A "meta" class for WoW
by Mike Schramm 
Jan 30th 2008 at 5:30PM
Draele over at Rantings of the Afflicted asks if WoW could ever have what he calls a "meta" class. He lists the examples of Mesmer in Guild Wars or a Psionicist in Vanguard, and I'll add to that the Sorcerer class in Dark Age of Camelot-- classes that depend on manipulation and mind control rather than direct damage or healing.I'd say that it's possible, but extremely unlikely. Why? Because WoW is based on an RTS game, and in RTS, there's not a lot of complicated manipulation going on-- either you're attacking or defending, or some mix of the two. There hasn't really been any precedent (that I can think of or stretch to) in the Warcraft universe for a Bard or "Mesmer" class, and that's why it's pretty unlikely that Blizzard will try to break out past the trinity of usual MMO archetypes. Not to mention that, as Draele says, a meta class is a complex thing to create and play, and WoW tends to be more casual than complex.
Of course, never say never. There's a lot in this universe that hasn't even been hinted at in the game yet, and as was mentioned in last week's podcast, Death Knights will likely only be the beginning of hero classes, so who knows what Blizzard could come up with.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Classes, Death Knight
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Urthona Jan 30th 2008 5:42PM
Priests are the game's telepaths, if that's what you're asking.
Jennifer Jan 30th 2008 5:48PM
Such a shame... I loved the mesmer class in Guild Wars - it brought quite a bit of skill into PvP with the shutdown mesmer's ability to make it so that you didn't WANT to use a skill while you had a certain debuff on you.
The closest I think we get in WoW is Warlock with Fear/UA/CoT/etc. But it's still not quite the same.
I miss GW PvP... Gear was "capped" for balance and anyone could create a PvP-only char with the very best "capped" gear and just run around on an even playing field. Such a shame WoW is so gear oriented.
-Jennifer
http://www.v-boxing.net
Kamileon Jan 30th 2008 5:49PM
I think the reason why WoW will never have a "meta" class is because the game is designed to be soloed to level cap, whereas many of the other games are vastly more group-oriented.
ErsatzPotato Jan 30th 2008 5:59PM
Control classes tend to make for lousy soloing and in WoW the players scream for every possible build having solo capability. So...nope. These are also the types of abilities that tend to be the most unpredictable out "in the wild" (think Mind Control, Spell Steal, lots of engineering items). There's a reason many of them don't work on bosses or in arena.
To play such a thing in WoW, maybe a priest or mage with engineering? MC, silence, mana burn + trinkets or slow, spellsteal, counterspell + trinkets.
Mesmer in Guild Wars is all about denying your opponent his abilities (the mind control angle is just flavor). Worth mentioning though that you play as a mesmer+something. mesmer+healer, mesmer+pet user, whatever.
Jasperwind Jan 30th 2008 6:01PM
Don't we already have mind control in the game? Fear! I hate fear and wish they'd nerf it!!! :D Ok, ok, ok. Not really (please no hate mail). But it is a pain when I'm in BG's and locks and shadow priests keep me feared the whole time. By the time I break fear I have about 10+ DoTs on me. Cloak of Shadows is laggy for me in BG for some reason and I usually die anyway.
Oh, I know there is a trinket to break fear, but it has a 2 min cool down. That won't help when I get repeatedly feared.
cerement Jan 30th 2008 6:03PM
But then they also said that Controllers were never meant to solo in City of Heroes ...
Colin Feb 1st 2008 2:34PM
When I think of hero classes, I immediately think of Farseer like Trall in Warcraft III. That's one I'm hoping for.
Deuce Jan 30th 2008 6:05PM
Psionics?
therationalpi Jan 30th 2008 6:12PM
I highly doubt that such a class will be added, unless it is prepped for in a coming expansion. The reason being that the game needs to be designed with the concept in mind. A meta-class that I'm familiar with is City of Heroes' controller. Imagine a character who can sheep everyone in the room, at once, in one cast, and keep them sheeped, even while they are being attacked. I know it sounds unbalanced, but there were things in the game that helped make it less absurd.
For one thing, other characters didn't have many control abilities. Then, certain enemies needed to be hit with multiple holds at once to be held. Finally, the groups were large enough that the job was necesary. It would be a full time job for one person to hold down a group of 15 mobs, including two people that needed holds stacked on them to be taken out of the fight.
Bosses are currently designed to be immune to control-type abilities, which are the bread and butter of any meta class. The bosses would need to be redesigned to give these classes a role in the fight, whether it be locking down specific moves on a boss, or handling entire groups of lackeys by themselves. I think this is why WoW has the "meta" abilities spread out between all the classes. Because mages don't cry when they can't sheep, and warlocks don't whine about not being able to banish. These classes have OTHER things they can do when they aren't focused on some meta-skill.
Zhalseran Jan 30th 2008 6:23PM
Its an interesting idea, I was never any good at playing a Mesmer but they always fascinated me and frustrated me. If they were to make one, I know Blizzard would do a fantastic job of it and so the idea sounds good to me. I don't think as it stands WoW is very well suited for a meta-class, but it would definately be a unique new class that would spice things up.
