1. Goblin Tinkers tend to have that reputation. Gnomish Tinkers tend to build more reliable tech.
2. Well we don't have to pretend that they're way ahead of the engineering profession, they are way ahead of the engineering profession.
They'll play with the definition, but there's no way this concept would be turned into Top Guns or Macross.
But again,
all of the Monk's specs in MoP revolved around brewing various types of beverages.
Which isn't lore based. In lore there's only one Horde champion, and that's you the player. So in lore there's only one Tauren (if that) learning Goblin/Gnome engineering.
Again, it's like someone selling their wind up toy on eBay versus Boeing building a new stealth bomber. Also I seriously doubt Blizzard would give players the option to start up their own tech company and become mercenaries for some rulers. Though that would be awesome.
Constant movement buff. Also I'm sure DK players would like to fully see their legs and waist instead of it always being blocked by a Horse. Death Knights got a nice mount buff instead (On a Pale Horse).
Brewmaster:
Brewing: Elusive Brew:
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Brewing:_Elusive_Brew
Windwalker:
Brewing: Tigerseye Brew:
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Brewing:_Tigereye_Brew
Mistweaver:
Brewing: Mana Tea:
https://wow.gamepedia.com/Brewing:_Mana_Tea
Except the WC3 Unit's form wasn't permanent. And it wasn't permanent when it appeared as a Warlock spell.
Based on past expansion class inclusions it would be.
Maybe, but Gnome tech looks a lot less janky than Goblin tech. I see most people gravitating towards that over the more raggedy/wild Goblin designs.
Well the goal is to gain new players with your new class, (currently there is no technology class in WoW) and not alienate existing players. Again you do that by introducing something that has been established in WoW for decades (Goblins and Gnomes use technology), and not rocking the boat. Again, it's a win/win; WoW gets a technology class to attract new and returning players, and existing players don't feel that WoW is turning into Warhammer. They can't feel that way if it's restricted to races that are tech based and always been associated with tech, but they could feel that way if Orcs, Dwarves, Draenei, Blood Elves, Nightborne, etc. all get mechs and can also be Tinkers.
Ironically, the class being attached to the least popular races in the game currently could actually be a benefit.
I'm sure the majority of existing players don't want a new class at all, but again, the existing player base isn't the target of a new class entry. The target for new classes are people not playing WoW right now, but have the potential to pick it up if a class comes along that appeals to them.
We're just talking about the game here. In the game we've had multiple examples of Varian smashing up enemies who were Tauren size or larger. The same applies to Mauradin. Those two are among the best warriors who ever lived.
Probably the sword, because they'd have no idea how to work the high tech stuff.
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More pointless semantic arguments.....
The bottom line is this; if someone wants to play as a Goblin or a Gnome in a mech like they see nearly every prominent Gnomes and Goblins doing, they simply can't do it. That's a gameplay disparity that needs to be filled, especially considering that there is a hero that could fill that void quite easily.
Nope, just a possible clue to what direction they may take the character in the future.