Post by Extell
If you realize more of what the Shaman's role really is, they are truely an awsome class.
For the DPS specs; While they are usually never the highest on the DPS charts these two specs will raise the DPS of others in the raid via Totems and Spec Buffs.
Enhancement will increase all melee raid DPS via
Strength of Earth Totem,
Windfury Totem, and
Unleashed Rage. Enhancement also has a pretty good survivability when all thier "Oh Crap" abilities need to be used.
Elemental will do something similar for all casters via
Totem of Wrath,
Wrath of Air Totem, and
Elemental Oath. Also, Elemental's just dont run out of mana much (I see mages Evocate twice before I even got to half mana).
Restoration has totems will help your caster groups;
Flametongue Totem,
Wrath of Air Totem, and
Mana Spring Totem. Mana Spring will actually do 109 MP5 fully talented to all raid members (overridding any Blessing of Wisdom buff). While Resto doesnt bring as much as the DPS specs for buffing the raid, they do make one of the best AoE Healers there are. Priests might have the best AoE heal, its not something they want to cast all the time; its a mana waste to do that. But, the Shaman can pretty much spam
Chain Heal. Since it jumps to a neerby raid member who actually needs healing rather than try to heal someone already at full life, its highly mana effecient as well (as long as it heals 3 (4 with glyph) targets).
And with all Shaman's having
Heroism/
Bloodlust they are pretty highly requested in a raid (if they dont have one already).
For leveling, Enhance is the best route (IMO). It can be a bit slow till you get dual wielding. But once you get it, you can fly thru levels.