Priests of Elune and Shadow SkillsFollow

It depends on who you play with, I think. If someone in your guild is willing to talk to your character about the need for shadow magic just as much as light, then it's possible your character will have a change of heart and mind. If you can't find anyone to do so, solo for a bit and find an Alliance priest that uses shadow magic, and have a long talk. I think your priest, though moved toward the light, may be convinced that using shadow magic to further the light isn't necesarily evil in itself.

Unless, in the background of your character, he despises shadow magic in all its forms. Then you may need convincing on an action scale. Take a priest of the same level with you to find some higher level mobs that, while it may not kill you, would give you considerable damage and keep you healing/shielding yourself constantly. Have the other priest use mostly shadow magic, unless one of you are dieing. Afterwards, talk about it. He may convince you that you wouldn't have won on your own, and what use would your death be because of your stubbornness?

It's your character, and since I don't know your story, I can't tell you what to do, but it could be worth a shot. Basically, find a peer and try having them convince your character that Shadow magic isn't all bad.

Well, my priest is also a Night Elf and she's specced almost entirely in Shadow. Her backstory explains it in depth but basically, it's because she is primarily a battle priest, not a nursemaid. I've found that there are far too many roleplayers who believe darkness and light exist in vacuums and think only in extremes. Without darkness, there can be no light (and vice versa). The weak of mind are corrupted by the whispering of dark powers but the strong choose to use dark powers to defeat dark entities.

Later in her career, she will have proven herself strong enough of mind and resolve to gain access to the holiest of holy (talent wise) but right now is her crucible period. She didn't emerge from the womb with the ability to summon a Spirit of Redemption. That ability must be earned. Along the way, I will gain greater discipline from experience and over time, that will (hopefully) grant me access to holy abilities.

Also, as far as roleplay sense, since when has the Moon (which appears to be Elune's primary symbol) only been composed of or reminiscent of light? During the Moon's dominant portion of the day, shadows are cast commonly. In my opinion, what makes the followers of Elune different from their Human and Dwarf counterparts, special even, is the fact that they can control the shadows as opposed to just fearing and shunning it.


I designed Tearra to be primarily a Shadow priest until she hits the 50s due to the above (Holy spec doesn't "come into its own" until you're doing higher end encounters where the need for the better healing priests provide can get you groups more reliably) and because, in a related sense, I didn't want her to fall into the basic "heal-bot" mold until she absolutely had to do so. Holy spec gives you great healing ability but at the cost of versatility. From speaking to several higher level priests, it appears the consensus (if you want to call it that) is that shadow spec is better for levelling up since it allows you to group AND solo as efficiently as possible (for a priest).

You make it sound as though it'd be impossible to solo with out even shadow talents.... I will say without SW:P (just the spell not the talent...the talent is kinda crap) soloing will be extra difficult/less mana efficient. With that said...to say you have to solo greens if you're holy specced you don't know how to play a priest. I have 0 in holy and I regularly solo +3. I'd rather kill +1-2 as it's often faster exp but I can easily take +3 and even +4 as a holy spec when I need items from them. Please, if you haven't played a holy priest don't comment on their solo-capabilities. I may be breaking the rule I just set forth but I'd say holy priests seem more mana efficient at soloing than shadow priests seeing as I only rely on renew and SW:P...a holy specced priest's renew will often times outweigh a mobs DPS of similar level, therefore we can renew ourselves, throw the DoT, and swing away with our staff (or mace, dagger,....or wand)


In regards to the original poster, sometimes Priests believe in balance of the forces as opposed to complete and utter one sidedness. A priest can easily believe in the neutrality of power.

its like ying and yang basically like everybody has been saying. how is one expected to rid the world of evil by healing? sometimes you have to "fight fire with fire" in order to survive and carry out your mission of goodness =)