We have been reading and gathering quite a lot of feedback from you in the Shaman class concerns thread(
http://forums-en.wow-europe.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-shaman-en&t=94165&p=1&tmp=1#post94165), and here is a summary of what we have been forwarding to the developers so far:
Note: The player feedback that has been forwarded to the developers has been gathered from all three European Shaman class forums
Positive feedback
The general talent tree changes are fairly well received. The trees are less cluttered now and some of the previously talents that have either been removed or integrated into other talents are also popular, since this frees up some talent points for other things. In general there are more attractive opportunities for talent build variation.
The new elemental tree is well received
The reduced totem mana cost and their improved duration times as well as +Heal and +Spelldamage effects is also well received, although many Shaman players feel that it is far from good enough.
The Healing Way talent is appreciated and many shamans feel that it gives something unique to the Shaman class
Implementation of the talents “Nature’s Guidance” and “Weapon Mastery” is considered positive
Threat reduction in the restoration tree is well received
Totemic focus talent now seems worthy to put talent points in for many Shaman players.
Tier 3 armor set graphics are well appreciated.
Negative feedback
The general concensus among Shaman players is that the revamp focuses on the wrong issues with the Shaman class. Its PvP issues got addresses well enough in this revamp, but the PvE issues are virtually unchanged since before the revamp. The Shaman is still pretty much forced to be a restoration healing specced shaman in raids.
Many Shaman players feel that the enhancement tree was the talent tree that needed the most attention, yet was the tree that was mostly left alone.
Most of the raiding shaman players feel that they are forced to spend 31 talent points in the restoration tree in order to get the relatively weak mana tide. This highly prevents variation in gameplay in end-game raiding.
Most Shaman players see low or no possibilities to aid their raid when focusing on the enhancement or elemental tree, this means no real raid appealing skills in the elemental/enhancement trees. The reason for this opinion from the players is that they consider the shaman as a class who should provide offensive enhancement to their fellow players.
Totems are considered useless when fighting mobile targets, so the players would like to see more flexibility when it comes to handling totems.
Totems only benefits members in your group and not the raidgroup.
Totems got buffed yes, but there are still many totems that are too situational and thus rarely used. In addition the health and mana regenerating totems are still too weak due to their very slow regeneration rates.
Several totems are fairly used and have not received any update: Sentry Totem, Windwall Totem, Stoneskin Totem, Stoneclaw Totem and Healing Stream Totem.
Still no real aggro management skills.
Need better mana regeneration options in combat
Many Shaman players feel like Windfury was nerfed without giving anything in return.
Many Shaman players are disappointed by the fact that they have to spend talent points in order to use two handed weapons.
Itemization seems to primarily favor the healing specced Shaman.
Chain Heal cannot be improved.
Lightning Shield still cannot cause critical hits.
The “Anticipation” and “Toughness” talents are by many shamans seen as talents which would be useful for warriors (tanks) instead of shamans. (Suggestions below on how to improve these abilities).
Enhancement skills are still hard to control and rely extremely on procs.
Suggestions
Make manatide trainable and replace it with another talent (suggestion for another talent below)
Grace of the Earthmother
1/1
Requires 30 points in restoration talents
300 mana
Instant cast 3 minute cooldown
Imbues the target with the Grace of the Earthmother. The next 3 sources of damage dealt to the target have its damage reduced by 50%. Lasts 30 seconds.
Make new totems available at level 60 that can benefit an entire raidgroup instead of just a 5 man group, but in return limit the Shaman so he can only cast one raid totem.
Make some totems removable/movable in order to allow for better agro control and maybe even add more options when fighting mobile enemies. In addition there could be a talent that allows the totems to stay after the death of the Shaman.
Increase range of effect of totems
Improve the user interface to make totem management easier.
Create a fire totem which reduces any damage done to the group by X%
Create a fire totem which increases aggro done by group by X%
Create a fire totem which increases spelldamage by X
Create a fire totem which increases defense skill/armor by X
Make a Talent which allows 100% mana regeneration during placing totems
Redo the enhancement tree. Give the Shaman the bloodlust ability(stick to the lore) or make a new 31 point talent in this tree that gives the Shaman improved melee abilities and maybe even melee buffs for group members, thus making the enhancement tree an alternative option for raiding talent build options.
Allow the Shaman to train 2 handed weapons at the weapons trainer like other classes.
Parry as 11 points talent
Effect of Strength of Earth and Grace of Air totems should be related to shaman’s strength and agility. A similar popular idea is to make these totems relate to others player’s stats as well. An Example is to provide percentage bonuses instead of fixed stats. Ex: 15 % agility bonus or 15 % strength bonus in order to follow damage and itemization scaling.
The totems of the different races all look the same. Player would like diversity here, so please make different looks for totems depending on what race you play.
Increasing Ancestral Knowledge to 10%
Toughness as 3/3 talent granting armor bonus by 5/10/15%
Change anticipation to increase hitpoints by 2/4/6/8/10%: Many players would like adding increased hit points on the resistance talent.
+Hit/Spellhit talent should be placed in enhancement tree
Create talent to increase proc chance of Windfury by 2/5% or giving rockbiter weapon a 2/5% chance to stun target
Create talent which allows mana regeneration while casting
