer.y:-93; timer.x:295; timer.Transparent:true

5. Low mana indicator. Let's me know when I drop below 18%, which is just a number I've found to be a good balance between "OSHI-" and having time to react. I'm generally pretty good about keeping an eye on my blue bar, but occasionally you get really into a fight and it's nice to have something like this to remind you that your resources aren't infinite. These in-your-face reminders are where Power Auras and HUD displays in general are great.
   

   Version:4.2; g:0.5804; icon:Spell_fire_meteorstorm; r:0; bufftype:9; texture:27; threshold:18; PowerType:0; size:0.26; y:24; texmode:2

6. Tree of Life timer. Counts down the duration of the new Tree of Life cooldown, so I know how long I have until I lose it. this may go once I get used to having a major cooldown while healing.
   

   Version:4.2; b:0; g:0.6235; icon:Ability_Druid_TreeofLife; buffname:Tree of Life; r:0.0118; isAlive:0; texture:59; alpha:0.1; isResting:0; PowerType:0; textaura:true; spec2:false; texmode:2; timer.h:1.97; timer.Texture:WhiteRabbit; timer.enabled:true; timer.Transparent:true

7. Tree of Life cooldown timer. My instinct is to not have something non-essential right in the center like this, but until I get in the habit of using that button when I need it, I like the reminder that it exists. This one is actually two auras, so that it doesn't show while I'm in tree form. If you copy it, make sure that the first aura is still referencing the second, and that the second is not displaying on it's own.
   

   Version:4.2; b:0.5451; g:0.5608; icon:Ability_Druid_TreeofLife; buffname:Tree of Life; r:0.5529; customname:48477; isAlive:0; bufftype:15; texture:15; alpha:0.1; isResting:0; PowerType:0; textaura:true; spec2:false; size:0.14; y:-107; texmode:2; inverse:true; anim2:1; finish:0; timer.h:1.36; timer.Texture:Digital; timer.enabled:true; timer.y:-53; timer.x:-9; timer.Transparent:true

Version:4.2; b:0; g:0.6235; icon:Ability_Druid_TreeofLife; buffname:Tree of Life; r:0.0118; isAlive:0; texture:59; alpha:0.1; isResting:0; off:true; PowerType:0; textaura:true; spec2:false; texmode:2; inverse:true; timer.h:1.97; timer.Texture:WhiteRabbit; timer.enabled:true; timer.Transparent:true; timer.ShowActivation:true

1.  I use the default Power Aura for Omen of Clarity, but it's almost exactly what I'd do, and the default auras actually have noticeably less lag than the addon. I really noticed this with Starsurge procs, but that's for another post.
   
2. Swiftmend is off cooldown. I never remembered to use this enough in 3.x, but now I can't seem to get enough Efflorescence. In any case, I like having at a glance knowledge of whether or not it's ready. Also from Keeva's aforementioned post, if I recall correctly.
   

   Version:4.2; g:0.5216; icon:INV_Relics_IdolofRejuvenation; buffname:Swiftmend; r:0; x:-55; bufftype:15; texture:34; alpha:1; isResting:0; PowerType:0; spec2:false; combat:true; size:0.23; y:-51; ismounted:0; customsound:soft_chime_beep.wav; anim2:1; finish:0

3. Same thing, with Wild Growth. Also from Keeva's aforementioned post.
   

   Version:4.2; b:0.0157; g:0.2863; icon:Ability_Druid_Flourish; buffname:Wild Growth; r:0; x:52; bufftype:15; texture:23; alpha:0.1; isResting:0; PowerType:0; spec2:false; wowtex:true; combat:true; size:0.28; y:-50; ismounted:0; anim2:1; finish:0

4. Lifebloom timer. This one is actually three auras: white for one stack, yellow for two stacks, green for three. I like that timer telling me when I need to refresh more than a bar or my raid frames(although the info is there too.) Thinking about it now, I have no idea how it will behave when I throw multiple Lifeblooms up during ToL. Oh well, it'll be a surprise!
   

   Version:4.2; icon:INV_Misc_Herb_Felblossom; buffname:Lifebloom; stacks:1; alpha:0.56; isResting:0; mine:true; stacksOperator:=; textaura:true; spec2:false; groupOrSelf:true; timer.h:1.76; timer.Texture:Digital; timer.enabled:true; timer.y:56

   Version:4.2; b:0; g:0.9843; icon:INV_Misc_Herb_Felblossom; buffname:Lifebloom; stacks:2; isResting:0; mine:true; stacksOperator:=; textaura:true; spec2:false; groupOrSelf:true; timer.h:1.76; timer.Texture:Digital; timer.enabled:true; timer.y:56

   Version:4.2; b:0; icon:INV_Misc_Herb_Felblossom; buffname:Lifebloom; r:0.0196; stacks:3; alpha:1; isResting:0; mine:true; stacksOperator:=; textaura:true; spec2:false; groupOrSelf:true; timer.h:1.76; timer.Texture:Digital; timer.enabled:true; timer.y:56 

And that's it. Make sure that the auras are enable for the correct specs. I didn't change them, and I have Resto as for my primary, and Balance as my secondary. Balance auras will be up soon/eventually.