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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsBreakfast Topic: Hero classes
by Eliah Hecht 
Mar 29th 2007 at 8:00AM
Hero classes were in the "on the horizon" section of the Under Development page for a long time, though they have since been removed. Tseric has said that they are still looking into "alternate character advancement," but we should maybe forget the term "Hero Class." At any rate, they've been since release one of the most desired improvements for the game by many players. So when someone comes forward claiming to be working for Blizzard and to have the inside scoop on how they're looking at hero classes these days, it gets me excited. Now there is, as the poster rightly points out, no credibility whatsoever to this information, aside from the fact, as Tobold says over at his blog, that it's just boring enough to be something Blizz would do.Basically, each class would be able to specialize as one of the three different hero classes, each corresponding to one of the class's talent trees. Then, by spending "Hero Points," which will be earned in unspecified ways (but will be indefinite (!)) in a fourth, linear talent panel, they could gain access to special abilities. The hero classes would also have some passive benefits. It actually sounds pretty decent to me, except for the fact that, supposedly, your choice of hero class would be absolutely permanent, like profession specializations used to be. I think it would be much better to do it how profession specs are now -- you can re-specialize, but only if you completely unlearn the profession. With hero classes, I'd make it so you could choice a new one, but you'd lose all your invested Hero Points.
Anyway, that's the rumor. My question for you: how do you think they should do hero classes? Or is "hero class" just an outdated idea and we should focus on novel methods of character progression?
[via Tobold's MMORPG Blog]
Filed under: Breakfast Topics, Features, Classes
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 2)
tom Mar 29th 2007 12:49PM
Would be interesting to get bonus talent points (max 3 or so), being able to start a 3rd profession, +10% money selling to vendors, cooldown timers reduced, can run twice as fast on ghost run, armor repair costs halfed, Character size 10% larger, etc.
tom Mar 29th 2007 1:10PM
Using my Warrior as example:
Mage killer: + to all resistances increased each lvl, improved interrupt abilities
Guard: Improved stealth detection, Pet that is dropped like a totem that makes you cover an area (like guard a flag)
Raider: Can break immobilizations, Damage absorbtion buff with cooldown (so he can charge in first and not die instantly)
Shooter: Inhanced ranged abilities
Bunkai Mar 29th 2007 1:28PM
The "Hero" classes need to be sponsored by a faction, each with it's own. A character would have to reach exalted status with said faction in order to become a "Hero" of that faction. This would unlock faction specific recipies, weapons, armor, and tabards, similar to the Scryer and Aldor stuff in TBS.
I actually like the idea of having to spec to an additional tier of one of the three talent trees for the respective tree's Heroic ability, at which point, that tree would become permenant and be replaced by it's heroic version, where heroic points would then be spent in an enhanced version of that tree. The other points outside the original tree would still be respec-able with cost as it is now.
So.. a Heroic Enhancement shaman would spec to the heroic tier of the enhancement tree and lock in the enhancement spec causing that tree to be overlaid by the new Heroic Enhancement tree to spend heroic points in. At the trainer, though, he would still be able to respec his elemental/resto points.
Once a toon becomes heroic, they receive new heroic racial abilities, additional vendor discounts with all capitol cities, and the ability to train new hero-specific spells from the heroic trainers of their exalted faction.
Also, players would receive a one-time option to further customize their toon's appearance with new skin tones, hair styles, etc. that are more representative of the selected heroic build. Such as darker and more ethereal looking skin, eyes, and hair for a Demon Hunter. This could possibly include some kind of visible aura of shadow/light that would be given off from the toon, like a glow or smoke effect.
Not only would there be unique skills, spells, talents, gear, quests, but there would be a VERY noticeable appearance change that would easily distinguish a heroic toon from a non-heroic toon, even if naked.
that's my $0.02
White Rabbit Mar 29th 2007 2:43PM
@19
Two of those just described a hunter, why would you turn a warrior into a hunter?
Gridneo Mar 29th 2007 3:23PM
Heroic abilities sounds nice, but 'perma-' anything would spell desruction for WoW and thus Blizzard as a whole...
My thoughts:
Much like Druid, Warriors, Rogues have shifting abilities (extra toolbar to switch forms, stealth, change stances), why not have a Heroic Mode for each class that follows or puts you into that mode for a set period of time... Or have it utilize a entirely separate 'Endurance' bar under your Health/Mage/Rage/Enery bar... The Heroic Mode of each character is based upon your preset Heroic Talents, and can be tailored without a fee (or very low), whenever, etc...
