If they made a new class in the future, what would it be?

[Teriz]

A ranged tank simply doesn't work with the encounter design in WoW unless it is a pet tank and those have so many issues in games like WoW that they are rarely ever used because they aren't reliable (unless they are simply broken OP). In general it's not so much tank as a ranged doing kiting or CCing anyway if you want to fully realize it, otherwise it's just what we already have in high m+ keys. To begin with, the concept of kiting is causing issues as it is in WoW's tank scene, so going a step further solidifying the role seems to be rather counter intuive to current design goals.

Yeah, like I said, if they ever went for it, it'd be a faux ranged tank like they had in SWTOR. There were aspects of that concept in the Glyph of Demon Hunting that Warlocks had in MoP.

[Ielenia]

The big question with ranged tanks is how are you truly ranged if the bosses are all melee based.

I think a possible answer is an offshoot of the pet system where you launch a forcefield sort of like Orisa or Sigma from Overwatch. The forcefield follows your movements and generates threat while you stay 30-40 yds away blasting it with your mech cannons. Damage to the field causes "feedback" that in turn damages you.

I think that's one way to do it.

That whole thing defeats the purpose of a "ranged tank" if the boss is still "melee'ing" you through your shield. Might as well just be melee. The whole point of being ranged is that you're not supposed to be in melee range of your opponents, but that entire thing is negated with the "shield" thing. I mean, how useful would a "pet tank" be if the warlock and hunters took 100% of the damage their pets take?

Not to mention it makes things more complicated for the tank because it not only has to worry about positioning of his shield (and constantly repositioning it in fights like Sire Denathrius and Sludgefist) but also have to worry about his own positioning as well. Imagine dodging Sire Denathrius' "Massacre" ability during phase 3? The tank would have to constantly reposition himself and his shield, both at the same time.

Another way would be the "faux" range tanks from SWTOR where you're using ranged weapons but you're still in melee range (5-10 yds).

Then might as well just make the tank melee, right?

[razorpax]

I think you should give up on the necromancer class. If it were going to be a class, this would be the expansion to do it. The next expansion isn't going to be another death expansion.

Infinite Pirate Dragon is definitely a tantalizing clue, and Dragon isles are definitely a possibility. However does Blizzard really want to go with Cataclysm 2.0 right after WotLK 2.0? Even if they go with Dragon Isles, there might not be a class next expansion either. They might be saving the next class for the 20th anniversary of the game.

You mean like how TBC was, according to the devs, the perfect time for DH? Because they had another theme that fit and tossed it in there

What do you mean by cata 2.0? Is it because the dragon enemies??

[Teriz]

You mean like how TBC was, according to the devs, the perfect time for DH? Because they had another theme that fit and tossed it in there

What do you mean by cata 2.0? Is it because the dragon enemies??

The Devs weren't ready to introduce a new class in TBC, so they introduced races instead. So in the second demonic expansion, they introduced the DH after they had some experience with the DK and the Monk, and there was some space between the DH and the Monk class.

We're currently in the second death expansion, and we've had some space since the DH introduction (the same amount of space as between the DH and the Monk), and there's no Necromancer or Dark Ranger class in sight. It's time to move along.

[Traveler Voltin]

why would there be a 3rd death themed expansion?

[Imperator4321]

why would there be a 3rd death themed expansion?

Depending on how you count what force each expansion is themed around had we've had 3 fel/burning legion expansions (BC, WoD, Legion) and 3 Void/Old God expansions (Cata, MoP, BFA), 3 death expansions is not out of the question, especially given we don't know how Shadowlands is necessarily going to end.

We also have no idea what will necessarily come after Shadowlands, signs are pointing to either an expansion about the First Ones or a Light/Void expansion but we don't know how exactly Shadowlands will end while everything that's been raised could get resolved (Scourge rampaging, Sylvanas, Anduin, the Jailor, the machine of death being broken) some parts could be left hanging same way the Burning Legion was still around at the end on BC, Garrosh was alive at the end of MoP and Gul'dan was alive at the end of WoD.


Personally I think we'll probably get a Light and Void expansion next, Light and Void are the only two forces left that are antagonistic (well sorta antagonistic in the case of the Light with the Lightbound) and haven't been rendered non-threats like the Burning Legion means a clash between the two is the only real course the plot could go, after that it will probably be a First Ones themed expansion since they've just been introduced as the new tier above the the regular godlike entities like the Titans, Naaru, Eternal Ones, ect. Since we already have multiple classes or specs that deal with Light and Void/Shadow and the First Ones are too vaguely defined at this point I doubt we're getting a class for either of those two.

