Yeah forgot Combat. Those others were gutted to fit into the designers new class identities. However, every spec has had reworks, so non are exactly as they were.
I was explaining those that Blizzard completely cut from game and don’t have a replacement.
By name alone lol. Legion MSV isn’t a thing anymore. DPS Blood doesn’t exist anymore. Frost tank doesn’t exist anymore. DW UDK doesn’t exist anymore.
Legion Shadow is as different gameplay wise to DF Shadow as RSV is to DF SV.
Demo lock is WAY different pre legion, during legion, and after legion.
They all have a form that exists still in the game. Every class and spec has a talents and abilities removed. Their rotation changes, but they still can be played.
I can’t make an Combat Rogue from Outlaw Rogues, Warriors can’t be made into Gladiators, and Range Survival is not a spec anymore. The few abilities that Blizzard left in are not enough to bring those specs back.
Oh they do? How can I tank as Frost DK? How can I cast Demonic Empowerment right now and focus my windows around that? Where’s my Surrender to Madness giga windows and void windows?
Where are my Raptor Strike and Mongoose Bite concurrent talent builds if they exist right now?
Except for the ones I listed, you mean.
Just a bit odd that RSV is treated as some mega unique sacrificial lamb when that’s not the case 
What’s the litmus for just normal churn? Is there a specific, observable line for X number of abilities / gameplay style removed before it’s RSV levels of “this was removed and is never coming back?”
Go make a Marksmanship Hunter and pick the few Survival Hunter talents that are still and start tell everyone your a Survival Hunter.
Go try to tank a dungeon as Frost and see how that goes 
RSV is not some sort of uniquely theirs removed gameplay loop or no-longer-there spec. Sorry! Hopefully they’ll add a munitions spec for the RSV-but-not-classic enjoyers out there
So, I could tank as Frost just not great. Now try playing Range Survival or a Combat Rogue.
“Most of the community you mentioned”
I was talking specifically about the individuals he was referring to. It wasn’t a question/debate about popularity.
But since you brought it up…
…it was indeed picked up in wotlk.
…cata sv saw quite extensive play even going into/during the opening tier of that expansion. But yes, it went even higher for DS.
…for mop, same as the start of cata, it saw decent play during that whole expansion, even when not being “meta”.
…it especially in highmaul and early in BRF, it saw top tier representation, despite not always being the best choice performance-wise. And yes, then there was HFC, where the spec did worse dmg than tanks, strange how no one wanted to play it in pve at that point (they still did in pvp tho).
Anyway, the main point with that is that it saw decent representation even at times where it wasn’t peaking performance-wise.
When did I claim that it was “always the most popular”?
So why did you even include that previous comment?
No you didn’t specifically claimed it’s most popular spec, I was referring in general when people compare SV pre and after legion. And my answer will always be the same , but majority won’t accept it because it’s true. Class is “popular” when it performs well.
All the instances you mention SV was picked it was because of the performance. I see increased pick of SV hunter in every aspect of the game. Especially in DF.
And another reason why people avoid SV hunters is weapon. Switching between MM and BM is one click easy, while going from BM/MM to SV request you to have different weapon. And most people tend to have low ilvl melee weapon. So ofc ranged hunters are limited to two specs.
You didn’t actually read what I said, did you?
I specifically pointed to how, even at the times where it wasn’t the top performing choice, it still saw decent representation, sometimes even surpassing both other hunter specs, despite how 1 of them was capable of more throughput.
SoO in MoP is one such example, where BM was managing higher numbers, yet more people still stuck to SV. Another good example is the early parts of WoD, post the initial spike, it traded places with MM in terms of performance for the fights of Highmaul. In general, it fell somewhat behind in certain areas during early BRF progression, yet, it still kept up with the representation/numbers.
You then have Cataclysm’s first half, despite an early adjustment to its performance, it competed in terms of representation with the other specs, until DS where it climbed even further.
In WotLK, it wasn’t really ahead in terms of performance for most of that expansion, especially later on in ICC. Still, again, it saw good numbers in terms of representation. And if currently WotLK:Classic is any indication, this is even moreso the case now, where the representation of SV far exceeds both other hunter specs, despite how MM is slightly ahead much of the time, and has been so since late Naxx(talking performance again).
Not really no. There are some barriers on that end, sure. But generally speaking, if a spec performs well, and people really want to play it, they will do what’s required to be able to do so. The requirement of getting a decent weapon is no exception.
Almost every spec has changed in GIANT and fundamental ways over the last 20 years. Too deny this is too be purposely obtuse to make a point.
Plus, out of all their buttons, SV only has… what? 2 melee abilities. 
