As the topic says, since Evoker is getting a “support” spec, there really isn’t any more arguments against Blizzard implementing a Bard class, since the main argument against Bard was that is a support class, and WoW is not setup for that type of gameplay.
The only other argument is the silly, “what you gonna do, sing someone to death?” argument. And I am like, have you ever heard someone who’s bad at singing, I mean really bad? It’s really distracting and sometime can give headaches. I totally see how BBEGs can get debuff’d due to a bad song being thrown at their ears.
Lets first wait and see just how much of a mess a “support” spec is going to be. I already have nightmares of raids wanting 1 per DPS group because they are too good.
Ehhh… “Bard” isn’t really part of WoW’s universe or vernacular.
The closest thing we got to a bard are War Drummers from the Orc army in WC3. And we have war drums in game as part of leatherworking.
Classes in WoW are all (until Evoker) based on Hero units from WC3, and Evoker is based primarily on the nearly 20 years of Dragon related bosses and abilities we’ve seen in WoW.
Bard doesn’t have the same kind of history or standing. There isn’t a long history of “‘Magical music” in the WoW universe.
Just to make myself clear. I’m all for the bard playstyle. Putting in more supporting specs is cool. But an actual “magical musician” class doesn’t have much standing in WoW. Especially not when compared to other hero units like Tinker.
Not really. I can’t tank in a mecha like the Tinker hero from WC3, or like Gazlowe or Mekkatorque, our tinker racial leaders.
Yes, but there are typical bards sprinkled all over the game.
They just have to build on it.
As for mech combat, blizz could make mount equipment that engineers could use for mech mounts like GMOD, that would allow them to interact with the world without dismounting and even add an extra action button to weaponize it for a few seconds.
Hell even make engineer only cosmetic back pieces that look like the classic tinker techy back arm packs
Eh. Until I can fight a Raid boss or do a mythic dungeon in a Mech suit, then it won’t really be a tinker, now will it?
Think of it this way.
What does Paladin do in WC3, Buff with Auras, Defend themselves with divine shield. Heal and damage with the light.
In WoW? Same thing
What does Demon Hunter do in WC3? Dodge attacks, burn themselves with immolation aura. And turn into a giant demon. In WoW? Same thing
Dragons have Breath attacks, tail swipes, the buff people with blessings, and they fly. Evokers do all these things.
So I’ll accept a Tinker class that can:
Fire stunning missiles, build turrets and pocket factories, and tank damage in a giant Mech.
One could argue this evoker spec is just that, a spec. You would also need a dps spec for bard, and that’s pretty much a hunter. It could be a 4th spec to hunter though or any class.
My only argument against Bard was that WoW wouldn’t be able to do it justice because the developers decided that the support playstyle was incompatible with WoW.
I’d be very happy be be wrong.
If Augmentation is a success, I’m very much open to Bard.
Engineering can already build explosives and other combat gadgets.
The issue is that it’s not a class. However, the basic general fantasy is covered by engineering, especially with the profession revamp.
I think if they could do something similar to what I said about mount equipment for mech mounts than the general fantasy will be pretty much fulfilled.
Bards on the other hand are a staple of high fantasy, which wow takes lots of inspiration from, and have barely scratched the surface.
Like someone else posted, murmur could be a tool to expand their lore from, even Bastion too since they use lots of music magic.
