I have always headcanon that some of the more “common sense” race/class combos were always present and their absence were just gameplay mechanic(ie, Human hunters seem like they would always have existed).
Similarly I just assumed the dwarves always had some sort of shamanistic tradition except Exploring Northrend had declared that “shamancame late to the Alliance”. So how exactly did shamanism start in dwarven society? Did they just learn it from say, draenei shamans?
Probably learned it from the Wildhammer Dwarves if anything. That’s my personal guess anyway
iirc the first Dwarven Shamans were the Wildhammer who started deepening their connection to the elements upon settling the Hinterlands in the aftermath of the War of the Three Hammers, could be wrong tho
Wildhammer shamans have always existed, at least as far back as we know.
Bronzebeard shamans are new - when the Cataclysm threatened to shake Ironforge apart, Magni appealed to the spirits of the mountain to save his home. This appeal turned his body to into a crystal statue (which “woke up” years later) and forged an elemental connection that paved the way for shamans to follow.
That said, Magni got the idea to do this from ancient tablets in Old Ironforge, suggesting that there may have been Shamans in Ironforge a long time ago.
Itr’s weird that Bronzebeard dwarves didn’t have shaman when we have both Wildhammer and Dark Iron shaman from as early as classic. The latter represented in… I’m drawing a blank on the dungeon’s name, the one that used to have Moira at the end. Mobs there used shamanistic abilities.
The tablets were ancient titan relics found in Ulduar though, with a “spell” to return titanforged to their original material state. Which had an interesting effect by turning him into diamond.
Most dwarves did, except for the bronzebeards/ironforge dwarves. The dark iron had a connection to the element of fire and the wildhammer had more general shamans. And it’s from these that they got it as it was with cata the whole council of three hammers was established. So yes it’s very new for the Bronzebeards.
Aye Pup, ye would be correct on that one. Dwarven Shaman have been around since before the War of Three Hammers. We Wildhammer being the first.
Aye, as I’ve stated. The Wildhammer have always had Shaman within our ranks.
The Bronzebeard were a different type of Dwarf back prior to Cata. Even the Dark Iron didn’t start using Shamanistic practices until after the War of Three Hammers and when their leader accidently summoned the Fire Lord decimating a good chunk of what remained of their people after being chased out by both the Wildhammer and Bonzebeard at the effective End of the War.
One of the biggest bits of potential that we lost with the RPG was Wildhammer Druids.
My green bearded dwarf druid named Pikel will never happen.
Well, it will eventually when blizz gets around to adding every class to every race like they been slowing doing 
I see your reference, sir. I see you.
Why, I bet you have a human priest named Cadderly, and he is an engineer too.
It’s a fantastic series.
Yes!
I want a Beardkin so badly! 
Ah yes, I have a Wildhammer Dwarf Druid character that to date I’ve had to write out until which time as they are opened up to the player base. I also have a Dwarf Hunter who wanted to be a druid and enter the Dream. He’s having a field day with current content. Like a kid in a candy store ‘r more on brand, a Wee lad gettin’ his first pint o’ ale from his father’s cabinets.
After that first taste there be no goin’ back.
Lore wise, yes. Wildhammer Dwarves had deep ties to Shamanism and the elements. Ironforge and Dark Iron Dwarves, not so much.
Game wise? No, they were added as an available class for Dwarves with Cataclysm.