Sub-Class Concept

[Tupirakio]

Hello everyone,

Today i would like to discuss my vision of how sub classes can work in WoW.

So I think that Blizzard should make sub classes a cosmetic thing instead of adding whole new classes. The sub classes will be just like the pandaria warlock quest. It will make all your spells look different (new animations, names, icons) but make it for every single specialization.

To give you an idea, here is an example: The Time-Wizard Sub class

This will work for frost arcane and fire mage
example abilities:
(Frost):

Frostbolt - Sandbolt - same animation as frostbolt except in yellow color so it looks like sand
Water Elemental - Sand Elemental - Sand elemental model
Blizzard - Sandstorm - Spawn dust tornadoes or falling sand

(Arcane):

Presence of Mind - Essence of Time - new icon
Arcane Barrage - Scale Barrage - launches scales of a bronze dragon
Arcane Explosion - Time Bomb - Yellow tint to the explosion

(Fire):

Dragon's Breath - Nozdormu's Flame - Head of Nozdormu, yellow fire
Fire Blast - Time Blast - purple/yellow tint
Scorch- Erosion - Sand texture instead of fire

This was the first idea I had and the only thing i really wanted in the start is having a Sand elemental instead of a water elemental. I didnt think of alot of the different spells so this might not be that well made but i think you get the idea.

Of course Time Wizard is only one idea. You can have Fel mage , Twilight's hammer with void tendrils and stuff like that.
For Warrior you can have something like Valarjar that turns you into a stormforged valarjar and summons valkyries. You can have a geode themed sub class that fits with the tier 11 warr set. Have crystal themed abilites in different colors.
For Hunter you can have a dark ranger that has spells themed around sylvanas and undead and stuff. You can have a Fel hunter that summons fel stalkers instead of beasts and has fel themed shots
For Shamans you can have a spirit walker that has spirit themed abilities that summons spirits instead of elementals. Have a water shaman that uses water abilities and turns into a fish instead of a spirit wolf.
For Demon Hunters have a redeemed version with light tattoos and be exactly what x'era wanted illidan to be. Or have a version of the demon hunters that has accepted the power of the void and where metamorphosis turns you into a faceless one.
For Druid Blizzard can make a Frost version that takes inspiration from crystalsong forest. They can also add a corrupted nightmare version where every spell is nightmarish.

I'm too lazy to think about the other classes but you get the idea. I feel like this can be very interesting especially if they make it so it's hard to obtain, just as the warlock one from pandaria. Make a small questline that has some cool lore and a scenario at the end with a boss.

If you guys have any suggestions or ideas feel free to comment them down below and let's see if blizzard introduces something similar.

[killwithpwr]

I love this idea, as a purely cosmetic option.
Blizz probably wont do it because of the sheer amount of work this will entail, but it is a nice thought.

If they did do this, it would bring more content options for unlocking these 'sub classes' as in a Mage Tower or a Warlock green fire quest.
That would be awesome.

A simpler way i thought of some time ago, perhaps instead of bringing 36 new looks for the specs, they can add back some Legendaries, which will only affect customisation (no power to them) and will be obtainable through varrying degrees of solo content.
Perhaps even scaling like M+ but solo.
At +1 you get the base appearence, at +5 you get a title, +10 gives you a Heroic appearence, +15 gives you a prestigous mount, and +20 will give the Mythic version of the appearence. After that, all you get is bragging rights (kinda like Endless waves in PG)

[shade3891]

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...ation-Overlays

[Eazy]

Although it seems nice, in real life it seems stupid. No offense, but imagine balancing all sub-classes. That's impossible.

As @killwithpwr said - cosmetic option? Fine. Totally new abilities? No.

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...ation-Overlays

But that's kinda something different.

[Arrashi]

I wouldn't mind submarine class. I think it would bring breath of fresh air to wow.

[shade3891]

How is it different? Both ideas are cosmetic options for existing specs. No need for re-balancing since the gameplay is unchanged, only the players visual effects are changed.

[killwithpwr]

How is it different? Both ideas are cosmetic options for existing specs. No need for re-balancing since the gameplay is unchanged, only the players visual effects are changed.

I thought i remembered a post about something like this.
And i say here what i said there.

Its sad that a great idea like this is likely to be passed over by Blizzard.

Anyways, i hope im wrong.

[Deleted]

Subclass = build (build Outlaw RtB or build Outlaw SnD for example)

[Hawkknight97]

I take it this idea is inspired by the Green Fire Questline for Warlocks.

I think Time wizard is pretty cool but what about other classes like let's say Fel magic for Death Knights or Shadow Death magic for Warlocks. That would be pretty cool or being a Void Paladin with void magic.

[hulkgor]

snip

Just what we need, another fucking balance nightmare on top of the already chaotic 36 specs.

Horrible idea in my opinion.

[cordrann]

Just what we need, another fucking balance nightmare on top of the already chaotic 36 specs.

Horrible idea in my opinion.

You should probably read at least the op before responding to a thread in my opinion.

[AwkwardSquirtle]

The problem with this is the potential for limiting design space for either new classes or new specs. If they give us chronomancer as a skin we won't get it as a proper new spec.

[Keyblader]

I think this is a great idea, unfortunately there are some serious community barriers that would keep this from being made.

1. The community complaining that blizzard actually spent time and effort on making purely cosmetic spell animations, instead of balancing the spells themselves, and making more playable content.

2. The community complaining that their class got mediocre cosmetics compared to another class.

Overall I think it's a great idea, maybe because I main mage, and I liked your ideas for their spells. And tbh, warlocks basically got this in MoP with the green fire, so I could see this happening again to other classes, and it would be great.

[Thelxi]

I'd really like that. Same specs, different themes. And no Blizzard I don't mean cash shop items. Kinda like the green fire for warlocks only more elaborate.

[Directionalk9]

Warlock = Necromancer, would solve that whole desire by the players that want it.

[Soon-TM]

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...ation-Overlays

Yes, I remember that thread. Awesome suggestions from the OP, too bad that Blizz cba ("it will cost you a raid tier bois")...

[Khorm]

I've had a similar idea in my head for a while, and probably not the first.

Classes would be roles such as Dual Wield Melee, 2H Melee, Magical range, Physical range, Leather Tank, Plate tank. And then within each of these roles would be like 3-4 sub-classes that all play the same but their flavour is different. So for DW Melee you can have a Rogue type spec, an Enhancement spec, a Warrior spec, a Monk spec.

This way the game developer does not have to balance an enourmous amount of specs and the players get to enjoy the flavour of class that they like. Each role would be really engaging as it would be the best aspects of all different classes rolled into one.

That's just spitballing and the idea requires a lot of polish.

[mickybrighteyes]

i remember hearing someone somewhere talk about a bunch of cosmetic class templates. all just trying to change the animations used. like death knight 'tinker' as unholy. pets turned into mechs, festering wounds some sort of 'gizmo' rigged to explode. Death and decay being a spilled vat of.... 'something'. Or ret paladin being redone to look like a battle mage with spell school of choice instead of 'holy'. Overall not a bad idea in general but unlikely to ever see the light of day.