Resting During Combat?

[Grandune]

I don't have much experience with EverQuest beyond the first few levels, but I recently started a Shadow Knight and I've been thinking about also trying out a Bard or a Shaman. As I understand it, Clerics eventually reach a point where they become ineffective in melee and start spending most of the time resting to regain mana while the rest of the group fights, then they cast a few heals and sit down again. It sounds like more of a passive playstyle than I would like, and without much variety. So do Shamans end up doing the same thing, or would I be better off with a Bard?