Druid forms are primarily a function of combat abilities. Tanking, DPSing, Healing. Shaman Ghost Wolf is mobility. They don't tank, heal, or DPS in Ghost Wolf form. The only comparison to be made is between Travel Form and Ghost Wolf form and the purpose they serve is so niche that thematic overlap is quite easily forgivable.
"Occasionally gaining wings" is a bit of a stretch from a full-fledged Demon Form central to class mechanics (Archangel is actually a better comparison to Pally Wings). Your heart is in the right place but this is still no comparison.Paladins gain wings and summon angels, Priests turn into winged spirits if they die. Overlap is present and thematic between likened classes, this would be no different.
Again, this is giving Bear Form to a new class and making it fit a large combat role. We're stumbling into the murky would of aesthetic opinions but Demonology is ALL ABOUT getting Demon Juice and turning into a large winged Demon to burn stuff down. Fair or not, shapeshifting is step above simply gaining a brief graphical augmentation.
Last edited by PickleballAce; 2013-01-29 at 08:00 AM.
If you're talking about game mechanics being different, I've explained ways it can be different while still retaining familiarity. The only similarities is theme. Boomkin Form and Shadow Form are essentially the same purpose, a specialized DPS form that provides passive boosts to offense and defense. The idea of shifting into forms wouldn't be 1:1 with Demolock, and even then there are multiple types of demons you could possibly turn into that a Warlock can't (Pit Lords, Dread Lords, etc).
Now that's something that could actually work. Probably DHs from Diablo 3 to boot. That makes quite a bit more sense then the other mess people are posting.
---------- Post added 2013-01-29 at 12:53 PM ----------
Oh? And how would you do that? We already have Warlocks with half of the Demon Hunter's base skills. Shaman and Druids also have similar powers, but Blizzard established their differences a long time ago with Totems being the iconic Shaman mechanic, and Shape-shifting being the iconic Druid mechanic.
So what's left for Demon Hunters? Shape-shifting into a demon? Warlocks already have 2 different versions of that mechanic.
Last edited by Teriz; 2013-01-29 at 12:53 PM.
The best option that will give people a little taste of the Demon Hunter without it being exactly the same as a DH would be the Dark Ranger, it fits into the it hates anything to do with Demons and Undead role so any expansion with either it would fit into perfectly. Much like Illidan they are very vengeful and will stop at nothing to eradicate them from existence. Also they could use Sylvanis to train them in a starting zone similar to the DK's she could be secretly creating an army of freed Rangers for the purpose of taking down Arthas and anyone responsible for the unlife that was thrust upon them.
Id rather have demon hunting be a 4th spec for warlocks, a melee dps one?
Aside from Metamorphosis, there's only immolation/hellfire. It would not be a grand hardship to excise that.
Frankly, I would just as soon strip out all the pseudo-tank mechanics that have been shoe-horned into a ranged caster class - they don't really fit.
I could live with a 4th warlock spec that's more melee focused I guess... have two different demon forms that operate in two different ways. I don't know how you'd make a warlock fit in with the normal form demon hunter's melee focus though. Swap out mana for energy? Give them spec-specific access to melee weapons? Kill range on most spells so you gotta get in close? Then have the 4th spec's demon form return range and give you a big boost for ranged burst DPS... that'd actually be more in keeping with the WC3 version. Kinda turn them into a melee/range hybrid.
Then stick the demonology lock's form with the ranged spells and keep their theme going towards Dreadlord-style.
Just played through Darkshore again and there was this quest where you had to kill the shade of that Demon Hunter. The demon form he turns into looks completely different from the Warlock Metamorphosis. Looks a bit like a dreadlord, but also a bit different. Also the item that you recover is something that could teach you to be a Demon Hunter, and it largely hints that there could've been people before you who entered that cave and had access to those teachings.
Also it mentions the Dark Embrace, and nowhere is it explained what the Dark Embrace really is. This seems to be a big hint towards a playable demon hunter class and seeing that different Metamorphosis definitely shows just because the Warlock has a Metamorphosis doesn't mean there can't be a demon hunter class with a different looking one.
http://www.wowhead.com/quest=28529
The scrolls are vague and appear to be a piece of a much larger puzzle, but if you are not mistaken, they seem to reveal some of the steps on the path to becoming a demon hunter.
The dark oaths and rituals necessary for becoming a demon hunter are frowned on by most of the night elves, so this is likely something they would be very interested in keeping quiet.
Where did you find these?! You haven't shown them to anyone else, have you?
I apologize. You took me off guard. Telarius was a very powerful Demon Hunter, but he was slain during a confrontation with the warden, Maeiv, many years ago. You are fortunate that his ghost was only a shade of his former power. I wonder how many have found their way to him in those ruins.
I will see to it that these scrolls make their way to the high priestess immediately. Thank you, <name>.
FIRST-Metamorph is not as iconic to warlocks as it is to demon hunters;
SECOND- metamorph is a dispensable CD in warlocks rotation and could be replaced with something else
THIRD- picking up on the previous statement, if metamorph was not to be removed from locks then leave it as it is and grant a different metamorph system to demon hunters
I love how you say it won't happen because of abilities...... Lemme check rogues were first only class to vanish ou wait now there's a ton of classes who can vanish....
This is what I have in mind as well. its far more easier and actually more in truth with lore to stop this demo lock caster/melee aberration and just tune towards a dreadlord style with a lot of pets. Plus, the metamorph Cd could be swapped with a warlock golem instead, like the one from dota2. this would be a powerful enough pet that could take the place of the demon form. And just as a special treat, we could be given a warlock 4th spec base on tanking in a demon form just like what we have now and based on the Dark Apotheosis glyph. At least that way we wouldn't be mixing demon hunters into melee warlocks and caster warlocks into melee demons
"Man is his own star. His acts are his angels, good or ill, While his fatal shadows walk silently beside him."-Rhyme of the Primeval Paradine AFC 54
You know a community is bad when moderators lock a thread because "...this isnt the place to talk about it either seeing as it will get trolled..."
yh I may have made a mistake about the CD but still this has no meaning because I do play a demo lock since vailla all the way to mop. So, my point still remains, metamorph is not as iconic as it is to demon hunters and certainly can be swapped with another more suitable ability. The same process to achieve demon form but with a different result. Get rid of the melee demon form and use it where it can be less of a hassle, like a warlock tank spec.
I stand by the original 5 reasons in the OP. I just don't see why Blizzard would muddy the waters by introducing another melee agility class into the game. We have far too many as is, and frankly as cool as the Demon Hunter would be to play as, the march towards too many classes feeling the same would become very apparent once the luster wears off.
I created my version of how a Demon Hunter class would be implemented. However, I would prefer them not be implemented. If a new class is to come on the scene, make it the Tinker class; A class that is not only unique, but also fills the holes that currently exist in class balance and structure.
Last edited by Teriz; 2013-04-14 at 04:17 PM.