Level 24 Shaman, Critique Please

[Matthalas Winterheart]

So I dinged 24 on my shaman last night and I have a few questions.

First off, When it comes to DOT's or Root Rotting in specific. At my level, I'm using 3 DOTS when the mob is rooted. Sicken, Envenomed Breath, and Affliction. Now being as EB is the spell I just got at this level, that damage is decent. But Sicken and Affliction? They don't do crap for damage, Per tick.. I have the following damage per DOT being done.

Sicken (2)
Envenomed Breath (27)
Affliction (6)

Now again, that's with mob rooted so they are doing max damage, my concern is this. Am I using the right DOT's? I have gone over the spell lists up to level 24 multiple times in order to verify that I am maximizing my DPS per tick or whatever and thus using the correct spells.
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The 2nd part of my question is running into the above situation.

Of the 8 spells that a caster can memorize, I have it set to be this setup.

1.Healing
2.Spirit Strike
3. Frost Strike
4. Sicken
5. Envenomed Breath
6. Affliction
7. Root
8. Canni
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I would like some input on what other shamans use, At this point I want to move forward with the Shaman as my main toon and want to make sure that I am doing the right thing's in order to succeed. Much appreciate whatever insight can be provided!

[Aaron]

You're doing fine. Shaman can be brutal to solo until 34 when you get a pet. I wouldn't bother with 3 dots.

What weapon are you using? Shamans are still viable in melee at lower levels, especially if you have a decent weapon. I don't know what your money situation looks like, but a Barbarian's Spiritist Hammer is worth the cost.

[Matthalas Winterheart]

Originally Posted by Aaron [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

You're doing fine. Shaman can be brutal to solo until 34 when you get a pet. I wouldn't bother with Sicken.

What weapon are you using? Shamans are still viable in melee at lower levels, especially if you have a decent weapon. I don't know what your money situation looks like, but a Barbarian's Spiritist Hammer is worth the cost.

Aaron,

Using this right now http://wiki.project1999.com/Slime_Coated_Harpoon
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I will look into that spiritist hammer, I am soloing the Wooly Mammoths here in Everfrost Peaks, Finding that most of them con dark blue. Seems to be ok as long as I can get root to hold decently, trying to practice the Canni dance right now. Not sure I am doing it right, But I am sitting, waiting for mana tick then standing to cast canni right after it ticks.. Rinse, Wash and repeat.

[Rhambuk]

I would bump sicken its just so damn weak. It never gets to the point where you're putting like 8 dots on the mob and killing it fast you want maxamimzed dot time so if your not getting every single tick out of your dots its a waste of mana.

if you do EB affliction and sicken, and they all wear off then you do a second eb and it only does...half of its ticks its a total waste.

I would say keep doing what your doing, sicken must be almost free to cast manawise and affliction shouldn't be too bad.

[SwordNboard]

Keep using the 3 dots. The point of root rotting is that you maintain mana. You should always have a mob rotting. If your mana is keeping up well, you can either nuke or go pull a second mob to rot while the first one is hitting 50% or so. It'll get better later!

[Lune]

Make friends with a good enchanter or a twinked monk, and your experience will go infinitely faster than trying to solo what is essentially a poor-mediocre solo class at low levels. (Godlike later on)

[Aaron]

Here is how I canni-dance:
(others may have a better way of doing it)

Cannibalize is my 3rd spell slot.

Canni macro is my 3rd hotkey and reads as follows:
/cast 3
/pause 25
/sit

I just hit my canni macro, without watching ticks. Sometimes I fizzle, but I have enough time before /sit that I can Alt+3 and cast Canni before I sit even with a fizzle.

Note this time works for Canni 3...YMMV.

[Lune]

Originally Posted by Aaron [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I just hit my canni macro, without watching ticks.

Am I missing something? The whole point of canni dance is to combine the casting of canni with your mana regen ticks. Does no good if you're chopping your ticks with a cast.

You want to watch your ticks and do canni in between.

[Rhambuk]

I heard once that server ticks are kind of screwy its while you'll see your hp or mana jump up a % then drop back down then up a little bit again.

[Lune]

Originally Posted by Rhambuk [You must be logged in to view images. Log in or Register.]

I heard once that server ticks are kind of screwy its while you'll see your hp or mana jump up a % then drop back down then up a little bit again.

That happens occasionally but after a while you can tell what the actual tick is.