Has Blizzard Filled All the Class Roles?
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 14th 2006 at 9:28PM
Well, there was a ton of new info about the expansion late last week, and along with new info comes-- you guessed it-- lots and lots of speculation. One of the more interesting things that came out of the interview Joystiq had with Jeff Kaplan was the revelation that Blizzard was giving Horde pallys and Alliance shammys not just to give either side a chance to play with the class, but because they wanted to make the classes more different in how they worked. Paladins are headed for a "holy tank that heals," and Shaman can expect more "DPS and utility roles."So while we're not technically getting a new class with the upcoming expansion, we're actually getting two. Before, Blizzard had to balance out the changes they made to either one of those classes, but now they're much freer to send either class one way or the other. A few people are worried (aren't they always?) that with all the work being done on hybrids, single role classes will be left out, but Nethaera assures us that smaller, 25-player instances will actually give more individuals a chance to shine in their own roles.
Which leaves one more question: Considering this class balancing act is getting harder and harder, will Blizzard ever come up with another class for us? Of course, it wouldn't be until the next expansion (which we already know is years from now), but Tigole has specifically told us it's still an option on the table. Are there any other roles that need to be filled, say, by a Necromancer or a Monk type class? Or, by differentiating the Shaman and Paladin class roles, has Blizzard filled in all the blanks?
Filed under: Paladin, Rogue, Shaman, Analysis / Opinion, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GameFreak42 Aug 14th 2006 9:39PM
How about a bard? That'd be awesome... death by flute. Or possibly a new kind of mage/tank like there is in DnD. Fighter vs. Barbarian, Wizard vs. Sorcerer.
Ebulum Aug 15th 2006 12:12AM
Maybe a martial artist?... not that we need any more Chuck Norris stuff in the "Barren" chat.
AcceptableRisk Aug 15th 2006 2:30AM
I think the class representations are about right for this game. If I had to add another, it'd probably ne another proper tank. There's no shortage of classes that can do respectable DPS and Druids are just about neck and neck with Priests for healing but there's no equal subsitute for a Warrior in the tank role.
Bears aren't bad but they lack a few of the useful tools that warriors have and the equipment emphasis isn't really that great. If they got a little more love from the developers, I think they'd be a great alternative. As of now bear tanks in the end game are little more than a novelty for most people.
Freeze Aug 15th 2006 9:08AM
I think they should have more classes like their Diablo series had. I was a huge fan of that game for so long before going to WoW. I think if they had Necromancers [Shadow magic dealers, with the ability to raise an army of skeletons to fight for them] or Druids that had huge amounts of nature damage [Nature damage AoE anyone?] And maybe those are just too like some of the WoW classes now but how about at 70 differentiating your self into a specialized class. Thatd make for a lot better of a game than a new character class in general.
Urthona Aug 15th 2006 10:56AM
Gotta agree with comment #2. What's needed is a tank alternative. With Pallies getting a taunt, we may get that, but we're talking about new class ideas.
I've been juggling with the idea of another faction specific class. Tauren and Gnomes are both limited in selction, so I was thinking Blizzard could introduce a tank class that has a completely different visual and perspective on weaponry.
I have no idea what the class name would be, but these would be plate wearers that can only use shields, unarmed combat, and fist weapons. Instead of attack moves with swords and maces, they each rely on shielding, contact debuffs, and tight area AOE damage. Plus taunt and threat generating moves.
Gnomes would push a button and mechanized armor would grow up around them, tripling their size to Tauren/Draenei stature. Kinda Robotech, but mostly Thermaplugg and that goblin from Deadmines. Tauren, on the other hand, would go the spiritual/elemental route and become translucent yet ridiculously powerful, remixing the role of the Spirit Walker from Frozen Throne.
Each could easily have an immolate opton, electrical charge option, a magic scrambler option ... effectively do the same things through opposite means. So instead of the problem of having different classes being nerfed to stay even(ie Pallies and Shammies), you'd have two different appearing classes designed to provide the same role.
Other than that, non-combat classes might be interesting to explore. I like the suggestion of a Bard class that distributes powerful buffs while also soothes and sleeps all kinds of enemies, but dies at the drop of a hat. Sounds interesting, you'd never beat Hogger without help.
Besides those, I can't think of any new classes that wouldn't add the game. The division of roles is very well thought out in WoW. Monks be Rogue melee with Priest heals? Roll a Resto Druid. Necromancers would be Mages with powers over the dead/undead? Roll a Shadow Priest.
Truth Aug 15th 2006 12:40PM
Umm about that extra tank. Druids tanks very well. Druids are the ones you want. Just need to get Blizzard to make more feral tanking gear. A tank speced druid can out tank a similar geared DPS warrior. So to you guys who have no idea what you are talking about, take a look. Druids are the answer to your tank problem.
Urthona Aug 15th 2006 2:18PM
They're AN answer to the tank problem, but not another tank class. Druids are the most versatile class in the game, but I don't know of any druids that prefer tanking, or spec to tank. They're the third choice for that role, and I'd even suggest placing them fourth: after a warlock's Voidwalker. My main is a resto/feral druid. So on that, at least, I know what I'm talking about.
And I thought this thread was about new class development and constructive critique. I'm interested in hearing what people's problems are when grouping, and whether a new class might solve it.
