A different take on Shamans

MehZhure

For the most part, all I have seen about the new shaman class is that they really aren't much good, except as a backup to a powerful group, and mostly useless as a single run-through. So....I had to try it out.

I think the problem is, the shaman class requires a different type of strategy to be successful. I see lots of complaints about how the shaman cannot move when dancing. Again...not actually a problem. It just doesn't fit in with the standard tactics commonly used.

I made a half-orc shaman, because I wanted the high str, and con....mainly so I can carry a lot of stuff (single character run-through), and I would like to gain natural regeneration (boosting con to 20 via the manual of bodily health I know is lurking in the game).

The tactics I have found to be highly useful are a sensible hit-and-run style of assault. I encounter a foe, immediately backstep, and dance. The intent is to call a spirit before they can get to me. When it doesn't work, what do I do? Run away and try again. It has turned out to be a fairly interesting run thus far (haven't reached Naskel yet, and am still working on lvl 3.

The stats I accepted are S: 19, 12, C: 19, I: 10, W: 14, C: 14. So, no impossibly high rolls, and no editing to get good stats. I think it was an 88, but I don't remember for certain. I am doing a two-weapon style with daggers, but rarely have I engaged in combat directly.

My thoughts on the shaman thus far? I think it is just fine as is. If the shaman could move around, it would quickly become massively OP. I mean....in all honesty...I took out the ogre on the way to the Friendly Arm with only a first lvl shaman. Didn't lose a single point of health....well....the second time i didn't lose a single point of health. Hehehe....the first time was a one-hit kill, so I was fortunate to have saved recently.

So, if you are wondering whether or not the shaman is worth a play-through, definitely yes. Just remember, the tactics you use for a fighter, thief, or mage, will not work with the shaman. It is a different class, and requires a unique set of tactics to make it fun to play.

Ayiekie

I will note that in normal party play, the Shaman doubles as a functionally unkillable tank in any situation where you can force a known enemy to walk through an small passage (which is pretty common in any dungeon in the game). Unless enemies are killing summoned animals every round, you will usually replace them as fast as they go down. This helped a lot in getting through BG1 with a party where for quite awhile my best tank was Rasaad.

JuliusBorisov

I like shamans and think that they're a very nice addition to the game.

MehZhure said:

The tactics I have found to be highly useful are a sensible hit-and-run style of assault. I encounter a foe, immediately backstep, and dance. The intent is to call a spirit before they can get to me. When it doesn't work, what do I do? Run away and try again. It has turned out to be a fairly interesting run thus far (haven't reached Naskel yet, and am still working on lvl 3.

Yes, if you can summon spirits first, and only then lure enemies to them, the shaman is VERY useful.

I've shared my experience on how the shaman helps to overcome any enemies at the start of BG1 on the LoB difficulty here.

MehZhure

Hehe, I am involved in a battle with Neira right at this very moment. Still haven't reached third level. Took me a few reloads to figure out what her strategy was. What I ended up doing was charging her, doing the conversation, and running down the hall into a room. The full cover allowed me to make a successful saving throw against he rigid thinking. Then I ran across the hall to get her to cast her second spell, with the same result. Once I had the first two out of the way, I stood just inside the doorway and started dancing, so the spirits would summon in the hallway. Once they appeared, they started attacking. As of right now, the battle has been going for about 5-10 minutes.

Tarlugn

I recently fooled around Sword Coast in BG:EE with a solo shaman and discovered the same strategy! I had a hunch it might work if I started summoning when enemies are still in the fog of war, though positioning is rather challenging without a thief scout. I also pondered that by pulling, moving just a little bit further and dancing again I might score a summon - you´ll need only one to stop the enemy, draw fire or spells, and usually the second summon would enable such combat that even solo shaman just might survive. I´m eager to see how this will evolve with 3 summons, as the major animal spirits hit way harder, damage in range of 5 to 10 when compared to minor animal´s spirits 1 to 3. I was very impressed by the summons in the Sil´s cave, the flesh golems proved to be almost effortless prey if I got lucky and scored 3 major animal spirits!

Niwla

I just finished a solo Shaman bg1 legacy of bhaal run, so it's not underpowered at all... Thanks to the hp boost from legacy of bhaal i think it's even more powerful then in insane difficulty.

rapsam2003

MehZhure said:

So, if you are wondering whether or not the shaman is worth a play-through, definitely yes. Just remember, the tactics you use for a fighter, thief, or mage, will not work with the shaman. It is a different class, and requires a unique set of tactics to make it fun to play.

I agree 100%, and I think people just don't consider this. They look at Shaman and go, "Letting the Shaman stand around is BORING". No, it's about patience. A shaman is your classic example of summoner/disabler/buffer. The whole point of shaman is NOT to whack things quickly. It's to beat the enemy with time on your side.

Jarrakul

I'd used a shaman extensively to tank in a party and found them quite strong in that regard (when augmented by another more traditional tank), but I didn't think of the semi-kiting tactics described here. That's cool. Thanks for sharing.

rapsam2003

Jarrakul said:

I'd used a shaman extensively to tank in a party and found them quite strong in that regard (when augmented by another more traditional tank), but I didn't think of the semi-kiting tactics described here. That's cool. Thanks for sharing.

I kind of used M'Khiin in the same way. She's a bit of a badass in SoD. Buff the party, summon things, and stand up there with Dorn.