Big difference between 3 shammys + boomkin or 4 shammys?

[Rigz]

I'm not that into hardcore into pvp but I want to get a pvp team going for kicks. I have a mixed holy trinity team now, and they can't really pvp as there is no fear mitigation. I have a druid and was wondering if I should make 4 shammys or 3 shammys and partner up with the druid. I have a rl friend for arenas and in bgs I will probably just run 4 dps when he is not around.

So is there a wide difference between using 4 shammys as opposed to 3 shammies and a boomkin. I think the only thing is one less set of totems but I'm not sure how bad that really hurts in pvp? I'm a pvp noob to begin with.

Plus with wotlk around the corner the druid might add even more synergy.
My friend is a pally btw.

[Golle]

I have also thought about how big "difference" a boomkin+4 ele-shammies vs 5 ele shammies. This thread is so bumped but I cannot give you any good response myself.

[Boylston]

Going from 3 totems to 4 totems is more significant than 4 -> 5. That said, a druid does add some utility, but at a cost of increased configuration and micromanagement. I've run with both my 4 shaman team and 4 shaman + a slightly undergeared boomkin and I honestly don't see a huge difference in effectiveness in BGs. That's even comparing 4 DPSers vs. 5 DPSers...

Personally, If you are going to 4-box, I think it's a toss up. I'd probably prefer 4xShaman due to simplicity with setup/playstyle and extra totem defenses with another tremor and grounding. (Another fire nova is really useful as well). However, at the 5-box level, I think subbing in a moonkin instead of a 5th shaman makes a lot of sense. Not only is there good PvP flexibility, but that druid could be respecced to tank for you in instances. (Although I think Pally is still the #1 multi-shaman tank)

For reference, I run 4xShamans with both a pally and a boomkin on my 5th account.

[KapitiCoaster]

Kia ora

Having just started my pvp bg experience this weekend, and as such a healer is much needed to start your team off until you get geared with enough resistance to stand up to a melee on your backs.

My darling protection warrior was able to wether 17k of directed damage as the team focus but one rogue/melee on my backs and countdown begins for my swiftly departing shammies.

The damage bang for your buck will be amusing but keep in mind the micromanagement issue of buttons and sanity - I have several well enough geared pvp toons but the jump to box-pvp was astonishing. Being a newbie and dying on mass - I had forgotten how annoying it is to start bg's. Without the aid of hardware to click between two machines gaming was less then helpful but having 4x24" screens of combat was entertaining and worth the limited ongoing frustration of gear building.

Have fun and stick to your gameplan - be productive and remember to click those chain heals as often as you can trigger.

A healer will make a world of flexible changes to your team so long as the boomy is not the intial target of the team attacks.

Trb



Tim