moghedancarns
Dalayan Beginner
DISCLAIMERS
Recent discussions (and changes) are making me question my value. This is probably just a personal crisis of faith. It is also highly probable that I was hanging on to doctrine from another place that simply no longer applies.
I doubt I will do a decent job in conveying my exact intent with each word. In my heart, it makes perfect sense, but it does not always translate well to the reader. Many of my previous posts are heavily laced with sarcasm. I will try very hard to avoid that here, as it adds meaningless confusion. If something can go two ways, and one of the ways pisses you off, I meant the other way. Seriously. I am simply looking for where I am going wrong in my thinking.
This is not a complaint or rant about class balancing, nerfing, or anything else you might find, at least not intentionally. I am certain the checks and balances are present, I just cannot see the forest for all the trees. If the post were to begin in the wrong direction, I hope it will be closed immeadiately. However, I would like to continue the discussion in PMs. I am hoping my question can be answered by the community in a civil manner, however.
Finally, if your answer consists of, "My shaman buffs and heals my main while I 'solo', lol!!!!" then I ask you not reply. You represent the sum of my fears.
POST
SLOW
The doctrine that I cannot get out of my head is SLOW. In other places, the shaman was placed upon the alter of SLOW and was not allowed to worship any other god... even when the altar was later torn down and removed from the world in any meaningful capacity. I understood that the effect of SLOW was reduced here. I was also of the understanding that the mobs here are tuned to the reduced effect, so that it is not truely a reduced effect. It is an even transition of differing numbers for a net no change. Mentally, my perception is that the deal is in the mob's favor, but i have done no studies and I assume this is not really the case.
However, what I was not aware of was that other classes did not experience the slow reduction in equal percentages. I first became concerned in my 30s in paw when an enchanter was casting slow of the same percentage as my own. I assumed it was a spell level phenomenon. I have since become disabused of that illusion. There are 3 other classes with the ability to cast slow either to the same degree or nearly the same degree as a shaman. Furthermore, these classes cast slow faster than a shaman, for less mana than a shaman, or both. In one case, the bard, can cast slow twice as fast as a shaman. The bard and the enchanter can rapidly and cheaply laydown resist debuffs, while the shaman must devote considerable mana to the same task with a high risk of resist. In this manner, the potentially lower resisting (but even more mana intensive) disease slows are even partially to completely negated.
Previously, the shaman would use the earring to spam two, three, four, twelve casts to hammer past resists. This is no longer possible. In many fights, the battle will be nearly over before a second cast could land. This renders the use of slow to longer fights, which is ideal in that is when it would make the most good. However, this virtually guarentees the presence of at least one of the previously mentioned classes.
I am assuming any answer involving slow to revolve around the level 58 AoE slow, as it is the only advantage possessed by shaman. I am interested because I am only experienced in it's use not here, and am having trouble seeing it as something other than suicide, even with the hate mod. Even then, it would have to be very situational, and how do you tell which mobs are the ones that resisted it in the confusing conditions in which it might be useful? Watching for the spell graphics on each mob would have to be rather ineffective.
Statistical Buffing
As statistics play a far more important role here, I assumed this was where the shaman made up for the lost slowing. However, as illistrated by Wiz in another post about the imaginary troubles of the ugly races and charisma, it takes a significant increase in a stat to relate to change that would be considered non trival. By as best as I can figure out, the buff spells that finally make a change that would not be ruled statisical clustering are mid 50s. By that time, the player's gear is the true driving motovator, with buffs more able to push the borderline to a moreconfortable position than truely standing on their own. In testing with and without statisical buffs, I truely cannot make a visible distinction. I have, over time, phased out casting statisical buffs with the exception of charisma on casters. Anythign that helps a caster avoid a resist is a good thing, and I am very glasd that it comes bundled with the Focus line.
I assume I am in error here, but either my expectations are too great, or the effect is very subtle. I am finding it difficult to justify blowing 2 or 3 mana bars an hour on this subtle effect. In any case, this leads more toward the buffbot role than as an active character.
