We were going to do a raid last night, but we didnt have enough healers on. We had another Shadow priest who had respeced to Holy and had’nt changed back, and another healer who was in stitches ( literally) and was too ill to play. So a 10 man was out of the question let alone a 25 man raid. A newbie pipes up “Why don’t you recruit more healers.” It wasn’t that the guild had a shortage of healers, it was just a shortage of healers on at that time.
I’ve already decided that If I am ever to respec to Holy again, its going to be for a VERY good reason, and by Very it means deep Guild Loyalty, and the importance of the goal. The last time I respeced was for 2 bosses we couldnt kill anyway with the current group makeup. I agree there needs to be some flexibilty. Thats why I have 1200+ healing gear. I could never be the main healer of a serious raid with my Spec, but even as shadow with that gear as long as I watch my mana Im still a decent healer. I don’t need to respec, but they needed main healers.. not ‘support’ healers.
I had considered on several occasions going Holy once I got another toon up to ‘farm status’ and I’ve decided, Im not going to. The hours Ive spent making Z a decent Shadow Priest, I’d rather roll a healer. But the problem with healers is that everyone wants them, but no one will support them. I propose a healing Levy for Healers. Even with the +damage of 1/3 of healing in 2.3 I really can’t see a holy Priest knocking down mobs at anywhere near the rate a Shadow Priest can. Yes there is a Disp Spec Priest, or a hyrid, but I think its too much of a trade off on the other abilities, you can Heal and damage.. but you will never be great at either.
So what motivates people to stay healing? besides the love of healing. Im looking at this from a being able to support ones self perspective. Repairs are getting more expensive the better my gear is. When I do gear up I need to spend a fortune on the best enchant/best Gem ect ect… plus Pots ( have an Alt gearing up to fix that)
But maybe a healer makes their money other ways Eg A Holy Priest with the right Skills would make money off Alchemy or High Level Tailoring Items, I make my money farming Spell food and water and Mana primals. Im an enchanter, and Ive just dropped engineering for Tailoring, ( but thats more for my Alts 1st Plum set when she hits 70) Questing and leveling would be a pain as holy.
Alot of the healer classes I know rolled their healer 2nd, their healer is not somthing they play for fun or PVP with ( hence the lack of healers in BG’s) its a tool to be used when required. Guild applicationss are. I’m a healer.. but My Alt comes too.
But no healer – No tank – no Raid. Maybe Healers should be charging for their services, and that way they will be on line more often.
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Pugnacious Priest's Warcraft Blog 
Virtually every raiding healer I know has a dps alt. But funnily enough over time I have found that I really do like healing and hybrid chars.
But considering I was only a week or two behind the first 70’s on Our server here I am a year later trying to finish off the the quests in Blades Edge so my quest log is cleaned out for 2.4. At least with 2.3 +damage to healing , running a quest like kill 30 ogres isnt totally abhorrent .
Interesting idea. Maybe I should start charging to heal. 🙂
First, let me say that I just stumbled onto your blog today. It’s been very enjoyable reading. I’ll be adding you to my preferred list and look forward to future posts.
I enjoy healing. My main is a healer, although he started out as Protection. There’s a certain thrill to keeping everyone alive, but I agree it isn’t for everyone.
I have two complaints about healing. First, everyone else seems to know how to do it better than you and the rude ones have no problem letting you know what you’re doing wrong.
Second, you miss most of what is going on in any instance; or at least I do. Generally, I keep my eyes glued to the health bars to the exception of all else. I watch out of the corner of my eye to see what’s going on in the actual battle only to the extent to see if someone is going to end up out of range of my healing or if I’m too close to enemy AoE. Basically, I don’t get to stop and smell the roses. LOL