Okay, finally a long-overdue post from me in this thread. ^_^
Firstly, my spec: <!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/classes/shaman/talents.html?0000000000000000525200115003150050050500050100">http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/info/cla ... 0500050100</a><!-- m -->
Basically, it's 0/30/21.
I have always loved being offensive and defensive in melee, while also being able to keep myself up longer with some restoration talents - the Healing Focus (and previous ILHW) was definitely helpful due to being in melee all the time, and Nature's Swiftness has always shown its use time and time again, either when trying to get a quick heal on myself when I'm under heavy attack, or quickly saving another from succumbing to a messy fate.
Totemic focus I have always enjoyed, since I make full use of the variety of my totems. In fact, seeing other shaman who may only use one or two totems at a time instead of the full four (or three, if fire isn't really wise) often tends to annoy me, which I can't really help. But anyhow, with the increase to this talent with our review (25% reduction from 10%), it helped me exponentially.
Now, as far as enhancement goes... I find it amusing that there have been many who have apparently assumed (generally speaking) that enhancement shamans will always use a two-handed weapon. We have the talent to enable us to use them, but it doesn't mean we -need- to because of that. I have done extremely well as an enhancement shaman since... well, forever, and most of that time has been with a shield. Speaking of shields, I'll go into my talent choices.
Before the patch, I used to have Ancestral Knowledge. However, with the improved shield specialization, I decided to go with that instead, especially since an improved chance to block means a lesser chance to get critted. I chose to go with Guardian Totems among others mainly due to the Grounding Totem improvement, which factors highly in the amount of PVP I do (which is actually just defending Horde outposts). The Stoneskin and Windwall have not seemed to make a difference, however.
Elemental Weapons was chosen for obvious reasons, since I rely more on melee instead of spell damage. Weapon Mastery was also taken for this reason, though before the patch I used to have five points in toughness, which I do miss, but doesn't seem to make too much of a difference after a certain point with armor reduction.
Long ago, I went elemental/restoration for a short period of time - this was actually shortly after the honor system came out, and before the BGs were live. I greatly enjoyed the increased spell damage and shortened cast time on my lightning spells/shorter cooldown on shocks. My stronger chain lightning was definitely a plus in the constant battle of Hillsbrad during that time. However, even though the much more powerful spells were addicting, I knew my heart could not leave my enhancement of body behind for long, so shortly after I switched back.
Over time I have considered respeccing to various things a few times (mainly having to do with elemental versus enhancement), but I never do.
Another comment I'll make is regarding other melee-oriented shamans. We can certainly be a deadly force in close-quarters, and I know this more than many, even without having full tier 2/3 and something like a Hand of Ragnaros, etc. However, you <b>must</b> still keep a vigilant eye on your healing duties. Yes, there may be a priest or druid that might be a designated healer. However, if people are getting dangerously low, or if chaos is breaking loose, etc, do <b>not</b> just hope the person mentioned previously will be able to get a heal off in time. Go ahead and shoot off a heal or two. There are some shaman that I've witnessed not even bothering to <i>start</i> a heal until someone might be 5% or less from dying. It doesn't make sense to me.
This, along with the totem comment above, are the two things that will really bug me if I see other shaman doing such things. Oh, and those that don't purge! Purge is a huge advantage that I actually rarely see other shamans use in normal situations, oddly enough. But enough of my ranting paragraph.
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um... what was I talking about again? O.o
Oh, another topic! Raiding... I'll be damned if I let anyone tell <b>me</b> what I'd better be doing for a given situation. Certain times my healing abilities will definitely be better (and needed), but otherwise, I am going to melee; that's what I love, and as long as it's not wholly dangerous to do so (like fighting Ragnaros or Shazzrah), I'm going to beat things over the head. It's more effective for me, for how I'm specced, while also throwing out spot-heals. It's easier for me, considering I'm in the fray and closer to other melee folks who will more likely need my heals, not to mention the melee folks in my group will get more benefits since I'll be there with them dropping totems in addition to the spot-healing.
Of course, meleeing comes with its dangers, such as getting agro and summarily getting hammered. Rarely do I die when this happens, but this also depends on whether I'm using a big two-hander or a one-hander and a shield. Using my Hand can still put out respectable damage along with the proc insta-casts (lightning bolts or heals, usually), but it can't beat using the Lava Dredger and Windfury procs, as far as pure damage is concerned.
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I kinda forgot where I was going with this... but then again, most of this post is just a jumble of my thoughts. Maybe I'll add more later...
Again I feel I should have been more specific in my commentary. When you look at the upper level armor sets (specificaly tier 3) its ALL about healing. It's blizzards way of saying that you can do what you want, but the longer you raid the more we're going to help you heal and nothing else. So while I can see where it came across as a complaint about having to heal during MC, it was really more a complaint against Blizzard and it's narrowly focused plan for the class.
Strength of Earth and Grace of Air mainly, along with a water totem and various fire totem. If I'm ever in a group where someone wants Windfury, they'd better be very persuasive :twisted:... unless, of course, I'm in group 1 or 2 with either the MA or MT. In that case, their increased rage would be a <i>bit</i> more beneficial. I suppose. Maybe.