Totems are a very tedious item which feel too clunky for the state of the game.
This is what i have come across, if you have input or reasoning as to why some things should be removed from the lists.
Totems work on the GCD so to place all 4 totems takes 5 seconds with using a totem macro spamming the button.
The radius of the totems being 20 yards is too small
Time for the totems to become active when coming into radius is very delayed
Mana cost of the totems is too high for how frequent they are to be placed
Totemic projection not working past a certain distance to relocate totems
Totemic projection unable to move totems due to pathing
Total totem time, totems only lasting for 1 minute are just a waste of time
Problems with individual totems.
Stoneclaw - taunts the target to attack the totem, can never pull threat off the shaman
Tremor Totem - Cannot be used once charmed feared or slept and only has 5hp easily countered
Magma Totem mana cost is too high for a weak aoe
Fire Nova / totem cool down is too long to be a significant threat
This is my biggest gripe. Place totem at an elevation. Try to project it down. Pathing.
totems should show as a buff with a timer. it’s kind of a joke that we need to install an addon just to know how long our buffs will last. meanwhile blessings function that way.
Totem GCD - what myself and other shammy buddies do its basically drop totems as you run to next mob pack, pvp location. This will leave you with a totem line then pop them into position when all 4 are down, using totemic projection.
a) Try Totem Caddy Addon on curse forge - lets you create presets of 4 you can swap in and out of. I have a few on my bar that I use for special circumstances.
You can spec into increased range if you prefer, it increased by 30 yards - Totemic Mastery
Totem Activity - Totems Earthbind, Tremor, Poison, etc - they pulse its not a steady effect. I will link a video on this for you.
You can spec into reduced mana cost on totems as well - Totemic Focus 5pts is 25% reduced mana - Some totems aren’t worth mana to use often.
****BOTH TALENTS ARE IN RESTO TREE - depending on what your spec is and what you are looking to do (PVE or PVP) these may or may not be needed. As resto I only have the increased range because I am usually in range group or in pvp setting.
Totemic Project - I get this too it seems be once you go past your totem area effect range or LOS your totems this happens. One fix I found was throwing my totems max distance then when I get to the point totems are, totemic project them. As a resto shaman I run 4 totems usually 99% of time.
Pathing - This is something that is something that is just in mechanics so as much as you want to throw totems on a roof you can’t lol. Rule of thumb on this is if there is not a path you run up / down your totems can;t either they are non pathing areas, for all of players and thier effects/pets/abilities.
Total Totem Time - This is not the case, those totems usually are the stronger and are only needed for short amount of time during situation that call for that utility.
Indiviual Totems -
Stoneclaw - Shaman pull a lot of threat esp as enhance or burst elemental. It is also a pulse and if you exceed the threat of taunt you will pull… this is more a out of a quit bind totem. If you continue to increase threat on the mob you will always pull.
Instances I will drop stoneclaw:
A) Running away or picking up random mob aggro until the mob can be dealt with.
B) Hunter pets in PVP
C) Accidently pulling too much and need one mob to sit on back burner a sec
D) Distracting a Mob while I grab a herb or node
Tremor - Being a pulse effect you again sometimes you get soem minal affect when its already dropped, and you need to be prepared and already having it down examples like PVP or a pack of mbs you know fear. Yea it has low HP they all do but I run it 100% in PVP and usually stays up occassioanlly some smarty pants kills my totems cause everyone loves to try to mess with a resto shaman in pvp. I just put another down as soon as that happens.
Magma Totem - Ya its kinda a crappy totem I rarely use it and opting for searing totem for a fire option. I use magma totem usually for poping rogues out of stealth in pvp or if I am wanting to add a lil dps in a aoe pack in pve.
Fire Nova - Kinda sits with Magma totem primary fire is Searing totem.
Totem Caddy - Allows you to set preset totems and you just click them, keep other situation totems on your bar to throw out in an emergency
2)WeakAuras-
a)Shaman Totem Alerts - shows if you should be dropping tremor totem, disease, posion cleansing, grounding
b) Mario Group Shield - Manages Lightening and Water Shield
c) Totem Timer - Helps you manage totem cds, timers etc to max up time on each totem and alerts you to expiring totems.
Try the totem running and then pop them into position strategy as well see if that helps with the GCD issue.
Feel free to reach out to me in discord -#psyche85 or ingame on Wild Growth - Totemtantrum.
