Blizzard should be inspired by covenants to make subclasses in the next expansion

[Echo of Soul]

The system is so great and inspiring. Finally we have a way to express our identity by making a long term choice both when it comes to abilities and in the conduit system really and it feels like a tiny step in the right direction in making WoW a proper RPG again.

I think that Blizzard should use this as an inspiration to make subclasses in the next expansion. These would obviously have to actually be permanent for them to make any sense. You could get a handful of possible combinations where you merge your class with a different class and gain access to an additional fourth spec inspired by both (or 3rd/5th if you're a DH or Druid).

For example mages could choose from:
Spellsword (from merging with Warriors)
Illusionist (from merging with Rogues)
Void Mage (from merging with Priests)
* I take no responsibility for how bad or corny these might be, they're just examples in order to give you an idea.

On top of this they could add something like the conduit but perhaps merge them with the current talent system so it wouldn't become too bloaty. You could have lots semi-permanent parts that are cumbersome to change (either a CD like with conduits or have to find a trainer in the middle of nowhere) and then a handful of freely swappable parts that would act just like the talents do today, maybe three or four of those would be appropriate.

You could also gain access to a unique transmog and mount depending on your choice if you're into cosmetics, it wouldn't really give you much identity since you can just use something else but it would be a nice little bonus.

This would come with the added bonus of making it much more interesting when rolling a second or even third character of the same class because now you could make it different from your first one.

[Sharnie786]

They exist, they're called specs.

You're welcome

Also, i conclude, after reading your post, that you're a troll

[Nuciek]

I actually think some kind of system like this could be fun and a nice addition to the game, but if it was something done different that covenants.
Now I'm going to skip any balancing issues and just try to have a fun with this idea without all the negativity that we have regarding covenants lately.


This is how I see your idea:

You complete some kind of long campaign of your choosing, where you choose to follow a path of a different class and at the end of it you unlock a 4th spec, and that 4th spec is based on the class that you play and the class that you choose. When you use that spec you have access to some of the spells of both classes, so for example a mage+warrior combo could have access to frostbolt, fireblast, frost nova, polymorph but also get access to charge, slam, spell reflect etc. with all skills being a little tweaked and themed by new spec. That spec would be semi-permanent meaning that if you want to have access to different 4th spec you have to do some lengthy grind, equal to leveling character to 30 or something like that. That way you wouldn't be locked forever if you would desire to change your spec (and you don't want to level another character of the same class to have), but also the change would be permament in the sense of gameplay because noone would grind so much every couple of weeks to have different spec available. But what's good is that would also mean that you don't have to play that spec. This system wouldn't really care for you if you would like to play let's say a fire mage. You would still be a fire mage, you would just have an option to have an extra spec if you'd like to go down that path.

It's all fantasy of course but I do like that idea. It would be a ton of balancing, but it's doable. One another problem that I see is that some classes share their toolkit anyway right now and it would require some creativity to make something new. For example Paladin, Priest and Warrior, paladins are already something between Priests and Warriors so what would you get from combining them? The same goes for DKs and Warriors. Warriors are the biggest problem here because they are just so basic in their theme.
Priest+Warrior = Holy Paladin
Paladin+Warrior = Retribution Paladin
DK+Warrior = DK
Hunter+Warrior = Survival Hunter
Rogue+Warrior = Outlaw Rogue
Shaman+Warrior = Enhancement Shaman
Monk+Warrior = Windwalker Monk
DH+Warrior = DH

[Echo of Soul]

It's all fantasy of course but I do like that idea. It would be a ton of balancing, but it's doable. One another problem that I see is that some classes share their toolkit anyway right now and it would require some creativity to make something new. For example Paladin, Priest and Warrior, paladins are already something between Priests and Warriors so what would you get from combining them? The same goes for DKs and Warriors. Warriors are the biggest problem here because they are just so basic in their theme.
Priest+Warrior = Holy Paladin
Paladin+Warrior = Retribution Paladin
DK+Warrior = DK
Hunter+Warrior = Survival Hunter
Rogue+Warrior = Outlaw Rogue
Shaman+Warrior = Enhancement Shaman
Monk+Warrior = Windwalker Monk
DH+Warrior = DH

Exactly, that's why I think it should be limited to three possible combinations.

- - - Updated - - -

They exist, they're called specs.

