Eden-DAoC

I'll preface this by saying, these are thoughts from someone who has not invested significant time in playing a Shaman on Eden, however I've got a couple thousand hours on them and always thought this since official days (and other servers since). I don't see a lot of Shamans on Eden but maybe that's just my personal experience.

Has it been considered to increase the shaman spec point multiplier? Shaman are the only seer/naturalist/acolyte class that has no spec defensive, insta CC, or insta heals while at the same time being penalized with a 1.0 multiplier.

On one hand, shaman aren't the same as other (1.0x) spec buffers who have access to insta heals and insta CC (understanding that shaman aren't primary healers). On the other hand, they don't get the defensive abilities (or extra spec points) of all other buff capable healing classes.

With the understanding that a shaman is going to be among, if not the most vulnerable of all standard support classes, I think they should feel more complete in their ability to spellcast/justifying said vulnerability. Similar to how a warden, friar, heretic or bard is able to effectively spec higher into 3 lines, why shouldn't a shaman be able to? It doesn't have the insta heals, so why should it be limited to 1.0x spec? Is the value of spec buffs (vs the difference of a hero flask) enough justification to keep Shaman as the only oddball 1.0x non-insta heal support class in the game while all others get 1.5-1.8-2.0x?

Is there a balance risk by allowing Shaman enough spec points (1.5x)? Alternatively it may also help by making their nuke baseline; at 41 spec the nuke delve is kind of mediocre, but I feel like that would still be more useful than a DOT potentially breaking a subsequent mezz/root. The shaman has this subcaster and debuffer type role but unless you're going to sacrifice buffs and group healing/cleansing then your damage will go from mediocre to horrific. You can't even run the 2nd best nuke (148d) and get yellow spec buffs+group disease cure (and that's with no spec group heals and cleansing). I think shaman should at least be able to deal their mediocre damage while also having access to yellow group buffs and blue group healing/cleansing.

EG
2nd best nuke/bolt, 2nd group heal, 1st group hot, cure nearsight, yellow specs
26 mend
39 aug
46 cave

Maybe I'm totally out in left field here

Shaman got several buffs over the season and is already considered to be pretty strong/effective in high level play

Shaman can't spec yellow group buffs and even the 2nd best nuke/bolt though. Either way you spec you're reduced to diseasing and debuffing without really dealing any damage. The healing in cave spec would be meaningful if you could actually get anywhere in cave spec without gimping group buffs.

They got heals in their damage line but can only use the 3rd best dd/bolt with required group buff minimums.
The situation with cave now is that they cough up all mend spec (having a backup nearsight cleanse and any group heal) for a minimal increase in cave damage from blue to yellow.

trispec shaman -> 92 nuke with 145 bolt and 235 major with 304 greater and blue groupheal/HOT, pbae disease
aug/cave shaman -> 128 nuke vs 201 bolt and 307 major, pbae disease

I am sure the healing in cave is a welcome change but to effectively utilize cave (red spells) your only real choice is zerg surfing or a making a poor group comp. All other non primary healers can spec much deeper into 3+ lines

shaman arent supposed to be dps... cave shaman was considered trolling on live, outside of having enough for insta disease and an aoe root you only cast on certain occasions. just deal with it

ni9080 wrote: Fri May 02, 2025 10:51 pm shaman arent supposed to be dps... cave shaman was considered trolling on live, outside of having enough for insta disease and an aoe root you only cast on certain occasions. just deal with it

The imperfect state of live holds no bearing on balance discussions and deep cave isn't great DPS anyway. The point is the additional spec points given to all other healing classes. Happy to hear why you think Shaman should be classified the same as primary healers with 1.0x spec despite lacking insta heals, spreadheal and insta cc.