Most "fun" raid healer?

Manniefresh · 04/27/07, 10:22 PM

So for my entire raid career I've only played a Warlock and while I enjoy playing one, I would like to try out healing. I currently have a Druid, Priest, and Paladin in their 30s and have not leveled a Shaman. The more I read about each individual class, the more I get confuse as to what I would want to play. From what I understand, Druids are good for spot raid healing, Paladins are good for main tank healing, and Priests are good for all-around healing. While all of those classes have other viable builds, I would probably stick with healing at 70 since I can just play my Warlock if I get bored of healing.

Currently, I am ruling out Paladin and Shaman since from what I have read is that they tend to alternate between two healing spells and that's about it. Is that correct? Is the biggest difference between Druids and Priests that Druids use more HoTs while Priests use more direct heals? I would appreciate any response on this and more specifically any Warlocks who also play a healing class. Thank you.

Bekah · 04/27/07, 11:02 PM

Leveling a priest is much more like leveling a warlock, and any shadow tree time you spend will feel familiar although limited. Priests have less than 10 damage spells, warlocks have quite a few more options- the complexity of playing a proper shadow priest is in knowing gearing and learning how to dot cycle- both of which you should have solid experience in... outside of that it's somewhat simple compared to the depth of the spell choice utility of the warlock. Basically- if you can play a warlock well you can probably play a shadow priest without a lot of fuss.

Playing a solid druid from 1-70 requires some time spent in forms and the class is pretty complicated to learn well. You have a lot more options in terms of playstyle at 70 (especially as an alt).

Kinda depends on whether you're looking for something that feels familiar with healing spells- or a class that you need to learn gearing and play for from scratch.

I was a priest first, and rolled a warlock alt =)

Edit: Specifically talking about the fun- honestly it's all healing and whack a mole. Which isn't bad exactly, but I wouldn't try to judge a priest versus a druid in terms of how fun each are in healing unless you have more specific requirements than a variety of healing spells-it's all healing. They're both reasonably complex and rewarding in the end- which you prefer is probably as complicated as trying to explain to a new player which class of mage or warlock they'd rather play. Anything you emphasize is kinda hopeless in really explaining the dynamics of the differences in playstyle. "Well warlocks get a pet and dots.... mages get big explosions." It's about as helpful as saying druids get hots and priests use direct heals. It's oversimple... and impossible to explain why someone is just going to *love* one class over the other.

I raided at 60 on a priest (main), a warlock(alt), and a mage(alt)- and again at 70 on both my mage(current main) and my priest(main at the start of tbc). I couldn't stand raiding on my warlock, but I enjoyed my time as a shadow priest. Even more odd- I didn't like my warlock in raids but I adored my mage... and it had nothing to do with dots or pets or direct damage and more to do with the utility spells and flavor of the classes. It's all a bit of a coin toss unless you get the chance to play all of your options at a reasonably high level to really compare. I'd probably still be playing my priest as my main if I hadn't spent time at 60+ playing my mage and falling in love with the class-if the only class I'd had to compare to priest was warlock.

GokieKS · 04/27/07, 11:22 PM

My main is (and will likely remain until I stop playing WoW) a warlock, but I've leveled both a druid and a priest to 60 (hasn't really revisited either since TBC), and tried both the DPS (feral/shadow) and healing (resto/holy) side of each class. I've raided (MC/BWL/some AQ40) with the priest, but the druid, being Alliance when pretty much all my other characters are Horde, has only gone as far as the level 60 5-mans.

Anyway, between the two... I'd have to say that I liked the healing aspect better as a priest, but enjoyed the overall playing experience of a druid more. The versatility of that class is just so much fun to me.

As for the DPS side of things, I found playing as a Shadow Priest, especially coming from a warlock background, to be a complete and utter bore. But then again, I've thought the same for most of the other DPS classes I've tried (have a mage and enhancement shaman in mid-60s, and have played a hunter to 60) - none of them offer the appeal the warlock class does.

Melador · 04/28/07, 12:39 AM

I've only played priest and druid at 60+, but I think priests definitely have the most versatile spells -- good single-target heals, a pre-emtive heal, an emergency "heal", a good HoT, and a couple party healing spells.

Druids don't really have any party heals (well, one every ten minutes), but they have big single-target heals, a couple HoTs, and two emergency heals, making them pretty interesting to play as a healer.

Paladins have all single-target heals (afaik), so they probably not terribly interesting from a healing variation point of view.

I can't speak to shaman healing at all, having only rarely raided with them in a healing capacity.

Aiiane · 04/28/07, 12:42 AM

Priests are a bit more versatile in the healing department specifically, but overall the druid has more versatility. So if all you're leveling the character for is raiding, I'd suggest a priest - but if you're actually leveling the character to play, try a druid.

