What I Like About Playing a Shaman
Over on the Blog Azeroth forums, we’ve tossed around the idea of having shared topics that we each blog about from our own little POV. Our first topic is: “What I Did On Summer Vacation.”
No, wait. Wrong group. Heck, wrong century, folks..
Okay, obviously the topic is the title of this post. Shammy, shammy, why do I love thee, O shammy?
Versatility and Complexity
I can play a shaman from the back — either healing or casting — or right out front with melee. As a result, it’s a fairly cerebral class to play. I like strategy better than an adrenaline rush, so I enjoy solving a puzzle different ways. I couldn’t play a strict caster because I would want to whack things that get too close and I couldn’t play a strict melee class because I’d rather pull mobs one at a time. The shaman lets me do both, depending on my mood and the situation.
The Good Samaritan Aspect
I get a real kick out of healing and resurrecting people. I know that other classes can do that (and some much better than shamans can), but it goes back to the versatility. I like helping out people and being able to heal or rez is fun.
Shock spells FTW!
Oh man, do I like the shock spells! I get such a charge out of stopping a mage with Earth Shock or pulling aggro off the priest with a Frost Shock. The instantaneousness and high damage of the spells is a power rush. <blush>
Little Perks
Shammies get lots of other little perks that other classes don’t have. All classes have their little perks, I know. Goodness knows I’d love to be able to create portals and whatnot, but these are my favorite shammy perks (up to level 60 only, since I’ve not gotten farther yet).
- Ghost wolf: At level 20 we get to run fast and dance in doggie form!
- Astral recall: 15 minute cooldown on hearthing!
- Water walking: Swimming is for suckers. And who doesn’t love fishing while standing on the water!
- Self-resurrection: Only warlocks come close to being able to do this, and they have to plan for it in advance. All I need is an ankh.
Exclusivity
Shamans are the least populous class in WoW. That makes us special. (And, no, not “short bus” special.) Also, it’s a class with a long Horde heritage, with only one Alliance race representing. It’s like we belong to our own subculture.
Some of my shaman blogger friends have posted their reasons for playing a shammy. I encourage you to check them out. Also, if you play a shaman, give a shout out as to why it’s your favorite class.
February 2, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Thanks for the great post! I, too, love my shaman for many of the same reasons. Although as an elemental shaman there is nothing like a critically-overloaded chain lightning to perk up a fight! And frankly, I think it’s fun to be part of our own little subculture. Shammies, FTW!
February 4, 2008 at 1:14 am
i put my druid and warrior on hold yesterday and i used this time to lvl my shammy from 44 to 47! did a ZF with some guild alts and it was so nice, especially at the stairs, i used Magma Totem to AOE those mobs, we were 2 shammies and we coordinated our totems so we would get the most of them, we did the whole instance perfect, no silly wipes. i am enhancement, shammy is Madda on Stormrage EU and i would like to know what do you think it`s better, a 2h weapon or double wield (for PVE and leveling of course). i currently use a 2h mace, Morgaine`s Might from SM.
February 4, 2008 at 7:44 am
Yeppers. I love the healing others part. I can kick out the damage, and, oh, yeah, I see you bleeding over there, here’s a heal for you. Now where was I? Oh, yeah, more lightning!
PvE, Enhancement, you’ve got to go with dual wield. No question about it. Every top Shaman on the planet dual wields.
And you want slow weapons in both hands. Dual 2.6 weapon speed would be ideal. In each hand. And you want Windfury on both.
2H may be nice in PvP, to get huge Windfury crit numbers, but every Shaman I see in the Battlegrounds is either throwing lightning bolts, heals, or is a dual wielding banshee.
Have I mentioned you need to dual wield for PvE if you can?
February 5, 2008 at 12:48 am
What I Like About Being A Druid
My good friend Siha of Banana Shoulders has come up with a good idea: a weekly topic shared against WoW Blogs. Even WoW Insider is playing (even if it didn’t link any of the other participating blogs). This weeks topic:
February 8, 2008 at 7:57 am
Heh, I recognise so much in this post
*high five*
The part about how other classes are “much better” at ressing than shamans made me look up the different resurrection spells on wowhead. The only real differences I see is that paladins and priests have slightly cheaper res spells, and that they bring their targets back to life with slightly more health and mana. But is it really such a significant difference? I for one can’t say I ever noticed.
And yes, okay, we don’t have the awesome druid combat res. On the other hand, we also don’t have the annoying cooldown and reagent requirement
February 11, 2008 at 9:16 am
haha those are the same things my husband loves about being a shammy! I on the other hand am a hunter…. the exclusivity in that class is well, nonexistent!
Astral Recall just makes me one jealous hunter! You guys don’t have to have a special toon just hanging out so you can check the auction house without hearthing!