OH! And let’s not forget the infamous gladiator warrior spec.
What Gladiator warrior spec? You mean the talent ‘Gladiator’s Resolve’ from WoD which gave you Shield Charge instead of Shield Block?
What about it?
The talent let you DPS with sword and board–a class fantasy many people like, but was removed.
I actually think it would be a great example (with some tweaks) of how to add a “sub” spec to many classes without having to start getting scratch making a 4 th spec.
OP, I am kind of wondering why you are worried that SV isn’t liked by some of the player base? Nothing against their opinions but I would be more concerned if Blizzard, specifically was unhappy about SV and was looking to get rid of melee SV, and at least thus far blizzard has given no indication or inclination of wanting to get rid of melee SV.
I mean heck we have had MSV since 2016 , it is 2023 and melee SV is still a thing. So I am thinking if blizzard thought MSV was a huge mistake (as some forum posters would have you believe) then blizzard would have done something, they would have got rid of the spec, some major rework. I don’t think blizzard would allow a spec to fester for 5+ years.
Assuming the people who dislike melee SV don’t work for blizzard specifically in class design for WoW I don’t think there is anything to be concerned about. They are unhappy about SV spec, that is fine, we are free to like and dislike whatever we want. I don’t like breath Frost Dk or that SMF is terrible and that is fine, again you are free to like and dislike whatever you want. Honestly I think this is one of those “agree to disagree situations”. That is Blizzard thinks that MSV is fine and thus the spec is still a thing and some people are going to disagree with MSV existing. Again I am not concerned about “Bob” on the forums not liking MSV, I would be concerned if “Bob” head of class design is unhappy with MSV.
I just very, very much doubt that blizzard is “finally going to see the light” and revert MSV back to ranged. I think at best we could see RSV come back as a 4th spec, but even then I am a bit doubtful.
Ultimately it comes down to the fact that MSV has been a thing since 2016 and people were complaining about MSV way back in 2016. And yet spite of the complaints and forum posts melee SV is STILL a thing today in 2023 . So any fears of MSV being removed/reverted because some people on the forums don’t like is pretty dam laughable if I am being honest.
Yea I did , you are right. But I’m right as well. Performance difference was not by a huge margin. It was small difference. In some cases it was noticeable, in instances I said above.
Yea, but when they tune in between patches and people optimize for one spec, weapon is usually lowest ilvl and first priority to upgrade. Back in SL my friend who is KSM every season had that issues. He was BM and when SV got overturned , he was running with blue weapon from quests or something for months or so. He was so frustrated.
It’s not hard to pick up and keep a good 2H weapon though. And of course you can swap weapons in combat. The neat thing about SV is that you’re not barred from using ranged weapons, but only barred from exclusive abilities(which magically turn on in swapping).
The problem with Survival popularity I think is very tied to what people is used to about what a Hunter is. Like most users are just used to the theme of hunter = bows/guns like in pretty much all games and fantasy movies. So when you play a hunter your head is just thinking of a ranged dps. That’s your thought as soon as you are creating a hunter in the character creation screen.
Wow just happens to offer a melee based hunter which thematically I think it’s a great addition.
The 2nd problem with survival is that it never had something unique to the spec that makes u want to bring one in raids. The damage is kinda low so you won’t bring them over any other spec.
In M+ tho they are pretty good.
So yea, survival could have big tweaks lie retribution paladin had. But the aspect of being a melee spec for hunters I think it’s cool.
Again I would just move all “explosive” spells out of the spec and move towards a more nature based spells like spears, nets and glaives and just give the explosives to combat rogue which fits the pirate spec.
None of those changed roles therefore they are all false equivalences.
Never mind the fact that your attempt at downplaying here still has ranged SV as a popular spec more often than not, but have some introspection and realise that this represents a significant backpedal from you. You used to act like it just wasn’t played at all as a ranged spec. Remember when I said I was playing SV in WotLK and your response was that you couldn’t believe that my guild would let me do it?
You can definitely play ranged survival right now. Just, like you said “not great”.
Tell me what you miss form Combat Rogue? Was it…Sinister Strike and Eviscerate? You can use Sinister Strike right now and spend combat points the exact same way.
Reminding you of your options of course. You can play it in classic and wotlk. Maybe one day they’ll even add munitions to retail so you can pay it in classic, wotlk, and 12.0? Not sure why you’re getting so frustrated bud
Well, that person was saying that only RSV was removed. None of that discussion was about a “role” being removed. Except, FDK tanking or BDK DPS.
I’m not sure why “role” is the line in the sand here. I’m sure there are some equally zealous legion shadow priest gamers out there or glad warrior people out there who, just like you, are very loud about the spec they cannot play anymore