DISCLAIMER:
If you spot a mistake or faulty reasoning, pipe up! Do the same if you have a superior idea. Suggested names for new spells may be changed as seen fit by staff. Also, if you'd rather not wade through the whole thing, simply look for the lines of BRIGHT YELLOW TEXT.
If you spot a mistake or faulty reasoning, pipe up! Do the same if you have a superior idea. Suggested names for new spells may be changed as seen fit by staff. Also, if you'd rather not wade through the whole thing, simply look for the lines of BRIGHT YELLOW TEXT.
Like many classes, the Shaman has inherited a spellbook that is full of inconsistencies, "orphaned" spell lines, and several spells that simply never get a chance because they are (rightly or otherwise) perceived as useless. I have combed through the lower end of the Shaman's spellbook and have come up with the following proposals in order to add diversity and flavor to the class. If any staff members find the ideas worthy of pursuit, I'll be thrilled, but I have fun thinking about this stuff anyway even when nothing comes of it.
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SHM Proposal #1:
Introduce group stat buffs much earlier on by converting existing single-target buffs and doubling or tripling their mana cost.
Why?
Given that a main feature of this class is its knack for stat buffs, it seems unfair to withhold group versions until the late 50s. There are already oddball spells that break the mold for no apparent reason, such as Talisman of the Beast (9) and Tumultuous Strength (39). What harm would it do to "groupify" STR/STA/AGI/DEX/CHA buffs earlier on, such as in the late teens or 20s? Adept raids would be thrilled with this change.
Given that a main feature of this class is its knack for stat buffs, it seems unfair to withhold group versions until the late 50s. There are already oddball spells that break the mold for no apparent reason, such as Talisman of the Beast (9) and Tumultuous Strength (39). What harm would it do to "groupify" STR/STA/AGI/DEX/CHA buffs earlier on, such as in the late teens or 20s? Adept raids would be thrilled with this change.
NOTE:
Tumultuous Strength (39) is superior in every way to Furious Strength (39) despite that they come at the same level; the former is more mana efficient, grants higher STR, bears a faster cast time, and applies to the whole group. With this in mind, Furious Strength may be due for removal or repurposing....
Tumultuous Strength (39) is superior in every way to Furious Strength (39) despite that they come at the same level; the former is more mana efficient, grants higher STR, bears a faster cast time, and applies to the whole group. With this in mind, Furious Strength may be due for removal or repurposing....
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SHM Proposal #2:
Replace Burst of Flame (1) with the level 1 Wizard spell Shock of Frost.
Why?
The Shaman never, ever receives another Fire-based nuke. The class's primary DD line is Cold-based. This simple change would establish continuity while also differentiating the Shaman from its "sister" class, the Druid (who also uses Burst of Flame and who actually gets a full array of Fire-based nukes).
The Shaman never, ever receives another Fire-based nuke. The class's primary DD line is Cold-based. This simple change would establish continuity while also differentiating the Shaman from its "sister" class, the Druid (who also uses Burst of Flame and who actually gets a full array of Fire-based nukes).
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SHM Proposal #3:Create two follow-ups to Inner Fire (1): single-target Rising Fire (14) and group-target Crest of Fire (24).
Why?
Inner Fire is the Shaman's one and only "HP Type One" buff. Furthermore, the Shaman's ability to directly buff HP disappears all the way until Talisman of Tnarg (34), leaving a big gap. Creating follow-ups to Inner Fire would aid the pre-34 Shaman while also expanding upon an orphaned spell. Lastly, it would create a smooth progression leading up to the Talisman line.
Inner Fire is the Shaman's one and only "HP Type One" buff. Furthermore, the Shaman's ability to directly buff HP disappears all the way until Talisman of Tnarg (34), leaving a big gap. Creating follow-ups to Inner Fire would aid the pre-34 Shaman while also expanding upon an orphaned spell. Lastly, it would create a smooth progression leading up to the Talisman line.
NOTE:
Beastlords receive Inner Fire at level 9. It might be prudent to carry this change over to that class.
Beastlords receive Inner Fire at level 9. It might be prudent to carry this change over to that class.
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SHM Proposal #4:
Change Flash of Light (1) to the level 1 Druid spell Dance of the Fireflies or replace it with a new Shaman equivalent (e.g. Summon Seer Stone) to summon a light source.
Why?
SoD's iteration of Blind is useless to Shamans. What a beginner Shaman might find handy, on the other hand, is a summoned light source superior to the torch from The Dream. This would particularly benefit Barbarians. If Dance of the Fireflies is considered too "Druidic," an equivalent can be invented, such as Summon Seer Stone. Stats or other effects on such an item, if any, can be determined by staff.
SoD's iteration of Blind is useless to Shamans. What a beginner Shaman might find handy, on the other hand, is a summoned light source superior to the torch from The Dream. This would particularly benefit Barbarians. If Dance of the Fireflies is considered too "Druidic," an equivalent can be invented, such as Summon Seer Stone. Stats or other effects on such an item, if any, can be determined by staff.
