Shattered Kingdoms

I've had this idea for spirit aura in the past. I think that the idea in the help file for shaman:

and the idea in the help file for barbarian:

should actually be given some kind of real bond in the game.

I propose this bond be strengthened/realized by disabling the ability to affect any class besides barbarian and shaman from being affected by spirit aura. As a buff to both classes, the shaman should be given the ability to cast his spirit aura about his barbarian companion, as the help file suggests. This encourages working together, benefits both classes, and certainly changes things up for the really elite potion carriers. While it seems like a wimp to take vials of spirit aura out of the hand of those who use them, it generally boosts two classes that are usually thought of in a poor light when compared with priests/mercs.

A

PS Oh, and also because shaman wont get their own religion spell like priests will have eventually.

I think it would be better if it was a different spell because a GM spirit aura on a GM barb would be a bit nasty. Or perhaps two spells one like spirit touch then you could cast spirit aura on them. So total concentration cost would go up. Might also get around the issue of having the spell targetable because MR could then give a shaman problems. My two cents. Like the concept but the idea I think needs a little more for balance.

Perhaps make it so you can not have spirit aura and sanctuary on any non shaman dont really know how well that would work.

I really like the idea, but I would like to see it tested first, before I make any final conclusions about it. It could end up being very powerful but, it would make another 2 class combo.

I think this harms the pantheist nonbarbs too much. Not only do they not get sacred armor, but now they can't get SA, either. That was kind of the saving grace of not picking a religion.

This helps panthiest nonbarb by being the only class (aside from shaman) that can be affected by SA, GL.

I like.

To further clarify, as it is now, SA is only usable by anyone not in a religion. As it would be, SA would only be usable by anyone not in a religion, and only barb/shaman. This means anyone else who wants to rp not being in a religion for any reason, would now get a game mechanic shaft. The ability to use SA, is as of now, a good reason to consider leaving a character at pantheist.

shamans thought in poor light of priests? Barbs thought in poor light of mercs? .... Whut?

Maybe the 2nd one is true as people favor the defensive abilities of a merc over the higher damage capacity of a barb. and lately the ranged weapon leetness but .. shamans < priests? Don't think so. Not if youre talking pvp.

Also: You realize the kind of power a barb will obtain if he gets a GM level spirit aura I hope. So far the only non-shaman spirit aura availiable was that of brewed potions that is what, about 30 level at best? A shaman+barb combo would probably be able to solo an inner guardian with enough heal vials.

As for the original idea, its good to find a way to combine shamen and barbs, but within reasonable limits. I mean, following this logic, A paladin of dulrik combined with a priest of dulrik should reap some extra benefits too, but they don't. A helion of sargas + priest of sargas too.
Perhaps some new spell called Spirit Link or something could be created, sending the damage blocked by the barb's spirit aura to the shaman guarding him, or such.

Priests are just as capable in PK right now as any shaman. From the records I've seen, there's been more in number and proportion wins/losses of pk's by priests than shaman lately. Priests and mercenaries are easily more popular than either shaman or barbarian. If they were better for PK, they would be more popular. They are much less popular, so I'm going to call BS on the shamans better for PVP thing.

A

No, it's imbalanced. Spirit Aura is meant to allow shamans to tank. Barbarians can do that quite nicely already, and don't need that much additional help.

Also, this is useless to non-pantheist barbarians. Most of the worthwhile barbarians I've known in-game belonged to a religion.

I could see shamans getting a version of frenzy that stacks with a barbarian's beserk/fury, instead of cancelling it out, or some other barbarian-buff, but not this proposal.