Disclaimer: I know, this is effectively for a Re-Reforged time, not for a random patch. But I do believe that adding a tavern hero wouldn’t be as insane as breaking fundamental mechanics. After all, the Tinker, Alchemist and Firelord were all added in 2004, after TFT’s release.
What heroes could be added at all? The issue may lie with models and concepts, as the models used for creeps should not be added as heroes (and making new models may be too risky - see the female DK). Hence probably no Stormreaver Warlock (even though could be a cool demon/undead hero).
I could see three models used: Akama (TFT), Archimonde (RoC - not the Eredar creep model from TFT!), and the Naga Royal Guard (maybe with modifications from many great custom maps for pauldrons, etc.).
Now, onto the main topic. Akama in TFT had no abilities of his own. Hence why if he were used as an inspiration for the 9th tavern hero, he would have to be made from scratch.
Look no further than the Pit Lord. He had existed in RoC (Mannoroth), but with fully fake abilities (Shock Wave, Thunder Clap, Earthquake, Reincarnation). And they were all changed for TFT (Rain of Fire, Howl of Terror, Cleave, Doom).
I’m notoriously bad with coming up with ideas from scratch, but here’s my concept.
If I were to try, I’d like to see an agility hero based around… a Rogue fantasy from WoW (Valeera from HotS)? Namely,
- Shadowstep. 2 components; 1) become invisible for 4 sec; 2) during this invisibility, can recast it to blink to the opposite side of an enemy unit, dealing damage. (No CC effect necessary, it enables bodyblocking.)
- Debilitating Poison (passive). Each attack increases the turn rate of a given unit, along with some DoT application.
- Thunderstorm. Calls down lightning around Akama, knocking enemy units back.
- Cloak of Shadows (ultimate). Makes Akama and 23 units around him invisible and with an increased movement speed for a time.
I was trying to strike a balance between a Blademaster (without too much Windwalking) and a Warden (without too much blinking, adjust the range and cooldown).
These abilities I thought of because they would bring in new mechanics to WC3 - such as a turn rate increase or a point-blanc AoE knockback.
So the Elder Sage would be an annoying, squishy agility hero able to lock down a stray unit, escape from surrounds, but with not much burst or creeping power. And the lightning spell effect already exists (used in the Monsoon spell).
Might be too weak or unimpressive? This is the first time I unironically tried to think of an actual hero concept. And Akama is one of the few campaign heroes not represented in-game.
And a lore tidbit - the WC3 Draenei have been retconned/forgotten in WoW, while in the original lore, IIRC, they were the ones who had taught Orcs shamanism. So this is the missing piece that WC3 should have had to inspire the Rogue class, not the other way round.