Your pick for the next WoW class; 2021 edition

[Ielenia]

If Bards don't utilize the buff-based aura playstyle, what makes them any different than any other spell caster?

... Um, really? Class mechanics? Playstyle? Theme? Weapon use? Race options?

Honestly, how is that even a question?

I mean, that very question disqualifies your tinker class. I mean, if we look at Blizzard and how they steadily removed totems from the shaman class indicates that they don't like turret-based gameplay, so by that logic the tinker can't have that playstyle, so, by your own question: "what makes them different than any other class in the game?"

[Teriz]

... Um, really? Class mechanics? Playstyle? Theme? Weapon use? Race options?

Honestly, how is that even a question?

I mean, that very question disqualifies your tinker class. I mean, if we look at Blizzard and how they steadily removed totems from the shaman class indicates that they don't like turret-based gameplay, so by that logic the tinker can't have that playstyle, so, by your own question: "what makes them different than any other class in the game?"

Totems still exist in the Shaman class. There's also Imps within the Warlock class and the Water Elemental in the Mage class which are pretty much mobile turrets.

[Ielenia]

Totems still exist in the Shaman class.

How many there were originally, and how many exist today?

There's also Imps within the Warlock class and the Water Elemental in the Mage class which are pretty much mobile turrets.

So what you're saying is that the "turret gameplay" is already taken by the warlock and mage classes?

[Teriz]

How many there were originally, and how many exist today?

Not really the point. The point is that totem gameplay still exists in the Shaman class.

So what you're saying is that the "turret gameplay" is already taken by the warlock and mage classes?

Nope. Rock-it turret based on HotS would offer significantly different gameplay than what's seen in Shaman, Mage, and Warlock classes.

[Ielenia]

Not really the point. The point is that totem gameplay still exists in the Shaman class.

Except... not really. Those totems are nothing more than a shell of their former selves, the gameplay does not exist. There is no more "gameplay" to the totems other than pressing a button. No longer you need to worry about positioning your Searing Totem, and keep moving your totems around as you move around the battlefield, etc.

Nope. Rock-it turret based on HotS would offer significantly different gameplay than what's seen in Shaman, Mage, and Warlock classes.

So you admit that "different gameplay" is a valid argument for a class.... and yet you deny that argument when speaking about other classes such as bard and necromancer, "because that gameplay already exists in the present classes".

[Teriz]

Except... not really. Those totems are nothing more than a shell of their former selves, the gameplay does not exist. There is no more "gameplay" to the totems other than pressing a button. No longer you need to worry about positioning your Searing Totem, and keep moving your totems around as you move around the battlefield, etc.

Incorrect. Some totems like Grounding, Windfury, and Skyfury totem can be destroyed, so positioning is important. In other words, you're still dealing with a stationary, destructible object that is providing a buff/benefit/ability.

So you admit that "different gameplay" is a valid argument for a class.... and yet you deny that argument when speaking about other classes such as bard and necromancer, "because that gameplay already exists in the present classes".

I didn't deny anything. I'm simply asking what makes the Bard unique without its aura-based gameplay found in pretty much every other game Bards are found in. As always, this wouldn't be an issue if we had an actual WoW hero to base this on, or even a Warcraft class from the TTRPG. At least with Necromancers we can base this on Blizzard's concepts of the class since we have a WC3 unit with abilities, a class from the TTRPG, and hero characters like Kel'thuzad.

[Aucald]

Let's focus on the ideas themselves as opposed to the "X class makes the most sense" argument that's sucking all the air out of the proverbial room. Move away from "my choice is better than your choice" and discuss the proposed classes themselves.