Shaman Wearing Druid Gear?

[Spitty]

I melee when soloing all the time. Why wouldn't I want the chance for an extra 70 damage in between constant casting?

I don't do it in groups because I'm lazy and usually pretty high up on the aggro list, but the same concept would apply. Duo/trios, I'm maxing every iota of DPS so I'm up in the mob with auto-attack on.

Trying to get hit is a different thing than taking hits, and I'm not advocating a shaman get up in melee range just to get hit on. I'm saying that a fully-functional shaman should expect to take some hits in normal grouping scenarios. A prime example is getting adds - pull aggro with slow and park that sumbitch somewhere else and ghetto CC like a boss. You're gonna take some hits there.

Examples where I'm tanking duo/trios with full AC gear up -

Shm/Mag: all the time. Especially HS South/Juggs. Mag rolls a rogue pet so I'm taking care of positioning and push like a normal tank, and keeping the robe from getting rolled.

Shm/Mag/Enc: another good example. Enc usually has something charmed, so I maintain a high spot on the aggro list so if the pet breaks, the chanter doesn't get destroyed by the mob + the former pet. Mag usually with a rogue pet here, too.

Shm/Nec: With AC/HP gear on and regen running on the Nec, I'm usually between 70-90% HP with lich alone. I constant canni though, so realistically I'm torporing once every fight to offset canni damage and that covers for mob damage too.

[Yumyums Inmahtumtums]

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

I melee when soloing all the time. Why wouldn't I want the chance for an extra 70 damage in between constant casting?

I don't do it in groups because I'm lazy and usually pretty high up on the aggro list, but the same concept would apply. Duo/trios, I'm maxing every iota of DPS so I'm up in the mob with auto-attack on.

Trying to get hit is a different thing than taking hits, and I'm not advocating a shaman get up in melee range just to get hit on. I'm saying that a fully-functional shaman should expect to take some hits in normal grouping scenarios. A prime example is getting adds - pull aggro with slow and park that sumbitch somewhere else and ghetto CC like a boss. You're gonna take some hits there.

Examples where I'm tanking duo/trios with full AC gear up -

Shm/Mag: all the time. Especially HS South/Juggs. Mag rolls a rogue pet so I'm taking care of positioning and push like a normal tank, and keeping the robe from getting rolled.

Shm/Mag/Enc: another good example. Enc usually has something charmed, so I maintain a high spot on the aggro list so if the pet breaks, the chanter doesn't get destroyed by the mob + the former pet. Mag usually with a rogue pet here, too.

Shm/Nec: With AC/HP gear on and regen running on the Nec, I'm usually between 70-90% HP with lich alone. I constant canni though, so realistically I'm torporing once every fight to offset canni damage and that covers for mob damage too.

I feel like melee in high level groups would really only help you efficiently with Torpor in that you wouldn't do enough DPS with a melee weapon to offset what you COULD do if you used that health to Canni into mana and cast a DoT.

With that said, tanking for rogue pets and others would really be the best way. Gotta say, tanking at 60 kinda impresses me.

[citizen1080]

Shaman Race X is better than Shaman Race Y

[scooter]

Shamans are imo - the most versatile class.
there are many wrong ways to play them but through all my adventures there isn't a single correct way to play them either.
If you are more reliant on grouping, worry more about your mana. If you like soloing, worry about HP/AC. Shamans can strategically cast spells in a group and never take a hit, or you can be super aggressive and take hits all the time.
Soloing can tank and melee, or root and rot.
the list goes on.
the point is - try out what works for you and what you enjoy the most.

[Spitty]

II'm pretty much constant canni'ing when meleeing. I have auto-attack on so I get in a melee round between cannibalize casts - there is a spell reset period between casts, you know.

I don't fucking stand there and bash on it like a dolt when I could be doing other things. That's 101, bros.

Tanking at 60 in risky spots - best done with a mage with CoH and a WC hat. If things go wrong, you will definitely want to have both handy. Tanking at NG is easy business.

[Wizerud]

You should go the melee route simply because it's way more fun that root rotting.

[webrunner5]

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

You should go the melee route simply because it's way more fun that root rotting.

What he said. Root Rotting works but is boring as hell and Necroish. [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.][You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]