New Priest, need som insightFollow

You underestimate the power of the Shadow Priest. Shadows can easily out-heal the other Hybrids when they are not specced for it.

As I am a Holy Priest and run instances a good bit as well. Kinda happens when your a Mercenary. But here are my rules.

1. Heal the tank at about 50%.
2. Renew is a good thing, but I use it more on the Pally's, Mages, Warlocks, and such and focus on the hunters pets and tanks with pure healing.
3. Only sheild the tank when you feel he's swarmed and you have to heal another that is lower health then him.
4. Agro only happens when you are too close to the mob when you heal. Otherwise they tend to ignore you. BUT there is the occasion that one may appear behind you such as patrols that can see you when you heal. So make sure to keep the camera far enough back to watch your own back as well.

I typically run instances my lvl and higher and hardly aggro becuase I stand back. There are times I will be the puller. I've noticed that there is one spell in particular that can help you the healer limit this and that is Mind Vision. It also helps them know how many are ahead and hidden in areas. Also a good spell is Mind Control. Use it to help the tank start a fight with another humaniod. But be warned when you get to far away you will loose the control on them and they come for you and no one else. So when you see your meter almost ending in control let the tank know to start bashing away and have that sheild ready for yourself. But the later one is for you lvl 30 areas.

EDIT: I recommend keeping your shield and fortitude talents maxed and always having fort buffs on EVERYONE including yourself up. But buff the tanks first, then self, then mages and such. Even at lvl 40 I can only buff 3 people before having to wait for the 4th and then juicing up for the 5th member.

Edited, May 15th 2007 4:04pm by LotusDarkshi

First off - let me congratulate you for a successful run. I know I was relieved and dancing around the room the first time I did a run with a group my level (SM cath. I leveled mainly through boosts) without any wipes!

You read a lot of good things about healing here. They work, so I won't start repeating them. But two other suggestions I'd have. Write a macro for aggro and put it on some hotkey or on your toolbars for easy access. Fade sometimes doesn't get the mob off you. Bad when it happens, but it happens. Tank doesn't always notice if it's a bad pull, amge is aoe happy and he has to keep 5 other mobs. It happens. Everyone's human and makes mistakes.

So when it happens and I see no one is coming to help I hit the macro. Mine flashes a raid warning "aggro on priest" on everyone's screen, yells it loudly and flashes it into party chat. It's shocking enough to give me immediate attention and when I use it, I need it. Talking about 70's instances right now, but it's useful at lower level places at well. Just use it wisely only when you need it. If a mob is running your way and a hunter put a freezing trap before you - there isn't a need to worry and use it.

And you dictate the pace of the run. Not the tank, not the mage, not the rogue's sap, not the hunters trap. YOU. Or rather your manapool does. When your tank, dps doesn't wait - call out you need a manabreak and sit down to drink. Let that dps who ran away alone die while you're drinking. And speak with your tank. i've had tanks who look at my manapool too much, at which cases assure them you'll let them know when you need a break. And tell others that if they want heals and live they need to let you regain your man. You don't regenerate mana the same way warriors gain rage.

Most of all - enjoy the game!

Sharajat may have been a little harsh, but his point is valid.

If you're in an instance to DPS, you shouldn't be pulling aggro. You pull it, you own it...period. If your DPS folks are having trouble with aggro management, that's only going to lead to much bigger problems later - such as bosses, like he mentioned.

There are times that DPS classes may require healing (tank gets stunned, feared, etc), but the point is help your healer out by healing yourself if you are capable.

Most importantly, the DPSers have a role just like the tank and the healer. Theirs' is to do as much damage without ripping aggro.

Very interesting and helpful thread! I too have just lvled a priest to 20 and am looking to group for Deadmines to cut my teeth on :o) After many months of playing my warrior it has been a challenging change :o)

Thanks!