Manniefresh · 04/28/07, 1:03 AM

At the moment, I'm not really planning on playing any of these characters beyond raids, but given the way I change my mind, who knows what will happen with that. I'm planning on leveling to 60 normally and then instancing from 60-70 to maximize rep and gold from quests at 70. I'm kinda leaning towards a Priest right now. I do enjoy the complexity of playing a Druid but it really seems like a huge pain in the ass to get gear for a well-rounded spec.

Thank you for all your information. You have no idea how frustrating it's been for me not being able to decide on an alt. Any other information anyone has would be greatly appreciated. Learning what I need in healing gear is going to be fun!

Mochiloc · 04/28/07, 1:15 AM

ITS DA REMIX SO MANNY FRESH IS DROPPIN BASS

Leene · 04/28/07, 1:33 AM

Originally Posted by Manniefresh

Currently, I am ruling out Paladin and Shaman since from what I have read is that they tend to alternate between two healing spells and that's about it. Is that correct?

Paladins only really have two healing spells (Unless you count Holy Shock, which is terrible for healing), so yes you do alternate between these two. Healing as a paladin in raids can be either really boring or slightly more interesting, all depending on what type of healing role you're assigned. I tend to enjoy raid healing far more then staring at one of the tanks healthbars during an entire boss fight. On certain fights you might get to do a little bit of "extra" work, take for instance Maiden, where you get to use BoSac and solo heal the tank during repentance. But all in all, it's not the most exciting class to play in a raid.

Noel · 04/28/07, 2:06 AM

The allure of Paladin raid healing is partly in longevity, and party in the tools you have to allow you to heal when others cannot. With Light's Grace and the 4pc T5 set bonus you can also kick out a large heal with a 1.75 cast time, which provides amazing HPS. Even without the T5 bonus HPS is high.

Druids must shift into bear to really take hits, and priests are squishy, while a Paladin can take a few hits from a boss add as an example. Divine Shield allows you to be the one healer who can pay attention to purely healing in dicey situations, to preemptively shield before an AoE silence, or bubble out of Gruul's reverberation.

Having improved righteous fury also allows you to purposely pick up healing aggro to save your other healers that spot on the threat table.

Raid healing as a paladin tends to be either spitting out massive HPS at moderate efficiency spamming Holy Light, or using Flash of Light with woven in low rank Holy Lights to keep up Light's Grace, and throwing in a max Holy Light when needed. This second style will often leave you with mana when other healers are dry near the end of the fight.

That being said, I would roll a Druid. Two distinct healing styles, and the ability to play around with Feral or Balance and have at least one other option for a viable raiding spec. Currently ret and prot paladins are debatedly a joke in the high end, and why play warlock lite when you have a real one.

Corkscrew · 04/28/07, 3:02 AM

Originally Posted by Noel

Currently ret and prot paladins are debatedly a joke in the high end, and why play warlock lite when you have a real one.

Prot paladins can make decent choices for a tank, and saying a shadow priest is a warlock lite is completely disregarding all utility they bring to a raid (VE, VT, Misery, Shadow Weaving). Even nerfed next patch, they'll still be one of the best hybrids you can choose for a raid. Certainly up there with feral druids, and far better than a Moonkin.

Manniefresh · 04/28/07, 3:17 AM

How well would a Swiftmend Druid perform as a main healer with a competant tank in a random heroic?

GokieKS · 04/28/07, 3:27 AM

Originally Posted by Corkscrew

saying a shadow priest is a warlock lite is completely disregarding all utility they bring to a raid (VE, VT, Misery, Shadow Weaving).

I think when people refer to shadow-priest as warlock lite, they mean in terms of how the class is played, not what the class can do. In that regard, playing a shadow priest really is like playing a simplified warlock: less DoTs, less nukes, less micro-management (due to not having pets or a unique mana-regen mechanic). I mean, you listed the 4 most important things that a shadow priest bring to a raid, and half of them (Misery and SW) are passive effects. Compare that to playing a warlock, where you have to make the decision of how and when to place each and every debuff (Shadow Embrace being an exception), and I think it's fair to say that the two classes share the same play-style as far as raiding goes, but one is quite a bit simpler than the other.

Kyth · 04/28/07, 3:28 AM

Originally Posted by Corkscrew

and saying a shadow priest is a warlock lite is completely disregarding all utility they bring to a raid (VE, VT, Misery, Shadow Weaving). Even nerfed next patch, they'll still be one of the best hybrids you can choose for a raid.

Which doesn't necessarily make them fun, which is what people were talking about. Particularly if you already have a warlock

.

Quigon · 04/28/07, 3:39 AM

Based on experience and turnover in the roles my answer would be shaman. Not going to even bother with the whole speel about how your mileage may vary - I'm assuming you're smart enough to know that.
Edit: actually, maybe not cause you made this silly thread.

Seriously, box a friends account for an easy raid and try it out.

Manniefresh · 04/28/07, 3:51 AM

I think I was straying from Shaman because I didn't really like leveling one back in the day. Are Enhancement Shamans now around the same leveling speed as Shadow Priests, Protection Paladins, and Feral Druids?

And the only reason why this silly thread was made is because I'm stuck at work for 15 hours =P