What class for an Orc Shaman?

[Turtlejay]

It sounds like Invoker would work well. They are almost exactly Sorcerers+Clerics, with big area attacks and some leadery effects. Their flavor fits, and their crunch fits.

(I don't like Shamans either, but for less fluff-based reasons)

Jay

 

[Nifft]

The Original Orc appeared in Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.

The only critter they were associated with were Wolves, which they rode.

They were all about battle, and hurting things. They're the kind of "intelligent" character that would bury a cat up to it's neck and run a lawnmower over it. They're about issuing pain and suffering toward their own benefit.

An Orc shamen, therefore, would not be a likely candidate for empathy.

Uh... okay. What part of "Shaman" did you want your Orc Shaman to represent?

I mean, you use the word "Shaman" in your request, but now it sounds like what you want does not include much "Shaman".

So yes, you'll need to be more specific about what you do want.

Cheers, -- N

 

[wancow]

First off, If I came accros s contentioius, I didn't mean to. I appreciate the interest.


What I probably should have put in the header is something like "Witch-Doctor".

Basically, a primitive Holyman who plays soothsayer and does magic.

As I said, I simply don't think the 4E Shamen works for orcs because of the empathy issue, as in, shamens need empathy, and orcs have none.

 

[Samir]

As I said, I simply don't think the 4E Shamen works for orcs because of the empathy issue, as in, shamens need empathy, and orcs have none.

I'm not understanding this statement. What compels a shaman to "need empathy?" It seems to me all you need to be a shaman is to be able to talk to spirits.

 

[Mort_Q]

Change your soul reaches out to your spirit friend, which faithfully appears at your side to your will draws the agonized soul of a past foe into your presence one last time; it obeys your will until released, or destroyed, knowing that soon it's misery will be over soon..

Or something.

 

[Stuntman]

The only critter they were associated with were Wolves, which they rode.

There were no mention of Bears or Big Cats associated with them, and they were, basically, the original perverted elves. (Similar to the way the Drow were, except moreso).

...

An Orc shamen, therefore, would not be a likely candidate for empathy.

Empathy is a key ingredient involved in having a Spirit Guide... donchathink? Or maybe I'm mistaken.

Empathetic Orc... IMHO = oxymoron.

You can simply reflavour the spirit guide to a spirit slave. Orc shamans instead of gaining the favour of a spirit instead does a ritual that enslaves the spirit to serve his means. The spirit can be a wolf or any animal you feel fits the flavour of your shaman.

Does that work for you?

 

[Turtlejay]

Also, Invoker. My friend is running one. His favorite power right now is Rain of Blood. Doesn't Rain of Blood sound like it was *made* for an Orcish Shaman? Check it out, really.

If this is for an NPC, you don't need any PC guide, you just make what you want. There are less stringent rules for NPC's.

Jay

 

[DracoSuave]

In Before 'Orcs don't have Wisdom/are suboptimal go be an elf'.


Alright.

Take the Shaman class. Change all instances of 'Spirit' to 'Totem.' Now you have your WoW shaman.

Centralized focus for most effects? Check.

Elemental magics? Check.

And you're good to go.

 

[Chimerasame]

You could just play a warlord, and say that you're a shaman in the way that IRL shamans who don't actually have any magical abilities -- or classless magicless NPC shamans -- are shamans.

Or you could be a battle cleric of Gruumsh (or your world's orc god), and describe yourself as a shaman.

 

[Shin Okada]

It may be a little off-topic. But as a Japanese with pantheism and shamanism cultural background, the Shaman class did not seem to be not so specifically "native American like". Basically, any culture with nature-worshiping or ancestral-worshiping background will fit easily with that class. Just by, say, replacing the outlook of totem and some fluffs of the powers.

For example, replacing totem with Sakaki or Tmagushi used in Shinto, and giving them traditional Japanese costume, a Shaman can make a good Kan-nushi (male Shinto priest) or Miko (female Shinto medium). You may even call the Spirit Companion as Shiki and make a good Onmyoji.

Or, just by replacing totem with mistletoe or something, you can make them a Celtic druid variation, I guess.

Most of the 4e classes can represent the flavor of many cultural background, just by modifying fluffs.