Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Nymrohd]

I honestly don't think glide is that special. Every one of my characters has glide, either with goblin gliders or by being an engineer themselves. I don't even understand how people can play when flight is not available without glide in some form. . .

[Teriz]

The class has the potential to do it, it's a matter of Blizzard wanting to commit resources.

That's the key honestly. I suppose if people actually believed they were going to do 4 Micro-classes, a 5 spec dragon class should be well in the realm of possibility.

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A 4+ spec class sounds like an absolute nightmare of work for future balancing. When adding a class you have to think long term, like decades+ not just the current expansion. There are so many specs already that they have to constantly update and tweak and balance.

Well just to help out, here are my dragon-class concepts;

My more conservative 3-spec class, supported by HotS (I view this as more likely);

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...s-Concept-2022

My more ambitious 5-spec class where everyone gets their favorite dragon spec;

https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...pt-2019-(long)

I agree that doing a 5-spec class would be much more difficult, but it would be one hell of a class. If people believe that 4th specs and microclasses are possible, a 5-spec dragon class isn't impossible. However, I still lean on the idea of 3-specs.

That said, would a 5-spec dragon class overshadow every other class? I mean, why the hell would anyone play anything else? I think they would have to limit it to 3-specs to avoid strangling other spellcasting classes.

[Wangming]

That's the key honestly. I suppose if people actually believed they were going to do 4 Micro-classes, a 5 spec dragon class should be well in the realm of possibility.

Oh hi! When did you get back?

On topic: I think the main challenge of a 5 spec class compared to 4 micro classes is to create a class fantasy that works well with all the specs. single spec classes can be all over the place.

[Therougetitan]

Not if their spec was based on Spellblades and are melee.

Yeah but we have enough melee. The last 3 classes added have been melee. Not to mention ranged actually lost a spec because survival went melee.

[Nymrohd]

That's the key honestly. I suppose if people actually believed they were going to do 4 Micro-classes, a 5 spec dragon class should be well in the realm of possibility.

I mean it could always be a three spec class. You could give each spec access to multiple dragonflights and either make them stances or make the flight choice be the first talent row.

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Yeah but we have enough melee. The last 3 classes added have been melee. Not to mention ranged actually lost a spec because survival went melee.

Maybe they could redesign a melee class into ranged. I think Rogues could easily have a sniper spec.

[Teriz]

Oh hi! When did you get back?

About 12 hours ago.

On topic: I think the main challenge of a 5 spec class compared to 4 micro classes is to create a class fantasy that works well with all the specs. single spec classes can be all over the place.

The mechanical core of the dragon class concept is well developed, so the class fantasy is relatively easy to produce. The problem I'm seeing is trying to avoid having the Blue dragon spec completely override the Mage class. Chromie HotS can avoid that because her abilities are sand-based, something Mages don't do. A Red dragon spec based on Alexstraza avoids too much conflict with Fire and Destro because it's healing-based.

However, Blue dragons are arcane/frost-based, and I can see that directly competing with Mages. In my 5-spec class concept, I made the spec bow-based, but I don't think Blizzard would go that route, they would go straight Kalecgos mode;



Which is clearly mage-style.

[Nymrohd]

About 12 hours ago.



The mechanical core of the dragon class concept is well developed, so the class fantasy is relatively easy to produce. The problem I'm seeing is trying to avoid having the Blue dragon spec completely override the Mage class. Chromie HotS can avoid that because her abilities are sand-based, something Mages don't do. A Red dragon spec based on Alexstraza avoids too much conflict with Fire and Destro because it's healing-based.

However, Blue dragons are arcane/frost-based, and I can see that directly competing with Mages. In my 5-spec class concept, I made the spec bow-based, but I don't think Blizzard would go that route, they would go straight Kalecgos mode;

Which is clearly mage-style.

There is always the option to have some basic dragon shapeshifting be part of the race package (the mount form) instead of the class one and make Dragons a 3 class race with access to the Dragon Class, Mage and Druid. Give Druid dragon forms and keep the other two specs as is. We have had plenty of Red Dragons who were mages as well after all (Krasus)

[Teriz]

I mean it could always be a three spec class. You could give each spec access to multiple dragonflights and either make them stances or make the flight choice be the first talent row.

Not to be argumentative, but I think that would lack cohesion on a spec level. I believe you could make a good argument that if the player is a chromatic/prismatic drake, they're simply limited in the number of flights they can imitate. That way you avoid stepping on the toes of Mages and Druids, and avoid creating a Frankenstein of a class.

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There is always the option to have some basic dragon shapeshifting be part of the race package (the mount form) instead of the class one and make Dragons a 3 class race with access to the Dragon Class, Mage and Druid. Give Druid dragon forms and keep the other two specs as is. We have had plenty of Red Dragons who were mages as well after all (Krasus)

Now that's not a bad idea at all. In fact, if I were developing the class/race, that's the route I'd take.

