We need a new Mage...

[orukam]

In any High Fantasy RPG world, the concept of Mages and magic defines the fantasy style of the world.
This is no different when we talk about Azeroth.

Jaina rescues the heroes out of harm's way with her mass teleportation and protect people with arcane barriers.
Flying cities are "made" by mages
Kael'thas alters gravity with his spells and so on.

However, unfortunately, this "magic" of the mage class is not reflected in the gameplay in WOW.
Mage in Wow are just "Spell blasters" and the specializations are basicly just choice of spell rotation and spell color, as the damage type no longer makes a difference in WoW.

Don't get me wrong, obviously the "Spell Cannon mage" must be an opition.
The problem is that the class limits itself to that. Only that.
Mages should englobe the wizard, sorcerer, and arcanist fantasies. They should represent a great scholar of the mystical arts, versatile and who solves problems with magic, and not just a magic pew pew pow pow!

How to reslver: EASY MODE

There is a simple way to give this fantasy to the mage without affecting almost anything in the gameplay.
Through Dragonflight's new talents, mage could gain access to Utility Spell.
It's very sad that Warlock (Chaos spell users!!!) has more spell control and utility than MAGE ( Arcane (ORDER!!) Spell users)!

Example of Spells:
* Arcane Recue: A version of Priest's "Life Grip" or Evoker's "Fly with me" for Mage. Spell to teleport someone out of harm's way!
* Arcane Barrier : "Anti-magic shell" from DK, Mage version! How many times do we not see NPC doing this during the game or even in Cinematics!
* Mage Hands : CD to increase the mage's "melee" range to interact with objects or boss mechanics. Imagine the Mage casting an arcane hand to pull a lever or something
* Gravity Spells: Imagine Zarya's Ult or a magic version of Spear of bastion (without the dmg)
* Ice wall: I know, this spell exists for PvP, but imagine the mage being able to create ice walls to protect the group of mechanics!
* Dispels: More options of Dispel to mage!

How to Solve: Hard Mode

Think with me, if you need to describe to a newbie every Hunter spec you would say that: one of them is focused on ranged combat, the other is a savage combatant focused on spear fighting and the third one is focused on your pet for damage.

If you have to do the same with Warlock, you will describe: one spec is focused on pure destruction spells, another on DoTs and another one use summoning demons to fight for you.
Now if you have to do it for mage, all you have to describe is: one shoots fire, the other ice and the other shoots pure mana. Do you understand how poor it is?

In this way, the best solution would in fact be a total revamp on the Class.
The specs of Frost, Fire and Arcane made a lot of sense for Vanilla, when you distributed points in any of the trees creating your "blend" of elements.
From the moment you need to CHOOSE a spec, being limited to one element is very anticlimactic for the mage fantasy.

Kael are fire, but full of gravity tricks,
Jaina are frost, but has a lot of arcane CDs.
And so on.

So, In my OPINION, the best way would be to give Spec that change the gameplay style, not just the spell color.
And that could VERY well be represented by the Schools of magic of D&D!

Possible Specs:

* Evocation : The Blaster mage. The Spell Cannons Specialista. The Spec focused on pew pew
* Abjuration : Specialist in defensive and support spells. It could still be a DPS, but with access to several utilities like the ones mentioned above.
* Necromancy : No explanation required, right?
* Conjuration : A Blend of utility and Dps


Maybe a lot of people don't mind this, but Mages are one of my favorite classes and I can't have fun in WoW with them because of their limitations. I believe that DF would be a good opportunity to at least improve the fantasy of this class so important to the genre

[Eosia]

No, we don't need to give mages OP spells that major characters have.

[talmir]

You're overthinking it.

Mages are in a way fine as they are. The problem is balance, and the fact as you say that damage type does not currently matter.

But if you want to change things then my idea would be something like:
Lean more heavily into each specs archetype. So Fire mages would just be pure dps (and thus most popular), arcane would be utility. Mostly doing damage but help with a raids manapool perhaps, and ice would be CC: The Class.

[orukam]

No, we don't need to give mages OP spells that major characters have.

See, i'm not trying to make Mage more OP.
I just want to have more fun playing with a true Wizard.
Its not about the power.Its about the fantasy!
These options can even sacrifice DPS, i dont care!

[klaps_05]

Problem is essentially having only a few ppl or a team working on all the classes. At this point, its a shame that each class doesnt have an entire department, with sub-teams for each spec.

[orukam]

You're overthinking it.

Probably, but its ok.

Mages are in a way fine as they are. The problem is balance, and the fact as you say that damage type does not currently matter.

That i disagree. All mages spec has the the same gameplay mechanics today. Pew pew pow pow. its not "fine" to me.

But if you want to change things then my idea would be something like:
Lean more heavily into each specs archetype. So Fire mages would just be pure dps (and thus most popular), arcane would be utility. Mostly doing damage but help with a raids manapool perhaps, and ice would be CC: The Class.

Exactly! its a nice and simple way to give some flavor, for exemple!

