Dark Sentinel
Dark Ranger Tank Concept
art by: Gantzu
https://www.deviantart.com/gantzu/ar...ells-828292314
Introduction
The Dark Sentinel is a ranged tank concept designed for a possible Dark Ranger class. This concept utilizes abilities and concepts from WC3, WoW, and HotS and is based largely on the concept of Sylvanas as a leader and Warchief that stays in the front lines of conflicts. Because of this, it is only fitting for a class based upon her character to possess a role that allows the class to lead a raid.
The justification for a ranged tank spec is that it fits the character and the Dark Ranger class. Sylvanas utilizes multiple forms of Shadow magic, and her undead nature allows her to be highly resilient to many forms of damage. Sylvanas' shadow magic has been shown to be able to absorb many types of damage and in the process empower her. In addition, her banshee abilities allow her to become incorporeal, and allows objects to pass through her while she deals damage to those around her. These concepts can be easily utilized for a tanking role. While some class creators tend to give a possible Dark Ranger tanking spec dual blades or a Warden style spec, I believe that keeping the spec ranged would be the best route to go. Not only will this give a possible Dark Ranger class a novel way to tank, but it will also separate it mechanically from other tanks.
Basics and Core Abilities
Merged Souls
Art by: Livia Prima
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/xzYVdm
Class Basics:
Races: All (Undead)
Armor: Mail
Weapons: Bows, XBows, Guns
Resources: Mana and Hatred
Hatred
Hatred is a secondary resource that is generated by your abilities and by the damage you take. The maximum level of hatred will allow you access to very powerful abilities that can alter the course of a battle. However, you must use your hatred wisely and strategically, because if you use all of it at once for the wrong ability, it can be quite difficult to restore.
Abilities that use Hatred:
Withering Fire
Dusk
Ghost Step
Abilities that generate Hatred:
Black Arrow
Meridian Shot
Shadow Dagger
Banshee's Wail
The core ability that allows the Dark Ranger to tank from ranged is based on the WC3 ability
Vengeance. Vengeance acts as a barrier between an enemy and the player, and is completely under the latter's control. While the enemy is attacking the Avatar of Vengeance in melee range, the Dark Ranger is free to attack at range with its attacks.
Vengeance
Avatar of Vengeance
Vengeance: Summons a powerful avatar of vengeance under the command of the Dark Ranger that protects her and her allies from harm.
Vengeance Abilities:
Shroud: (passive) While the avatar is active, the Dark Ranger takes reduced damage.
Menace (passive) While active, the avatar generates a great deal of threat, and any threat generated by the Dark Ranger is transferred to the avatar.
Shadowy Inertia (passive) Your Shadow-based attacks that pass through the avatar of vengeance increases their damage.
Dark Ritual (passive) 5% of Healing done to the dark ranger and 5% of magical damage done by the Dark Ranger also heals the avatar.
Spirit of Vengeance (passive) The avatar has a chance of summoning up to three spirits that aid it in battle. When the avatar is killed, or when the Dark Ranger merges with the avatar, these spirits instantly vanish.
Shared Pain (passive) A percentage of the damage done to the avatar is shared to the Dark Ranger.
Notes:
1. When the avatar dies, the Dark Ranger can instantly teleport to its location, even if Merged Spirits was on cooldown.
2. When the avatar dies, the Dark Ranger loses a significant portion of its damage mitigation and damage potential.
3. When the avatar dies, a cooldown should initiate until the avatar can be summoned again. This should be determined via balance.
Dark Ranger Abilities
Withering Fire
Black Arrow: (1.5 cast) Deals shadow damage to the target, chaining them to their current location, slowing their movement speed for X seconds.
Withering Fire: Become a rampaging spirit, increasing your damage reduction by 80% and launching a volley of Shadow empowered arrows at a target. Each arrow dealing critical Shadow damage to your target. 6 second duration. (Requires full Hatred meter).
Dusk: Transfers your current level of Hatred to your avatar of vengeance, healing it for 200% of the your current amount.
Meridian Shot: Deals Shadow damage to its initial target. If damage done is critical, the damage erupts and deals reduced damage to all targets within 8 yards.
Blood Shot: Deals Physical damage to all targets in a line, healing the Dark Ranger for a portion of the damage done.
Shadow Dagger: Throws a dagger at a target, infecting them with a dark plague which deals shadow damage over time. The plague then jumps to 2 additional targets, dealing reduced damage and a reduced duration of the dark plague. If a target dies from the effects of Shadow Dagger, the Dark Ranger gains Hatred for a % of the total damage done.
Summon Phantasm: (Cooldown) Summons a powerful apparition that slowly restores the Dark Ranger's mana over its duration. In addition, it increases the power of Dark Ritual by 2% during its duration. Lasts 8 seconds. (2 min. CD)
Haunting Wave: Sends forth a wave of banshees dealing damage to all targets in it's path. (30 sec CD)
Ghost Step During Haunting Wave, the Dark Ranger will teleport to the location of their banshees. After teleport, the Dark Ranger's damage and ability to dodge is increased by a considerable amount. The power and duration of this effect is determined by the current amount of Hatred.
Banshee's Wail: Let's out a shrill scream at a target, interrupting spells, and removing a buff effect on the target. If a spell is interrupted or a buff removed, the Dark Ranger generates Hatred.
Vengeance Control abilities:
The following abilities are used by the player to directly control the avatar of vengeance:
Merged Souls: The Dark Ranger teleports to the avatar's location and merges with it, increasing movement speed by 10% for 8 seconds. If the Dark Ranger activates the avatar for 15 seconds after Merged Souls, the Dark Ranger will leap backwards 20 ft.
Spirit Lock: (toggle) The avatar will follow the lateral movements of the Dark Ranger. Untoggle this ability, and the avatar will remain stationary.
Dark Locus: Move the avatar to a specified location
Final Thoughts and thanks:
Disclaimers:
1. If you absolutely hate the idea of a ranged tank, please don't respond to this thread.
2. If you have some ideas to make this concept better, I'm all ear, and I appreciate it.
3. I am under no illusions that Blizzard would utilize this concept. However, if they choose to, they're more than welcome to use any concept showcased here.
4. If I have time, I will develop talents, and possibly another couple of specs to create an entire Dark Ranger concept. However, that is unlikely at this time due to my work load.
5. This is all for fun, so please don't take this too seriously. The main goal of this post is to generate a positive discussion.
Thank you for checking out this concept. Hopefully you enjoy it and it sparks some conversation about the potential of ranged tanks in this game. I also hope that this gives Dark Ranger fans another possible specialization to consider for their class. Special thanks to Wowhead, Blizzard, and the various artists whose art I used for this thread. I tried to credit all the ones I had names for. Thanks for reading.