I would be happy to talk Shaman with you if you’d like. I wrote one of the two FaQs at Wowhead for the Shaman class. That’s linked in the “website” portion of the reply field.

I’ve included my e-mail address if you have any specific questions that you’d like to toss my way, as I’d like to help if I can.

Starting a shaman is a little rocky, but once you hit level 20 it picks up considerably, even more so once dual wielding is unlocked (as Enhancement is the oft-recommended tree for leveling). The linked thread has some every-10-levels specs that you might find useful.

GL, hit me up if I can be of assistance.

Re: your first point – I never really had that problem with finding gear for my shaman. Stuff “of the Monkey” is really not that good for enhancement shaman, since you get AP from strength and not agility. Granted “of the Tiger” is usually expensive as well, but you can get as much smash for your buck out of gear “of the Bear” and “of the Gorilla” – neither of which are prime for rogues or hunters, and therefore not priced out the wazoo for the twink market. You’ll be competing with druids, sure, but as elemental you’d be competing with them as well for caster leather.

Also, if you’re instancing, there’s quite a bit of gear you can pick up there, especially weapons, from quest rewards – which is nice if the AH on your realm is anything like it is on mine (level 12 green of spirit? 4g. and no – I’m not kidding >.<)

My main avoidance of elemental at low levels is that to get good stats, you usually have to resort to cloth – and being squishy really slows you down.

1) Don’t roll enhancement, at least no til like 40 or so. If you do, you’ll be competing with Rogues, Druids, Hunters, and everyone else alive for gear. Auction House loot that fits your spec is expensive because of this and since 1-40 really isn’t a big deal for any spec – I’d highly recommend Elemental for that timeframe. Nobody rolls on Caster Leather! You can implement a bunch of “Nature’s Wrath” gear in and dishevel mobs with Lightning Bolts far easier just because the gear is there. Try finding something “of the Monkey” without mortgaging your summer home in the Exodar!

2) Shaman get lots of fun tricks if you use the totems right. One of the best for taking down high-difficulty mobs solo involves Earthbind Totem, Searing Totem, and gratuitous Frost Shocks. just kite the mob in circles around the two Totems while dropping Frost Shock, and watch it’s health bar drop-drop-drop!

However, I did have a chance to fight together with one in BGs, and I must say that in pair with rogue its practically carnage galore. I still remember once in WSG I was defending flag with enh. shammy, and enemy was coming at us in greater and greater numbers. At the end only attack we couldnt fend off was of 8 enemies. Our group won, but by the end of BG our flag base was covered with bones of ressed opponents.

Since then I always try to have one shammy with me anywhere: BG, arena, instances…

I’m going to stick with her a few more levels at least and see what I think then. Just not sure I have the energy to level another one to 70 right now (since I’ve only been 70 on Cassieann for less than 2 months), but we’ll see.

Thanks again! You guys are the best!

Cassieann

First thing is to check out this site:
http://shammy.wikispaces.com/

It’s got some great information about the class.

Next up, when you’re out leveling (enhancement), you’ll want to set up where you can pull a few mobs in a row. Drop your earth totem of choice (strength or stoneskin). Drop your air totem of choice (agility, for the extra crit chance). Fire off a lightning bolt. Drop a water totem (usually mana spring since you’ve never got enough mana). Drop a fire totem (searing for singles, fire nova for groups). Beat on it with your weapon(s). You can shock every time the cooldown is up, or you can wait until a crit so you get the reduced mana buff. It depends on how fast you want to kill something. Heal yourself (usually lesser healing wave) as needed.

Be sure to keep up lightning shield, as it’s your most efficient spell damage.

Also, between fights, don’t heal yourself. Use a bandage. It will go a long way to improving your down-time.

As for weapon enchants, you’ll want to use rockbiter (until you get windfury) for most mobs. If a mob has particularly high armor or is much higher level than you, use flametongue instead. The only time I would ever use frostbrand is if I’m fighting mobs that like to run a lot, and I was too lazy to frost shock them.

Shaman can be very powerful if used properly. At level 20, I was able to solo several lvl 24 elementals that were on my way to do my water totem quest. Since I was barely able to hurt them with my weapon, I switched to a 1h and shield, dropped a searing totem, used flametongue, dropped stoneskin, and just healed myself. It took several minutes, but I was able to clear out a whole island of them by myself.

I also found that even spec’d enhancement, I was very potent in PVP (AV particularly) as a healer, even if I was on the low end of the level range.

Skeptik: http://enhancement-shaman.blogspot.com/
(His sight reads very similair to Elitist Jerks)
Kinless: http://kinless.wordpress.com/
Dayjay: http://nerfmyshaman.blogspot.com/
Draezele: http://resto4now.blogspot.com/
Slig: http://gamedame.wordpress.com/

And myself:
http://twoandahalforcs.blogspot.com

I didn’t know about the elementalist or asirae… nifty!