other than its a primal class, do we know any other info?
We know it possesses the Leader role.
I believe that the current gossip is that the Shaman will also be a "Summoner/Animal Companion"-type character, though whether or not this is supported by a direct quote (or instead only some indirect quotes), I'm not sure. I certainly like the idea though! A Primal Leader who, aside from presumably healing his allies in some suitably Primal fashion, leads natural creatures into battle alongside his allies sounds pretty cool to me.
Me too, though I am hoping for Spirit Animals (my preferred style of Primal is more Spirit then Living-Breathing Animal Based). This would also go toward healing/other Leader abilities.
I would LOVE! to see some Powers based around the Shaman having a spirit "ride" a ally and this allowing the ally to deal additional strikes out because the spirit is also dealing out strikes. I could see for instance a Immediate Reaction Power where a ally is about to be attacked and a riding Spirit on this PC attacks the enemy.
His own offencive powers can be based around summoned spirit-animals, using spirits of nature (just imagine the spirits that live in a forest rising up at once against someone), having spirits ride enemies, having spirits not just ride but enter them and move them that way, etc.
other than its a primal class, do we know any other info?
I feel it is my duty to point out that we don't know that it is primal. And really you could have checked the compiled information thread at the top of the board. I do mainatain it for a reason.
Everything else is speculation.
They could resemble something like a beastmaster ranger, except with a ghostly spirit animal.
They could be exactly like the Shaman of previous editions, even if there's a couple of those classes.
It is a primal leader.
It has a "buddy that helps keep the party in tip-top shape".
It is depicted on the PHB2 cover.
...and that's about it.
Me too, though I am hoping for Spirit Animals (my preferred style of Primal is more Spirit then Living-Breathing Animal Based). This would also go toward healing/other Leader abilities.
I would LOVE! to see some Powers based around the Shaman having a spirit "ride" a ally and this allowing the ally to deal additional strikes out because the spirit is also dealing out strikes. I could see for instance a Immediate Reaction Power where a ally is about to be attacked and a riding Spirit on this PC attacks the enemy.
His own offencive powers can be based around summoned spirit-animals, using spirits of nature (just imagine the spirits that live in a forest rising up at once against someone), having spirits ride enemies, having spirits not just ride but enter them and move them that way, etc.
Yes, I think you're right, sigil_beguiler: Gossip says that Shaman will be more "spirit animal" than "physical animal", but either one is cool to me.
I just didn't want it to be "a Cleric, but nature-y!"
I wonder.. the shaman from 3rd Ed Oriental Adventures or the spirit shaman from the divine complete?
Realistically? Probably a little of both, and mostly neither. (You also forgot to mention "Dragon Shaman", from 3.5E's PH2; that one was an obvious dry-run for the 4E Leader role.)
OTOH, as this thread has pointed out, we actually don't know much at all about 4E's Shaman at all, except that it's a Leader, and probably Primal, and also probably some kind of "summoner" class. (Spirit Shamans had spirit companions or something similar, didn't they?)
I wonder.. the shaman from 3rd Ed Oriental Adventures or the spirit shaman from the divine complete?
good question, I would lean towards a spirit shaman
Realistically? Probably a little of both, and mostly neither. (You also forgot to mention "Dragon Shaman", from 3.5E's PH2; that one was an obvious dry-run for the 4E Leader role.)
OTOH, as this thread has pointed out, we actually don't know much at all about 4E's Shaman at all, except that it's a Leader, and probably Primal, and also probably some kind of "summoner" class. (Spirit Shamans had spirit companions or something similar, didn't they?)
They ended up getting a guiding spirit that gae him some unique abilities.
Like I said, doubtful, it will most likely be an animal, but that's wishfull thinking.
In my estimation, spirit animals are the Warden's shtick.
It was mentioned in an article about Warlords pre-4E, when they listed a couple of leader-type classes. It's listed as one of the four classes (Barbarian, Druid, Shaman, Warden) that can take the Primal Avatar epic destiny from a preview article. This ED is avaliable only to primal class characters.
Generally, we know the primal power source has a 'theme of transformation' from a WotC blogger; what that entails for the Shaman is up to speculation, though. For the Barbarian it means rages, for a Druid it means wild shaping - two rather different sorts of transformations. So who knows
They might be primal spirits (i.e., sources of the primal power source), or they might be fey. It's not clear to me which is the most faithful "translation" of the older matieral into 4e. I *think* Rashemen works better if the warriors are barbarians and the hathrans are shamans. (The berserker lodges just scream primal power source to me.) But you could also make an argument that hathrans are really arcane casters first, in which case a fey tie might be a little more appropriate for them. Ultimately the notion of a primal power source is tech we simply didn't have in 2e or 3e, and it might be a better way of looking at Rashemen.
So the shaman class as a primal (<--is that really still disputed??) leader dealing with spirits definitely seems to be on the right track.
He can cast frost shock.
Frost shock? Like in WoW? Where did you get this information? Or did you make it up?
Frost shock? Like in WoW? Where did you get this information? Or did you make it up?
I herd he can self ress well casting frost shock...;)
I herd he can self ress well casting frost shock...;)
And then set totems out for buffs and dps:P
And then set totems out for buffs and dps:P
That's nothing, I saw this shaman do 1k DPS the other day.
That's nothing, I saw this shaman do 1k DPS the other day.
