WoW 3box groups

I'm currently playing Warrior/Mage/Priest -- strictly PVE -- and they are at level 70. There's still a lot to do, but I'm a bit bored and want to try some other combo with only 1 or 2 classes.

I'm looking for comments on what other 3 boxers have experienced and enjoyed playing -- PVE or PVP.

Tonight I'm thinking of giving one of these a try:

Mage/Mage/Mage
Warlock/Warlock/Warlock
Priest/Priest/Priest
Pally/Mage/Mage

Is it essential to have a healer in a group, or just a crutch?

The Pally/Mage/Mage group would give me a tank/healer and 2 DPSers. Is it viable to heal from the front? I've never played a pally.

What 3 toon combo's have you liked and why?

To truly be efficient, focusing on 1 attribute is essential. I played 3 mages - some versatility but mostly no defense but a huge offense. I could overpower any enemy and use my offense as my defense.

3 Warlocks work the same way, longer to kill but more mobile since dots are instant and do not need to face the target.

1 Paly/2 Mages feels like more work than payoff. It's also a lot easier to manage multiple of the same class, almost like playing 1 character just pushing 3 buttons :)

3 Priests I got to lvl 61, I didn't enjoy it as much as the Mages.

From a strict 3 boxing PvP perspective, healing is nice but can be had in ways other than simply casting heals. Aka shadow priests, warlocks drains, shammys, etc. I would still consider SOME healing no matter what.

My experience with 3 boxing is limited, as I went from 1 boxing to 5, but healing is something you will still want to think about. I assume one would do battlegrounds AND arenas - so healing will still be important - otherwise you will have to either let them all die when one dies, rez one of them (implying healing ability) or run back to their spawn point. None of which are as sexy as staying alive in the first place.

Perhaps 2x shadow priests 1x holy? Or 3x shadow with the ability to morph one out of shadowform to heal? Or 3 shammys?

Personally, I would never consider a 3 box that had NO healing unless there was a very specific reason to do so - which would preclude versatility in other situations.

Last night I made a 3 Warlock group and a 3 Priest group and got them both to level 6 and out of the starting area. Tonight I'm trying 3 Mage group. I'll just bounce around between them so that I'm always playing on rested bonus.

The Warlocks are BE's which was probably a crappy choice. The Priests are Undead and the Mages will be too.

I think I agree that the Pally/Mage/Mage is probably more work than fun. Having played Warrior/Mage/Priest for several months, I'm a bit weary of handling different classes at the same time.

Ellay -- were your mages all specced the same? Fire?

I'm currently playing a Priest(43)/Mage(43)/Warlock(43) group. I would say that having a Warlock/Hunter is a good idea, as you will have a tanking pet. I have tried groups with a Warrior, but running a real tank is a bit more complex then having a pet tank.

My priest is spec'd shadow and is usually in shadow form, but for boss battles it's nice to have the healing. Also, being able to bubble your AOEers is really nice.

I decided to go with 3 different classes so I would have some variety when "single-box" raiding with my guild.