Thoughts on how classes and talents could be redesigned…this is not exhaustive, just some ideas…
First, class/race restrictions should be dialed back if not outright removed.
We have an established in-game lore with night elf paladin, but beyond that, the time that gnomes spent with dwarves could also open that avenue.
Night elves have no home. As refugees in SW, some of these interactions could create new class race combos.
Same could be said of the Forsaken.
Demon Hunters took up camp in SW/Ogr
I wrote a short story on how a LF Draenei could be a Demon Hunter…it is possible and works within previously established lore.
Fury Warriors have Titan’s Grip or Single-Minded Fury just based on what weapons are equiped. Why can other classes not benefit from this type of design.
Prot Paladins could have a passive called Strength of the Light that allows them to wield a two-handed weapon and a shield, but at a penalty to bring the damage more inline with one-hander/shield combo. Maybe something like do overall less damage, but benefit from the stamina.
Survival Hunters could use either two-handers or guns/bows/crossbows with just a tooltip change, then talents could fill in to create a ranged survival build.
MM Hunters dual-wield guns (hello…marksman…) Again, some system in place for using 1 bow/gun/crossbow vs 2…similar to TG vs SMF.
Demon Hunters could have a ranged spec similar to Dancer in FFXIV creating another physical ranged spec. Most spells/attacks are there, just a matter of tweeking.
If the idea of Outlaw Rogue is supposed to be one “who uses agility and guile to stand toe-to-toe with enemies”, then why not make it just that…a tank spec. Roll the bones could become the active mitigation. Either shorten the cd to work more like the current active mit or it becomes a collection of buffs to be maintained throughout combat.
Enhancement Shaman could be a tanking spec with talent choices, or do like druid and make a 4th spec.
Just a few ideas.
Talents should be redesigned to work on a system like the pvp talent system. At level 15, x number open up and you choose 1. Level 25, y more open, and you choose 1. Level 30, z more, etc etc. The difference is you can still pick from the original x choices that opened at 15. Then at max level you have all the options available and you choose which 8 you want. I say 8, because it’s time we had a lvl 60 talent choice. Covenant abilities could be added as talents in this system, and they can all be freely swapped in a rested area or with a tome. Due to some interactions, some talents might be blocked from choice based on previous choices, like the covenant abilities or say…Ret Paladins Fires of Justice and Empyrean Power, but this still provides more talent options, more flexibility in that system.
Transmog opened beyond the armor type/weapon type. A two-handed sword can be made to look like a two-handed axe, but NOT a one-handed sword? Really? It’s time.
Bottom line is there are ways to innovate these classes and talents to retain/reinforce the core identity of the specs/classes, but provide a fresh overhaul that allows for more creativity/options in builds.
Just some thoughts I had to get out there.