Methodical Aug 15th 2006 4:25PM
"but I don't know of any druids that prefer tanking"
Funny, I don't know any druids who don't.
mike Aug 15th 2006 8:03PM
Just to get the conversation back in the direction Urthona (and I) wanted it to go, here's my 2c behind why I said Necromancer and Monk: I think there is room for another tank, and an unarmed Monk would be a different focus than the very weapon based Warrior class (and maybe even fist weapons would get a good use finally). Meanwhile, a Necromancer would have easily disposable pets (like Diablo II and Dark Age of Camelot's Sorcerer) and would help out with Crowd Control.
That's the one area I think Blizzard could really fit a new class in. Right now, all of the classes have crowd control abilities, but Mages are really playing that role, and traditionally they're meant to be more DPS. I think a Bard or Necromancer would make a great addition as a class specifically designed for crowd control-- with various mezzing, mind control, and sleep spells, they'd be a great addition to any party in an instance.
Urthona Aug 16th 2006 10:26AM
The more I think about it, the more I love the novelty of a Bard class - designed specifically for crowd control. Give em daggers, maces, fist weapons for main hand weapon, and various trainable musical instruments where ranged weapons fit.
Imagine being swarmed in Raven Hill, clicking the 4 key, and the aggroed swarms of brain eaters and plague spreaders immediately start dancing.
Music in all forms could induce all sorts of reactions. Lullabies cause /sleep, blues make mobs /cry and take damage over time, dance music would work literally, broken notes would cause a significant amount of damage, and "Anthem of Battle" could produce a spirit and armor buff. Other kinds of music could reduce mana, regen rates, movement speed, or strength. I'd like another class to utilize an energy bar, like a rogue, but I'm not sure if that, or a mana bar, would be more appropriate.
Gnome Bard FTW!
Tris Aug 16th 2006 5:06PM
Bard is starting to sound nice. With Blizz doing all the tributes to different things, they could have a class trainer "Esteban" like the guy on TV. Could have various music instruments. Could even get a good excuse, like mentioned earlier, to tie in the idea of a woodwork class, to make their instruments as well as staves, bows and the like. Music books for training new spells or quests could be easily integrated. I think you may be on to a legitimate idea and support work Urthona. Blizzard, take notes.
Truth Aug 24th 2006 11:00AM
"They're AN answer to the tank problem, but not another tank class. Druids are the most versatile class in the game, but I don't know of any druids that prefer tanking, or spec to tank. They're the third choice for that role, and I'd even suggest placing them fourth: after a warlock's Voidwalker. My main is a resto/feral druid. So on that, at least, I know what I'm talking about."
You have no clue what you are talking about. Feral druids have tanked every boss through AQ 40 and some in Naxx. Don't give me that crap. You are not feral you are resto. I have been a feral druid since before the 1.8 patch. Druids are the 2nd tank. You really need to get a brain if you think otherwise.
Truth Aug 24th 2006 11:18AM
""but I don't know of any druids that prefer tanking"
Funny, I don't know any druids who don't."
Exactly. Most Druids want a chance to do other things they are good at. A feral druid, especially tank spec'ed (I am one I know what I am talking about) that is allowed to get the tanking gear will be able to tank everything any warrior can tank.
Tanking Classes/Specs:
1. Prot Warrior.
2. Tanking Spec'ed Feral Druid
3. DPS Warrior
4. DPS Druid
5. Paladin
You really should read more and learn more about Druid Tanking before you comment on it.
http://www.wowwiki.com/Druids_as_Tank
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-druid&t=781672&p=1&tmp=1
lily Aug 30th 2006 2:58AM
What about some kind of elite classes to take at a higher level? One could talk to a certain NPC, like for rogues, and join up as a deadly assassin with some really powerful unarmed abilities, improved stealth & speed. Perhaps for flavor a special ranged weapon they would like to "sneak attack" with.. blow-darts with poison could be fun, could make them THE next best thing to happen for pulls. Let one of the other elite classes for a rogue be the mezzing/crowd control bard. Yes bard - the class comes from D&D and was originally a rogue subclass anyhow. These elite classes would get new trees to utilize, and unique abilities to buy, also. So bards would get the abilities to play lutes, harps, guitars, and so on. Gnomish vendors and drops could have harpsicords, the electric guitar. Each instrument being able to play all your songs, but some would strengthen a certain type, and the better instruments could add to that.
For those who are wanting new choices for tanking, the Warrior class could have elites as well.. so maybe a Berzerker elite would be really good at hurting and keeping aggro, but they would require more healing due to less focus on defense. Could also be a Knight/Bushido, some kind of noble Warrior.. virtuous but not innately holy or tied to the church. This would be more devoted to the causes of one's lord or King. They could gain followers, an ability to coerce an enemy into aiding for a short time. For Warriors this might be limited like only one at a time and only humanoids at first. It would be a lot more difficult to coerce others, and enemies that can't "talk" like animals wouldn't ever fall under this. Another possibility for a Knight might be an innate type "Shining Armor" with a chance to daze enemies on the first sight of the Knight, this wouldn't work again on the same enemy after it wore off but it would be a great to have the Warrior do the first line of crowd control then limiting danger of other classes' maybe more long-term assistance.
Last thing would be a unique weapon focus for each elite class. Some weapons would become useful again and otherwise more types may be needed to fit certain roles.