Min/Max

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by loramin [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

P.S. Also, everyone always goes into these discussions thinking about BiS gear, but personally I think that's idiotic. Statistically the odds that any newbie asking for this kind of advice is even going to make it to "AA-level raiding" ... let alone is going to do it long enough to get a suit of BiS gear ... I mean it's like a hundred times more likely that they'll quit before they ever even hit soft maxs. And then conversely, ask anyone in a BiS suit who "misspent" their stat points (half a decade ago) if they even really care, and I'd bet the vast majority say no (the newbie with <100 Wisdom reading the forum probably cares more than they do).

I disagree. The OP is specifically asking about Min/Max. That means you need to consider how the class plays at level 60, with Torpor, and above average gear. That is the point of Min/Max, you want to know what choices in the beginning of the game will have a benefit even in the endgame.

All Shamans with Torpor are super overpowered, so starting race and stats aren't a HUGE factor at the end of the day. All Shamans with Torpor can solo the same stuff. However, Min/Max implies the OP wants as much of an edge as he can get. This means an extra 25 wis of mana endgame, to cast a few more spells. This means Frontal Stun Immunity to decrease Torpor interrupts. This means being able to use a JBB, since it is still useful in certain situations. This is why Iksar is never a Min/Max candidate IMO, unless someone can prove math-wise the extra bit of AC is saving more HP than the mana and HP saved from a free nuke when needed.

If the OP was simply asking which Shaman race levels to 60 the easiest, that would be Troll hands down. You get extra regen, a snare clickie, and JBB at 46.

[Danth]

Min/Max race depends at least somewhat on playstyle. The value of the Ogre bash resist racial depends directly on how often the character gets hit in melee. It does nothing at all for a character who isn't being directly attacked. For soloists it's nice to have. Those Shamans who generally have someone else taking the hits are better-served with a regeneration racial ability.

Danth

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by Danth [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

Min/Max race depends at least somewhat on playstyle. The value of the Ogre bash resist racial depends directly on how often the character gets hit in melee. It does nothing at all for a character who isn't being directly attacked. For soloists it's nice to have. Those Shamans who generally have someone else taking the hits are better-served with a regeneration racial ability.

Danth

Frontal Stun Immunity is still great in groups. If you are the CCer, root breaks happen. Slow generates a lot of agro, and mobs can sometimes move over to you. Troll regen is even less effective in groups when you are not being hit. 2-3 Torpors will regen your entire health pool (unless you are BiS geared with aego, then 4 maybe). This means you have less time under max hp, because you are not getting hit. You are only losing HP to Canni, and therefore regen even less than solo play.

The regen is still better used in solo play, during long fights such as WW dragons. In a 15 minute fight, you get 1200hp, which is a nice little boost. But again, from much solo experience, I find the Frontal Stun Immunity more of a lifesaver, since a bad set of Torpor interrupts means death.

[DMN]

Originally Posted by DeathsSilkyMist [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

, I find the Frontal Stun Immunity more of a lifesaver, since a bad set of Torpor interrupts means death.

So cast it between bashes/kicks.

[DeathsSilkyMist]

Originally Posted by DMN [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

So cast it between bashes/kicks.

Of course, but you can't always do that[You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.] And what about multiple mobs? Pretty tough to time 2-3 mobs attacking you and bashing you simultaneously.

Untimely root breaks happen, Slow resists happen, etc. FSI is great for those situations where you have to act fast. Of course if you are in full control of the mob, FSI or Regen won't matter too much, due to the power of a Shaman.