EDIT:
- Added a few different icons to clarify abilities and talents. (Please note, that they are subject to change)
- Attempted to make the post more reader-friendly through colors, and text placement.
- Added multiple pictures.
- Added FAQ at the bottom.
- Added an unfinished custom talent calculator for the Stalker spec. Talent calculator for the Predator spec will come.
- Screenshot of talent calculator, and link has been removed due to link not working. Talents added as text with icons.
- Added more readable talent options of the current 5 tiers for the Stalker spec (More is coming along with Predator talents). For unknown reasons, every icon has increased in size. Fix in progress.
- Made Ranged / Melee abilities more readable. Will fix Hybrid abilities as well.
- Made Hybrid abilities more readable. Next up, Predator talents and another visual update to Stalker talents.
Before we start..
So personally I have always been really interested in the Dark Ranger archetype, and also the newly introduced Void Ranger from Alleria. I have been thinking and tampering on how to make a class that fits either of these archetypes, and I figured. "Why not mix it?" The two archetypes resembles each other in many ways through ranged capabilities aswell as the similarities between their source of power being the Void and Undeath, aswell as their main lore figures being Sisters. Originally I had thought of the concept through Legion with the idea of the class changing between Undeath/Banshee for Horde through the teachings of Sylvanas. Void for both factions through the teachings of Alleria, and lastly "Light" for Alliance based on teachings of Veressa. This comes from a fan-theory I had that the three sisters would each be empowered in their own way through Legion, but since that didn't happen, and Alleria is now Alliance oriented, that idea felt to the ground.
Please note that there is a heavy lack of the necromancy aspect on the Dark Ranger, since it does not fit for the Void Ranger. I decided to remove that aspect completely, and turn the Dark Ranger and Void Ranger into something very similar, yet very different aesthetic wise.
Furthermore I have always wanted a hybrid physical ranged and melee damage dealer, switching between melee and ranged damage, and figured that this class would be the perfect place to introduce it! I really look forward to what Blizzard is able to pull off with the Survival Hunter rework coming up in BFA. Now for the juicy part!
Void Ranger / Dark Ranger Hero class concept
These classes are the same class, with different flavors, and colorschemes based on the faction. The Void rangers are aligned to the Alliance through teachings of Alleria, where the Dark Rangers are horde specific through teachings of Sylvanas/Nathanos. From here on, I will refer to both classes as “Ranger”.
Unlike the Demon Hunter which is supposed to be a low skill-floor and capped class, the Ranger is the opposite with a high focus on resource management, cooldowns, procs and debuffs, and a big distinction between the worse and better players.
The class will be the first true melee / ranged hybrid, which will switch a lot between ranged, and melee attacks. This will be done through two different stances (Stalker and Predator stance) like bearform / catform. The class will have two DPS focused specs, either aligning more to melee (Predator) or ranged (Stalker) damage, but both specs will switch between the two for optimal damage output. The spec will equip weapons based on their specialization (Ranged for Stalker, dual-wielded melee for Predator), and have a visual only secondary weapon (Think Outlaw Rogues and their hidden gun). The class will also have access to temporary stealth, and stealth-based abilities. This will be known as Shadowform (More information under “Hybrid Ability examples”)
The goal of the class is to be HIGHLY mobile, with decent sustained damage, and a few burst windows. The class’ weakness is their squishiness through lack of defensive cooldowns and passive, and therefor they rely on kiting and opportunities for their survival and melee damage. Their primary tools of kiting will come from slows, roots, gab-makers and movement cooldowns. Although the ranger can cast most of their ranged abilities on the move, they have a weakness unlike their Hunter counterpart. Their casted ranged attacks can be interrupted with kicks and other interrupts.
Both specs will have various abilities that switches them to the other form.
Class Fantasy:
The Stalker
The Stalker walks through the shadows unnoticed to their prey. Once in position the stalker will take aim and unleash powerful attacks on their unsuspecting targets with a flurry of arrows, limiting their movement and making them unable to seek cover to avoid certain death. Once the stalker has weakened their prey and fear freezes their very bones, the stalker goes in for the kill with quick strikes from their blades, leaving only an unnaturally withered corpse behind. The Stalker is a patient and deadly killer, waiting for the right moment to strike from afar, and are able to outmaneuver even the quickest of minds.
-"If you ever see the Stalker, know that it is too late for savior and that death has come for you."