[Baedril]

I think flight and flying would definitely be what sets this class apart from other classes. Deathwing HotS for example has Dragonflight where he launches himself into the air, healing himself, and then lands at another location. You could have a similar ability where if you're out of combat you can launch into the air to recover, turning into a dragon when you do so. Additionally, Alexstraza HotS has Cleansing Flames where she also launches into the air, but all you see is her shadow on the ground, and a targeting reticle where you can blast targets with fire. You then choose your landing zone.

https://www.wowhead.com/spell=206803/rain-from-above
https://www.wowhead.com/spell=328530/divine-ascension

We already have this in WoW as well via DH/Holy priest PvP talents, divine ascension lets you keep your bars/toolkit, just limited to holy only so you can't, say, mind control someone without the enemy team being able to stop it. DH gets a vehicle mode where they can shoot down bolts of fel, having some kind of expanded (and cooler looking) version of this for a dragon class would be sick.

[Syegfryed]

If they give me a class that can look even half as cool as Wrathion does in the middle image when they transform, I'll take it.

They can do that, DH is a proof, but i do hope they don't go lazy and jsut do two specs.

we can safely get 4 specs, but im ok with 3 and not being melee.

But I am kind of worried about the similarities between this purported new Dragon Class™ and Demon Hunters.

Nah, id on't think this would be a problem, they are safely distinguished enough from each other, especially if one is ranged.

ITs especially good since fucking DH are still fucking locked to elves.

[Wangming]

About 12 hours ago.

Oh, I spent most of that asleep.

Glad your class ideas have ranged dps and healing specs. Those are sorely lacking.

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They can do that, DH is a proof, but i do hope they don't go lazy and jsut do two specs.

we can safely get 4 specs, but im ok with 3 and not being melee.




Nah, id on't think this would be a problem, they are safely distinguished enough from each other, especially if one is ranged.

ITs especially good since fucking DH are still fucking locked to elves.

if all the dragon class specs were ranged I feel they would be different enough from demon hunter.

[Teriz]

Nah, id on't think this would be a problem, they are safely distinguished enough from each other, especially if one is ranged.

ITs especially good since fucking DH are still fucking locked to elves.

I fully support any class concept that curb stomps Demon Hunters into obscurity.

[SniperCT]

If I had to choose between a new race or new class, I'm not sure which I'd want more. I'd lean more towards race, tbh. but i feel like a dragon race might be limited class wise. Warrior, mage, warlock, druid and hunter? Oh wait, Shaman would be a possibility too, and probably priest.

[Chickat]

Is that metallic dragonflight Ren and Stimpy at the bottom?

Think its light and void?

[Nymrohd]

Nah, id on't think this would be a problem, they are safely distinguished enough from each other, especially if one is ranged.

ITs especially good since fucking DH are still fucking locked to elves.

I'll never understand that choice. They were writing the Illidan novel at the same time, they could have easily given Ashtongue Broken (Alliance) and Fel Horde Orc (Horde) Demon Hunters and explain them in the novel. Would have kept the faction balance, made the class far more varied visually, indirectly given a subrace to each faction (still think Alliance should get proper Broken though).

[Teriz]

Oh, I spent most of that asleep.

Glad your class ideas have ranged dps and healing specs. Those are sorely lacking.

Yeah, the Dragonborne concept pulls largely from HotS, which gives Chromie a very unique RDPS spec, and Alexstraza a healing spec.

It's very interesting since they also gave Deathwing HotS a tanking style spec.

If I had to choose between a new race or new class, I'm not sure which I'd want more. I'd lean more towards race, tbh. but i feel like a dragon race might be limited class wise. Warrior, mage, warlock, druid and hunter? Oh wait, Shaman would be a possibility too, and probably priest.

I do like the idea of a sort of reversed Worgen dragon race. I just worry that such a race would be a little too popular.

[Chickat]

I'll put this as a More Soon (TM)

Thats the free space right?

[Syegfryed]

Best case scenario:
Dragon class/dragonsworm
Mail user
Two ranged DPS and one healer / one ranged and one melee DPS, one healer

[Skildar]

We have a potential time-based spec via HotS Chromie;

https://heroesofthestorm.com/en-gb/heroes/chromie/

Chromie is also a dragon, in-line with Alexstraza, who is on the cover of the expansion.

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Like this?



https://www.mmo-champion.com/threads...s-Concept-2022

Of course my concept had them turn into full blown dragons in combat, but your idea that in combat their in hybrid form makes sense. We even see Wrathion do a bit of that in-game;

You come back in full force reposting pictures and stuff you've already posted a couple of times

[Teriz]

Best case scenario:
Dragon class/dragonsworm
Mail user
Two ranged DPS and one healer / one ranged and one melee DPS, one healer

Honestly, I don't think Blizzard is going to miss an opportunity to add another tank to the game.

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You come back in full force reposting pictures and stuff you've already posted a couple of times

Just helping the discussion at the time with a few visual aids.....