The third Evoker spec should be a ranged tank.

[Kaizun]

I know it's been mentioned elsewhere, and it would really be more of a 'support' class which is in several different threads- but would the idea of basically a ranged support replacing a tank work? Probably still have threat issues I suppose. But thy could shield a target against damage (basically making anyone a tank) or have spells/abilities that reduce how much damage the targets deal (so that it doesn't matter if they're tanked). Probably too OP. Just a thought to add to the conversation.

[Berkilak]

I know it's been mentioned elsewhere, and it would really be more of a 'support' class which is in several different threads- but would the idea of basically a ranged support replacing a tank work? Probably still have threat issues I suppose. But thy could shield a target against damage (basically making anyone a tank) or have spells/abilities that reduce how much damage the targets deal (so that it doesn't matter if they're tanked). Probably too OP. Just a thought to add to the conversation.

Blizzard put the Support role in the grave when they did away with the original Shaman and Paladin support dichotomy.

[czarek]

Just design them like the Trooper or Bounty HUnter tanks from SWTOR. They were ranged, but their tanking abilities were melee range (but still used ranged weapons).

Sure like this can work easly but the idea was to be in distance as ranged supposed to be. So i tried to imagine this.

[Daedius]

Ranged Tanks are fun, played a Chua Engineer in the ill-fated Wildstar

[Katchii]

A "ranged" tank wouldn't work. The mob/boss have melee attacks that require them to be in melee range to execute them, which would therefore the enemy to waltz right up into the tanks face to do it. There's no way to keep the enemy at range.

You can give a tank ranged abilities that give them the capability to maintain aggro from range but that doesn't mean the enemies will stay at range for the duration of a fight.

[nbk2011]

Ranged tank is one of the dumbest idea ever brought up, it's up there with pet battles.

[Tonkaden]

Ranged tank is one of the dumbest idea ever brought up, it's up there with pet battles.

Its not even the fact that its dumb. There just isnt a 3rd spec coming to the class. I get that its a talking point, but it wont be happending. Not until DH gets its 3rd spec anyways.

[Daedius]

Ranged tank is one of the dumbest idea ever brought up, it's up there with pet battles.

Well it worked in Wildstar with the Engineer, who acted as a Ranged DPS/Tank using a pet and Exosuit ability to soak up melee engagement.

[Jujudrood]

A ranged tank is not necessary, nor would it be worth recoding every encounter ever (including trash mobs in the open world) to have to consider what class/spec is attacking it in order for it to act accordingly, including modifying all of the abilities to hit from that distance because the majority of anything you fight will have to chase you to hit you with melee, or you could just make Evoker tank hitbox absolutely gigantic...
That's silly sauce, my dude.

I would be fine with Evokers having a tank spec, you know, if we deal with the black dragonflight stuff and if they "awaken" new abilities or whatever, but it should be true melee like the rest of the tanks because otherwise you have a ton of things to completely redo just to confuse the shit out of groups who have one.
Let's stick with the trinity as we know it and accept that it does, in fact, work.

[chrisisvacant]

Just pray the engineers have stronger imaginations than the average WoW player. Most wow players would be content to nurse from the teat of status quo than bring about any true dynamics to gameplay.

[Triceron]

Spoken by a player who has clearly never tanked before.

[plz delete account]

So that would mean Blizz would have to put an extra work into EVERY boss in game to accommodate a single spec. They would actually have to design fights around that one feature of ranged tanking. Not a chance man. Too many difficulties for such a little, questionable gain.

Are you really trying to say that exactly one check and exactly one extra basic ability is that hard to do? Just run the check every time basic ability is ready to be used

- - - Updated - - -

Spoken by a player who has clearly never tanked before.

I've mained both UDK and BDK since WOD. I know how it works, and I know what I'm suggesting would still require the boss to occasionally walk up to the player who has aggro assuming they are a melee themed boss. That's perfect.

[Teriz]

The longer this third spec talk goes on, the more I'm starting to believe they're going to do a dual role spec similar to pre-MoP Feral Druid.

Main difference is that this spec would be RDPS/Healing.

[shane brannigan]

I like the idea of a ranged tank, just being super squishy and having a kit based around kiting packs around the dungeon.

[Triceron]

I've mained both UDK and BDK since WOD. I know how it works, and I know what I'm suggesting would still require the boss to occasionally walk up to the player who has aggro assuming they are a melee themed boss. That's perfect.

If you tank then you know positioning is important, and that you can't just stand just anywhere you want like amongst the Ranged. You generally have to be near the melee, preferrably on opposite sides to avoid any cleave-type attacks or debuff transfers. You also generally have to be near other Tanks, in case of tank swap mechanics.

A Ranged tank would be pointless if continued to be played in melee, as they should be based on current Raid Boss design. And there's no point to having ranged positioning if the boss is going to move around needlessly, which causes more pain to melee DPS who then have to chase the boss around every time a Tank swap happens between two Ranged Tanks standing far apart from each other.

But since you are a Blood Tank since WoD, you know all this already.

[Gurbz]

The longer this third spec talk goes on, the more I'm starting to believe they're going to do a dual role spec similar to pre-MoP Feral Druid.

Main difference is that this spec would be RDPS/Healing.

I could see something thats damage mitigation focused, with maybe some "healing via DPS" aspects thrown in. Kinda combine the two existing roles in a way. Would fit with the Black dragonflight themes as well.

[schwarzkopf]

Ranged tanking as an idea needs to be dropped.

Well, apart from a melee (non mana) healer - that means there is no more room for additional classes, everything has been done.

[plz delete account]

If you tank then you know positioning is important, and that you can't just stand just anywhere you want like amongst the Ranged. You generally have to be near the melee, preferrably on opposite sides to avoid any cleave-type attacks or debuff transfers. You also generally have to be near other Tanks, in case of tank swap mechanics.

A Ranged tank would be pointless if continued to be played in melee, as they should be based on current Raid Boss design.

You mean... like the first boss of COS that REQUIRES a ranged tank, or that one boss in SOD where you literally have to deal with being flung around constantly? Or literally half the fights where you're running around unable to do more then toss aggro without dealing damage simply because the boss keeps moving around, or how about those fights where the boss straight up has mechanics that ignore aggro?

:thinking:


And don't get me started on the intricacies of council from CN

[shane brannigan]

I mean a profession focused class would be a cool idea to work with.
I dunno do tinkers I guess, give em like a mech suit instead of traditional gear, and make them have to do professions to make parts for it.
The best parts needing bits from raids and stuff. But that's mostly just me thinking the RF online Bellato Specialist-driver mechs were call as fuck.

But outside that yeah, kind of not a lot of fresh ground to tread.

[Stickiler]

You mean... like the first boss of COS that REQUIRES a ranged tank

I mean, that's just demonstrably not true, given that CoS has been pushed to a level equal/higher than any other dungeon currently, which means it simply does not REQUIRE a ranged tank whatsoever.