Originally Posted by
bloodkin
So just to get the first post back in to view, as even teriz is muddying the waters himself.
So, you want the shield/pet-thing work like Sigma's barrier? Have you ever played sigma for any amount of time? his shield, or any adaptation of it doesn't work with wow, it's placement and movements are based on FPS mechanics and the idea that barriers in overwatch physically block off shots and ranged damage and lets melee damage pass through. Sigma's barrier has gone through multiple patch changes as even in OW it's hard to balance it out without being overly dominant. Secondly, the moment you let go of the deployment button, it's stuck in place and won't move and can only be recalled. It also doesn't transfer damage to Sigma, as he'd be one-shotted with ease if it did.
In an FPS based on player's skills with characters, blizz didn't want players to independently control both the character and the barrier, as it's neither practical or able to be implemented in such a way that someone can do it instinctively. Even in OW, were movement and control of the battlefield are the most important factors this concept never came farther than Sigma's shield, as doesn't solve any problems, it only creates them.
The abilities you listed are both vague, no ranges set and no real limitations on how they really work in game, this just demonstrates that this concept is not only complex, as you aren't even capable to create a working set of actual abilities that make this into a functional concept to begin with. saying that the devs will figure it out is a weak and very poor excuse so don't come up with that. If you have to lock it to a target, it still makes you a melee tank, as effectively the boss is still in melee range with the shield and damaging it, the fact that it is transferred to the player doesn't change the fact that the boss still requires something to be in melee range for it to hit, and it thus being tanked on melee range.
seriously, what are you trying to accomplish with this thread? why come with a solution to a nonexisting problem that nobody asked for? there are no practical use-cases for a ranged tank in wow, no bosses, mobs or pvp elements require a tank to be at range to carry out it's function and it brings no added value in the combat system if it did, and blizz would never implement a class that would require such an extreme overhaul in either new or old content that would invalidate or undermine the existing tank roster. With the vague and near unworkable concepts that have been brought forth, these would most certainly require mechanics that only this tank can fulfill and thus invalidate existing tanks.
If it was only to add a FUNCTIONAL tank class/spec that was extremely complex, yet rewarding to play, then at least this thread would have it's merit. But, since you only want to push a RANGED tank (under the guise of a tinker for the umpteenth time), this thread is going to go nowhere.
You made your case, tried to convince others that a ranged tank could/would work and that wow needed it, but you clearly didn't succeed, as just about every poster in this thread basically denounced the idea.