I saw stuff like that, too. Not like it's uncommon in WOW anymore. T'was a paladin dueling with a shaman. Pally won. But the shaman gave him a tough time with 1.2k shock spells
ATTENTION: Derailment in progress!
He can cast frost shock.
totems! totems! totems!
I liked the dragon shaman from 3e and the spirit shaman. I don't remember much about the OA shaman. If the Shaman is a healing class with a pet that would be pure sex. I've always wanted one of those. Being able to turn into a wolf, shoot lightning bolts, and use totems would be icing on the cake.
The shaman attacks a goblin, tearing open one of the poor creature's bicepts. Suddenly, with the scent of blood now in the air, the shaman's allies find themselves more viciously attacking the poor goblin.
The shaman raises his club high, howling gutteral words more akin to animal than human. The warrior he travels with undergoes subtle changes; an elongation of the canines and nails, corse hair grows on his arms and face, his eyes turn yellow.
Striking with fury, a translucent image of a bear appears and dissipates around the shaman. Instantly, the ranger at his side also makes an attack, the same ghostly visage appearing around him.
I saw stuff like that, too. Not like it's uncommon in WOW anymore. T'was a paladin dueling with a shaman. Pally won. But the shaman gave him a tough time with 1.2k shock spells
ATTENTION: Derailment in progress!
My shocks do 1.2k on average, on a crit I'm looking at 3k. And I crit often (around 25%, and my melee crit chance can jump to 38%) Although, at level 80 pallys or any plate wearer has around 20k+ health unbuffed. >.>
Anywho, I think the 4e shaman will have three builds to choose from at first. Elemental, Enhancement, and Restoration. And it's possible that totems might make an appearance. :P
Imagine a Shaman "summoning" to himself (and others) the power/aspect of the great magical beasts/wild animals to help the party and damage the enemies... Yeah.
Wishfull thinking.
I think the Shaman (primal leader class from phb2) could kinda resemble a totemist from the 3.5 Incarnum book.
Imagine a Shaman "summoning" to himself (and others) the power/aspect of the great magical beasts/wild animals to help the party and damage the enemies... Yeah.
Wishfull thinking.
As far as a leader role.....I really don't think that would work unless he instead gave those abilities to others as buffs.
I really just want the totemist to come back
Minotaur carrying a log would be wicked, imo
Shamans are confirmed as being able to use Totems as impliments of some kind. I find this rather intresting, I'm used to them being little stumps in the ground, so seeing the art behind them should be good.
Minotaur carrying a log would be wicked, imo
Smaller totems can be worn around the neck or held in the hand - they don't have to be log sized
The ones around the neck can work just like holy symbols.I am wondering if they will get a spirit companion like the Beastmaster - that would be awesome.
As for stats, I could see there being a WIS/CON and a WIS/CHA build (or CHA/DEX and CHA/CON).
Shamans are confirmed as being able to use Totems as impliments of some kind. I find this rather intresting, I'm used to them being little stumps in the ground, so seeing the art behind them should be good.
Minotaur carrying a log would be wicked, imo
Whoa, where was this info? That's the first time I've heard this confirmed. Not that it was uncertain, of course:P .
Shamans are confirmed as being able to use Totems as impliments of some kind. I find this rather intresting, I'm used to them being little stumps in the ground, so seeing the art behind them should be good.
Minotaur carrying a log would be wicked, imo
any minotaur with a totem POLE...will get hit alot...it might have something to do with me (the dm) giveing a +10 to att and damage with all attacsk
Smaller totems can be worn around the neck or held in the hand - they don't have to be log sized
I'm thinking the 'totem' as an implement doesn't refer to the WoW-style totem pole that the shaman carries around like a club. I see it as being more of a primal-style sacred object, like shrunken heads, claws or other parts from sacred animals, or a sprig of sacred herbs (like the holly or mistletoe the 3E druid carried around as a focus).
I'm thinking the 'totem' as an implement doesn't refer to the WoW-style totem pole that the shaman carries around like a club. I see it as being more of a primal-style sacred object, like shrunken heads, claws or other parts from sacred animals, or a sprig of sacred herbs (like the holly or mistletoe the 3E druid carried around as a focus).
oh god please be right
I'm thinking the 'totem' as an implement doesn't refer to the WoW-style totem pole that the shaman carries around like a club. I see it as being more of a primal-style sacred object, like shrunken heads, claws or other parts from sacred animals, or a sprig of sacred herbs (like the holly or mistletoe the 3E druid carried around as a focus).
Yep yep :D
Shaman implements will probably consist of totems, rods (or wands), and possibly weapons (depending on if their focus is more ranged or melee).
As for stats, I could see there being a WIS/CON and a WIS/CHA build (or CHA/DEX and CHA/CON).
Now that we've seen the warden, there are a few possibilities for shaman stat arrays.
1. WIS/CON and WIS/CHA
2. CON/WIS and CON/CHA
3. CHA/DEX and CHA/CON
The use of Wisdom and Charisma as prime stats is based off the spirit shaman class, which might be a predecessor to the new shaman. Out of these two, Charisma makes the most sense since the shaman's shtick will be bargaining with primal spirits. I get the feeling that all primal classes will use Constitution in some fashion, so that's included as well.
Edit: Maybe one build will focus on summoning totem poles that are zone buffs (Witch Doctor?) and the other on summoning spirit creatures that move and maybe fight (Spirit Guide?).