While the other topic rages on over the actual decision to merge these classes into each faction, I was hoping to open a design and function conversation in yet another thread.

Mixing of shamans and paladins obviously leads to some inherant and fundamental questions.

Two major ones that come up:

How will threat reduction be handled?
How will mana regen be handled?

Other points that scale are certainly questions of melee DPS, buffing/HP, and tank aggro (Although perhaps thats still based on future rage mechanic changes?).

On both of the major points it would seem like they might simply drop the shaman's end of this support, as the paladin version is superior.
However, when every raid member is assumed to have BoS in the first place - encounters will surely be designed around this (like 75% slows in EQ? *shudder*). Whereas TA requires more sacrifice and decision making in regards to aggro control.
The same could be said for the mana regen side of things.

It seems to me not everything can stay in place when the classes merge - furthermore, we'll have 10 more talent points to spend, and higher ranks of certain spells (maybe even a new one or two?). Surely now that they are shared between factions the roles can diverge a bit?

I would hope that in terms of aggro control, they nuke tranquil air as it was a horrible idea to begin with.

Absolutely, just take TA out of the game in the expansion. It's not necessary. Drop me windfury.