Returning to WoW after year break - Composition Opinions needed

Hey Everyone,

Looks like i might be returning to WoW again after a year or so break playing Rift/EVE/SWTOR. I've been away from the forums in terms of wow, primarily hiding on the EVE/Rift/SWTOR sub-forums, but now i come back needing advice/opinions.

Im looking for opinions on the current composition im looking about rerolling with.

1 Feral Tank
3 Ele Shamans (or should i mix in a mage?)
1 Healer(Priest or Shaman)

I used to run a 1 Paladin, 1 Boomkin, 1 Mage, 1 Ele Shaman, and 1 Priest; prior to that it was 1 paladin and 4 ele shamans. I enjoy the ele shamans, and i enjoy the mages.

Im looking for opinions/knowledge on the current state of the game considering the setup(s) above. What would be decent amount of dps + utility. I primarily am after PvE content and running heroics when my friends arent on to play.

I really like to play a druid tank/feral this time around, but im torn between the dps/healer setup.

Let me know what you think!

I do apologize before hand if the setup above was posted previously, i looked for a current post, but was unable to find one relevant to Cata.

Thanks again!

- Meeo

Ele shamans are really easy to macro, esp. with the changes to CL (no more cool-down)

If its a choice between Priest and Shaman, for a team that already has Shaman on it...
I would run with a Priest over a Shaman.
Given you already have three Shaman on the team, so most of the totems will already be covered.

A Shaman is a fine healer, with Earth Shield and Riptide.
And if you don't have another Shaman on the team, Heroism/Bloodlust can be a major factor in their favor.

The Priest gets you Fortitude and Fear Ward.
You have a choice between Holy (big heals) or Discipline (mitigating damage), which essentially ends up being about the same.
So its a preference call.
A Priest is a very mobile healer (like a Resto Druid is), and is probably the best AoE healer possible.

I'd also recommend dual-specing the Priest and Shaman, if you go that route.
That way, you can try with Resto/Shadow and Holy or Disc/Elemental, to see what your preference is.




Personally, I'd go with a Warlock, although a Boomkin is an option.

I would also strongly consider another DPS class that provides the equivalent of +13% spell power.
I'm not sure if the amount is still 13%, but that's what it was in WotLK from Boomkin/Warlock or Unholy DK.

My favorite PvE team was 1x Paladin (tank), 3x Elemental, 1x Warlock.
The Warlock provided some fun buffs, was comparable DPS to any of the Shaman on the team, and added the +Spell Power, which was really strong.

Three Elemental, can (or at least could) heal any five-man content as well as an equally geared 1x healer could.
Having the fourth DPS, really sped things up, for anything that was on farm, especially the trash clearing.
But they've given all of the dedicated healers a strong cleanse mechanic, which you only get with the Holy/Resto spec.
You'd be giving that up, if you went 3x Elemental and 1x Boomkin/Warlock.
Or you could dual-spec one of the Shammies to Elemental/Resto, for when you need that feature.
Kind of like... dedicated healer for harder stuff, but 3x DPS (who can heal) for easier stuff.

Warlock: Group summoning, Healthstone, Soulstone, Pet Buff, Easy to Macro, +SP via a curse, Fear, CC vs Elemental/Demon.
Boomkin: Tranquility, Innervate, Thorns, Battle Rez, +SP via regular DPS spells, CC vs Animals, Root, AoE Spell Interrupt talent.
You already have some of the Boomkin buffs, as a Feral tank.