The Predator
The Predator weaves through the shadows to close the gab between them and their unsuspecting prey. From the shadows the Predator can sneak up close and personal to unleash a flurry of devastating and painful strikes at their unsuspecting foes, leaving them no chance of retaliation before their cold dead bodies fall silently to the ground. Should the unlikely scenario of the Predators prey survive the initial fight, the Predator will disengage through the shadows and unleash a rain of arrows before they even have a chance to draw their weapons.
-"Should you ever cross path with a Predator, pray for a quick death for you will not survive this encounter."
General:
Resources: Ferocity, Discipline and combo-points (capped at 3)
These resources are dependent on one another, you will never have 100% of each, but rather 100% discipline and 0% ferocity or something in between. This is to create a flow between the two stances. Out of combat the resources will slowly align to 50/50%.
Ferocity is used for melee attacks and is generated through spending Discipline.
Discipline is the other way around and is used for ranged attacks, and generated through spending Ferocity.
Combo-points will be generated slower than Ferals and Rogues, but will be spent on bigger impact abilities.
Weapons: Bows, Crossbow, Guns, Dual-wield, sword, axes, fist weapons.
Armor: Mail
Races: Blood Elf, Nightborne, Forsaken, Troll, Zandalari for horde.
Human, Night Elf, Void Elf, Worgen for Alliance.
EXAMPLE ABILITIES
Please note that all ability names are placeholder (I am not that creative with names :>)
Ranged Abilities:
EXAMPLE SOLO PVE SCENARIO
The ranger starts off from Shadowform shooting a Shadow/Voidshot at the target dealing critical damage and affects the target with Shadow Affliction. The ranger slows the target with Crippling Shot right after to keep the distance and casts Focused Shot to generate a combopoint and follows up with a Weakening Shot to generate a 3rd combopoint, and increase the damage of the following Withering Shot spending their 3 combopoints. The ranger patiently waits for the aging process to create an opening and shoots another Focused Shot while waiting. After the target is rooted and Silenced the Ranger charges in with swords unsheathed with Shadow/Voidcleave as an execute with the damage of Withering Shot, Focused Shot and Shadow/Voidcleave all increased by the effect of Weakening Shot.
Against Stronger opponents or during raids, the Ranger should priotize Heartaim over Withering Shot for the increasing bleed damage as their primary Combopoint spender.
Melee Abilities:
EXAMPLE SOLO PVE SCENARIO
The Ranger starts the combat from Shadowform and sneaks up to their enemy striking them with Corruptive Strike for a Stun and increased Shadow Affliction damage. Afterwards the Ranger uses Void/ Deathstab to generate another combopoint. Void/ Deathstab procced a free Void / Deathreap but the ranger holds on to it for a moment and uses Death/Voidstrike for a 3rd combopoint. The Ranger unleashes Shadow Pierce to spend their combopoints and to increase the damage of the free Void / Deathreap, followed up with a Twin Shadow for a massive burst combo. Things are getting hot, and it’s time to disengage to Stalker Stance with Disengaging Shot that has increased damage from Void/ Deathstrike, kicking the enemy backwards and proceeds to finish off the target from range.
HYBRID ABILITY EXAMPLES
Consume Shadows note: Say that Shadow Affliction has 3 second duration left it will deal damage equal to 12 seconds it has already done damage (of a 15 seconds DoT), this damage is increased by X% based on combopoints spent. This awards patience with increased damage by pulling the DoT at the very last second.
The Way of Darkness note: This is a cooldown which can be used offensively, defensively and as a bit of both. Temporarily turning invisible to use your Shadowformed abilities and staying visible only for a brief amount of time, allowing you to re-position and confuse your opponents. In PvP enemies will have an opener to time their CC on the ranger when they pop out of Shadowform to deny them the next application.
Maddening Illusions / Spectral Haunt note: This is more or less a PvP talent, but could be baseline for fun. The idea is that the target chasing after the Ranger will be “chasing ghosts” so to speak, which is allowing the ranger to reposition. Please note that the Ranger is ONLY invisible and untargetable by the affected target, everyone else can still see and attack the ranger.
TALENT EXAMPLES
Stalker (Ranged)
First Tier: General Customization
Choose between:
Total Affliction
Shadow Affliction will now stack up to 5 times and is now also applied through Death/ Voidstab, but is no longer enhanced by Corruptive Strike.
Limit to 1 target.
Note: Total Affliction will make Consume Shadows part of the Rangers main rotation.