I've seen a few suggestions for how a void-class could go but it seems to either a "Void Knight" or a "void ranger" but both have issues, "Void Knight" sounds like another flavor of "anti-paladin" which is an archetype that's already represented in the class lineup by the Death Knight class (and i guess Tyrant Velhari is another example of a fel-variant of an Anti-Paladin concept), Void Ranger runs into similar issues with Dark Ranger is that it's a very specific archetype whos building blocks are spread out among other classes (in this case Sub Rogue + Shadow Priest + Marksmanship Hunter), guess it sucks that Void/Shadow as a cosmic power gets spread out so much among the class and doesn't have a class to itself.

[Traveler Voltin]

Depending on how you count what force each expansion is themed around had we've had 3 fel/burning legion expansions (BC, WoD, Legion) and 3 Void/Old God expansions (Cata, MoP, BFA), 3 death expansions is not out of the question, especially given we don't know how Shadowlands is necessarily going to end.

We also have no idea what will necessarily come after Shadowlands, signs are pointing to either an expansion about the First Ones or a Light/Void expansion but we don't know how exactly Shadowlands will end while everything that's been raised could get resolved (Scourge rampaging, Sylvanas, Anduin, the Jailor, the machine of death being broken) some parts could be left hanging same way the Burning Legion was still around at the end on BC, Garrosh was alive at the end of MoP and Gul'dan was alive at the end of WoD.

Personally I think we'll probably get a Light and Void expansion next, Light and Void are the only two forces left that are antagonistic (well sorta antagonistic in the case of the Light with the Lightbound) and haven't been rendered non-threats like the Burning Legion means a clash between the two is the only real course the plot could go, after that it will probably be a First Ones themed expansion since they've just been introduced as the new tier above the the regular godlike entities like the Titans, Naaru, Eternal Ones, ect. Since we already have multiple classes or specs that deal with Light and Void/Shadow and the First Ones are too vaguely defined at this point I doubt we're getting a class for either of those two.

I've seen a few suggestions for how a void-class could go but it seems to either a "Void Knight" or a "void ranger" but both have issues, "Void Knight" sounds like another flavor of "anti-paladin" which is an archetype that's already represented in the class lineup by the Death Knight class (and i guess Tyrant Velhari is another example of a fel-variant of an Anti-Paladin concept), Void Ranger runs into similar issues with Dark Ranger is that it's a very specific archetype whos building blocks are spread out among other classes (in this case Sub Rogue + Shadow Priest + Marksmanship Hunter), guess it sucks that Void/Shadow as a cosmic power gets spread out so much among the class and doesn't have a class to itself.

MoP and BFA were faction war themed.
WoD was time travel/AU

[Imperator4321]

MoP and BFA were faction war themed.
WoD was time travel/AU

Yet MoP and BFA had void/old gods elements throughout (The Sha, Mantid, G'Huun, Tidesages, Naga) while they did initially start as more mundane affairs (alliance and horde fighting over new territory/resources) i doubt anyone went into BFA thinking that the Sylvanas would be the main threat and it was clear another foe was likely to usurp the main villain role (which happened with Azshara/N'Zoth).

WoD was similar Gul'dan was prominent in the cinematic, was prominent in the intro scenario and there were hints of shadow council/burning legions activities throughout (with the Sargerai and other demons) and they eventually usurped the main villain role.

[FossilFree]

For ranged tank to work, you'd have to do an Eyes of the Beast type deal where you swap minds with your pet and control it directly. Of course, it would be awkward because you'd have to constantly swap out with your toon so you can move them out of fire or whatever.

[Teriz]

Yet MoP and BFA had void/old gods elements throughout (The Sha, Mantid, G'Huun, Tidesages, Naga) while they did initially start as more mundane affairs (alliance and horde fighting over new territory/resources) i doubt anyone went into BFA thinking that the Sylvanas would be the main threat and it was clear another foe was likely to usurp the main villain role (which happened with Azshara/N'Zoth).

WoD was similar Gul'dan was prominent in the cinematic, was prominent in the intro scenario and there were hints of shadow council/burning legions activities throughout (with the Sargerai and other demons) and they eventually usurped the main villain role.

The point remains though, we're probably going to be staying on Azeroth for the next expansion. Which is what the community seems to want. People don't want to spend multiple expansions on other planets fighting gods in a medieval RPG.

[Revamp Man]

The Devs weren't ready to introduce a new class in TBC, so they introduced races instead. So in the second demonic expansion, they introduced the DH after they had some experience with the DK and the Monk, and there was some space between the DH and the Monk class.

