As long as the devs don't can fix the "infinite totem" bug caused by the illusion when to close to other geometries, you might as well use it as an advantage: Group is swarmed and wiping. Run against wall befor firing Totem may give you the "extended" version and you must not be afraid if the 30 seconds will be enought for the adds to go out of camp. (and/or wait until dots ran their course to avoid reaggro). Once mobs are gone /ex and log back and you can recover the group
In reallity I don't like to get frozen that way. But as some conspiracy theory says its much more likely a bug gets fixed fast, if its considered to be too beneficial, I thought it might help to share the idea
My first attempt to use it ended up with a dead shaman. I fired it right where I was when wipe was inc. My problem was that the mob has been snared and after 30 seconds smashed me to dead.
The totem is no 100% guaranty to survive. But in most situations its easy to get a little out of camp prior to fire up the totem. In that way you avoid brakes possibly caused from mobs aes or reaggro if mobs decide to corpsecamp your fellows (r get snared). I personally havn't had any reaggro (aka mezzbreak from mobs casts) until it didn't run its full length. It has already saved me serveral times.
All the other AAs are "just" a litte more from what we already have. The Totem is a new ability. I never got the ring mainly due to the fact that it can fail.
I got it as first when expansion launched and I still like it.