Patterns that predict the next class.

[Kryos]

I would love to see a trispec Tinker using Guns and Bows.

He could be a tank sitting in a Shredder (would work like the druid bear transformation).

He could be a healer shooting liquid injections to his team mates.

He could be a damage dealer like a hunter but without a living pet but the ability to summon some mechanical helpers (optional).

[Jtree]

It will still nonetheless reduce the uniqueness of the two classes. IMHO Warlocks should never have been created, at least not in their current form. They are too similar to Mages.

< Not sure if serious, or highly sarcastic. >

[SodiumChloride]

< Not sure if serious, or highly sarcastic. >

The two classes have always been compared to one another. When threatening to re-roll, the other class is always the one bought up.

While mechanics-wise and playstyle-wise they are different. Thematically they are too similar - both are ranged, cloth wearing, magic using damage dealers.

If Warlocks didn't exist, and some suggested adding them next expansion. You will hear the exact same justifications currently used against Demon Hunter and Dark Rangers. Too much overlap with current classes.

[Fuhok]

Ranged: 12 Specs

Warlock (3 specs)
Mage (3 specs)
Hunter (3 specs)
Elemental Shaman
Moonkin Druid
Shadow Priest

Melee: 11 Specs
Warrior (2 specs)
Rogue (3 specs)
Enhance Shaman
Feral Druid
WW Monk
Ret Paladin
DK (2 specs)

Blizzard really considers each spec a different class, in a matter of speaking.

My guess is the next class will have at least 1 melee spec, possibly two, with a third being heals or Tank.

What armour they wear though - I would suspect Mail.

(Note: Apologies if I missed a spec)

[Teriz]

Ranged: 12 Specs

Warlock (3 specs)
Mage (3 specs)
Hunter (3 specs)
Elemental Shaman
Moonkin Druid
Shadow Priest

Melee: 11 Specs
Warrior (2 specs)
Rogue (3 specs)
Enhance Shaman
Feral Druid
WW Monk
Ret Paladin
DK (2 specs)

Blizzard really considers each spec a different class, in a matter of speaking.

My guess is the next class will have at least 1 melee spec, possibly two, with a third being heals or Tank.

What armour they wear though - I would suspect Mail.

(Note: Apologies if I missed a spec)

I disagree. The major issue right now with itemization is hunters being the only class that can use bows and guns. also as mentioned before, you cant lump physical ranged with caster range. they are very different from one another, and nearly every player recognizes that. There are nearly 800 weapons that only one class can use, and it seriously needs to be addressed.

Thus, the next class needs to have at least one physical ranged spec.

---------- Post added 2013-05-12 at 12:38 PM ----------

Demon Hunters are melee in every instance they've occurred in WoW though.

Thank you! This idea that Demon Hunters can operate like DHs from Diablo 3 is laughable and needs to stop. Not only does Diablo 3s DH look nothing like the DH from Warcraft, but Blizzard would never introduce a bow using class with the name "hunter" in it.

---------- Post added 2013-05-12 at 12:41 PM ----------

Come to think of it, if we were really following patterns.. Wouldn't the next class be implemented in the next-next expansion? New classes skipped a generation in the past.

It could possibly be next expansion, or it could be the expansion after that.