How do Barbarian Shamans and their toys hold up in Velious?
 

I was browsing some Shaman race choice topics, and some people were saying things like "Trolls become best in Velious" and "the Barbarian Spiritist Hammer is awesome until Velious".

Can anyone explain why those things would be said? Velious is brand new to me

Just like the JBB is awesome until Velious. Velious is a frozen land where most mobs have a higher cold resist. So the Barb Hammer and JBB will be far less effective. Ogre Shaman > all.

Iksars get a little better too because they can wear the good stuff.

who said trolls become best in velious?

IMO the best shammys are trolls or ogres, Trolls get a great innate regen AAnnnd that cool click necklace with snare on it, a spell not available to normal shammys. And ofc most people say ogre because the innate frontal stun immunity, and for shams who spend a lot of time soloing whilst meleing, not being able to be interupted is awesome.

Shaman ice line is a lure type - JBB remains effective versus most Velious mobs, unless p99 has other ideas for Velious resists. BSH is, and will remain, fairly useless for an epic shaman.

Also, ogres are fat.

Lol, lure? What shit have you been smoking.

iksars are the best shamans ! troll regen + ac !

So if I go with Barbarian for my new Shaman, and hook him up with a set of totemic, a fungi tunic, haste belt, barbarian spiritist hammer, and nice jewelry, he'll still be pretty well set when Velious rolls around?

It's still the worst choice for shaman, but you'll be fine.