Hey Tyrall, I'll do my best to answer your questions, so here we go!
Firstly. The role of Enh Shaman.
I believe Enh Shaman are there to support the melee classes with their totems and buffs (Unleashed Rage). Although these buffs can apply to hunters too, I see the most use being for dps warriors, feral druids and ofc rogues (this being due to the range of totems, mine are maxed to 30 yards).
Ehn Shaman are not a pure support class, but I believe this is key to their usefulness in 25 man raids. Depending on situation ofc, they can also be placed around other party setups within the raid to help give resistance and other buffs via totems (although Enh Shaman will inevitably have totems most useful to melee classes).
How do I think I would contribute to your raids?
This is really a 2 part question. The first referrs to me as a Character/Class. The second applies to the shadowy figure behind the computer screen.
First off I havent been Enhancement for very long, so I will admit I am still learning. However, I do have an excellent grasp of how melee classes work in the game, especially in boss encounters (lots of running away is usually involved ^^).
Totems are my main contribution to raids right now as my gear does stunt my personal dps. However, having seen the difference totems can make to a dedicated melee group I feel that more than makes up for it! Besides, my own kit I can easily work on and I have no doubts Enh Shaman can give even a rogue a run for his money.
Point the Second. I've been in this game a while know, and I've raided enough to know how to work well as part of an established team, when to shut up and when to make light of a situation. I am happy to study raids and tactics, work on how I can improve my personal performance as well as take critisism and advise when needed.
Generally I'm not a noob, but those moments been known to happen
When am I free to Raid?
Generally most nights I am available, although I like to keep Sundays and Wednesdays for myself and my RL friends (this may extend to Mondays at a later stage, but right now they are free too).
Am I able to use TS?
Most certainly yes, although I dont have the singing skills certain members of this guild posess
Strengths and Weaknesses of Shaman.
Strengths.
>>>I hate to keep banging on about them, but Totems are every Shamans most valuable weapon. As is the ability to place, recall and switch them as fights occur. I think this aspect is sorely neglected amongst some of my Shammy bretheren, and is a point I am keen to continue to work on.
>>>A Shamans strength lies in his adaptability at a moments notice, and the wherewithall to see when a quick Chain Heal, LHW or Frost Shock to save a squishy clothie is needed. Perhaps this comes from playing a DPS Kitty Druid for the most part in raids, but I've developed a keen eye when it comes to problems and how I can help solve them. I watch health to help heal when needed, and I watch adds - it takes but a second to slap on a shield and get somethings attention with FS, and I can certainly tank something longer than a Priest or Mage can!
>>>Shamen are Hybrids. Nothing bugs me more than Hybrids who refuse to use all their skills. Feral Druids who refuse to get out of Kitty to heal, Retri Pallies who continue to pewpew while the Priest gets nailed by a lose add. Mainly the problems I see is people refusing to heal. Just because you're specced to dps doesnt mean you forget all your healing spells! I think you get the point.
Weaknesses.
>>>Gear and gear dependancy. I'm finding it really tough to get gear with +hit on it. Generally I'm finding there is little mail out there designed specifically with Enh Shammies in mind, so I've resorted to cobbling kit together out of unwanted Hunter and Feral Druid pieces. Hit is a HUGE deal for Enh Shamen and I find I'm investing more and more in Hit gems just to stay on an even keel.
>>>'Oh Shit' Buttons. Shamen have it tough anyway with no real CC or Anto-cc to speak of, but in a melee raid environment you have to be completely on the ball all the time or you just get nobbed on. We have no CLoS, no Intersept, no Dash/Sprint - NO get out of jail free cards AT ALL. This means that one slip , or one moment of pure bad luck means death or taking so much damage it makes life difficult for the healers.
Unfortunately, when bad luck hits, you just have to lie there on the floor and watch the raid go on around you. I usually take those times to watch how other people deal with the same situation, or to see which classes/groups are taking the most damage, whatever information I can glean to better my performance next time.
As for gear, I keep a large stash of kit on me all the time, switching pieces and doing tests with diff weapons to see how much differance things really make to my dps. I'm sure, with time, my gear level will make enough difference that I can be a main contender in the dps race, but for now I concentrate on my totems an support abilities.
Sorry if thats gone on a bit, hope its answered your questions! Keep em coming if you have more!
Vic
xxx