Applied Buffing
The focus line is excellent. HP regen we get first, but it is quickly shared with other classes. The same goes for speed buffs like SoW. We get only a poor man's version of haste extremely late. The game is driven on mana, however. Shaman have the potential for excellent mana regen (althought not quite as good as our press dubs us, and not until many AAs), but we have no way to provide others with mana. Is does very little to be "90m, good to go" when the rest of the group is at 10m. I spoke before about the high mana costs of shaman abilities over those of others... mana regen being used as a justifaction mearly means that it is, in the end, a wash with just the addedd effect that a shaman can only make use of 70& of his maximum HP because he is constantly canni'ing off the other 30%. Additionally, the other slowing classes also possess group mana regen.
These are arguements seven years old. They will not be addressed here, now, or ever. They are included only for completeness.
DPS and CC
Clearly not our role. I will not subject you to the stories of the handicapable. We do ok, for soloing, slowly... loss of fast cast/high aggro makes root parking ineffective form of CC in groups. DoT stacking complications.
Healing
In leveling up, we go stretches of 10 to 15 levels between heals. In the five levels prior to getting a new heal, ours may not move a tank's hp bar even doubt digits in pecent. We are healers only in the few levels immeadiately after we recieve our new heal against mobs that groups would reasonably decide to attempt until later levels. I am still in that honeymoon period with Superior Healing, I cannot comment on the effect of the post 50 heals. We have no group healing. Our ability to heal feels very forced to a single target in a controlled fashion... a buffbot healer...
We have always been this way, nothing new. I do not think anyone really looks at us as a full time healer... just an emergency.
Taking stock, I can only see this adding up as buffbot. I am not a huge fan dual clienting, however, I have the ability to do so. I do not have a second character that casn make decent use of a shaman's abilities of the proper levels. An above sticky lays out a negative future for using it with a lower level toon.
I am in a dark room and I cannot find the door. Can you help me find the right direction to look?
Recent discussions (and changes) are making me question my value. This is probably just a personal crisis of faith. It is also highly probable that I was hanging on to doctrine from another place that simply no longer applies.
I doubt I will do a decent job in conveying my exact intent with each word. In my heart, it makes perfect sense, but it does not always translate well to the reader. Many of my previous posts are heavily laced with sarcasm. I will try very hard to avoid that here, as it adds meaningless confusion. If something can go two ways, and one of the ways pisses you off, I meant the other way. Seriously. I am simply looking for where I am going wrong in my thinking.
This is not a complaint or rant about class balancing, nerfing, or anything else you might find, at least not intentionally. I am certain the checks and balances are present, I just cannot see the forest for all the trees. If the post were to begin in the wrong direction, I hope it will be closed immeadiately. However, I would like to continue the discussion in PMs. I am hoping my question can be answered by the community in a civil manner, however.
Finally, if your answer consists of, "My shaman buffs and heals my main while I 'solo', lol!!!!" then I ask you not reply. You represent the sum of my fears.
POST
SLOW
The doctrine that I cannot get out of my head is SLOW. In other places, the shaman was placed upon the alter of SLOW and was not allowed to worship any other god... even when the altar was later torn down and removed from the world in any meaningful capacity. I understood that the effect of SLOW was reduced here. I was also of the understanding that the mobs here are tuned to the reduced effect, so that it is not truely a reduced effect. It is an even transition of differing numbers for a net no change. Mentally, my perception is that the deal is in the mob's favor, but i have done no studies and I assume this is not really the case.
However, what I was not aware of was that other classes did not experience the slow reduction in equal percentages. I first became concerned in my 30s in paw when an enchanter was casting slow of the same percentage as my own. I assumed it was a spell level phenomenon. I have since become disabused of that illusion. There are 3 other classes with the ability to cast slow either to the same degree or nearly the same degree as a shaman. Furthermore, these classes cast slow faster than a shaman, for less mana than a shaman, or both. In one case, the bard, can cast slow twice as fast as a shaman. The bard and the enchanter can rapidly and cheaply laydown resist debuffs, while the shaman must devote considerable mana to the same task with a high risk of resist. In this manner, the potentially lower resisting (but even more mana intensive) disease slows are even partially to completely negated.
