WWI '08 Panel: Shaman
by Mike Schramm 
Jun 28th 2008 at 9:30AM
Holy moly, Shamans got a ton of stuff they wanted and then some today at the WoW Dev Panel during WWI '08 today.- Shaman CC! Hex, previously the domain of NPCs only, was confirmed as a Shaman spell -- it'll have a quick 1.5 second cast, and will turn your enemy into a frog for about 8-10 seconds. The frogged person will still be able to move around, but they won't be able to attack or cast spells. A 1 minute cooldown was mentioned, but that's in opposition to the purpose of the spell, which is supposed to be emergency only, so that may change.
- The devs mentioned that Shaman were suffering from "Totem spam," so a few totems will be combined -- Strength of Earth and Grace of Air will become the same totem, and the physical school news was re-confirmed.
- Perhaps the biggest Shaman complaint since launch was answered: Shaman totems will now affect the whole raid, not just the local group. That's a big one.
- Weapon enchants are being revamped for more utility. Rockbiter is out completely, and Earthliving is replacing it -- it will give a +Healing buff. Flametongue will give spell damage, and Frostbrand will "more reliably snare" opponents.
All of this information is still up in the air, of course, but it's awesome to finally see some official news on where classes are headed for Wrath of the Lich King. Stay tuned for more Wrath information, as well as any other WoW news we hear coming out of WWI.
Filed under: Shaman, Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Raiding, Classes, Buffs, Wrath of the Lich King, Worldwide Invitational
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Bradley Jun 28th 2008 9:35AM
Shamans got love from blizzard xD
Arkive Jun 28th 2008 11:10AM
I don't know if people realize but we are going to be able to use Windfury with another weapon buff see as it is no longer a weapon buff rather a buff.
TriggerHappy Jun 29th 2008 12:01PM
It's far too early to say that Windfury will stack with a sharpening stone or any other temporary buff. It would certainly be nice to not have to remind rogues that they need to get rid of main hand poison to benefit from windfury totem, but just moving the buff to a different class doesn't mean Blizzard won't add new anti-stacking options.
Yar TTomlliw Jun 28th 2008 9:42AM
Hex is purely emergency CC, there's no two ways about that, but it can be a nice addition, perhaps if a healer is being attacked and the tank can't get there in time or the like.
I think the raid buff shoulda been included in a patch a LOOOOONG time ago, and dare I say, seems a bit of a lame feature for a full-on expansion. It's like something they could have popped in on a patch at any time prior to this, but maybe that's just me. Still, im glad this is finally in. Great news for raids and for raiding shamans! :)
Quite like the idea of SOTE and Grace of Air being combined. It's nice for that extra crit chance as well as AP, and plus you can also pop up that WF totem for extra effect. :). Lovely!
Overall, some nice changes, i'll be interested to see what else Shammies will be able to do on the route to 80.
Alan Jun 29th 2008 1:45PM
doesn't it seem that making the totem buffs raidwide might actually affect the shaman's viability for raids? What I mean, is that my raid team has 2 elemental shaman, for the caster dps. Now, we only need one, which will leave one of the shaman out in the cold, since now, we don't need him, and it would be better to have a warlock or mage for the dps increase.
Yar TTomlliw Jun 28th 2008 10:04AM
Well, I suppose that depends on DPS and by 80, a lot of Raid Groups will probably be reset for one reason or another. As for multiple shammies to one raid, they could use alternate totems depending on each element, so for example, for air, one shammy can use wrath of air to buff casters, whilst another uses windfury to buff melee, and just keep those up throughout the raid.
TobiasX Jun 28th 2008 10:49AM
You see 2 shamans going down to 1. I see 8 totems that can help the Entire Raid. :D
Balasan Jun 28th 2008 11:03AM
I see Hex as exactly like the Paladin's Hammer of Justice, apart from having a cast time and having a slightly longer duration (which means a lifetime in PvP).
So yeah, it's something that's been long needed by Shamans in PvP.
Frostwolf Jun 29th 2008 1:23AM
The CC issue was really more of a PvP complaint.
That doesn't mean that like all things meant for PvP (or vice versa) can't be used now and than in PvE, but this is put there as an arena gripe since shamans will be the last class to obtain a CC
Darganis Jun 29th 2008 6:32PM
How the hell is this an emergency spell? If the mob or "player" can move on there own they will be able to follow you and just be right there ready to attack the second the spell wears off. Emergency in what way? We were asking for a ummm combat stun type spell. This in no way will enable us to get "away". Which is what was being asked for, more then CC. CC yes is very nice but this CC is not an emergency spell.
I see the Hex as a spell we will use to kite mobs in PVE and to allow us to heal our selves in PVP. yes yes it has CC abilities in that that player/Mob is taken out of the fight for the duration, and I can see some more uses, but as an emergency spell not at all.
Cameron Jun 28th 2008 9:53AM
Shaman officially join every other class in the game with having some form of CC(other than earthbind... and earth elemental... and frost shock... and stoneclaw...)
Another short term CC for the class that is full of them!
I thought shaman already had an "emergency" CC? Earth elemental + run!
Rock Jun 28th 2008 9:56AM
/facepalm
Scaramanja Jun 28th 2008 10:03AM
You sir have no concept of how the game mechanics work do you?
Alchemistmerlin Jun 28th 2008 10:48AM
That's CC along the same lines as "Die and Ahnk" is an aggro dumb.
Alchemistmerlin Jun 28th 2008 10:48AM
That should say dump.
Cameron Jun 29th 2008 1:08AM
What's the point of Hex exactly? the situation stated above of "getting something off of a healer", any method i mentioned would probably work. If something is going to a healer chances are it's a multiple tanking situation with a non-paladin tank. The tank didn't build appropriate agro on one of the mobs, and the mob goes to the healer. Anyone who wouldn't use a method mentioned before deserves to have their healer die.
Just as a rogue should blind, a shaman should hex. But both of those methods are purely a temporary stay of execution and not a real CC. That being said parts of my comment were purely sarcastic, you sir have no concept of how sarcasm works do you?
Doma Jun 29th 2008 1:10AM
i like him- he must be the huntard that starts attacking my EE out of panic in AB
Sham Jun 28th 2008 9:49AM
Grats to the shammies out there!
Personally I'm loving the totem buff . . . but don't complain about range just yet. Blizz had a talent for pallies to increase their aura range from 30 - 40 so they may just do the same for shamans too.
matrix_dragon Jun 28th 2008 10:10AM
Now I wonder will we Paladins get raid wide auras...
s256 Jun 28th 2008 6:21PM
Shamans already have a 10-yard totem range increasing talent..
Untalented range is 20 yards. :P