I feel that a shaman is typically associated with nature or beasts so I would go for a Druid, but I think Cleric could also work. Their reliance on Wisdom for spellcasting also fits in with the wise one of the village archetype as well, much more than the Wizard.
You might want to consider your alignment and religion. If you're going with the traditionally evil Orc gods then you might use:
Druid Circle of the Moon/Shepherd (Luthic, who likes to appear as a Cave Bear)
Druid Circle of Spores (Yurtrus)
Cleric War Domain (Gruumsh, Ilneval, Bahgtru)
Cleric Grave Domain (Luthic)
Cleric Death Domain (Yurtrus, Shargaas)
But ultimately it depends on how you want to play the character and what abilities/spells fit your vision.
I would second Spirt Bard. I had a player run an Spirit Bard as an Orc Shaman in a recent campaign I ran and we all had a lot of fun with the roleplay.
That's such a complicated question. Without knowing what a shaman means *to you*, there's just no way to give a meaningful answer. Like, do you relate to native American shamans? World of Warcraft shamans? Magic the Gathering shamans? Shaman King? That noise that Michael Jackson would make sometimes that sounded a little bit like "shaman"?
I don't know much about any of those. I couldn't tell you where I'm getting this idea from, but I feel like a shaman is someone whose own powers basically only extend to perceiving and communicating with things most people can't, and it's those things that have the real power. The shaman helps further those things' interests in the world. So a Warlock seems close enough? Or a College of Spirits Bard, maybe? But I have no idea what I'm talking about, and you shouldn't listen to me.
There is so many versions of a shaman you could do. "Shaman" is just a flavor you can pretty much put on a lot of clases. I can see them as a Barbarian/druid multiclass, but I could also see a warcraft style shaman Artificer Artillerist with the Arcane Cannon reflavored as totems.
There is so many versions of a shaman you could do. "Shaman" is just a flavor you can pretty much put on a lot of clases. I can see them as a Barbarian/druid multiclass, but I could also see a warcraft style shaman Artificer Artillerist with the Arcane Cannon reflavored as totems.
Combine this with the "bones as tools" idea I remember reading about before and I think you would have a solid shaman-adjacent character. I think Lizardfolk was used for that particular example, but would fit elsewhere.
I’ve had a character rolled up that I haven’t had a chance to play, but similar Half-Orc shaman. Went tempest cleric whose tribe worships their ancestors and flavored tempest abilities as their ancestors striking their enemies with lightning or thunder. Also works well with spirit guardians and spiritual weapon flavored as their ancestor spirits aiding them.
But as others have said it’s pretty wide open to whatever you feel would be the most fun to play. Heck, even a fighter could RP as shaman. Just “consult the bones” during rests and RP accordingly.
Perhaps a Shaman is a Subclass that could fit in 3 classes in my personal opinion. As written above. The flavor of the Shaman depends on your take of what a Shaman should be. For example to me a Shaman is a totem placing, lightning calling, hex spiting village wise old-man (or old-woman). Eye-patch, crazy hair, fairy skeleton tied to a staff, and coked up out his/her mind.
So with that laid out. How about: creating a Shaman subclass? There are three that I created but have not posted as there are many to pick from already (if you are a paid member) If you are not...it is easy to create your own using the copy paste system (lol). I read a few and came up with my own based on what I saw was good, and took away what seem too OP...even for a Cleric...
First Runner up for re-flavoring Subclasses. The Totem tossing Barbarian...this subclass is a good base to start when creating your Shaman. The obvious two: Cleric and Druids are perfect as well...
The Warlock and Bard are not two that I see that would fit...Let me explain...the Warlock would push more towards Witch than Shaman...and the Bard...well...They are GM's nightmares...they are to me anyways...If the player won't sing and do rap-battles when RPing his/her character...then they don't get a Bard...lol...I currently am running a game, and wished that one of my players would have played a Bard...he has the mischievous personality and the singing/rhyming down...
What class fits more with a shaman? Druid, Cleric, or Wizard. I want to make an Orc shaman.