So, I don't think its likely, but its far from impossible. If they want to do something, nothing is going to stop Blizzard, they will make it work.
Dahk Jan 30th 2008 6:22PM
As a player of Guild Wars for 2 years, I will say that as much as I liked the Mesmer class, it simply didn't fit into most of the game. When it did fit, it was awesome, but for the most part it was a class that was weak in PvP and overpowered in PvP until nerfed. When it was nerfed, it was balanced for PvP, but even more useless in PvE. I would hate to see this happen to a class in WoW.
Herm Jan 30th 2008 6:24PM
With the Blizzard-Activision merger, how about including a Guitar Hero type lute controller and have a new Bard class?
Hollywood Ron Jan 30th 2008 10:27PM
Lute Hero! Play Greensleeves! Ye Rocke!
p-diddy Jan 30th 2008 6:45PM
I'm going to go against the grain (I'm still new to WoW) and say, yes, they could have a mesmer-esque class. As pointed out in the archetype article, every class has some mesmer-like abilities. All that would be needed would be to roll them all into one. Caster denial, sheeping, retribution aura, conditioned based damage, e.g., damage done to your pet is done to to you as well, etc.
I'm not saying it'd be the most fun class to play, but it's workable. I equate mesmers and the like to playing Blue in Magic the Gathering. It works for and really appeals to certain people and has its strengths and weaknesses like every other color/class. For a WoW-mesmer clearly the focus would be on group play, either PvE or PvP, but you could solo the game too - it would just take you longer.
For the record, I wouldn't call it a meta-class. That implies a class about classes - I'd call it a denial class or something like that since it's purpose is to deny - deny damage, deny casting, etc.
IKoNN Jan 30th 2008 6:55PM
Don't forget that they would have to make room for this class in PvE progression also. They can't just make a class just for PvP or PvE or reliant on any other classes. If they brought them to the game then they would have to fit them into everything. It would end up making it a double edged sword. Most of the fights they are useless and you can go without them. On other fights it would make them pretty needed and if you didn't have 1 then you would make it so much harder on yourself.
Clink Jan 30th 2008 7:40PM
I played an Enchanter in old EQ and a Mesmer in GW. So naturally I was looking for another meta-type class to play when I started WoW as well.
Sadly the closest thing I could find was a Warlock. I'm happy with my choice but I do wish there was a "real" meta-class for me to play.
EM Jan 30th 2008 8:31PM
I played a bard and an enchanter in EQ and a controller in City of Heroes. I really like the challenge of juggling mezzes/holds on multiple mobs and dealing with the threat generated.
I disagree with Kamileon and ErsatzPotato; I don't think the problem is with soloing. (A charmed mob gives you a DPS or tank pet; mezzes or sleeps would allow you to deal with adds; lulls allow you to pull; given the combination any decent mez class would have plenty of tools to solo with and would probably play very similarly to a hunter or warlock.) I think the real problem is with PvP. Playing against a PvP mezzer is simply not-fun. Nobody likes to lose control of their own character; look at all the people who QQ about warlock fear. Most people would rather take massive crit damage than sit around twiddling their thumbs during a hold or stun. At least if you're running madly away from a nuker you still feel like you're playing the game; if you're getting chain-stunned you wonder "why did I even bother logging on? Just kill me..."
GreatLich Jan 30th 2008 9:22PM
I agree. Given blizz's track record concerning fears, stuns and a few other assorted abilities; they would utterly Fuck Up their implementation of such a "meta" class.
Falconous Jan 30th 2008 9:24PM
While I think that if Blizzard was really interested in introducing a class like this, they would regardless of the game's RTS background (after all I don't recall any rogues in the RTS). There really isn't a need for this sort of class. There are plenty of classes that rely on control to succeed, mostly in pvp. Mages, Warlocks, and Rogues all have to control the fight to be successful. And as an Arena-heavy mage myself, one of my top priorities is controlling the other side through movement debuffs, roots, crowd control or counterspelling.
Controlling fights is the most important part of this game really. Its why Warriors need a healer to be effective (few control options by themselves) and are a source of many Shaman complaints about their classes. A class dedicated to control, in a group environment such as Arenas, would be extremely over powered.
Just my 2cents from a pvp perspective.
Taeo Jan 31st 2008 1:27PM
Not to beat on the dead horse any further but I don't believe a meta class like the Mesmer or Controller will ever been seen in WoW. Two reasons.
1) Abilities which cause you to lose control of your character are not fun (for the victim). Blizzard developers know this. WoW is designed to be fun and addicting and such a class would go against this "policy".
2) Where as in City of Heroes or Guild Wars most of the other classes do not have control abilities this is not true with WoW. The control abilities in WoW are spread out among many classes.
Don't get me wrong. I think it would be alot of fun to have Mesmers running around in WoW. I just don't think it fits with Blizzard's gameplan.