I am a level 46 priest. I've been in this game for over 2 years, and I play slowly, intentionally. I have a 70 mage and a 47 rogue as well. I've flown through plenty of alts. I do not PvP except once in a while when I get the idea in my head.
And I've never respec'd ever by payment, only have my toons respec'd when patches came allowing free respecs because of class changes.
Well, that was true until 2 weeks ago, when I respec'd this level 46 priest to move two crummy talent points out of Martyrdom. My priest is a female undead named Eelias, on Scarlet Crusade.
Now, warning: You may be tempted to throw stuff at me. I understand.
http://www.wowarmory.com/character-talents.xml?r=Scarlet+Crusade&n=Eelias
That's right, peeps. I have leveled a DISC priest. A full (almost) Discipline priest, save for Spirit Tap and Improved Renew.
25% more DPS with wands.
4% less threat generated.
30% better fort.
15% more damage taken from PW:S.
Inner Focus.
15% mana regen.
30% more armor from Inner Fire.
2-second Mana Burn.
Divine Spirit.
Divine Spirit with .1 x Spirit to spell damage.
10% more mana.
Instant casts cost 2% less.
Now, this is not the best way to make a healer.
Now, this is not the best way to make faces melt.
When PuGging, "u shadow or holy?"
Me: "I'm a healer."
This is a healer who can solo. This is a healer who can solo who is not smite-specced.
Is this healer a good healer?
Well, considering it's been actual months I have died on this character, including groups... yes, I think it is a good healer. (I rarely BG, but do go in sometimes.)
My healing pattern seems to be different from all of you guys, though. Probably since I have 207 spirit and 164 intellect, though, with the mana-conservation spec. What I do is that with Warrior or Dire Bear tanks, I pop a renew on the tank and wand the mob he's tanking. It will be a short time only, but absolutely nothing lost by doing it. I'll then start greater heal when the tank's near half-health or so. Paladins get a shield.
Group members who get adds or pulls from the tank will get shields, then renews, and only Greater Heals if their health merits it. Renew is my main heal. And I don't go OOM in instances. Inner Focus you may think may be wasted on a shield because of it having a 25% boost to crit chance, but it doesn't matter to me.
I don't go OOM in instances except for bad pulls. I get PuGs and guild runs alike. I get good and bad groups alike. But I can keep everyone alive because after Renew, Prayer of Healing is my heal. Greater Heal is behind Power Word: Shield in a dismal 4th.
My 70 spec for instance healing (not going to raids, heroics a maybe) will be this:
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/priest/talents.html?055230013050512001550235020030300000000000000000000000000000000
It sounds crazy to you holy priests. But the mana management seems to be AWESOME for me. My people do not die. AND I DO NOT DIE.
And I can still solo.
Thoughts? Questions? Comments? Concerns? Asylum phone numbers?