NOTE:
Beastlords receive Flash of Light at level 9. It might be prudent to carry this change over to that class.
This would "orphan" the follow-up Blinding Luminance (39); I address this spell in Proposal #6 below.
Beastlords receive Flash of Light at level 9. It might be prudent to carry this change over to that class.
This would "orphan" the follow-up Blinding Luminance (39); I address this spell in Proposal #6 below.
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SHM Proposal #5:Assign a unique texture to each of the three bear form buffs.
Why?
There exist three bear form buffs. There also exist three bear textures - brown bear (00), black bear (01), and polar bear (02). This is a natural fit that could differentiate the spells from one another. The textures could be assigned as seen fit or according to player demand.
There exist three bear form buffs. There also exist three bear textures - brown bear (00), black bear (01), and polar bear (02). This is a natural fit that could differentiate the spells from one another. The textures could be assigned as seen fit or according to player demand.
NOTE:
Form of the River Keeper is named after a big bear in Plane of Earth whose coat is brown/black, making the polar bear a poor candidate for the best bear form buff. This is unfortunate, as most people seem to think the polar bear is the coolest of the three!
Form of the River Keeper is named after a big bear in Plane of Earth whose coat is brown/black, making the polar bear a poor candidate for the best bear form buff. This is unfortunate, as most people seem to think the polar bear is the coolest of the three!
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SHM Proposal #6:
Convert Spirit Quickening (50) from a pet haste into a pet buff that grants the Shaman's pet an appreciable chance to avoid riposte damage; also, replace Blinding Luminance (39) with a precursor called Lesser Spirit Quickening.
Why?
This pet haste is redundant in that the haste bonus, AC, and STR it offers the pet are all inferior to other buffs the Shaman already has by level 50. Repurposing this into a pet-only buff that grants a fixed chance to avoid ripostes would improve the pet's survivability and overall usefulness without unbalancing things like its damage output or HP count. Finally, the Blinding Luminance spell currently serves no purpose for this class, and it could easily be removed and replaced with a precursor in order to make this a two-tiered spell line.
This pet haste is redundant in that the haste bonus, AC, and STR it offers the pet are all inferior to other buffs the Shaman already has by level 50. Repurposing this into a pet-only buff that grants a fixed chance to avoid ripostes would improve the pet's survivability and overall usefulness without unbalancing things like its damage output or HP count. Finally, the Blinding Luminance spell currently serves no purpose for this class, and it could easily be removed and replaced with a precursor in order to make this a two-tiered spell line.
NOTE:
Exact percentages of riposte avoidance of both these proposed pet buffs may be determined by staff as deemed appropriate. If deemed more appropriate, it could be turned into a spell damage mitigation buff instead.
Also note that Clerics receive the Blinding Luminance spell at level 34; take care not to accidentally give that class this new spell in the process!
Exact percentages of riposte avoidance of both these proposed pet buffs may be determined by staff as deemed appropriate. If deemed more appropriate, it could be turned into a spell damage mitigation buff instead.
Also note that Clerics receive the Blinding Luminance spell at level 34; take care not to accidentally give that class this new spell in the process!
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SHM Proposal #7:
Create Summon Spirit Weanling (14) and Summon Spirit Pup (24), which summon a small, familiar-style Spirit Wolf pet that will intermittently cast Fleeting Fury (5) and Burst of Strength (14), respectively, on the Shaman during combat.
Why?
Fleeting Fury (5) and Burst of Strength (14) receive little attention; the spell line they represent fizzles off abruptly with no follow-ups. The proposed spells would grant greater longevity and visibility to these two short-duration melee buffs. It would also give the Shaman "flavorful" predecessors to the real (i.e. combat-ready) pet of level 34. Finally, it would encourage the low-level Shaman to melee more confidently rather than retreating entirely from armed combat, as often happens around the "teen" levels.
Fleeting Fury (5) and Burst of Strength (14) receive little attention; the spell line they represent fizzles off abruptly with no follow-ups. The proposed spells would grant greater longevity and visibility to these two short-duration melee buffs. It would also give the Shaman "flavorful" predecessors to the real (i.e. combat-ready) pet of level 34. Finally, it would encourage the low-level Shaman to melee more confidently rather than retreating entirely from armed combat, as often happens around the "teen" levels.
NOTE:
This calls for a familiar pet, meaning that it will not melee or defend the Shaman in any way; its only purpose will be to aid the Shaman's low-level melee performance in a minor way. This is to retain the nice bump in power that awaits them with the level 34 pet.
This calls for a familiar pet, meaning that it will not melee or defend the Shaman in any way; its only purpose will be to aid the Shaman's low-level melee performance in a minor way. This is to retain the nice bump in power that awaits them with the level 34 pet.
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