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#1 Nov 22 2004 at 4:41 AM Rating: Decent
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316 posts
I've been looking at priests for awhile. I had one that I tried out, but in Stress Test2 and Open beta I was mainly trying to use a little of every class.

As it is, I hear that many shadow build priests have a rough time gettings parties because they aren't the glorious healbots (Which I do'nt really mind being either, I ran a whm up to 40 in ffxi...) However it seems that a shadow build priest can do some really decent -> damage (almost mage dmg) as well as have a lot of healing power if its really neccessary.

My priest is going to be in a party pretty much all his life as I'm running around with my friends so I don't think it will be that horrible of me to be a Shadow priest instead of a healing one since I could just be a mage and then never heal the poor bastards :)

What are your guys' thoughts on the shadow build priest?
Spirit Tap Rank 5
Blackout Rank 5
Shadow Affinity Rank 5
Improved Psychic Scream Rank 2
Mind Flay Rank 1
Improved Fade Rank 2
Shadow Reach Rank 3
Silence Rank 1
Shadow Weaving Rank 5
Vampiric Embrace Rank 1
Darkness Rank 5
Shadowform Rank 1
Shadow Total: 36
Discipline Mastery
Silent Resolve Rank 5
Improved Power Word: Shield Rank 3
Improved Power Word: Fortitiude Rank 2
Mental Agility Rank 5
Discipline Total: 15
Total
Total Points Spent: 51
Level Required: 60


Thoughts/Comments/Suggestions?
#2 Nov 22 2004 at 4:48 AM Rating: Good
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520 posts
Main thing I dislike about the Shadow Priest spec, from a tank point of view...they generate an immense amount of aggro, which in a group situation leads to one dead priest, followed shortly by a dead group pissed off at the priest for being an aggro beast.

Each to his own though. But in my opinion, there are better solo classes out there. So if you go full shadow priest, expect to solo, just not as well as other classes that are better suited for it.

#3 Nov 22 2004 at 4:54 AM Rating: Decent
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316 posts
StandsInShadow: In your opinion.. More "Threat" then a mage generates?

As well, I think a priest with agro can last longer then a mage in agro. As well to the fact that party is stuck with me no matter what I feel like picking :)
#4 Nov 22 2004 at 5:13 AM Rating: Good
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520 posts
In my opinion, yes more aggro than a mage generates.

Since you are going Shadow spec, it stands to reason you are going to use Shadow Magic as your main offensive magics, the most effective of which is Mind Blast, which generates a huge amount of aggro.

So if the group is "stuck with you" as you put it, then I guess they are going to have to adapt to you, possibly by having a druid, paladin or another priest in the group.


Edited, Mon Nov 22 05:14:47 2004 by StandsInShadow
#5 Nov 22 2004 at 5:17 AM Rating: Decent
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316 posts
I'll probably end up just making a healing build instead because I don't want to be a burden. I'll just have to have another priest on the server and run him up as a solo shadowbuild in my spare time. Plus healing can be fun :)

Thanks for the input!

Edited, Mon Nov 22 05:18:29 2004 by UnjustEnd
#6 Nov 22 2004 at 5:18 AM Rating: Decent
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222 posts
Well you should think of a shadow priest as just another DPS party member, i mean if paladins can tank and heal why cant a shadow priest do damage and have some heals to throw out there too?
#7 Nov 22 2004 at 5:24 AM Rating: Decent
20 posts
dont throw any offensive spells in an instance save SW:P... problem solved. being a shadow priest is no problem in instances as long as you do your job... which is heal. people who think a holy spec'ed priest out ranks a shadow in healing by a long run are misinformed... i took care of my party easily... maybe if the holy tree was alot better but as is there isnt much difference.
#8 Nov 22 2004 at 5:25 AM Rating: Decent
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520 posts
Well, I never understood why people are so enamored with the Shadow spec line.

I guess because at one time it was a very viable PVP build, but not so much anymore. Shadow Priests used to be the king of PVP. So I guess folks just got it locked into their heads that Shadow was the king of damage.

