Re-spec'ing from Shadow to Disc/Holy, halp plzFollow

I've been giving it some thought, and since I haven't healed *any* instances (other than 2 ZF runs and 1 SFK run way back when I was like, 20) I think from 67 on I want to re-spec to Disc/Holy for the long haul.

Have some questions/issues though.

1- Should I just wait until I'm 70 to do it, since then I'll be moving onto Northrend and have far more chances to heal instances for practice for big stuff?
2- I do like to PvP a bit, so however I re-spec would have to be viable in BG's as well (don't care for arena... though I guess I'll have to learn to like it eventually :<).
3- any suggestions for a decent talent build for both instance'ing/solo'ing are appreciated, since I'm pretty clueless.

Basically since my Shadow Priest isn't wanted for much, and I constantly get asked to heal and I just don't feel comfortable/have experience with it, I want to change things and start focusing on what I will inevitably have to do with my priest in the end-run. But I'm a bit overwhelmed and confused by everything. :<

(Add-on suggestions are appreciated as well- have Omen, Grid, and Decursive all installed... just haven't done anything yet to feel out how they work. :<)

Thanks in advance~

To make an oddball build BG-viable is quite easy, really. You generally swap 3-5 points around and you're there. Sticking with Teacakes build and 'adjusting' it for ocassional PvP I've come up with this. Your greater heals will heal a bit less and your shield won't be as good; these are small stat differences you should barely notice if you're not at end-game, though. Regardless, whatever you do, if you go that far up the holy tree and want some PvP viability, Blessed Resilience is a must. If there's stuff you feel you can miss (Holy Concentration for example), picking up Blessed Recovery isn't a bad idea either.

Man o man every time I look in this forum, I see something that I can relate to. I just moved from shadow/disc to holy/disc at L68. My reasoning being that when/if the dual spec option is implemented (i hope that isn't just one of those rumors floating about), I would like to be able to have some idea of what I'm doing in a different spec. I know I'll have a shadow spec. Even if it is considered the poor cousin of healing 5-mans and raids, I like the ease of moving in and out of heal and dps mode, even joining the two.

I'm pretty sure I goofed my holy spec. Lightwell is ignored in most people's spec (i took it); Holy Reach seems to be passed up (yep, maxed that out, too). I thought Martyrdom was a better choice than Healing Focus (oops, now that i consider it, why wait to be crit hit before enjoying reduced pushbacks?) And most glaringly, I failed to max out Spiritual Guidance!

My confused choices arose when I began to realize that many of the talents rely on crits (either given or taken) for the party to start. I haven't thought overly much about crits, and try not to rely on them to be effective. Now, it seems to me, Inner Focus should be used earlier in a fight to proc out a crit and start the chain up. I have used it when OOM as a last ditch effort to save a wipe (which it has =] )

I thought Lightwell would work well with Hymn of Hope (kind of an 'Out to Lunch' sign while I replenish all). But HoH isn't as great as I thought, and nobody likes it if a healer takes an unscheduled break in a fight. Maybe it has a place in larger groups where multiple classes can cover each other or at the end of a long fight where you could set it out while drinking. But it appears to be more of a convenience than necessity.

I hate taking a "xxx/xxx" build and just plopping it in. But without spending the time during leveling to appreciate the synergies between talents, it is difficult to ignore the suggestions of others.

Thanks for the suggestions. I am and always hope to be a newb. =P

Wow, thanks so much! I have a clearer idea of where to head with spec'ing than I did before. In a couple days when I pick up my priest again (giving the masses about another week to start to move out of the Northrend starting areas) I'm definitely going to give these a try. I'm a little nervous about doing something completely differently than I have for the last ~25 levels or so, but I'm sure with some practice I'll have a better grip on it. :D Thanks!

If anyone else has tips/suggestions, they are *greatly* appreciated, so don't be afraid to share, please! ^^

I think you're messing up some stuff, Trylofer. Spirit Tap increases your spirit; Spiritual Healing permanently increases the amount your heal spells heal for. They have nothing to do with eachother. Perhaps you were talking about Spiritual Guidance? In that case I'd daresay it's indeed affected by Spirit Tap; it is affected by buffs like Divine Spirit, so why not by spirit tab?

Ooops... yes I meant Spiritual Guidance. I was -uh- just trying to keep you on your toes (yeah that's the ticket).

Nice little boost in spell power. I was noticing larger numbers later in fights with multiple mobs. I guess this would be one factor.