Quick shadow priest question

[LavCat]

This seems like a good thread for this.

I'm working on a young (27? 28?) shadow priest and I'm having a hard time finding a casting rhythm I like with him. When you folks are grinding mobs, what is your "in your sleep" casting routine, pull to kill? What I am currently doing doesn't matter as I am trying to see what others do so I can bend and merge them to something I can work with.

For a normal melee mob at the furthest range: mind blast, shadow word pain, mind flay, shield, mind blast, mind flay, mind blast, mind flay...

For a melee mob that is closer, mind flay before shadow word pain.

For a difficult caster: mind blast, shadow word pain, silence, mind flay, mind blast, mind flay, mind blast...

For most casters and for those that cannot be silenced, just substitute vampiric embrace for silence.

In grinding for Timbermaw rep Baguette can often (but not always) get the shaman before any totems are dropped. Baguette is only 31 shadow however. This method also allowed Baguette to tank and out cast Princess Tempestra (with a holy priest healing, a hunter adding DPS, and a mage and hunter pet on the adds).

For tagging mobs that are being farmed: open with shadow word pain or holy nova. If a mob can be feared and you are not worried about adds, fear then mind flay and mind blast, being sure shadow word pain is up.

If you are having a problem with rhythm, most likely you do not have improved mind blast.