Shaman (character class)
Encyclopedia
In role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

s, a Shaman is a character class
Character class
In role-playing games, a common method of arbitrating the capabilities of different game characters is to assign each one to a character class. A character class aggregates several abilities and aptitudes, and may also sometimes detail aspects of background and social standing or impose behaviour...

 that is generally portrayed as using spirit-based magical
Magic (gaming)
Some role-playing games or game systems can include a set of rules that are used to portray magic in the paranormal sense. These rules simulate the effects that magic would have within the game context, according to how the game designer intended the magic to be portrayed...

 abilities that involve healing and enhancing the combat abilities of fellow players, and damaging and diminishing the combat abilities of enemies. A Shaman generally wears mid-level or chainmail armor, and wields spears and clubs.

Age of Conan
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is a fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by a Norwegian computer video game developer company, Funcom, and is published by Eidos Interactive for the PC platform...

 

Overview
In Age of Conan
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures
Age of Conan: Hyborian Adventures is a fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by a Norwegian computer video game developer company, Funcom, and is published by Eidos Interactive for the PC platform...

, the Bear Shaman is one of the three Priest archetypes, and, unlike other healing classes, it also comes with good offensive abilities - in the case of the Bear Shaman, this is based on melee and melee enhancement. One can select a combination of feats for the character from the following trees: "General" (common for the Priest archetype), "Wrath", and "Spirits".

Races
Only a Cimmerian
Cimmeria (Conan)
Cimmeria is a fictional land of barbarians in antediluvian earth and the homeland of Conan the Barbarian in the works of Robert E. Howard.-Fictional history:...

 or Khitan may learn the ways of the Bear Shaman.

Equipment
The Shaman can wear light, medium, or cloth armor (as opposed to heavy) and wields two-handed blunt (and ranged) weapons, but may not use shields.

Diablo 

Diablo 3 features a witch doctor character class reminiscent of the Diablo II necromancer, but with skills more traditionally associated with shamanism
Shamanism
Shamanism is an anthropological term referencing a range of beliefs and practices regarding communication with the spiritual world. To quote Eliade: "A first definition of this complex phenomenon, and perhaps the least hazardous, will be: shamanism = technique of ecstasy." Shamanism encompasses the...

 and voodoo culture. The witch doctor has the ability to summon monsters, cast curses, harvest souls, and hurl poisons and explosives at his enemies. Blizzard has stated[citation needed] that the witch doctor is not another version of the necromancer and that they may incorporate the necromancer in a future expansion if they so desire. To power spells the witch doctor uses mana, which regenerates slowly.

d20 System
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...

 

Overview
The d20 System
D20 System
The d20 System is a role-playing game system published in 2000 by Wizards of the Coast originally developed for the third edition of Dungeons & Dragons...

 is an open source role playing game system. As such, various sources have created versions of Shaman and Shaman-like classes:


A Shaman class was specified in "The Shaman's Handbook" in 2002.

A Shaman class was specified in "The Hamlet of Thumble" in 2003.

A Shaman class was specified in "The Shaman" prior to March, 2006.

A Bone Shaman class was specified in "The Lost Classes Codex" in 2006.

The Fairy Witch and Were-Shaman classes, as well as The Hexmaster, Spirit Warrior and Witch Doctor prestige classes, were specified in "The Enduring: Witches and Shamans" in 2007.

Dungeons & Dragons 

In the various versions of the Dungeons & Dragons games, there have been several versions of Shaman character classes.\

AD&D

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons (or AD&D) supplements included the following:

Shaman - introduced with the "Shaman" supplement (TSR 9507) in 1995.

AD&D2

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition (sometimes referred to as AD&D2 or 2nd Ed) rulebooks eventually included the Shaman class. Details are provided in the following sourcebooks: Faith and Avatars, Shaman
Shaman (accessory)
Shaman is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1995....

, and The Complete Barbarian’s Handbook.

D&D3

Dungeons & Dragons v.3 (also known as the Third Edition Dungeons & Dragons) rulebooks included the following Shaman classes:

Shaman - introduced in Gazetteer 12 The Golden Khan of Ethengar
The Golden Khan of Ethengar
The Golden Khan of Ethengar is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:This gazetteer describes the land and people of the Ethengar tribes, who resemble the Mongols at the time of Kublai Khan. The 32-page "Player's Guide" gives a brief overview of the land, and...

 (TSR 9246) in 1989.

Shaman - revised for Shadow Elves in Gazetteer 13 "The Shadow Elves
The Shadow Elves
The Shadow Elves is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:This gazzetteer describes the region deep beneath the Broken Lands, where the underground shadow elves live. The 64-page "DM's Guide" describes the locations found on the large color map, and also...

