Master of <specialty> concept

[Yhvh]

Something I was thinking about is "what makes your class special?" phrase. That question comes together with the homogenization that the classes suffered through the expansions. Right now they are taking steps towards un-doing some of the "bring the player not the class" philosophy, that - in theory - is quite utopic, but in practice honestly makes the specs bland.

The whole class fantasy issue, while it ruined specs to some players, it really set some uniqueness to them. But in the end, the practical side of the gameplay remained still a bit homogenic.

So, I've been wondering about a concept that we already see in some classes, to be expanded for all of them. Something that class halls brought a bit: a feature that makes your class unique - also something that is worth to spend time on.


I've brainstormed concepts - some of these ideas already exist in a small or embrionary form and could be expanded:

Mages: Master of Portals - this concept exists already, but further expand it. Make their class hall still relevant in BfA by adding a room to it with portals to every (or most of the) zones ingame besides cities. Maybe you could attune to ley-line points across every zone to unlock them in this special portal room. Mages can literally be nearly anywhere in Azeroth in a matter of moments.

Hunters: Master of Utility - This already exists with the key utilities (bloodlust, brez) but make their menagerie of pets provide every buff avaliable ingame (hoping they add back some class combat utilities such as remove curse, etc) - excelent for personal use or groups wanting a specific thing. I believe this was once a thing back in Wrath, but I don't quite remember. Also give hunters a special game bounty board, to hunt for special rares to get their trophies.

Shaman: Master of the Elements - Light up some incense and be able to commune with elementals NPCs across the zones (all leveling zones) to get a provisory bodyguard elemental (dps, tank or healer depending on what you need). Also elementals would be neutral to them, allowing safe passage through some parts. Since with the leveling revamp you will have the option to spend more time in each zone, having them help you is a great boon.

Rogues: Master of Theft - there is that rogue special vendor already, bring it back with more interesting items. Also make pickpocketed worth it like it once was. Make glyph of disguise work more than just cosmetic transformation, let it make you neutral against the enemies of that specific place, so you can sneak through dangerous areas. Add some custom disguises that allow you to dress up as opposite faction's guard, so you can infiltrate even in capital cities!

Monks: Master of Brews (can't think of another name) - expand the current buffing brew system present in their class halls, more fun and interesting effects that will make leveling easier, make it avaliable for all leveling range (1-120). This can be monk exclusive secondary profession called Brewing, a fun minigame of mixing ingredients for the perfect brew. For love of gods, allow us to STACK them too!

Death Knights: Master of Necromancy - Make Acherus still relevant, add some sort of laboratory there where you can build your own construct with items gathered across the world. It could be a provisory tanking bodyguard (useful for the dps specs!), a daily quest-giver, a vendor that sells you on-use combat items, a meat-wagon vehichle, etc.

Warlock: Master of Demonic Enslavement - Your Enslave Demon spell actually acts like a hunter stable slot, in which you enslave any kind of lesser demon and you can raise a personal reputation with said demon, unlocking quests and special abilities to it. Affliction and Destruction can use this demon as a mini cooldown, but Demonology can use it as an actual active demon. If it dies, you can re-summon it in 60 minutes.

Demon Hunters: Master of Demonic Souls - You can actually consume a demon's soul to obtain a certain situational spell depending on the demon. I'd go even further and make a few changes to Metamorphosis based on the demon soul you have consumed, such as you displaying some specific physical traits.

Warriors: Masters of Armies - Every zone has a npc that can be recruited while you're there, that will help you. You can raise reputation, level (up to that zone's max) and equip them with their zone/level appropriate gear. Achieve the goal of fully equipping and leveling every npc of every zone!

Priests: Masters of Devotion - Inspired by the old priest racial spells, you can now choose your own faith and level a personal reputation with it! You can use a special spell provided by your faith to achieve a miraculous effect. Also your main nuke is cosmetically customized according to your faith! For example, Smite turns into Starshards for devouts of Elune! Example of religions: Elune, An'She, Church of the Holy Light, The Sunwell, The Forgotten Shadow, Loas... Or just stand default with the Light or Void.

Paladins: Masters of Inspiration - Paladins have this special reputation bar, with your faction's small towns and settlements. Each of them you have a weekly that requires you to kill a menacing threat, perform an exorcism, save refugees. This reputation awards you free special items that provide leveling boosters, stat increases, free repairs, free raiding consumables. Like you become a town's patron an people there are really grateful to you and once you go there you are showered in goods.

alt idea to Paladin: You train a squire, leveling reputation and equipping it, sending on missions (like order halls table, except you don't need to go anywhere to do this). It would provide all sorts of buffs, find raid consumables, help you in combat. Paladins can also JOUST in their holy mounts, as a cooldown, that would equal to a siege vehicle for about 35 seconds - the role is much like current Argus Warframe.

Druids: Masters of Sects - Now you can choose your own Druid Sect early on, and you'll have at least one of your forms customized specially to that sect and a special utility spell that you can use. Also, all of Legion's custom skins are baked into a shapeshift bank that you can use your Order Hall (making it still relevant) to set which you'll use. Druids of the Claw, Talon, Fang (now redeemed), Sea, Grove, etc. They also could find special Ancients in forest zones: Ancient of the Grove, you could ride on its shoulder, it act as a siege vehicle; Ancient of Wonders, special shop; Ancient of Wind, FP-whistle effect.

*Many of the active abilities of these features wouldn't be avaliable in instanced content for the sake of balance.

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Sorry if it's a lengthy post, but I feel that we should post these ideas and hope that Blizzard would take inspiration in good aspects of them to make the game better.

thanks for reading!

[Ashenhoof]

Master of Brews

You mean like a Brewmaster?

[Yhvh]

You mean like a Brewmaster?

Hah, good catch. Maybe some other name.