Questions about Dwarf vs DraneiFollow

Okay, I have posted several threads, discussed with guildmates, and read strategy FAQs. I have decided to make a Paladin with the intention of Tanking 5-man instances. That being said I am still undecided on race. I know I want to make either Dranei or Dwarf because my other characters are Humans and I don't like the Human male look anyways. Between the Dranei and Dwarf I don't really love either look but I don't dislike either of them so that's not really helping me decide.

A lot of people have stated that Dwarf Stoneform is good in PvP and PvE for a Tankadin, so that has me slightly leaning towards Dwarf. However one thing that has me hesitating is that if I get to high levels and decide to switch specs to a Healer then being Dranei would probably be better because of their racial HoT. So I guess my question is this, if I decide to roll a Dwarf and then end up switching to Healer at higher levels will I miss the HoT badly or is it just a small benefit? And by the same token, if I go Dranei and end up staying as a Tank how much will my tank miss having Stoneform in PvP? in PvE?

Edited, Dec 22nd 2007 9:36am by icemandarekthanius

Let me state clearly and without the slightest uncertainty that race and the racial abilities that come with them have absolutely no bearing on how your Pally will play whether you end up tanking or healing.

No.Bearing.At.All.

Can't state that strongly enough. Really the choice is purely aesthetic.

Draenei hots, stone form, rep buff, mana tap all really don't matter end game except in a very few exceptions and even then they are barely noticeable. Making a choice based purely off of that is extremely foolish. "I chose to be a dwarf so I could stoneform that 1 time in 20 av's when I get a bleed effect put on me, it is awesome" /rolleyes.

The Draenei hot is a hot, therefore it gets 100% of all +heal, so I have a 1.5 cast, mana free 2900 heal HOT. Nice but it is on a 3 min timer and I could easily get by without it. My brothers Draenei warrior only gets 1k heals from it and when he is Arms rocking 10k health or Prot rocking 19k health raid buffed it really isnt worth it.

Stoneform has been nerfed for any PvE usuage and its viability in PvP is really more "nice but I it will never be something that makes/breaks a fight or even comes close to it"

I look at it this way... Dwarf women are hideous and Draenei women look like they're out of a hentai, so I'd totally go with draenei.

Keep in mind the taller you are, the easier it is to stay in LOS on hills. Dranny males are some of the tallest (if not the tallest) alliance characters, making it very easy for them to be kept in that dwarf priests LOS or to keep that gnome warrior in their LOS, depending on if you're tanking or healing. On the other hand, in PvP, dwarves will be harder for enemies to keep in their LOS. Of course, this wont matter too much.
Also consider that taller toons have an easier time fishing in some locations (where a dwarf would be swimming and thus unable to fish, a dranny may still be standing). Certain little factors like that can be looked at.

I'd recommend draenei personally. I'm not a fan of anything that starts in Dun Morogh TBH (dwarves or gnomes). But that's a looks thing.