" (TSR 9287) in 1990.

Shamani - priests of the Atruaghin race, introduced in Gazetteer 14 "Atruaghin Clans (TSR 9306)

Green Ronin Publishing released a 3.0 Shaman in The Shaman Handbook as part of their Master Class series. They cast divine spells spontaneously, like a sorcerer. The book also contains a number of Prestige Classes.

D&D3.5

Dungeons & Dragons v.3.5 (also known as Revised 3rd Edition or D&D3.5) rulebooks included the following Shaman classes:

Dragon Shaman - introduced in the Player's Handbook II. Open to all races, the Dragon Shaman is primarily a physical combatant who gains dragon-like powers from the particular type (color) of dragon he aligns with and develops an affinity for. This character may employ medium armor, and gains some spell-like abilities.

Shaman - introduced in the Oriental Adventures
Oriental Adventures
Oriental Adventures is the title shared by two hardback rulebooks published for different versions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...

 sourcebook. Shamans are divine spellcasters who draw their spells from the spirit world.

Spirit Shaman - introduced in the Complete Divine
Complete Divine
Complete Divine is a supplemental rulebook for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game published by Wizards of the Coast...

 sourcebook. Spirit Shamans are similar to druids in that they use the druidic spell list, but they cast spells spontaneously like a Sorcerer. Spirit Shamans have their own spirit guide and possess special abilities that affect spirits (such as incorporeal undead, fey, and elementals). Unlike Sorcerers, Spirit Shamans may change their spell selection whenever they meditate to regain their daily allotment of spells.

Totemist - introduced in the Magic of Incarnum
Magic of Incarnum
Magic of Incarnum is a supplemental book for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game. It was first printed in 2005 to be applied to 3.5 D&D rules.-Contents:...

 sourcebook. Totemists revere magical beasts, such as worgs and unicorns, whom they see as the most powerful forces of nature. They shape incarnum, the material of souls, to make magical items based around magical beasts, such as Displacer Mantles. Totemist is the favored class of Dusklings.

UKG Publishing released a 3.5 Shaman in The Enduring: Witches & Shaman in June 2007. It uses the same advancement and spellcasting progression as a druid, but (instead of wildshape) gains lycanthropic abilities as it progresses, becoming a were-shaman (a natural lycanthrope
Lycanthropy (disambiguation)
Lycanthropy is the ability or power of a human being to undergo transformation into a werewolf.Lycanthropy may also refer to:* Clinical lycanthropy, the delusional belief that a person can transform into a wolf or other animal...

) at upper levels.

D&D4

Dungeons & Dragons v.4 (also known as Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition or D&D4) rulebooks included the following Shaman classes:

The Shaman is among the classes included in the 4th edition Player's Handbook 2 (March 2009). The Shaman class has the Primal power source and the Leader role, and has a clear link with the primal spirits of the earth; most of her powers call upon or otherwise make use of spirits
Spirit
The English word spirit has many differing meanings and connotations, most of them relating to a non-corporeal substance contrasted with the material body.The spirit of a living thing usually refers to or explains its consciousness.The notions of a person's "spirit" and "soul" often also overlap,...

. Continuing with this spiritual link, all Shamans receive a Spirit Companion—the class is distinctive for being the only Fourth Edition class to have a companion as a standard feature. While it may have any appearance the player wishes, the flavor and artwork included in the book depict it as an animal spirit, and the provided Shaman builds are named after possible appearances (Panther and Bear). Many of the Shaman's powers use the Spirit keyword, meaning they use the spirit as their origin point and derive line of sight and effect from it; these are flavored as the Shaman commanding the spirit to attack her enemies. The Shaman can even use opportunity actions to attack enemies moving past the spirit, giving it the mechanical feeling of an ally actively engaged in combat.

Along with damage, Shaman attacks carry some type of rider effect that either benefit allies or harm enemies next to the companion spirit, such as temporary hit points or a bonus to attack rolls. Additionally, allies next to the spirit can gain additional hit points when the Shaman uses her healing abilities. This allows the Shaman to use the spirit as a mobile source of aid, able to be moved to where it is most useful. Since she must consider the positioning of two entities rather than one, and is able to use both ranged and melee attacks from two sources, the Shaman is a complex Leader class to play.

EverQuest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...

 

Overview
In EverQuest
EverQuest
EverQuest, often shortened to EQ, is a 3D fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game that was released on the 16th of March, 1999. The original design is credited to Brad McQuaid, Steve Clover, and Bill Trost...

