I can see a Dragonsworn being a playable race, but not a class option. Now, I can tell you that a Necromancer won’t work because that role is taken up by both Unholy Death Knight, and Demonology Warlock. Tinker won’t work because we have the Engineering Crafting Profession. Bards, on the other hand, if musical instruments were introduced as a weapon-type, they would be restricted to a Bard-like class, with the ability to have their restrictions lifted, in the future, with future patches. For a Bard, I can see them having 2 DPS specs, and 1 Healing spec. Dueling, would be this Bard’s Melee DPS spec, Songwriter/Composer would be its Ranged DPS spec, and Tap-dancer could be a Healer spec.
I think you’re confusing Dragonsworn for Dragonspawn.
As for Bard… I could only see it if they went full camp with an expansion and went full ETC for the class concept.
New WoW class will be the DisGRUNTled Dev. You fill in the rest.
Eh, they seem to leave rather than become disgruntled. It’ll be interesting to see what kind of energy this new generation of Blizzard developers brings to the next expansion.
The last ‘hero’ class is a 3 button class .
Next one will be a 1 button one?
Let’s unpack how dumb this idea is;
Outside of this class being attached to Dragons, what makes them unique? We already have multiple classes that use fire, and have dragon-themed abilities. I suppose you could allow this class to transform into Dragons, but that would mean that the race of the class itself is a dragon. However, beyond being able to transform into a dragon, what can this class actually DO that’s different than other classes? Monks, Mages, and Warlocks have abilities that breathe fire. Warlocks, Mages, and Shaman can all use fire spells. What exactly is this class offering that’s unique and interesting?
Compare this to the Tinker class idea: We have a class completely based on technology. You have a class that allows you to fight while piloting a vehicle (mech). You have a class that is using unique abilities like Deth Lazor, Gravity Bomb, and Pocket Factory.
Seems like a no-brainer IMO.
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Allow me to turn that around - other than the technological themes (ie. the unique aspect), what makes Tinker unique?
Besides, we already have a myriad of mechanical mounts, pets, and transmog. Hunters and Rogues use various gadgets. Everyone has AoE and single target abilities. And don’t get me started on Engineering. What does a Tinker DO that’s actually different than what we already have?
Of course, I’m being facetious here. Just as you were. Anyone could easily ask, “Aside from (insert unique theme that distinguishes a class), what makes (class) different?” The answer is always going to be nothing. No mechanical rotation in isolation of the classes theme is inherently emblematic of a class. And this is particularly facetious when the subject matter has not yet been developed.
For the record, I would personally enjoy a Tinker class, as I would most any addition. I just don’t think they’ll ever get a thematically appropriate expansion, nor will the line about Engineering already fulfilling that role in WoW change.
Let’s look at this point by point:
Q: Other than the technological themes, what makes the Tinker unique?
A: Technological themes lends themselves towards technological abilities which is almost nonexistent in the current class lineup. That means that the abilities tied to those themes are unique, which in turn leads to a unique class.
Q: We already have a tech mounts, pets, transmog, etc. Why do we need a Tinker?
A: Because none of that equals what a tech class can offer. I can’t take Engineering gadgets and perform competitive DPS or Tank and heal for a group or a raid. Hunters have one bomb, which has animal/hunter themes and you can’t equip a gun while utilizing that ability, so yeah, not remotely close to a Tinker class.
On the other hand, if you want to be like a fire-breathing Dragon, roll a Fire Mage. Want a little shadowy-edginess to your fire spells? Roll a Destruction Warlock. They even can summon little heads that breath AoE fire on targets.
Q: What expansion could possibly bring a Tinker into the game?
A: An expansion based on Undermine and/or under the surface of Azeroth. Completely feasible if we have to protect the “heart” of Azeroth from Old God corruption which is all happening underground.
Hope this helps.
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Kel’Thuzad was a necromancer before he became a lich. IIRC
You’re still alluding to class fantasy, specifically. Your assertion was that the Dragonsworn would have too much overlap than what already exists. But it is exactly the same fantasy you are dismissing that distinguishes it.
Just as a Warlock’s fire is thematically different from a Shaman’s, a Frost Mage’s ice is thematically different from a Death Knight’s, a Rogue’s swordplay is different from a Warrior’s, and yes, just as a Tinker’s gadgetry would differ from a Hunter’s, that specific class fantasy that you are dismissing from one class, yet embracing to support another, is what sets it apart.
A primordial, overwhelming, draconic class fantasy is very appealing, personally. Just as your branding of the Tinker class appeals to you.
And while I don’t doubt that a unique concept for a technologically themed expansion can be arrived at, I still believe that it deviates too far from the core of the franchise to be considered.
But I did say the same thing about Pandaren, and here we are.
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Is Fire Mage thematically different though? They have Dragon’s Breath and a talent called Alexstraza’s Fury. In addition, the lore of Dragonsworn states that Mages and Druids are Dragonsworn by default because they follow the Blue and Green Dragonflights respectively.
I have to agree with the general consensus here; Outside of a name, what makes this class any different than what we have?
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Tinker is a class I would probably never play(not a fan of more modern technology themes in a high fantasy game) but that does sound cool. Makes me think of the Machina Maw dressphere that you get in Final Fantasy X-2.
Who wants to break it to the OP that Nazjatar is half about Gilgoblins and Mechagon is entirely about Gnomes?
Which makes 8.2, probably the biggest patch they’ve ever done, ¾ about Goblins and Gnomes?
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Sorry, but the focus on BfA isn’t goblins and gnomes (and you’ve really stretching for the goblin association, here). A single patch is. That’s not a narrative focus. Just like Ulduar and the Halls of Valor and the Ruby Sanctum and countless other diversions. The moment Blizzard starts releasing classes associated with a single patch instead of the expansion’s overall theme is the moment this stance gains credibility.
I mean, let’s just ignore that Warlords of Draenor was basically “Orcs can be tinkers, the Expansion”
I have no idea where this “Tinkers will only ever be gnomes and goblins” thing has come from when the last two expansions basically slammed Draenei and orcs into it, the Blackrock having all of their stuff in Warlords and the Draenei having their spaceships and various mechs. Slot in Dwarves due to their tanks and Undead due to their various contraptions and a side possible WC3 Goblin-Alchemist esque-healy spec and bammo, Tinkers has a lot more riding for it.
Especially with Dragonsworn just… Not really having much behind them. I’m pretty sure my warrior spent most of Legion being dragon-y by wielding a piece of Neltharion as a shield, shouting, and stomping. Dragonsworn would work better as a race. There is no iconic Dragonsworn abilities in game, and hell, 90% of the ones I remember facing are in Vanilla and Wrath so basically just uh, mage abilities.
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Except Tinkers would be content from the next x-pac not BFA so I don’t see your point.
It’s likely that any new Class will be highly race limited like Demon Hunters just because it’s easier for Blizzard to make new combat animations when they don’t have to do it for multiple races. That’s why I think Tinkers are a strong possibility.
Classes actually share animations across all races, these days. Much to the chagrin of many. I say, if you’re going to add in a new class, open it up to as many races as believable.
They share animations but they still need to be implemented on each which takes time.
“Time” is subjective. And unless you or I are animators with experience specific to this process, idle speculation will not be productive.
We can only go by what we were told. And we were overtly told that making class animations universal was a time-saving measure.
We also know that the last new Class was limited to 2 races. Part of that is for lore but the general consensus is it was also to limit the use of art resources. /shrug
The most likely new classes seem to be Tinker or Dark Ranger based on what’s going on in the game currently. There was also the rumor of cosmetic “specs” being added in the next x-pac. Maybe we don’t get any new Class.