Priest Aggro in Parties

[Rinnhart]

Don't listen to the propaganda!  Priests *can* do a lot of damage, even in parties.

First, though, as far as aggro goes, keep in mind that healing generates a ton of aggro, so chances are that it's not your offensive spells that are doing most of the pulling, it's your healing spells.  Now, what I do depends on how many people are in the party.

Solo party:  Aggro doesn't matter.  Fire away!

2-3 person party:  Use SW:Pain for attacks and Renew to heal at first while the tank builds up some aggro and then build up the speed of your attacks including Holy Smite eventually if you want.  If you pull aggro for a few seconds, who cares?  By the time the mob gets to you and gets a few swings off on you, it'll be dead.  Priests aren't as fragile as people make them out to be.  And anyway, you can always Fade and keep a mob off you for an additional 10 seconds.

4-5 person instance party:  Generally, my offense consists of SW:Pain and wand and/or staff hits, but this is largely due to mana conservation rather than aggro management.  If all you're doing is SW:Pain, wand/staff hits, and healing and you're still pulling aggro, it's the tank who's stinking up the joint and not you.
There are only two adjustments I make for group play due to aggro management (as opposed to mana management):
1. I don't use Mind Blast -- except when finishing off a mob --, because that generates a *ton* of aggro.
2. I pause for a couple of seconds at the start of a battle for the tank to get a few hits in before I start using offensive spells.  In fact, I do this so naturally I didn't realize I did it until I just saw myself play.
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In the defense of tank classes, aggro management tools are pretty limited, especially early on. And even later on, you can over-cast.

There is a delicate balance to be maintained and it's both the caster and the tank's job to find and refine it.

These aren't EQ paladins with a dozen stuns and the ability to completely lock down aggro on a target.