I protest for that, and also to be GIVED to us what they had promised: 
The donkey, our companion who will ALWAYS follow us (that's what PA said...)

I really think stuff like this is what is going to kill OP's hopes of making Shai a normal class.  There's too many threads on this forum asking to keep making Shai a meme.

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Like I already said to you in my topic, I understand your concern—I don't want a meme class either, but a nuanced approach can reconcile these seemingly conflicting interests. Shai's design can incorporate elements from both perspectives, without subtracting from the other, blending unique supportive abilities with combat proficiency. This can result in a balanced, versatile class that fits into the game's roles without compromising its identity, creating a hybrid class that reflects both her lore and gameplay needs. This approach can ensure Shai isn't pigeonholed into either extreme.

I want the Shai to be an 'almost' normal class, without losing her identity. That's why a hybrid invocation, a bit like Heilang, could be added with all the buffs debated in this topic and mine without sacrificing either.

While players in 2024 associate the Shai with musical instruments and buffs, the trailer introducing her emphasized her connection to the donkey, which forms a key part of her identity. In the official patch note: 'Shai has always had a donkey companion, ever since she was young. She knows how to better handle donkeys, and she can travel fast while mounting one.' Few people can say that this sentence is still true.

We should just all unite in the same fight.

Here is the trailer introducing the Shai with a Donkey following her:

I think Shai having the donkey follow her around is fine. It's not like it'd fight with her. It could just serve as a companion, and carry her stuff too as she goes. There's nothing wrong with changing her into a 'normal' class along with having roleplay or immersive elements. As I've stated several times, I wish they'd add immersive elements to the other classes as well. Immersive/roleplay elements that fit the theme of each specific class. For example; Shai: Letting her have her donkey follow her as a companion. Explore the support role more without turning her into a meme. Make her more versatile. Corsair: Level up sailing, fishing, bartering, and trading faster. As well as overhauling her 'mermaid form' (allow us to customize it) and 'sea lung' passive (give her unlimited stamina/breath in the water. Hashashin has unlimited stamina in the desert. It seems only fair that Corsair, a mermaid, should have the same treatment in the water!). She's a mermaid/pirate class so expand on that. Improve it. Make the fact that she's a mermaid/pirate actually mean something. Tamer: Allow us to customize Heilang/Heuklang and to have interactions with him. Maybe she can capture and level horses better due to her being called Tamer. Archer and Ranger could level hunting, skinning, gathering, and butchering quicker. It'd also be nice if they could use their bow to hunt. Magically inclined classes could level gathering and alchemy quicker. And so on. Focus on the things that make each class unique apart from combat and expand on it. Things like this helps you connect with your character. For people who don't care about that sort of thing, they wouldn't have do that. It'd be optional. Balance the immersive/roleplay with the class role (combat-wise). We should not have to settle for one or the other. We should be able to have both. I feel each class should have something that makes them unique and special outside of combat. Same with the class 'reboot' they could focus on doing one class at a time. Might as well start with Shai.

 I love the donkeys in this game especially the Shai ones. Really cute and nice detail. It wouldn't be game breaking for a donkey to follow a Shai around in a passive way. It would just serve as a companion and be able to carry things. In real life most people would have a donkey or mule follow them on horseback for just that purpose. But the dancing emotes and the alpaca mount they should remove as they serve no purpose. The alpaca would be fine if it wasn't so cutesy and cartoonish. It'd be kind of nice if they'd add more mounts (that you can breed) like ponies and draft horses. They could serve a different purpose from the other mounts. Maybe the pony or draft horse could follow other classes (in a passive role, to carry items. They wouldn't be your active mount. So the flute would still be useful as you wouldn't be able to mount it unless active. Your active mount would not follow you.) if your training skill is high enough. Still wish you could breed the donkeys. Rework them to be useful for people such as myself who actually like them. It's nice to have variety (if done correctly).

Donkey following you around, as was posted, is literally just asking for a mobile storage.  Remove the storage aspect and it wouldn't be a big deal.

Shai protest #2 when?

I know that many of you continue to feel strongly about the cultural aspects of the Shai class that make it truly unique, such as dancing, music, and mounts. I share this sentiment, and following the years-long wait and denial of the idea of adding the Donkuanatt to the game, I just don't feel like this type of content is a priority for the dev team at this time. I think they've learned that adding such features is a massive investment as exclusive content does not seem to stay exclusive for long and is hardly appreciated. Just think of how much hate we got over music for years... Anyway, I could go on for ages about culture and why it is actually good for the game but also why angry non-shais are right to be jealous.

However, I think the matter at hand that needs the most attention is how we might adjust Shai to make her playstyle more active and engaging in PvP without affecting PvE. I know that my ideas in the OP lacks a bit of that imaginative oomph that really impresses people. So, instead, I thought I would ask you all. What do you think PA could add or change to help make the class feel more engaging? 

I know a few Shai mains, they are split on the subject.  about 25 percent want a rework, about 25 percent say that you knew what you were signing up for when you picked the class and do not want these changes, and 50 percent of them really don't care either way.

I think it would be good for the rest of the game if shai's buffing capabilities were removed and she was changed into a class more like the rest of the game because Shai causes so many other balance issues just because she exists.

Shai could have succession, which would allow her to be a force in her own right.  Those players that want to remain buff-bots can go the talent route.