I feel that a shaman is typically associated with nature or beasts so I would go for a Druid, but I think Cleric could also work. Their reliance on Wisdom for spellcasting also fits in with the wise one of the village archetype as well, much more than the Wizard.
You might want to consider your alignment and religion. If you're going with the traditionally evil Orc gods then you might use:
But ultimately it depends on how you want to play the character and what abilities/spells fit your vision.
For me a shaman is more of a spirit talker so I was thinking of making one who is a Spirits Bard with a small dip into warlock.
I would second Spirt Bard. I had a player run an Spirit Bard as an Orc Shaman in a recent campaign I ran and we all had a lot of fun with the roleplay.
I could see Warlock working well, also... particularly for an Orc. Focus on the hex and curse angle, speak with dead, beast speech, etc...
That's such a complicated question. Without knowing what a shaman means *to you*, there's just no way to give a meaningful answer. Like, do you relate to native American shamans? World of Warcraft shamans? Magic the Gathering shamans? Shaman King? That noise that Michael Jackson would make sometimes that sounded a little bit like "shaman"?
I don't know much about any of those. I couldn't tell you where I'm getting this idea from, but I feel like a shaman is someone whose own powers basically only extend to perceiving and communicating with things most people can't, and it's those things that have the real power. The shaman helps further those things' interests in the world. So a Warlock seems close enough? Or a College of Spirits Bard, maybe? But I have no idea what I'm talking about, and you shouldn't listen to me.
There is so many versions of a shaman you could do. "Shaman" is just a flavor you can pretty much put on a lot of clases. I can see them as a Barbarian/druid multiclass, but I could also see a warcraft style shaman Artificer Artillerist with the Arcane Cannon reflavored as totems.
Combine this with the "bones as tools" idea I remember reading about before and I think you would have a solid shaman-adjacent character. I think Lizardfolk was used for that particular example, but would fit elsewhere.
I’ve had a character rolled up that I haven’t had a chance to play, but similar Half-Orc shaman. Went tempest cleric whose tribe worships their ancestors and flavored tempest abilities as their ancestors striking their enemies with lightning or thunder. Also works well with spirit guardians and spiritual weapon flavored as their ancestor spirits aiding them.
But as others have said it’s pretty wide open to whatever you feel would be the most fun to play. Heck, even a fighter could RP as shaman. Just “consult the bones” during rests and RP accordingly.
EZD6 by DM Scotty
https://www.drivethrurpg.com/en/product/397599/EZD6-Core-Rulebook?
Perhaps a Shaman is a Subclass that could fit in 3 classes in my personal opinion. As written above. The flavor of the Shaman depends on your take of what a Shaman should be. For example to me a Shaman is a totem placing, lightning calling, hex spiting village wise old-man (or old-woman). Eye-patch, crazy hair, fairy skeleton tied to a staff, and coked up out his/her mind.
So with that laid out. How about:
creating a Shaman subclass? There are three that I created but have not posted as there are many to pick from already (if you are a paid member) If you are not...it is easy to create your own using the copy paste system (lol). I read a few and came up with my own based on what I saw was good, and took away what seem too OP...even for a Cleric...
First Runner up for re-flavoring Subclasses.
The Totem tossing Barbarian...this subclass is a good base to start when creating your Shaman.
The obvious two: Cleric and Druids are perfect as well...
The Warlock and Bard are not two that I see that would fit...Let me explain...the Warlock would push more towards Witch than Shaman...and the Bard...well...They are GM's nightmares...they are to me anyways...If the player won't sing and do rap-battles when RPing his/her character...then they don't get a Bard...lol...I currently am running a game, and wished that one of my players would have played a Bard...he has the mischievous personality and the singing/rhyming down...
G'luck
V/R
Sarge
PS a lot of great opinions tossed in here...
here are some that you could use:
https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/255133-ancestors-domain-shaman (CLERIC)
https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/57334-shaman (DRUID)
https://www.dndbeyond.com/subclasses/912922-barbarian-path-of-the-shaman (BARBARIAN)