But if you look at the Holy line that includes the Smite, Holy Fire and Healing lines, you will see that it gives you both increased healing ability as well as a formidable punch when needed. Also in a PVP enviroment, Undead have a high resistance to shadow magic, but a lower resistance to Holy damage.

Heck, in my opinion...get the best of both worlds, be a healing beast with the capability to throw the holy smackdown if needed.

#9 Nov 22 2004 at 5:32 AM Rating: Decent
20 posts
unless your undead? =) shadow priests still wreck shop in pvp... the big change that slowed them down i believe was adding a cooldown to PW:S which used to be able to be put on at any time without a cooldown... now any spec could own with that.
#10 Nov 22 2004 at 5:38 AM Rating: Decent
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316 posts
Yes the undead only spell, is rather wicked.
#11 Nov 22 2004 at 5:42 AM Rating: Good
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520 posts
Actually, the Forsaken are no longer considered undead...so I guess that argument is kinda moot.

Mainly because Paladins and Priests of the Alliance used to just blow them off the field as the Holy line REALLY wreaked havoc with them.

But in PVE (sorry, mistype on my part) the undead have high resistance to Shadow, lower resistance to Holy magics.

I think things have changed a bit now that racial abilities have entered the field. Stacking DOT's is no longer as viable as it used to be, especially to Dwarves. Stack all that on them, one quick StoneForm and it all goes poof. Also a Paladin kicking off his Purify line of spells also removes them all.

What used to really let Shadow Priest's rule was the Fear line of spells, which now there are several ways to negate that.

I am sure that a Shadow Specced priest would still be viable in PVP, just not the kings they once were.

#12 Nov 22 2004 at 9:18 AM Rating: Decent
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1,075 posts

My priest, a REAL priest, was in a group with two warriors and two so called "shadow priests."

They suggested that I "heal" since I was a "healing priest." This should have clued me in and they should have been booted from the group right then, but I naturally assumed they meant that I should mostly heal.

So we go up against some ogre boss or something. I am keeping the tanks alive against the boss, while I guess the so called shadow priests are doing "some" damage while mostly getting resisted. Then I of course eventually get aggro. I think I got one flash heal from one of them, that was it. Otherwise, even then I had to heal myself.

So I of course died. Then the warriors died, then the "shadow" priests died. There was really no excuse for us to die, against that mob, with two warriors and 3 priests.

If any priest says that again, wanting to join a party I'm in, I'm just going to laugh and say "No, wannabe mage."

#13 Nov 22 2004 at 10:47 AM Rating: Decent
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132 posts
^ I'm with stupid. ; )
#14 Nov 22 2004 at 11:23 AM Rating: Decent
Quote:
^ I'm with stupid. ; )



Bahahaha. Don't ask me why, but I laughed out loud when I read that......might have even pissed a little. (0).(0)



-$.02





#15 Nov 22 2004 at 1:28 PM Rating: Decent
20 posts
StandsInShadow wrote:
Actually, the Forsaken are no longer considered undead...so I guess that argument is kinda moot.




i was referring to your pvp comment about beating up on the undead with your holy damage. you wouldnt need this if you were undead. =) and these dots your talking about? priest only has one... so im confused there.
#16 Nov 22 2004 at 1:34 PM Rating: Decent
Undead aren't undead anymore. They are now considered humanoid.
#17 Nov 22 2004 at 3:56 PM Rating: Decent
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520 posts
The Undead Players are now called The Forsaken, and are no longer flagged as undead, so they are now effected by fear, polymorph and charm. Unless they use their racial ability, which makes them immune for a limited time to all but polymorph.

Shadow Word Pain and Mind Flay are both considered DOT's, Mind Flay also has a snare effect.

#18 Nov 22 2004 at 4:16 PM Rating: Decent
I think some people miss the point that Talents are supposed to enhance certain abilities, not "remove some abilities to buff some abilities". So a Shadow Priest might not have all the healing perks that Holy Priests get, but it means they can still heal.

A Shadow Priest player that doesn't heal (and thus ignores half of the skills he gains every two levels) is a waste of oxygen, in my opinion.
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