ok i've decided to roll undead shadow but i've never played a preist any helpful tips for survivability and any ideas on gear( i'm playing on a pvp server and plan to pvp a lot) any tips would be greatly appreciated. thanks

on mobs

Until you have mindflay, open with holy fire, run back(sideway's, goes faster) and dot while running,when dot('s) are up use mindblast or just wand them.
When you get mindflay, just use the dot while running back sideway's and then minflay them till they get near you. then wand or mindlbast again.

Only thing I'd change is that you should probably use Holy Fire to pull even after you get Mind Flay, up until you get Shadow Form.  Also, check out ShadowPriest.com, it'll tell you everything you need to know.

My combo as a shadow priest on mobs is normally:

Shiled
shadow word pain
vampiric embrace
(coz im lvl 49 but wen i get to 50 il do Vampiric touch insted)
Mind flay
(Until they get to me)
Mind blast

Then just mid flay wen mind blast is rechargin and if i run outa mana just wand



In PvP if theres loads of us attakin i do the same combo

But if theres a horde on there own i kinda do the same but leave out mind flay coz it gives ur position away ( wen ur hiding coz there a big blue beam headin straight to u)

Actually, if you have Vampiric Touch, that should be your openning because it has a cast time.  When pulling mobs, you can cast that, and throw up SW:P and VE (if you're using it)all the while backing away from the mob.  Mind Flay is nice for soloing to slow them down when coming to you and letting your DoTs or cooldowns tick, but in any group situation, it should only be used to fill in time while you're letting your DoTs tick, or your MB or SW:D CDs run.

Also, when soloing, to provide some longevity, you should consider wanding down the last 40% or so of a mobs health.  With active DoTs, it doesn't take much time at all to finish off a mob.  As Shadow, my general soloing rotation would be VT, SW:P, VE (if needed), Mind Flay, Mind Blast, Wand.  That should minimize your drinking downtime.

thanks for to tips. its a lot of help for a War trying his hand as a caster. thanks again.

idd, holy fire should be your opening until you get shadowform and after level 50 vamerpic touch.

does anybody else have problems getting priest quests!I had 3 when I first started and non since n now im lvl 33