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Slorkuz
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  • 0. 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar [Updated 18/06]   17/06/2009 10:11:55 PDT
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There comes a time in all shaman’s lives when they must learn to harness the power of nature and wield powerful totems. As they grow in power, so do the opportunities to use these instruments of healing, protection, and destruction. In the upcoming content patch, Call of the Crusade, the shaman will be able to quickly place totems of each element, aiding them in managing these powerful focuses of nature.

We wanted to provide some insight regarding the upcoming shaman-specific interface addition, the Totem Bar. Shaman will be able to utilize this new bar to manage their fire, earth, water, and air totems in a more accessible and convenient way. This bar will appear on the left-hand side above the standard toolbar, similar to warrior stances or druid forms. The bar contains space for four totems of the player’s choice, one of each element. Clicking the respective button will drop that totem. To the right of the four totems is a button for Totemic Call, which we have renamed Call of Earth. To the left of the four totems is a new ability named Call of Fire which will drop all four totems on the bar at once. The mana cost is the same as if the shaman dropped all four of the totems one at a time. However, it takes but a single global cooldown.

Questing shaman will be able to quickly move their totems of choice forward, while a shaman in an instance, Arena, or Battleground will be able to replace their totems if they have to move or if the totems are destroyed.

Shamans will also be able to customize their bar to set Call of Fire to drop less than four totems if they choose. Access to this functionality is made available at the same level as Call of Earth (currently level 30.) At higher levels, Shaman will gain two additional spells, Call of Air and Call of Water. These function exactly the same as Call of Fire, essentially giving the shaman three different sets of totems that can be placed at once. New key bindings will also be made available for all of these slots.
As with all new content under testing, we want to caution players that, as a new part of the interface, there may be additional changes during the period of the PTR until the release of the Call of the Crusade content patch. We look forward to constructive feedback once it is available for testing.


Update 18/06/2009:
The developers have answered a few questions and provided some additional information on the new Shaman Totem Bar:

Q: Will we be able to change the preset totems in combat or arenas?
A: You can change them whenever you want. You can also set up the bar to drop 2 or 3 totems if that's all you want for the situation. They also work with dual-spec so you can effectively get 6 different totem configurations and all are easy to change. We also included more key bindings for the new slots. Most shamans in our tests just move their totems off of their action bars. It depends a little on how many different totems you need at a moment's notice. It might be harder to remove the totems from your bar if you PvP a lot and need a specific totem often.

Q: How will totems with a cooldown function? Will it drop a different totem? Drop 3?
A: If a totem is on cooldown, it will drop what it can, so you might get 3 out of 4. If you don't have enough mana however it won't drop any rather than try to guess which ones you want. You can still cast totems manually by just clicking their button too.

Q: Is there going to be any changes to the range, survivability or health of totems in general?
We are not going to make totems hard to kill, however we might make an exception for Mana Tide.

Q: Is there going to be a change to the mana cost of totems in general? Perhaps a refund when we cast new ones, as if we had despawned them with Call of Earth?
A: No. Call of Earth still provides the partial refund however.

Q:Will the Calls be subject to the current 1 second GCD totems have, or the 1.5 second GCD the rest of our abilities have?
A: Even if it's 1.5 sec it shouldn't be as big a deal because you will rarely ever be casting one totem right after the other (you will drop them all at once now).

[ Post edited by Vaneras ]


Community Team - English - ♪~ ( ̄。 ̄ ) . . . Can't keep my eyes from the circling skies, tongue-tied and twisted just an earth-bound misfit - I
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  • Silvermoon
  • 1. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 10:16:40 PDT
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Aweseome job guys :)
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  • Bladefist
  • 2. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 10:17:22 PDT
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That is seriously amazing.

Let's eat Grandpa!
Let's eat, Grandpa!

Commas save lives.
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  • 3. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 10:17:25 PDT
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Thanks for that! about time! :D
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  • 4. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 10:31:26 PDT
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I didn't expect to live to this day when we actualy got some attention :).
Good Job Blizz Keep it up!!!!!
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  • Boulderfist
  • 5. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 10:34:41 PDT
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OMFG , this is no joke right, I must be dreamin'! *slight sarcasm*
:'-)
finally, i was on the edge of lvling DK.


big thump up

do not trust a paladin, he'll bring you in trouble and bubble/HS away!!!
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  • 6. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 10:41:49 PDT
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Sounds great!


Q u o t e:
We aren't trying to keep two-handed Enhancement viable. Just because you can equip something doesn't mean you have a right to be effective with it.

~Ghostcrawler
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  • 7. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 10:48:16 PDT
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Finally.
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  • 8. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 10:59:35 PDT
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W00T =D I hope its gonna be awesome.

This helps a lot in long boss encounters

[ Post edited by Chayra ]

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  • 9. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:06:59 PDT
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Q u o t e:
There comes a time in all shaman’s lives when they must learn to harness the power of nature and wield powerful totems. As they grow in power, so do the opportunities to use these instruments of healing, protection, and destruction. In the upcoming content patch, Call of the Crusade, the shaman will be able to quickly place totems of each element, aiding them in managing these powerful focuses of nature.

We wanted to provide some insight regarding the upcoming shaman-specific interface addition, the Totem Bar. Shaman will be able to utilize this new bar to manage their fire, earth, water, and air totems in a more accessible and convenient way. This bar will appear on the left-hand side above the standard toolbar, similar to warrior stances or druid forms. The bar contains space for four totems of the player’s choice, one of each element. Clicking the respective button will drop that totem. To the right of the four totems is a button for Totemic Call, which we have renamed Call of Earth. To the left of the four totems is a new ability named Call of Fire which will drop all four totems on the bar at once. The mana cost is the same as if the shaman dropped all four of the totems one at a time. However, it takes but a single global cooldown.