You're welcome

Also, i conclude, after reading your post, that you're a troll

In what possible way could this be considered trolling?? It's literally a suggestion.

[princeofthawest]

And then again fun in those would last maximum two months until people find the meta and then decide that meta is the way to play the game. I think ones we have are perfect at the moment, and personally would love to see new ones (RIP Necromancer this expansion) only in case they got some great innovation.

[Archmage Xaxxas]

In what possible way could this be considered trolling?? It's literally a suggestion.

They're just intimidated by your high Intellect. Nevermind em. Great post.

[Hadriker]

They exist, they're called specs.

You're welcome

Also, i conclude, after reading your post, that you're a troll

Your not wrong. Subclasses like this are basically specs with OP giving them more in game flavor. that doesn't make it a bad idea or a troll though. Its actually kind of a fun idea

[Niwes]

The system is so great and inspiring. Finally we have a way to express our identity by making a long term choice both when it comes to abilities and in the conduit system really and it feels like a tiny step in the right direction in making WoW a proper RPG again.

I think that Blizzard should use this as an inspiration to make subclasses in the next expansion. These would obviously have to actually be permanent for them to make any sense. You could get a handful of possible combinations where you merge your class with a different class and gain access to an additional fourth spec inspired by both (or 3rd/5th if you're a DH or Druid).

For example mages could choose from:
Spellsword (from merging with Warriors)
Illusionist (from merging with Rogues)
Void Mage (from merging with Priests)
* I take no responsibility for how bad or corny these might be, they're just examples in order to give you an idea.

On top of this they could add something like the conduit but perhaps merge them with the current talent system so it wouldn't become too bloaty. You could have lots semi-permanent parts that are cumbersome to change (either a CD like with conduits or have to find a trainer in the middle of nowhere) and then a handful of freely swappable parts that would act just like the talents do today, maybe three or four of those would be appropriate.

You could also gain access to a unique transmog and mount depending on your choice if you're into cosmetics, it wouldn't really give you much identity since you can just use something else but it would be a nice little bonus.

This would come with the added bonus of making it much more interesting when rolling a second or even third character of the same class because now you could make it different from your first one.

not read all of your text, sorry. just read your first 7 words. then asked myself, what your future-me will say in 1 year from now. then i forgot to read further. sorry.

no offense here. i am not sure why i wrote this. it was just the imagination, how your future-me crash into your entrance, in a de lorean dmc-12, jumping out of the car and show you this post. and you so: „kevin alone at home“ face

[Edward Wu]

This game does not need more classes.

What it needs is class skins. They give us the visual diversity we crave but keep the pool of mechanics from growing and give Blizzard breathing room to balance the fucking game. You could also skin the Demonology Warlock to become a Necromancer, for example. Hell, maybe an existing spec could be visually changed to become a Tinker and Teriz can stop his whine crusade about the class.

[aceperson]

i'm not against the idea but it would need to be fully fleshed out. one active and a couple passives don't make a brand new spec. and i'm not against making subspec swapping a bit difficult but the talent options/etc should be easily changeable.

edit: like survival breaking down into a poison specialist and a trap specialist would make sense. but those to subspecs having the same base rotation would not. i could understand having mostly the same utility though.

[Nuciek]

This game does not need more classes.

What it needs is class skins. They give us the visual diversity we crave but keep the pool of mechanics from growing and give Blizzard breathing room to balance the fucking game. You could also skin the Demonology Warlock to become a Necromancer, for example. Hell, maybe an existing spec could be visually changed to become a Tinker and Teriz can stop his whine crusade about the class.

What if we changed our thinking about diversity a bit for a moment? What if different specs didn't have to have different playstyle?

So we would get another class, let's say that Necromancer, that has skills that are almost a copy of Demonology warlock with a little adjustments. For example mastery gives something different, 1-2 spells are different and for example some basic spell has half a cast time but half the damage. You get the idea, minor differences, but rest of it is basicly the same, with the same numbers on spells and then whenever Blizzard is balancing anything they would give both specs the same buffs and nerfs. I don't know if that's a good idea, I'm just writing down my thoughts. With skins I think it would feel weird if you went to complete warlock class hall as a tinkerer.

[Kelathos]

Subclasses sound great. It could be a set of covenant like skills that you have to grind up to unlock. Then after two years Blizzard can drop them entirely. /s

To be real though, specs already fufill that role. Blizzard just needs to add a little more flavor to it.

