Bards should be the next class

[Buliwyf the Omen]

I think Bard will never make it, especially because they already made fun of this with that Guitar Hero Class in WotlK.

Although it is a bit odd, its one of the more widely known general RPG classes available out there, and considering WoW is anyway a 12+ Game it would fit nicely in when we look at other more "mature" Games like FF or D&D Online that have the Bard Class playable.

[Toxuvox]

Slightly off topic : how are tinkers quirky and not a stable of the franchise?

Since Warcraft 2 gnomish and goblin technology has been used for war. This aspect of the franchise is less featured in current classes then other less established aspects?

In my opinion (and it is just my opinion), they're quirky because they are a simple extension of an existing profession. All the descriptions I've read on these forums have not brought a single new idea that isn't anything more than a visual variation on what we currently have from existing classes and specs. And therein lies the problem. Our existing class and specs have been utterly gutted over the last few expansions to make way for the Artifact system. We've seen abilities removed from classes as baseline or talents, only for them to be re-added as Artifact/Azerite traits, or as a result of an RNG drop (Legion Legendaries), highlighting the problems with the current class design philosophy within the WoW team at Blizzard.

With new classes, I'm not saying never. All I'm saying that it makes a lot more sense to address the current problems, which Blizzard have publicly acknowledged, rather than to compound the problem by adding 3 more specs that need balanced and made to feel unique without feeling quirky and/or out of place.

As an aside, we won't know if even the very idea of a Tinker class is going to thematically fit the next expansion until it's revealed in a couple weeks time, so while fun speculation is fun, to suggest it as a firm possibility is a bit silly at this point.

[RyudoTFO]

I would like to see a Bard class in WoW, especially as it could cover the gaps we have right now. (Having only 2 Mail classes and only 1 non caster range DD)
But looking at the current class design, I fear they will just become another "Warrior/Rogue/Hunter that plays music to buff people". That wouldn't really do them justice. If they would be implemented with unique gameplay elements and a design that stands out from others, they could be a good addition.

[Steelcryo]

The only time I could see a Bard fitting being added to WoW was during in MoP. Their lore and setting make music based combat and healing something that would make sense, but outside of that it wouldn't really fit WoW. You'd need a whole new expansion that adds themes we've not really seen before to give them context and even then, I don't really see how the gameplay itself would fit into WoW without feeling a bit shoe horned in.

Not saying I wouldn't like to see it, but it feels like it'd be a lot of work to make it really fit, where as other classes like Tinkers already make much more sense in WoW lore wiht goblin, gnomes and especially with Mechagon and Rustbolt being added recently. I don't know which I'd prefer, but I know which would be easier to slot into the game.

[Lochton]

I second this.

Better than Tinkers!

Maybe but according to Blizzard, more difficult to implement Bard.

[tyrlaan]

Works better as a profession honestly.

Lol what?

You define professions as "things you do in game to sell things on the AH"

Will the bard profession sell LPs on the AH. Is that your proposal?

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I don't see how anyone could logically make that argument.

Lol. No, of course you don't.

[Springrunner]

Maybe when we've gotten all the missing heroes from WC3 and other such iconic warcraft fighters as classes, and when we've had actual lore around the bards. There are no bard powers in lore. This would be 100% shoehorned in, it has nothing to do with warcraft. The only people who get power from singing are banshees. You could have bard be sort of a spec for dark rangers I suppose.

[tyrlaan]

You could have bard be sort of a spec for dark rangers I suppose.

I feel like you either don't know what a bard is or what a dark ranger is.

This is like saying "I guess paladin could be a spec for demon hunter"

[Littleraven]

I'd be down for a Bard if it played like they do in FFXIV. Only issue with that is it steps all over the toes of what Hunters are.

[Greengrim]

this is just lame tbh

Not as lame as the Tinker crap....

[Ealyssa]

this is just lame tbh

This

"Musician" is the sadest class someone can come with... Right next to "An engineer who use tools".

We play a game with magic, dragons, demons, void monsters, souls, spirits, elementals. But nope, some people really can't have imagination : "I want to play a guitarist"...

[DenniZ]

I've always wondered why there wasnt a class that "healed" the mana bar instead of the healthbar of the raid. Bards would fill that role perfectly. Let it have to use different tunes or smth for filling healers mana or melee's rage/energy. Expand the holy trinity with a fourth member. Just a thought.

[Mermeoth]

What's next? Opera singer?

[Khaza-R]

It would of been a good fit back in Vanilla when the game enabled more of a support playstyle. But it would feel pretty awkward in the current meta. I could easily see a healing spec but a DPS spec seems out of place.

EDIT :
I actually take back my previous statement. I could see a DPS spec working as a sort of ranged dps that uses throwing weapons and crossbows. Some jester elements sort of thrown in.

[Throwme]

the other two specs would be ranged damage (leather/mail weathers?)

