Originally Posted by tl.
From a average raid standpoint we can say that healing + tanking is more important then dps. While there are cases this is not true, I think most ppl think this way.
The kitties go into their "less important" role (dps) on fights that tanks are not needed since they're there anyway (thrash, other bosses).
Elementals go into their "more important" role on fights the healing is needed.
Therefore if there is no fight with a strict dps race, bringing a resto shamy and making him dps on fights he's not needed for is better in most cases then bringing elementals and making them heal in fights healing is needed.
atm I really fear for our spot, especially if most raids will include encounters with varying number of healers required.
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Blizzard has pretty much stopped making fights that ignore the quality of DPS. An Elemental Shaman is better at healing than a Resto Shaman is at DPSing. Much in the same way that healers get removed for DPS as fights go to farm status and get out-geared, an Elemental Shaman can provide spot-healing for tougher segments of certain encounters and DPS the rest of the time. If a Resto Shaman found itself DPSing more than rarely, I'd imagine most raid leaders would encourage them to spec Elemental for the damage.
The only reason why healing and tanking are considered "more important" is that good healers and tanks are harder to find. If WoW had the same class balance and mechanics, but tanking and healing was a lot "more fun", you'd see many more tanks and healers available, and good DPS players would be considered "more important".