Adaptability
Swapping stances increases your damage by X% for 4 seconds. This has a 15 seconds cooldown.
Exposing Shot (Active)
15 seconds cooldown
1.5 seconds cast
The Ranger takes aim for a non-fatal shoot to create an opening in the targets armor.
Upon cast your next Heartaim will be free of charge and instant cast, as if it was used with 3 combopoints.
Second Tier: Mobility
Choose between:
Preperation
Switching between stances grants one charge of Shadow Jump. This effect has a 15 seconds cooldown.
Banshee Escape / Void Escape (Active)
1.5 minutes cooldown
The Ranger temporarily turns themselves ethereal removing all movement impairing effects and making them immune to such effects for the duration. Increases movement speed by 200%. Lasts for 3 seconds.
Note: Emergency escape, mostly for PvP but certainly also for “oh-shit!” situations in PvE.
Chase the prey
Increases the Rangers movementspeed by 30% while they have not been attacked for 5 seconds.
Third Tier: Voidform / Banshee Form Costumization
Choose between:
Committed to the Void / Eternal Darkness
During Voidform/ Banshee form your Heartaim is instant cast for the duration.
Note: Mostly for PvP or heavy movement fights.
Everlasting Shadows
Every combopoint spent outside of Voidform / Banshee form reduces the remaining cooldown of Voidform / Banshee form by X seconds.
Every combopoint spent during Voidform / Banshee form increases the duration by 1 second up to a cap of Y seconds.
Note: For those who prefer longer lasting burst windows.
Prolonged Darkness
Voidform / Banshee form now has 2 charges, but the duration has been reduced to 5 seconds. 30 seconds recharge.
Note: For those who prefer higher uptime with smaller burst windows (You can get 3 Voidform / Banshee forms of a total of 15 seconds where someone specced into Commited to the Void / Eternal Darkness will have 10 seconds uptime every 1.5 minute)
Fourth Tier: AoE Customization
Choose between:
Screecher
Call of the Void / Banshee Scream affects targets with Mark of Shadow. When the Ranger uses an ability on a target affected by Mark of Shadow it will burst and cause X damage to the target, and surrounding targets.
Note: Hitting multiple targets with Call of the Void / Banshee Scream will mark multiple targets. By bursting one Mark, you will start a chain reaction popping Marks on nearby affected enemies.
This is for burst AoE.
Multi-shot (Active)
Generates 10 ferocity
Costs 10 Discipline
Shoots multiple arrows hitting targets in front of you dealing X damage. Casting Multi-shot increases the damage of the ability by 25% stacking up to 3 times.
Note: For sustained AoE
Split-shot (Active)
30 seconds cooldown
Activating Split-shot allows ranged abilities to ricochet to nearby targets dealing 20% less damage for each bounce. Abilities affected by Split-shot can ricochet to up to 3 nearby enemies. Lasts for 15 seconds.
Note: For small group sustained AoE
Fifth Tier: Heartaim Customization
Choose between:
Heartbreaker
Heartaim has a X% chance upon cast to instantly shoot an additional Heartaim at the target.
Bleeding Heart
The bleed effect from your Heartaim will deal the same damage in 33% less time.
Aim for their Heart
Focused shot adds X% of the damage dealt to the Heartaim bleed.
TALENT EXAMPLES
Predator (Melee)
Movement tier
Choose between:
Preperation
Switching between stances grants one charge of Shadow Jump. This effect has a 15 seconds cooldown.
Ghost Chase / Void Chase
In Predator Stance, Shadow Jump is changed to Ghost Chase / Void Chase.
Ghost chase / Void Chase is a targeted gapcloser with a 20 yards range.
Banshee Escape / Void Escape (Active)
1.5 minutes cooldown
The Ranger temporarily turns themselves ethereal removing all movement impairing effects and making them immune to such effects for the duration. Increases movement speed by 200%. Lasts for 3 seconds.
Note: Emergency escape, mostly for PvP but certainly also for “oh-shit!” situations in PvE.
Voidform / Banshee form tier
Choose between:
Everlasting Shadows
Every combopoint spent reduces the remaining cooldown of Voidform / Banshee form by X seconds. Every combopoint spent during Voidform / Banshee form increases the duration by 1 second up to a cap of Y seconds.
Note: For those who prefer longer lasting burst windows.