- - - Updated - - -

Problem is essentially having only a few ppl or a team working on all the classes. At this point, its a shame that each class doesnt have an entire department, with sub-teams for each spec.

Very True!

[ellieg]

Idk man, I can alter time, give timewarp, freeze enemies in place, sheep them, spellsteal, interrupt, etc.

[talmir]

Problem is essentially having only a few ppl or a team working on all the classes. At this point, its a shame that each class doesnt have an entire department, with sub-teams for each spec.

They cant afford it. Blizzard is just a small indy dev. No budget for things such as proper teams.

[orukam]

Idk man, I can alter time, give timewarp, freeze enemies in place, sheep them, spellsteal, interrupt, etc.

This is so little compared to other games or even what mage NPCs do...

Again, this is not about power!
I just think it would be nice to have the option of not just being a "spell blaster"

[durrtygoodz]

You're overthinking it.

Mages are in a way fine as they are. The problem is balance, and the fact as you say that damage type does not currently matter.

Mage feels desperately outdated, especially arcane that has played in the exact same way for since at least WotLK. If arcane was a LoL Champion Riot would have reworked it 3 times by now. If a dog gets to that age you put it to sleep out of kindness.

[orukam]

Mage feels desperately outdated, especially arcane that has played in the exact same way for since at least WotLK. If arcane was a LoL Champion Riot would have reworked it 3 times by now. If a dog gets to that age you put it to sleep out of kindness.

Exactly!
Mages are totally out dated!
This problem will be even more evident when we place a mage next to an evoker.

[Somic]

To me it just doesn't seem like you're describing a class that's really plausible in world of warcraft, yes some of the ideas will work but they are basically just giving mages spells other classes already have, the other examples you gave just don't really work all that well inside the wow universe. Such as adding 'gravity tricks' or 'creating walls everywhere', it just doesn't really flow with how wow works. If the combat and gameplay was more like new world where nothing is just tab targeted and you actually interact with the world around you then this might work, but not in wow.

[orukam]

To me it just doesn't seem like you're describing a class that's really plausible in world of warcraft, yes some of the ideas will work but they are basically just giving mages spells other classes already have, the other examples you gave just don't really work all that well inside the wow universe. Such as adding 'gravity tricks' or 'creating walls everywhere', it just doesn't really flow with how wow works. If the combat and gameplay was more like new world where nothing is just tab targeted and you actually interact with the world around you then this might work, but not in wow.

Cyclone = Gravity Trick
Spear of bastion = Gravity Trick
Ice Wall = Mages HAS this spell (PvP only)!

Aparently works for WoW!

[Arai]

Quite frankly almost all classes need huge reworks, not just Mage. Evoker is interesting because they get a new spell type with the charging mechanic. Most classes are just too simplistic and boring. Too few interactions between spells and not enough utility. Look at Ret Paladin with its barebones utility that is still from Vanilla. Outdated, old and boring. The best they could do is give us 1 useful aura back which is a boring raid wide 3% and which every Paladin spec can do.
Or look at Warriors. I love Warriors by their fantasy but their rotation is just so god damn boring and simple. They are worse than MOBA characters. And this has been consistent for a long time now, especially since Legion.

[orukam]

Quite frankly almost all classes need huge reworks, not just Mage. Evoker is interesting because they get a new spell type with the charging mechanic. Most classes are just too simplistic and boring. Too few interactions between spells and not enough utility. Look at Ret Paladin with its barebones utility that is still from Vanilla. Outdated, old and boring. The best they could do is give us 1 useful aura back which is a boring raid wide 3% and which every Paladin spec can do.
Or look at Warriors. I love Warriors by their fantasy but their rotation is just so god damn boring and simple. They are worse than MOBA characters. And this has been consistent for a long time now, especially since Legion.

I fully agree.
Many Specs are out dated.
But for me mage is the worst of them. And all Specs are basically the same

[ellieg]

Mage feels desperately outdated, especially arcane that has played in the exact same way for since at least WotLK. If arcane was a LoL Champion Riot would have reworked it 3 times by now. If a dog gets to that age you put it to sleep out of kindness.

Arcane plays completely differently on shadowlands. Kyrian, which is the best cov, completely changes it.

[orukam]

Arcane plays completely differently on shadowlands. Kyrian, which is the best cov, completely changes it.

"Completely" no, please!
Stil a Arcane Pew pew...

[Somic]

Cyclone = Gravity Trick
Spear of bastion = Gravity Trick
Ice Wall = Mages HAS this spell (PvP only)!

Aparently works for WoW!

Okay so you’re either asking for things A. Already in the game or B. Something mages…. Already have?

I assumed you were looking at this a little deeper but i guess not lol.

[ellieg]

"Completely" no, please!
Stil a Arcane Pew pew...

Its not longer arcane blast focused with burn and conserve phases. You have a couple bursts, and its centered around arcane missiles. Thats all I'm saying

[orukam]

Okay so you’re either asking for things A. Already in the game or B. Something mages…. Already have?

I assumed you were looking at this a little deeper but i guess not lol.

I'm Just showing exemples!
I just want a little more of Class fantasy!