No idea how Blizz would do this, but that also paves the way for 'shifting' animations like your character growing in size/muscle and changing your gear over (I heard Vanguard has multiple armor set slots that let you switch between them easily... not like ItemRack though since Itemrack just pulls from your bags)... Don't take this the wrong way, but I kinda see Naruto-style Phase1/2 mutation type stuff, just without all the retarded tattoos and stuff like that... If you don't know what I mean, look it up...
@ #19/tom, I like the Guard thing and it could kinda work into what I was thinking for a system as well... I can't check the forums at work, but part of me thinks we should be posting stuff like this to get some attention... There's plenty of ideas out there... If Blizz didn't dominate the scene, I'd try and design an MMO. The ideas are swirling.
Gridneo Apr 26th 2007 9:09AM
Oops... Forgot to mention the D&D-style prestige or FF-Tactics-style part where you have to meet certain requirements, or 'be' a certain spec/achieve something to be able to become/unlock the Heroic Sub-classes...
Osgood Mar 29th 2007 7:19PM
This all may seem a bit too convoluted, and why blizzard decided to not touch the Idea of Hero Class and probably won't ever call anything Hero class, But I have always thought that the addition of something called Hero Class would need to be not only difficult to get but also not necessary to play most future content.
Having only the Quests to become a hero and level a hero, be the only content that is not playable by other non-hero players. but after doing these quests and getting your bonuses, you return to the non-hero content. Quests would be easier as compared to non-heros, you'd probably get a rep bonus for being a hero, call it Fame or some such thing. The Fame Bonus would start to build after you become a hero allowing you to buy new Heroic Gear that depends on your fame level with the faction, as well as and additional cost deduction for none heroic. But the cost of doing this would me all things would need to be heroic, and as such you need to take the place of at least 2 players in a group quest, instance, raid, and Battleground.
I also like the idea of Race, Class, Spec, and Rep being a factor in getting the Heroic Quest line. Although it would be a ton of work factoring all that in, I think it would add just that extra layer of variability with the classes. Plus it would give some players incentive to become Exhaled with different factions if it meant a different type of hero; that would include factions like the Bloodsails and argent dawn, not just IF and SW.
All that being said, I don't see a problem with Blizzard making it so that once you spec to be a hero you are that type of hero if it is based on those 4 things at the time you become a Hero. Cause it leads you to be able to say in the case above, Spec to be Holy Pally, Become exulted with the bloodsails, get your Hero Class, then Respec and even become hated by them, but still keep the Hero Bonus for Holy. That would be very Unique. But in time when a lot of people have become heros, open the ability to change your hero class, but do it at the cost of gold, and they lose that Fame Rep bonus. Your no longer a hero you'll have to raise it up again.
I think that the Hero Class Idea could have so many things that you could do with it, that it would have to be its own expansion or a large part of an new one. That would also lead only some players to want to become heroes due to the real world economic reasons attached to it. So it should cost, Time, Money, and have Game consequences.
Anyway, If I worked for Blizzard, that is how I would Make Hero Classes work.
Baluki Mar 29th 2007 4:50PM
This is basically what I've assumed would be happening before too long. Blizzard has tapped out the current leveling and talent system. If they added a Tier 8 and Tier 9 to every tree, there wouldn't be much variety in how people spec; most people want their top tier talent, after all, and people who are 41/x/x right now would just go 51/x/x. And if that happened, most of the "synergy" talents that help interoperability between the trees would be worthless.
So however they handle leveling up in the future, it's going to be something like what the writer mentioned. It'll be a system that's independent from our current talent trees, though it'll be influenced by them.
The part about your "hero class" choice being permanent is a load of crap though. They would never make that part permanent, especially when you can switch your talents around whenever you feel like it.
NeuroMan42 Mar 30th 2007 2:21PM
Spoke to some friends I know that work in various departments over at Blizz They all say that in every meeting the talk of Hero Classes comes up, and CONSTANTLY gets shot down as something that is NOT going to happen anymore.
Murloc Warlock Jul 30th 2007 12:40PM
Hero classes are just silly. It was an interesting idea in RTS but it's not suitable for RPG, where everyone is a hero. The only reasonable way to incorporate it what comes in my mind is some kind of passive bonuses/auras or abilities which work only if you are a party/raid leader.