Prolonged Darkness
Voidform / Banshee form now has 2 charges, but the duration has been reduced to 5 seconds. 30 seconds recharge.
Note: For those who prefer higher uptime with smaller burst windows (You can get 3 Voidform / Banshee forms of a total of 15 seconds where someone specced into Commited to the Void / Eternal Darkness will have 10 seconds uptime every 1.5 minute)
Creeping Death / Voidlust
During Voidform / Banshee form the Ranger gains access to Shadowform-based abilities.
Note: For those who prefer heavier damage during cooldown windows.
AoE tier
Choose between:
Screecher
Call of the Void / Banshee Scream affects targets with Mark of Shadow. When the Ranger uses an ability on a target affected by Mark of Shadow it will burst and cause X damage to the target, and surrounding targets.
Note: Hitting multiple targets with Call of the Void / Banshee Scream will mark multiple targets. By bursting one Mark, you will start a chain reaction popping Marks on nearby affected enemies.
This is for burst AoE.
Place of Power
Standing in Desecrated ground / Void Tendrils makes your Predator abilities strike all targets in front of you.
Note: For sustained AoE
Whirling Shadow (Active)
30 seconds cooldown
Strikes all targets around you and causes your Death/ Voidreap to no longer split the damage dealt, but deal their max damage to all targets for X seconds. Damage of Death/ Voidreap reduced by Y% for the duration.
Note: For small pack sustained AoE. The reduced damage of Death/ Voidreap is simply to not make it TOO op, as it is a HARD hitting ability on single target.
FAQ
WIP: More will be added over time
Q: Why not add this as a 4th spec for Hunters or Rogues?
A: I personally believe that the class is distinct enough to warrant its own class and specs. Especially considering the hybrid melee / ranged aspect of the class being a main theme for both specs. Furthermore I believe that some of the races available to play Hunter or Rogue does not fit the fantasy of the Dark Ranger / Void Ranger very well. I can't imagine an Orc Dark Ranger embracing Banshee form or a Dwarf Void Ranger Shadow Jump'ing around.
Q: We need more tanks and healers, why not include an option for one or both for a 3rd specialization?
A: I believe that the Dark Ranger / Void Ranger is a purely offensive class with weak defenses, and a lack of team utility. Furthermore I think it's hard to incorporate a Tank/Healing spec that would fit both the fantasy of the Dark Ranger and the Void Ranger.
Q: How will the Dark Ranger / Void Ranger fit in to the raid mechanics that are based around melee or ranged DPS?
A: Honestly, I haven't given it much thought, and personally I am not a big raider (Pugged a few HC raids through Legion) so my answer may be limited by my knowledge. I personally imagine that raid mechanics would be based on the current stance of the Ranger. If you are in Predator Stance (Melee) when the mechanics trigger, you will be counted as melee whether or not you switch to Stalker Stance (Ranged) during said mechanic. I furthermore believe that Blizzard has a solution in mind considering the current iteration of Survival Hunter on the Battle for Azeroth Alpha.
Q: Can't the Ranger just stay in one stance to avoid certain mechanics, and completely ignore the other stance?
A: The simple answer is no. The long answer is, that the Ranger is forced to switch stance to deplete the resources generated to their opposite stance. That is of course occasionally negated by having Preperation available to transfer their unused resources to the resources used in their current stance. Other than that they will be unable to do anything but auto-attack, and use a few low impact abilities until they switch stance to deplete their generated resources.
Questions that hasn't been asked, but is answered anyway!
Q: You mentioned a lack of defensive cooldowns, and passives. Does that mean that if a Ranger is caught in a stun in PvP they die?
A: If you get caught in a stun as a Ranger, you should expect to take heavy damage, perhaps even die depending on class balance. You have the mobility, and personal utility to stay away from harm, making a mistake or being outplayed has consequences.
Q: Do you plan to further expand your class concept?
A: Glad you asked! The answer is YES! I do plan on expanding my concept further and include more detailed PvE scenarios as well as PvP scenarios based around both specs, with talents in mind. Furthermore I plan to make more talents, as well as PvP talents. I may even ask for some help on customizing a Private Server to create some videoes showcasing the playstyle (with expected limitations).
Thank you for taking your time to read through my wall of text. Any feedback is greatly appreciated!
I take no credit for the used images or icons. All credit goes to the respective creators of the art, as well as Blizzard Entertainment for the icons used.
Posted on Reddit which you can find here. And on the official EU forum which you can find here.