SP's as HealersFollow

I think I'm missing the point of this post. Did you come to the priest forum to get support from other priests that priests are good characters to have around? Was your point that a shadowpriest contributes to a party more than a holy/disc priest does? While I think both can contribute in different ways, why would you make the argument that a shadowpriest


Do you think the physical damage mittigation from shadowform outweighs the survivability of talents in the discipline or holy trees? If that was the case, why would people spec discipline/holy for arena tanking?

I play both shadow and holy/disc, so I'm not saying one is better than the other ... I just don't get or agree with your point(s) in this post.

Laughable at best... Velluna actually pointed out to you that either form of the most common priests, whether Shadow or Holy/Disc, are both very versatile. What was asked is that you clarify what you are trying to say.

As for Shadow Priests being versatile, of course they are, and everyone knows that. Most Raids bring along shadow priests to complement caster groups to help maintain health and mana.

As for:

You are right if you are playing for the first time, or maybe in a new server, but that conception has been gone for a long time. Pre Outlands, you can maintain your heals as well or better than most classes. Once in Outlands it begins to get progressively more difficult to be the main healer unless you are specced for it. It is still doable, but you need practice and trial with lots of error. The downside is that no one wants to help you learn, and you will never learn great healing technique leveling as Shadow. You can be good, but great is normally reserved for those that are specced into it. Maybe you would prove me wrong... who knows.

I guess my point is do you even know or own a lvl 70 Priest prior to posting? Just curious...

Just end it all now, dude. Life obviously isn't worth living if you don't agree with El Cardinal.

Edited, Mar 6th 2008 12:15pm by TheEngine

What an odd assertion. Shadow priests CANNOT heal as well as holy or disc.
They can heal acceptably, and do so well enough for many instances, but in no way are they as good at it as a holy or disc priest.

If you're on a server where people still make fun of shadow specced priests then I feel sorry for you and all but this isn't commonly held opinion these days, either on these forums or the community in general.

To play devil's advocate, what do you mean by "good as". Does that mean you have more spells to use? more innate healing ability?

I'm kinda curious because on occasion you do run into people who think you can/can't heal depending on spec. I'm shadow / disc and plan to stay that way as long as possible. I never dps in instances, I always heal. So far, the only problem i have is people who are idiots and pull the whole room = dead group.

I always put up VT, VE and SW:P to assist in healing and mana return. So why can't a spriest be "as good as" and holy priest? (I've never been holy so what is there that really makes it better?)


My baby priest is coming up as disc/holy (mainly for World PvP survivability) Does that mean I won't be able to heal "as good as" either ???

Thanks in advance.

The devil's advocate (-:

How dare you ask for specifics and actual hard evidence to back up my sweeping, amorphous claims?! ;)

I kid of course. Defining "good as" is a very relevant question, but nearly impossible with the number of variables at play. Pure mana efficiency? Biggest possible single heal? Ability to recover quickly with a tank <10% health? Versatility?

Even once you decide that, how do you test it? What circumstances? Perfect group clearing Kara? Horrible pug SV where elite healing is the only reason you made it out with only 5 wipes?

Each class has their answers to the above metrics:

- Druids have insta-cast big heals on demand (3min c/d), though they are of course renowned for their HoTs
- Pallys have huge heals on demand (long cast time)
- Priests have impressive versatility with their almost overwhelming array of heal options

I guess my basic argument (that I, again, can't really prove at the moment) is that a heal-specced class would do better in all of those metrics (save perhaps variety of heal spells) than an spriest (or a tankadin or a feral). Thus, regardless of how you define goodness, the specced class wins. I mean, if it doesn't, blizzard needs to have a look (I know how far that line of logic will get me lol...).

Oh don't get me wrong, a good set of healing gear goes a long way, I've been building mine up for a while now and it's pretty decent. I still wouldn't be happy healing certain heroics while shadow specced though. A good example might be mech, with those nasty robot mobs that can paste an ill equipped tank in short order. Having the reduced heal cast time and reduced heal aggro talents are a serious plus, and not to be underestimated.

Just look up the talents in the holy tree.

Improved Renew 3/3 = Increases the amount healed by your Renew spell by 15%

Improved Healing 3/3 = Reduces the mana cost of your Lesser Heal, Heal, and Greater Heal spells by 15%

Spiritual Guidance 5/5 = Increase your spell damage and healing by up to 25% of your total spirit.

Spiritual Healing = Increased the amount healed by your healing spells by 10%

Empowered Healing 1/2/3/4/5 = Your Greater Heal spell gains an additional 4/8/12/16/20% and your Flash Heal and Binding Heal gain an addition 2/4/6/8/10% of your bonus healing effects.

I don't see how a shadow priest can heal as well as a holy priest if they are similarly geared. Yes, shadow priest can heal. It's just that holy priest heal moar and their spells cost less. There's even a talent that reduces your Prayer of Mending. Unless you're one of those priest that doesn't use Renew, Greater Heals, Flash Heals, Binding Heals, or Prayer of Mending when you heal, the spec will make a difference.