Where do level 60 Shamans even find the time to use a jaundiced bone bracer? The wife doesn't have one (our characters are poor), but I don't see how she'd be able to effectively use it even if she did. She spends virtually every moment casting something as it is. It's probably the spammiest class in the game, even more so than a Bard.
As Webrunner said, it's a very expensive class. Even ignoring items, the high-level spells cost a great deal of platinum. Add items into the mix and it might be the most expensive class of all.
Shamans are almost unique in not having an actual bad choice for race--all four give good service. I wouldn't count the lack of Slam as a major disadvantage for Iksar. Slam is handy to have, sure, but ultimately it's not reliable enough to be counted as vital. The wolf pet probably interrupts monsters more often than Slam does. Most of the significant items an Iksar can't wear are expensive and therefore only relevant to the wealthier players.
I agree that the Shaman improves with every spell set. Even getting Walking Sleep at 14 helps since the upper teens is when monsters start to double attack. In a solo setting a shaman is more of a tank than the actual tank classes.
Note the level 39 slow seems to generate less hate than the 51 slow. This can be useful if you have a weak aggro class (Warrior or Monk) tanking for your group.
Danth
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