, the Shaman class - like the Druid
Druid (character class)
In role-playing games, a druid is a character class that is generally portrayed as using nature-based magical abilities and striving to protect nature from civilized intrusion...

 and Cleric
Cleric (character class)
The Cleric, Priest, or Bishop is a character class in Dungeons & Dragons and other fantasy role-playing games. The cleric is a healer, usually a priest and a holy warrior, originally modeled on or inspired by the Military Orders...

 classes - is of the Priest or Healer archetype. Like the Druid, the Shaman has many secondary utility abilities at the cost of not healing as well as the Cleric. These abilities include "debuffing" (diminishing) the offense of an opponent by slowing or decreasing its attack rate, attack rating and spell resistance, as well as "buffing" (enhancing) allies by speeding up or increasing their attack rate, attack rating and spell resistance. The EverQuest Shaman would be considered neither "good" nor "evil" in overall lore.

Races
The Shaman class is only available to those races which are tribal, or closer to nature than to technology. Originally restricted to the races of Barbarian
Barbarian
Barbarian and savage are terms used to refer to a person who is perceived to be uncivilized. The word is often used either in a general reference to a member of a nation or ethnos, typically a tribal society as seen by an urban civilization either viewed as inferior, or admired as a noble savage...

, Ogre
Ogre
An ogre is a large, cruel, monstrous, and hideous humanoid monster, featured in mythology, folklore, and fiction. Ogres are often depicted in fairy tales and folklore as feeding on human beings, and have appeared in many classic works of literature...

 and Troll
Troll
A troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...

, players were given the option of playing additional Shaman-capable races in the following expansions: Iksar (lizard people) with "Ruins of Kunark"; Vah Shir (cat people) with "Shadows of Luclin"; and Froglok (frog people) with "Legacy of Ykesha".

Equipment
The Shaman wears chainmail or scalemail, primarily wields blunt or piercing weapons, and may use shields.

EverQuest II
EverQuest II
EverQuest II is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment , based on EverQuest, and shipped on 8 November 2004...

 

Overview
In EverQuest II
EverQuest II
EverQuest II is a 3D fantasy massively multiplayer online role-playing game developed by Sony Online Entertainment , based on EverQuest, and shipped on 8 November 2004...

, Shaman actually describes two Priest classes - Mystics and Defilers. Mystic wards, abilities and spells are more defensively oriented, and their lore is generally good (vs evil). Defiler wards, abilities and spells are more offensively oriented, and their lore is generally evil (vs good).

Races
EverQuest II does not limit classes to certain races, so any of the 19 races can become a Shaman.

Equipment
Both Mystics and Defilers wear chainmail or scalemail, wield blunt or piercing weapons, and may use small shields.

Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem
is a fantasy tactical role-playing video game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems , the maker of Advance Wars , and published by Nintendo...

 

Overview
In Fire Emblem
Fire Emblem
is a fantasy tactical role-playing video game franchise developed by Intelligent Systems , the maker of Advance Wars , and published by Nintendo...

, the Shaman class is an unpromoted unit who specialises in the dark arts and tends to be the slowest but strongest magic class in the games. They're the rarest non-character specific class and upon promotion they become either Druids or Summoners.

Equipment
Shamans use dark magic as their form of offense.

Guild Wars
Guild Wars
Guild Wars is an episodic series of online 3D fantasy role-playing games developed by ArenaNet and published by NCsoft. Although often defined as an MMORPG the developers define it as a CORPG due to significant differences from the MMORPG genre. It provides two main modes of gameplay—a cooperative...

 

Overview
A living conduit to the Spirit world, the Ritualist profession is thematically identical to the Shaman character class in both form and essence, with influences drawing heavily from East Asian shintoism, West African vodun and Native American animism
Animism
Animism refers to the belief that non-human entities are spiritual beings, or at least embody some kind of life-principle....

. They hood their eyes to avoid gazing into the abyss and to better commune with the supernatural, and can also use the remains of the dead to defend the living—not by reanimating corpses as a Necromancer would, but through the ritual use of urns and ashes. Where Druids and Rangers lives as one with the spirit world, the Ritualist can and will be its master.
Spirits
Channel other-worldly energies that summon allies from the void and employ mystic binding rituals that bend those allies to the Ritualist's will. These powerful Spirit allies inflict harm on foes, and can channel restorative magic that heals and protects injured companions.
Ashes
By calling upon those who have left this world, they are able to strengthen allies, weaken his foes, call upon spirits, and mend the wounds of those who have been maimed.
Weapons
The energy they channel drives skills which enhance the deadliness of an ally's weapon, focus or armor, and wreak havoc on an enemy's health.

Rift 

Overview
in Rift, the Shaman is one of eight classes of the Cleric (healer) calling (archetype). The Shaman class has emphasis on dealing damage by magic and melee, at the expense of lesser defenses and healing ability (when compared to other Cleric classes).

