Editing Shaman (section)

==Pathfinder==
===1st Edition===
[[File:Shaman visionary.jpg|left|300px]]
[[File:Shardra Geltl.jpg|right|300px|link=Trap]]
Shamans are a hybrid class, combining some of the features of the [[Witch]] and [[Oracle]] classes. 

Although they are Divine spellcasters like the Oracle, they prepare their spells in advance by communing with their spirit animal/familiar the same way Witches do. They can take the basic Witch hexes every other level (though no major or grand hexes) as well as some of their own unique ones.

It also gets the '''Spirit''' and a '''Wandering Spirit''' class features. The spirit functions similarly to any other caster specialization such as a Sorcerer bloodline, an Oracle mystery, or a Witch patron: it grants some extra spells not usually on the class's list, some extra hexes to choose from, a minor boost to the character's familiar, and a few other powers. Shamans also get an extra spell slot that is not immediately apparent at a glance on their class sheet, though this is for exclusively casting Spirit/Wandering Spirit Spells much the same way that [[Cleric]]s have an exclusive domain slot, but it is always worth remembering.

With the Wandering Spirit, it can temporarily take on most of the features of that spirit including its additional spells and its spirit powers ''(although you cannot permanently take hexes granted by a wandering spirit, its true spirit ability, or its manifestation)'' and wandering hexes: where you can temporarily add certain hexes to your hex list including those from a wandering spirit. 

Compared directly to its origin classes: 
Oracles have more spells per day coming from the far superior [[Cleric]] spell list, and the Revelations granted by its Mysteries are generally considered to be more powerful than Shaman hexes. However, the Shaman hexes/abilities come at a much-increased rate over Revelations, gaining ten hexes, four spirit abilities and three wandering abilities over the course of a 20 level career; compared to seven Revelations and the variable benefits/drawbacks of the Oracle's Curse feature, meaning that Shamans are practically rolling in class features that can come from two different sources, making them far more versatile. 

Witches also use a superior spellcasting list and gain access to much better Hexes in the second half of their progression. Though Shamans have meatier BAB & HD, can cast more times per day ''(thanks to the extra Spirit spell slot)'', aren't hampered by Arcane Failure chance, and their spirit familiar will usually be superior to a witch familiar unless the Witch chooses Improved Familiar at some point.

[[Summoner]]s and Oracles have archetypes that trade some class features to take parts of the Spirit feature from the Shaman class to potentially make something even greater than the sum of their parts. Though because the Shaman still gets rapid early access to multiple class features, it is probably more suitable for [[multiclassing]] and [[Prestige Class]] combinations.

Extra notes go out to use the Wandering Hex ability and the Lore spirit. You can trade out your wandering hex at the start of the day. One of the hexes for the lore spirit allows you to add wizard spells to your list to prepare. You can add any wizard spells to your list. The wandering hex lets you trade them out day by day. Essentially, you've got the entire wizard spell list, alongside your own. The cost is that you need Intelligence, Wisdom, AND Charisma for this ability, but it's a fair trade if you can get your stats high enough. 

Generally, like [[Investigator]], Shaman doesn't really do anything to establish itself as different than just playing one of the parent classes or [[Cleric]], especially since it has a weak and proprietary spell list while being powered by MAD. It's still a full caster with ninth level spells and is thus [[Tier System|at least tier 2, likely closer to 1 with the ease it can poach spells]], and the ability to swap class features from day to day can make it very versatile. Like [[Inquisitor (Pathfinder)|Inquisitor]] it shows the sheer power of spellcasting by putting it on a class that the designer had no idea what they were doing and coming out really powerful.

{{Pathfinder-Classes}}