Some questions about Paladins

[Sheldon]

I've never ever played a Pally(was always Horde) and I'm wondering how well are they as healers?
Is there a specific Healing spec I could follow?
What roles can they play? What are their main roles?
Whats the best race to choose for a paladin?

[JCarrill0]

I've never ever played a Pally(was always Horde)

TBC allows Paladins to be on horde side for the Blood Elf race.

I'm wondering how well are they as healers?

Yes, flash healers are awesome! In fact once they hit Nax40, they are the best healer for mana efficiency\

Is there a specific Healing spec I could follow?

You need to read the class forums better. Click Here

What roles can they play? What are their main roles?

Paladin shine best as healer in Vanilla, They can be DD (DPS) however that's more for pvp then pve. They just don't do enough dmg and often criticized as dps.
They can also be Tanks, however without any taunt ability, they cant be as effective as warriors, but they are still the best aoe tanks in vanilla.

Whats the best race to choose for a paladin?

You can only be Human, or Dwarf. It just a preference. I personally choose human, but one does not have racials that is an advantage for healer. Dwarf might be ok for tanks, and DPS might be better with Humans.

[Theloras]

If you intend to PvP, I would HIGHLY recommend playing a Dwarf Paladin as Stoneform is an iWin button against a Rogue's blind.

In Vanilla Humans didn;t have Every Man for Himself so realistically unless you want to have quicker rep grinds with Diplomacy or +5 Sword/Mace skill for PvE, then there's not much benefit for Humans.

[Austrix]

If you intend to PvP, I would HIGHLY recommend playing a Dwarf Paladin as Stoneform is an iWin button against a Rogue's blind.

Just keep Blessing of Sacrifice on a few team mates and you'll be poly/sap/trap/blind immune even as a human!

[Theloras]

If you intend to PvP, I would HIGHLY recommend playing a Dwarf Paladin as Stoneform is an iWin button against a Rogue's blind.

Just keep Blessing of Sacrifice on a few team mates and you'll be poly/sap/trap/blind immune even as a human!

easier said than done against purge happy shaman or in a 1v1 fight against a rogue

[Austrix]

in a 1v1 fight against a rogue

come on, paladins should be eating rogues alive 1v1 regardless of spec because of plate and heals at this gear level, especially prot

[Theloras]

in a 1v1 fight against a rogue

come on, paladins should be eating rogues alive 1v1 regardless of spec because of plate and heals at this gear level, especially prot

well I'm not at level 60 yet so I can't comment on the PvP scene here at max level, but on the server which shall not be named where I used to play, the tryhard rogues there would literally blow every single cooldown possible in order to 1v1 (including vanish, evasion, blind, preparation, vanish, evasion, blind, sap, magic dust, goblin helmet, iron grenade, etc etc etc)

that's where I was coming from is all - being able to counter that last blind would have won me the fight in most situations

[JCarrill0]

in a 1v1 fight against a rogue

come on, paladins should be eating rogues alive 1v1 regardless of spec because of plate and heals at this gear level, especially prot

Stun locks are evil.

Also perception is a handy tool for rogues as well (human racial)
Ret aura is best when fighting rogues, plate is good yes, but many times in vanilla I got owned from rogues. 10 years later and I can say I made it a goal early on to become a rogue killer. The fact still remains rogues can pwn paladins if you don't play your cards(spells) correctly. I'm not talking skilled vs skilled either, I'm talking rogues are cheap, awesome class to play. its gets better with skills much like a paladin, but one early cast spell or too soon/too late and the game is over. rogues thrive on other's mistakes as an exploit. don't ever underestimate a rogue (skilled or not)

PS: to rogues: don't hate, just relate.

[Viorus]

Race isn't important because both Dwarf and Human are great for Paladin.

Healing spec is in the Holy tree.

You can tank, heal or DPS as a Paladin. It's a hybrid class.