Races
Rift does not limit classes to certain races, so any of the six races may become a Shaman.

Equipment
The Shaman may wear chainmail or leather, wield blunt weapons, and use shields.

Vanguard
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is a high fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by Sigil Games Online, and now developed and run by Sony Online Entertainment. Originally, the game was co-published by Sony Online Entertainment , and the company producing it, Sigil Games...

 

Overview
in Vanguard
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is a high fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by Sigil Games Online, and now developed and run by Sony Online Entertainment. Originally, the game was co-published by Sony Online Entertainment , and the company producing it, Sigil Games...

, the Shaman is of the Priest or Healer archetype, chooses one of three patron spirits: Tuurgin the Bear grants abilities based on physical strength and robustness; Rakurr the Wolf grants abilities based on stealth and speed; Hayatet the Phoenix grants abilities based on mana (magic) and fire. This choice determines which spells and abilities will be available as the character advances, as well as which statistics will be considered most important.

Races
Shaman may be Goblin
Goblin
A goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous illiterate creature, a grotesquely evil or evil-like phantom.They are attributed with various abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases, goblins have been classified as constantly annoying little...

, Lesser Giant
Giant (mythology)
The mythology and legends of many different cultures include monsters of human appearance but prodigious size and strength. "Giant" is the English word commonly used for such beings, derived from one of the most famed examples: the gigantes of Greek mythology.In various Indo-European mythologies,...

, Mordebi
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is a high fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by Sigil Games Online, and now developed and run by Sony Online Entertainment. Originally, the game was co-published by Sony Online Entertainment , and the company producing it, Sigil Games...

 (a Human variety), Orc
Orc
An orc is one of a race of mythical human-like creatures, generally described as fierce and combative, with grotesque features and often black, grey or greenish skin. This mythology has its origins in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien....

, Varanjar
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is a high fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by Sigil Games Online, and now developed and run by Sony Online Entertainment. Originally, the game was co-published by Sony Online Entertainment , and the company producing it, Sigil Games...

 (a Human variety), Varanthari
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes
Vanguard: Saga of Heroes is a high fantasy-themed massively multiplayer online role-playing game created by Sigil Games Online, and now developed and run by Sony Online Entertainment. Originally, the game was co-published by Sony Online Entertainment , and the company producing it, Sigil Games...

 (a Human variety), Vulmane (wolf people) or Wood Elf
Elf
An elf is a being of Germanic mythology. The elves were originally thought of as a race of divine beings endowed with magical powers, which they use both for the benefit and the injury of mankind...

.

Equipment
The Shaman wears "medium" armor (versus light or heavy), wields blunt or piercing weapons, and may use shields.

World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...

 

Overview
In World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft
World of Warcraft is a massively multiplayer online role-playing game by Blizzard Entertainment. It is the fourth released game set in the fantasy Warcraft universe, which was first introduced by Warcraft: Orcs & Humans in 1994...

, the Shaman class is very versatile class. One can specialize in Elemental (spell casting), Enhancement (melee damage) or Restoration (healing) abilities. A shaman has the ability to imbue their weapons with the elements (to provide increased damage or buffs to themselves) and uses elemental totems to provide benefits to allies (or diminish opponents' abilities) within a certain range. Shaman's also have the ability to resurrect other players and are the only class capable of self-resurrection. A World of Warcraft commecrial shows that William Shatner plays a Tauren shaman.

Races
Originally restricted to the Horde races of Orc
Orc
An orc is one of a race of mythical human-like creatures, generally described as fierce and combative, with grotesque features and often black, grey or greenish skin. This mythology has its origins in the writings of J. R. R. Tolkien....

, Tauren, and Troll
Troll
A troll is a supernatural being in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore. In origin, the term troll was a generally negative synonym for a jötunn , a being in Norse mythology...

. In The Burning Crusade, players were given the option of creating an Alliance shaman with the Draenei race. With the announced release of World Of Warcraft: Cataclysm new Shaman races will be Dwarf for the Alliance and Goblin
Goblin
A goblin is a legendary evil or mischievous illiterate creature, a grotesquely evil or evil-like phantom.They are attributed with various abilities, temperaments and appearances depending on the story and country of origin. In some cases, goblins have been classified as constantly annoying little...

for the Horde.

Equipment
The Shaman wears only cloth or leather armor until level 40, at which time mail armor may also be equipped. Shamans may wield a one-handed or two-handed mace, staff, one-handed or two-handed axe, dagger, or fist weapon; and may use a shield. Speccing into enhancement grants a shaman the ability to dual wield (formerly a talent in the enhancement tree) and use a weapon in their offhand instead of a shield.
The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.
 
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