[dextersmith]

The system is so great and inspiring. Finally we have a way to express our identity by making a long term choice both when it comes to abilities and in the conduit system really and it feels like a tiny step in the right direction in making WoW a proper RPG again.

I think that Blizzard should use this as an inspiration to make subclasses in the next expansion. These would obviously have to actually be permanent for them to make any sense. You could get a handful of possible combinations where you merge your class with a different class and gain access to an additional fourth spec inspired by both (or 3rd/5th if you're a DH or Druid).

For example mages could choose from:
Spellsword (from merging with Warriors)
Illusionist (from merging with Rogues)
Void Mage (from merging with Priests)
* I take no responsibility for how bad or corny these might be, they're just examples in order to give you an idea.

On top of this they could add something like the conduit but perhaps merge them with the current talent system so it wouldn't become too bloaty. You could have lots semi-permanent parts that are cumbersome to change (either a CD like with conduits or have to find a trainer in the middle of nowhere) and then a handful of freely swappable parts that would act just like the talents do today, maybe three or four of those would be appropriate.

You could also gain access to a unique transmog and mount depending on your choice if you're into cosmetics, it wouldn't really give you much identity since you can just use something else but it would be a nice little bonus.

This would come with the added bonus of making it much more interesting when rolling a second or even third character of the same class because now you could make it different from your first one.

I've always wanted this but there would be countless combos to make distinct. You wouldn't know what you're up against in pvp, and think of the balance.

[Echo of Soul]

I've always wanted this but there would be countless combos to make distinct. You wouldn't know what you're up against in pvp, and think of the balance.

The display name of the class could change from Warlock to Necromancer for example if they had chosen the DK/Lock-combo. Unless you mean visually but that's already a problem due to transmog, you don't really know if a mortal strike or a howling blast is about to hit you in the face

[Eapoe]

The system is so great and inspiring. Finally we have a way to express our identity by making a long term choice both when it comes to abilities and in the conduit system really and it feels like a tiny step in the right direction in making WoW a proper RPG again.

I think that Blizzard should use this as an inspiration to make subclasses in the next expansion. These would obviously have to actually be permanent for them to make any sense. You could get a handful of possible combinations where you merge your class with a different class and gain access to an additional fourth spec inspired by both (or 3rd/5th if you're a DH or Druid).

For example mages could choose from:
Spellsword (from merging with Warriors)
Illusionist (from merging with Rogues)
Void Mage (from merging with Priests)
* I take no responsibility for how bad or corny these might be, they're just examples in order to give you an idea.

On top of this they could add something like the conduit but perhaps merge them with the current talent system so it wouldn't become too bloaty. You could have lots semi-permanent parts that are cumbersome to change (either a CD like with conduits or have to find a trainer in the middle of nowhere) and then a handful of freely swappable parts that would act just like the talents do today, maybe three or four of those would be appropriate.

You could also gain access to a unique transmog and mount depending on your choice if you're into cosmetics, it wouldn't really give you much identity since you can just use something else but it would be a nice little bonus.

This would come with the added bonus of making it much more interesting when rolling a second or even third character of the same class because now you could make it different from your first one.

Yeah, or they could do what’s more than likely going to happen and realize Covenants are a flawed system and “pull the ripcord,” in Ion’s words and we’ll finally be able to swap them as needed.
If you want to be figurative, Covenants are just a subclass to a subclass. Come SL I will more than likely be an Orc Hunter MM that’s Venthyr Aligned.

[KrayZ33]

I'm a fan of this but I don't think WoW can make it work.

Its better for games such as Guild Wars etc.

A game with a system similar to it, such as "You pick Your main class - you can choose 5 out of 20 skills of that class. Then you Pick a sub Class, you can choose 3 out of 12 skills (8 are for reserved for the main pick) from that class and the combination of these 2 classes add 1 additional skilllot for you tp pick from a much smaller pool (1-3)."

I don't believe the class-mixing will work well in games such as WoW.

[Rendark]

I could see them doing something like class skins but no way they should try subclasses. The only way it would work is say your a shaman and you get two or three static skills from other classes. Even that would be a nightmare to balance.

[oblakoff]

I was disappointed that this topic has whole seven replies before someone bring up the ol' dumb Tinker idea.