Previously, the shaman would use the earring to spam two, three, four, twelve casts to hammer past resists. This is no longer possible. In many fights, the battle will be nearly over before a second cast could land. This renders the use of slow to longer fights, which is ideal in that is when it would make the most good. However, this virtually guarentees the presence of at least one of the previously mentioned classes.
I am assuming any answer involving slow to revolve around the level 58 AoE slow, as it is the only advantage possessed by shaman. I am interested because I am only experienced in it's use not here, and am having trouble seeing it as something other than suicide, even with the hate mod. Even then, it would have to be very situational, and how do you tell which mobs are the ones that resisted it in the confusing conditions in which it might be useful? Watching for the spell graphics on each mob would have to be rather ineffective.
Statistical Buffing
As statistics play a far more important role here, I assumed this was where the shaman made up for the lost slowing. However, as illistrated by Wiz in another post about the imaginary troubles of the ugly races and charisma, it takes a significant increase in a stat to relate to change that would be considered non trival. By as best as I can figure out, the buff spells that finally make a change that would not be ruled statisical clustering are mid 50s. By that time, the player's gear is the true driving motovator, with buffs more able to push the borderline to a moreconfortable position than truely standing on their own. In testing with and without statisical buffs, I truely cannot make a visible distinction. I have, over time, phased out casting statisical buffs with the exception of charisma on casters. Anythign that helps a caster avoid a resist is a good thing, and I am very glasd that it comes bundled with the Focus line.
I assume I am in error here, but either my expectations are too great, or the effect is very subtle. I am finding it difficult to justify blowing 2 or 3 mana bars an hour on this subtle effect. In any case, this leads more toward the buffbot role than as an active character.
Applied Buffing
The focus line is excellent. HP regen we get first, but it is quickly shared with other classes. The same goes for speed buffs like SoW. We get only a poor man's version of haste extremely late. The game is driven on mana, however. Shaman have the potential for excellent mana regen (althought not quite as good as our press dubs us, and not until many AAs), but we have no way to provide others with mana. Is does very little to be "90m, good to go" when the rest of the group is at 10m. I spoke before about the high mana costs of shaman abilities over those of others... mana regen being used as a justifaction mearly means that it is, in the end, a wash with just the addedd effect that a shaman can only make use of 70& of his maximum HP because he is constantly canni'ing off the other 30%. Additionally, the other slowing classes also possess group mana regen.
These are arguements seven years old. They will not be addressed here, now, or ever. They are included only for completeness.
DPS and CC
Clearly not our role. I will not subject you to the stories of the handicapable. We do ok, for soloing, slowly... loss of fast cast/high aggro makes root parking ineffective form of CC in groups. DoT stacking complications.
Healing
In leveling up, we go stretches of 10 to 15 levels between heals. In the five levels prior to getting a new heal, ours may not move a tank's hp bar even doubt digits in pecent. We are healers only in the few levels immeadiately after we recieve our new heal against mobs that groups would reasonably decide to attempt until later levels. I am still in that honeymoon period with Superior Healing, I cannot comment on the effect of the post 50 heals. We have no group healing. Our ability to heal feels very forced to a single target in a controlled fashion... a buffbot healer...
We have always been this way, nothing new. I do not think anyone really looks at us as a full time healer... just an emergency.
Taking stock, I can only see this adding up as buffbot. I am not a huge fan dual clienting, however, I have the ability to do so. I do not have a second character that casn make decent use of a shaman's abilities of the proper levels. An above sticky lays out a negative future for using it with a lower level toon.
I am in a dark room and I cannot find the door. Can you help me find the right direction to look?
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