We're currently in the second death expansion, and we've had some space since the DH introduction (the same amount of space as between the DH and the Monk), and there's no Necromancer or Dark Ranger class in sight. It's time to move along.

and theres 2 death themed class archetypes in warcraft

i mean you can keep denying the possibility of them bringing it in but until you are the head of blizz you cant say "necromancer wont happen"

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why would there be a 3rd death themed expansion?

because blizz is like disney when it comes to reusing story

classic: factions
Wrath: there was a patch and raid with faction undertones
cata: also had faction garbage
MoP: faction war as underlying theme
WoD: rediscovering the origin of faction races
Legion: finally factions unite against a common enemy...except for a few pvp areas and a zone
BfA: remember how we teamed up?? ya no faction war

depending on how far we go in 9.2 and 9.3 there can still be death stuff we dont know about

[arkanon]

and theres 2 death themed class archetypes in warcraft

i mean you can keep denying the possibility of them bringing it in but until you are the head of blizz you cant say "necromancer wont happen"

Didnt necromancers get mentioned like multiple times by Blizzard 2 Blizzconline? CBF digging out timestamps but im sure the name was used multiple times, most likely in relation to existing NPC characters, rather than hinting at a future class.

[Teriz]

and theres 2 death themed class archetypes in warcraft

i mean you can keep denying the possibility of them bringing it in but until you are the head of blizz you cant say "necromancer wont happen"

Then why wasn’t the second death archetype class released with the second death expansion?

I’m not saying it’s never going to happen, but if we’re being honest with ourselves, this is pretty much the perfect expansion for a new (un)death-based class

[Revamp Man]

Then why wasn’t the second death archetype class released with the second death expansion?

I’m not saying it’s never going to happen, but if we’re being honest with ourselves, this is pretty much the perfect expansion for a new (un)death-based class

maybe they werent ready??
some creators were talking about a new class that was going to be introduced and based on the pattern blizzard has we should have a new class in SL but with everything it probably got scrapped early on

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Didnt necromancers get mentioned like multiple times by Blizzard 2 Blizzconline? CBF digging out timestamps but im sure the name was used multiple times, most likely in relation to existing NPC characters, rather than hinting at a future class.

the only time they were mentioned was talking about the necromancer armor allowing players of the covenant to feel like a necromancer

kinda like how BT gear would let rogues feel like a demon hunter

[Teriz]

maybe they werent ready??
some creators were talking about a new class that was going to be introduced and based on the pattern blizzard has we should have a new class in SL but with everything it probably got scrapped early on

Wouldn’t a more logical conclusion be that they simply don’t plan for another death class to be in the game, and feel that the Death Knight is sufficient?

[Revamp Man]

Wouldn’t a more logical conclusion be that they simply don’t plan for another death class to be in the game, and feel that the Death Knight is sufficient?

its possible
however they did say "those of you in the necrolord covenant can now feel like necromancers" means they know that players want it

that means its possible they will bring it in i mean the scourge will always be there and undeath will always be there so why not make a necromancer class

[Xeenith]

necromancer deal with the bodies of the dead, shadowlands is all about the soul that left that body, 2 different concepts

dunno about a 3rd death theme expansion, but sooner or later we'll have to invade deeper in the 6 main cosmic forces realms, and the shadowlands, like the emerald dream, don't seem to be fully part of the 6 realms, if you look at the cosmic map of wow

[Revamp Man]

necromancer deal with the bodies of the dead, shadowlands is all about the soul that left that body, 2 different concepts

dunno about a 3rd death theme expansion, but sooner or later we'll have to invade deeper in the 6 main cosmic forces realms, and the shadowlands, like the emerald dream, don't seem to be fully part of the 6 realms, if you look at the cosmic map of wow

it might not even be death themed
might be the rise of the scarlet crusade and in order for that to happen old enemies rise and we use their power against them or something

[Unholyground]

I kind of hope they make a class that's not established in lore so they can actually do something unique for once.

[Ielenia]

why would there be a 3rd death themed expansion?

By that same token: why wouldn't there be a third death themed expansion?

You think that now that we have fixed the afterlife (or will fix) no one in the entire Warcraft universe would try to take advantage of the powers of the Shadowlands? That it's all done forever? We don't even know how the expansion will end, too.

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Then why wasn’t the second death archetype class released with the second death expansion?

Actually, this is an afterlife expansion, not an undeath expansion, so that, by itself, doesn't fit the necromancer theme, or any death-themed class. Plus, the story being told did not fit a new class to be added.