Questing shaman will be able to quickly move their totems of choice forward, while a shaman in an instance, Arena, or Battleground will be able to replace their totems if they have to move or if the totems are destroyed.

Shamans will also be able to customize their bar to set Call of Fire to drop less than four totems if they choose. Access to this functionality is made available at the same level as Call of Earth (currently level 30.) At higher levels, Shaman will gain two additional spells, Call of Air and Call of Water. These function exactly the same as Call of Fire, essentially giving the shaman three different sets of totems that can be placed at once. New key bindings will also be made available for all of these slots.
As with all new content under testing, we want to caution players that, as a new part of the interface, there may be additional changes during the period of the PTR until the release of the Call of the Crusade content patch. We look forward to constructive feedback once it is available for testing.


Finally!
Now, take a look at this thread!
Some awesome suggestions to make our Totems more usefull and more unique!

http://forums.wow-europe.com/thread.html?topicId=9520916630&sid=1

[ Post edited by Floxun ]


"I heard if you cut off an extremity it'll regenerate a little bigger. Don't believe it."
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  • 10. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:14:48 PDT
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*cheers*
But... Will we still be able to select the totems individually? Oh, well; of course we will. ^^
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  • Ragnaros
  • 11. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:15:12 PDT
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My future Shaman approves to this thread


Q u o t e:
Thrall: "Sigh, they're like....children."
Magni: "Aye, here have some Ale"
Thrall: "Thanks bro."
Magni: "Any time mate"
-Foolz
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  • 12. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:21:47 PDT
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Q u o t e:
We look forward to constructive feedback once it is available for testing.

Thank you for paying attention for totems but this idea looks useless:

- pve doesn't need it
- pvp requires more than 3 totem combos
- mana is critical for shaman's pvp and putting 3..4 totems when you need to put only 2 is a way to loose.

I guess the following idea will be useful:


First totem triggers gcd but others are not!


It means when shaman puts any totem it triggers gcd but if shaman puts another totem (right after) this doesn't not trigger gcd. So shaman can put any quantity of totems within 1 gcd. When shaman casts any spell other then totem then the next totem will trigger gcd.

[ Post edited by Бурдук ]

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  • Genjuros
  • 13. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:23:15 PDT
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What about dual spec? Will it change as we change spec as with the original bars?

Since rogue stun is almost over ill get back to my game!
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  • 14. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:24:31 PDT
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I just dont see this as being a massive buff for arena. BUT...it saves us a few global cooldowns. Not to mention Imp WS wont consume water shield orbs and earth shield getting a pretty sweet dispell buffer we will not be forced to spend so much time on global cooldowns.

Wow blizz is actually listening..might just have to renew my account depending on the rest of the shaman patch notes. So far I LIEK!

Contemplating the whole "chosen people" thingy when a flaming stealth banana split the sky like one would hope but never really expect to see in a place like this.
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  • 15. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:26:25 PDT
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Q u o t e:

Thank you for paying attention for totems but this idea looks useless:

- pve doesn't need it
- pvp requires more than 3 totem combos
- mana is critical for shaman's pvp and putting 3..4 totems when you need to put only 2 is a way to loose.

I guess the following idea will be useful:


First totem triggers gcd but others are not!


It means when shaman puts any totem it triggers gcd but if shaman puts another totem (right after) this doesn't not trigger gcd. So shaman can put any quantity of totems within 1 gcd. When shaman casts any spell other then totem then the next totem will trigger gcd.


Pve also needs it, what about expiring totems during bossfights as a resto?
Popping the 4 totems seperatly costs valubale time due the seperate gcd.
Or what about with moving a lot during a bossfight?
-click- -plop- -four totems!-

[ Post edited by Floxun ]


"I heard if you cut off an extremity it'll regenerate a little bigger. Don't believe it."
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  • Nordrassil
  • 16. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:29:35 PDT
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On one hand, great that after so long there's some show for the talk.
On the other, I'm not as easily impressed like 'some' of the people here, I'll reserve judgment till it's actually implemented and not jump on this 'yayawesomegj'bandwagon.

Maybe it just bothers me some that after 3 to 4 years waiting, a solution as 'simple' as this appears and I also really hope that this isn't the 'all there is to it' for Totem issues in Blizzard's views or 'untill next expansion'.

\_/¯\_/¯\_/¯\_/¯\-> Bring back the old Chain Lightning sound! <-\_/¯\_/¯\_/¯\_/¯\_

No one can hear you scream in the depths! .... well they can, but it's really muffled...
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  • 17. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:30:30 PDT
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Q u o t e:

Thank you for paying attention for totems but this idea looks useless:

- pve doesn't need it


What are you talking about? This is godsent for me.
Now I wont have to care us much for replacing the totems in a bossfight. Today it takes 4 global cooldowns to replace a totem, costing me a lot of dps. When this baby hits I will do it with the push of a button and only 1 cooldown.
Lovely!

N/A
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  • 18. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:44:05 PDT
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Finally!

IM SO HAPPY!!! :DDDDD
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  • 19. Re: 17/06 New Shaman Totem Bar   17/06/2009 11:44:25 PDT
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Amazing for highly mobile fights in PvE as well.

Thanks for listening Blizzard, can't wait to test it and give some feedback.

Chibi! - http://pyu.deviantart.com/art/shallyah-101081667 by Pyu <3
Take my love, take my land; take me where I can not stand.
I don't care, I'm still free; you can't take the sky from me.
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