1. Classes aren't going to use different armor types per spec. Not gonna happen.
2. Bards are almost by definition a leather class. Not gonna happen.
3. We need mail classes as the next two, if anything.

[tyrlaan]

1. Classes aren't going to use different armor types per spec. Not gonna happen.
2. Bards are almost by definition a leather class. Not gonna happen.
3. We need mail classes as the next two, if anything.

1. Agree
2. Why? If shaman can wear mail, why would mail be weird on a bard?
3. Why? Personal loot sort of removes this "need", doesn't it?

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It stopped long ago about being that. Now it is a circle jerk of topics between Wardens, Tinkers, Necromancers and Bards. So..after we recently had Tinkers and Wardens, I guess somebody got bored and thought this forum needs some incitement

Maybe someone should start a thread about the Sylvanas Loyalist class. I mean, we've gotten strong hints from Blizzard for this by now, so it's effectively confirmed!

[Heathy]

bards are cool, but how would they translate in wow, you have 3 musical specs, or 2 musical one ranged? 1 musical build 1 melee build 1 ranged build.

I think they are solid classes in fantasy rpgs, the main problem ofc is that wow doesn't really have a support role, where you mostly just stand there making everyone else more powerful. which is what bards are known for in their D&D counterparts, a lot of the abilities in wow, spells for example are based off of spells in d&d. power words for example. also exist in d&d. it not a 1 to 1 but there is some bleed through. I'd imagine ppl want bards to be support classes, not pure dps and not pure healers either but some sort of combination between a healer/buffer. strong short duration buffs.

finally if bards became a thing, then more classes need a 4th talent tree, because we'd only end up with a class that has no alternative, so we'd be back to the days of needing one class for one specific thing. so other classes would need a support spec that is just another take on what bards bring. obviously so that you don't HAVE TO bring a bard, you can bring someone with a spec that does the same thing.

[Kyphael]

Maybe but according to Blizzard, more difficult to implement Bard.

Yeah, I know... maybe one expansion down the road, they should take it as a challenge and put their own Blizz spin on it to make it their own and tough enough for Azeroth.

[tyrlaan]

bards are cool, but how would they translate in wow, you have 3 musical specs, or 2 musical one ranged? 1 musical build 1 melee build 1 ranged build.

I think they are solid classes in fantasy rpgs, the main problem ofc is that wow doesn't really have a support role, where you mostly just stand there making everyone else more powerful.

Something like this:

Dammit, look what you all made me do lol

Bard Class Concept

Base Mechanics
Races allowed: all (I've yet to see a race in wow that doesn't have some sort of performer, tale teller, historian, entertainer, etc)
Armor: Mail
Weapons: all 1-hand weapons, bows/crossbows/guns, shields
Additional Notes:

• Bard abilities that are magical in nature are Arcane
• Bard is often considered a jack of all trades. As such they should either have several talent options that allow them to dip into their other specs or baseline abilities that get set to specific off spec abilities when you learn them (based on current active spec), but with a cooldown or some other small limitation

Specializations
Skald/Battle Chanter
Role: Melee or Ranged DPS
Concept: Improve combat prowess of self and others through war chants, rallying cries, etc.
Abilities can include:

• Bonuses to specific weapon groups (allowing to specialize in ranged or melee)
• Offensive buffs to any secondary stat (but only one can be active at a time)
• Apply passive physical damage buff (raw damage or maybe crit boost) to targets
• Utility buffs that can improve resistance to certain effects (stuns, fears, etc.) or break snares/roots
• Curse removal
• Grant short burst of speed

Harrier
Role: Melee DPS
Concept: Improve combat prowess of self and others by wearing down opponents with a series of frustrating attacks, mockery, etc.
Abilities can include:

• Improved ability with melee weapons at the expense of losing bows/crossbows/guns
• Improved ability with shield and defenses, enough to serve as a secondary tank for a very short period of time
• Taunts" which are ranged abilities that could do things like impose a miss chance on enemy's attacks, interrupt casting, increase cast time, literally perform a Taunt in game mechanic terms, etc
• Foils; melee attacks that carry debuffs, such as slow, armor penalty, root, disarm, stun, maybe a fear

Inspiration
Role: Healer
Concept: Restore and boost allies with song, stirring orations, etc
Abilities can include:

• Healing, of course, which carries with it a minor short term buff
• Fear immunity
• Ability to remove spell effects
• Defensive buffs such as stamina, armor, spell resistance
• Restore resource (mana, energy, focus)
• Reduce cooldowns

[Throwme]

3. Why? Personal loot sort of removes this "need", doesn't it?

In that case, why not just remove all armor classes from everyone? And make tailoring, leatherworking and blacksmithing craft the visuals only, since all 3 mainstats will be on the gear anyway. But then again, there really isn't a need for mainstats if we remove armor classes and they're all going to be present on the items. Let's just rename it "Power". More power, stronger character. There, done, problem solved.....


Yeah, we still need mail classes.