I had a nice long discussion, with a fellow druid in my guild, about being an effective healer. He really seems to focus on the damn healing meters and using a healing mod. I use neither one and I do just fine. He is also convinced that you have to be full resto to be effective, but i tend to disagree. I have been very effective with the 0/30/21 build.

What really determines effectiveness? Healing meters? mods? Mana pool? Spec? Sure these things can effect it but i feel that what it comes down to is this.
Did you run out of mana to soon, and did anyone die? If the answer is no then you were very effective.

From what I observe during our MC runs, alot of mana is being wasted. We as a raid cross heal and over heal way to much. Many a time right before one of my heals goes off another heal lands so the person gets double healed and alot of mana gets wasted. In my opinion to many people are focused on the healing meter and there mods. The same people also seem to run out of mana the fastest and brag about there rank on the meter. If my group is alive then the rest dont mean a damn thing. Do i cross heal in an emergency? Hell yes. do I cross heal when the others healers have no aggro and plenty of mana...nope.

If you cant rely on other healers to take care of their own groups then they need to be replaced.

and yes I have posted these concerns in my guild forums. hehe

I don't know about big instances, as I haven't really been going on any (which will change soon), but as far as BGs are concerned, we are in dire need of healers so I respecced to 0/16/33 and have noticed a HUGE difference in MP availability and efficiency. I feel i'm a better asset to my group because I can heal/nuke much more, not to mention innervate, imp regrowth, gift of nature, and NS are pluses.

Just my opinion.

I hate the overhealing because someone got my target just before me. I've learned to move as soon as I see that now to interrupt the casting and save some mana.

We really do have some amazing druids in our guild, they are each speced differently. I completely feel that a feral druid can be an extrememly effective healer given they carry a set of healing gear. I am and have always been resto speced and I really enjoy healing (sometimes I think I should have rolled a priest) so I don't have first hand experience with the different trees.

I use CTRaid Assist and use the mana conservation tool there, it does help. I also have recap as an addon, only to check myself and the amount of over heal that I'm doing.

I am of the Int/Spi/Regen school of thought, I don't much look for +heal items, although I do have some. My mana isn't that incredible, but I can heal for long stretches and usually not have mana issues.

What makes a good healer? The person behind the toon and the attention they pay to themselves and the encounter. My thought is find what style is yours and what makes that work. There is no one right way. That's the neat thing about being a druid, IMO.

I hate the overhealing because someone got my target just before me. I've learned to move as soon as I see that now to interrupt the casting and save some mana.

Ya I try move as fast as I can but sometimes the heal goes of anyways. :P

Also let me just say that this was not meant to be a feral versus resto thread, as i am resto myself...for now.

We really do have some amazing druids in our guild, they are each speced differently. I completely feel that a feral druid can be an extrememly effective healer given they carry a set of healing gear. I am and have always been resto speced and I really enjoy healing (sometimes I think I should have rolled a priest) so I don't have first hand experience with the different trees.

I use CTRaid Assist and use the mana conservation tool there, it does help. I also have recap as an addon, only to check myself and the amount of over heal that I'm doing.

I am of the Int/Spi/Regen school of thought, I don't much look for +heal items, although I do have some. My mana isn't that incredible, but I can heal for long stretches and usually not have mana issues.

What makes a good healer? The person behind the toon and the attention they pay to themselves and the encounter. My thought is find what style is yours and what makes that work. There is no one right way. That's the neat thing about being a druid, IMO.

Agreed.

What makes a good healer? The person behind the toon and the attention they pay to themselves and the encounter. My thought is find what style is yours and what makes that work. There is no one right way. That's the neat thing about being a druid, IMO.

I completely agree.

People place far too much emphasis on Talent specs; however, it's understandable: folks can easily debate Talent specs with mathematics in forums; it's far more difficult to debate player skills.

With regards to effectiveness...

Do you guys enjoy it more when everything is under control, the tanks keep aggro and nobody comes close to dying, or when everything is going crazy and awesome saves and close calls are abundant.

Personally, I have a lot more fun when things are a little more chaotic.

Controlled chaos is a wonderful thing!