Imagine if Shaman got to bargain with a friendly elemental-primal dragon, who taught them the ways of how to temper elementals to their totems or their spirit - Yet they must apply respect to the elemental to maintain it. Lore wise it would be established that first, you would either need to best them or maintain focus overtime to determine your worth before the elemental.
So in a sense, you could tame elementals like hunters can tame beasts, however:
Unlike hunters – Shaman elementals simply remain docile / neutral (unattackable / do not attack) until their summon elemental is invoked and it will then become hostile for that period of time only.
If defeated the elemental will either be dismissed or die until summoned once more.
Each elemental can be put into a stable or some kind of elemental alter where you can choose which elemental you would like to invoke to walk by your side on your adventures.
What’re your thoughts on this guys?
Personally I find the idea to be very Shaman-themed, forming a bond with an elemental that you can lean upon for time to time but do not abuse, and also provide great fun with hunting various elementals to form all sorts of connections with.
Not binding them, forming a contract with them. Which in a sense is what Shaman already do with the elements to receive much of their power & abilities.
As I said, lorewise you could –
(Get hit whilst ‘contract of worthiness’ cast is formed over a period of time)
Also as stated, pet AI would work the same as it does now with elemental spells - It just activates the combat of your elemental follower.
— Purely an aesthetic feature to enjoy ingame.
So, let me see if I got this straight. You would be able to tame elementals that you find throughout the world (as I understand it, it’s more like bonding but for simplicity of understanding the mechanic, it’s like hunters taming pets). The elementals would then be like non-combat pets and follow you around until you activate them. Once activated, they become like summon elemental and fight with us for a specific amount of time. If defeated, they die, if not, they return to a non-combat/non-attackable state?
I like the idea. Especially if each one had one unique ability based on what kind of elemental they are. How would this elemental work with earth ele/fire ele? For example, for me as Enh, would I be able to use earth ele and this other ele at the same time? Would using one place the other on cool down?
What are we thinking for combat duration and cd of the companion elemental? I like the idea and think it could add a cool new dimension to shaman.
— As for the cooldown question, yeah it’d work like how it does already: You can use both elementals at same time / model would just be more custom to your bond. Also, hmm initially I was thinking earth / fire elemental would need it’s respective family-tame of use. So the bond with fire elementals for fire-ele, earth for the earthen etc.
I was thinking for the less conventional elementals (Water and Air) used by Shaman, you could utilise them as totems & various abilities. For instance:
Restoration - casting ‘Healing Tide Totem’ would summon out the water-elemental to cast the effect. (Simply a model replacement).
Enhacement - Casting ‘Windfury Totem’ would have the air elemental channel the buff it provides – OR – You could select an option to replace your spirit wolves with various elementals from your selection of bonded elementals.
Yeah! It’d be great
Would be an awesome additional alongside with the Warlock demon customisations, providing various custom-dimensions to each class & character along their partnered companions throughout their adventures.