I disagree. Looking at a Shaman in the general academic sense as a classification of a particular religous specialist:Yep. So that's why it bugs me when people suggest making a separate shaman class. Current D&D druid is already a better representation of a shaman than it is of a druid.
1. There needs to be additional spells to reflect that shamans are religious specialists. A common feature of the Shaman, in addtion to healing, is to bless and conduct certain ceremonies during transitional periods such as birth, marriage, death, and reintigration into society after battle (the ceremony spell)
2. Some additional diviniation spells could be added due to diviniation being one of the primary functions of a shaman.
3. There needs to be more spells involving spirits* and going into the spirit world (Note: spirits would include things such as celestials, elementals, fiends, fey, non-corporeal undead, certain types of familiars, ancestral spirits, totems, nature spirits, and, possibly, aberrations and creatures from the Shadowfell)
a. Some spells come close to be thematic for a shaman with regards to detection, protection, and sending out to do harm, but could use variants more fitting for a shaman. If we go with close enough, there are several existing spells that could be added.
b. There are also no spells for going into the spirit world to remove a disease or curse by battling spirit that is causng or to retrieve a soul from the plane where souls of the deceased go and bring it back to restore a life. Currently, we have to use existing spells and call it close enough.
c. There are no spells to force an incorporeal creature to materialize
d. personally, I find many spells, currently, listed on the druid list inappropriate
Additonal spells that could be added to the druid that would be fitting for a shaman if using the druid class a shaman (Note: the Spirit Claw cantrip by Brandes Stoddard for his Spirit Cleric Domain. It makes a good spell for the druid list and shamans)
Cantrip: Spare the Dying, Spirit Claw
Level 1: Bane, Bless, Ceremony, Command*, Magic Weapon, Resistance
Level 2: Aid, Augury, Calm Emotion, Spiritual Weapon
Level 3: Sending**, Speak With Dead, Spirit Guardians
Level 4: Death Ward, Divination
Level 5: Contagion*, Dispel Evil and Good***, Dream
Level 6: Forbiddance*, Harm, Planar Ally*, True Seeing
(edit: for some reason I m having an issue with the astericks. Heal should have two, Forbidance and Planar Ally should have three. Also Harm should not be bold).
* May fit due to the Shaman's respect/authority/or being somewhat feared among their people and their experience commanding/intimidating spirits less powerful than themselves (typical ways shamans deal with spirts is bribery, cajoling, initimidation, and/ or persuasion).
** could be described as using a specific type of spirit (e.g. Contagion using a disease spirit) to harm the subject
*** not perfect, but close enough or some aspects of the spell are fitting.
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