Literally one comment in, and the thread gets derailed into a discussion of why SV should or should not be ranged. Come on, guys.
Personally, I think a lot of OP’s suggestions are either outside the realm of possibility at this time or - as is the case with the weapon kit idea - just plain outside the realm of possibility in general. But in the spirit of suggestions for the spec, I offer up the following personal take:
Melee vs. Ranged: I don’t care. I don’t care where the spec stands in the fight, I really don’t. I like melee, I think a melee hunter option is appropriate, and I’m gonna write this under the assumption the spec is melee. But survival being melee is not a hard requirement for me, so see my footnote.
Spec Theme: I like the spec being themed around “the right tool for the job.” Venoms, explosives, gadgets - I’m here for it. I also like using a pet, but don’t think the spec should be reliant on it. I’d support a Lone Wolf option for players who prefer to go without.
Spec Mechanics: I’m on board with SV being a DoT-focused spec. I’m not on board with traps playing a heavy role in combat. I recognize this is an unpopular opinion and I present it as a personal preference. I like the idea of using traps to set up a small advantage outside combat, very much. I’m happy with my hand crossbow and bombs in combat.
Focus Generation: Tie it to the DoTs. Tying it to the pet puts too much reliance on the pet specifically. Put the spec in a place where it maintains DoTs for Focus, and spends it on Flanking Strike and Raptor Strike/Mongoose Bite.
Dual Wield vs. 2H: I like the option, but don’t see it as necessary. I don’t need the option to dual wield and, if included, wouldn’t want to see the spec gain any functionality based on dual wielding.
Specific Suggestions:
- Mastery: Increase damage and/or duration of DoTs, and proc chance for Flanking Strike.
- Increased Melee Range: Bake it in baseline - just an extra three yards, like Outlaw’s Acrobatic Strikes or Feral’s Balance Affinity.
- DoTs: Give us one more baseline. I’d like to see something frost-themed, in reference to the old Survival ammo trifecta. Make it a pool enemies have to stand in, to keep it functionally distinct from Serpent Sting and Wildfire Bomb.
- Flanking Strike: Make it baseline, replace Kill Command. Remove the focus generation, remove the gap-closer, add a focus cost. Make it a spell that has a small chance to proc availability off autoattacks - it gives the spell a flavor of taking advantage of moments of weakness, and gives us something to do other than stack DoTs and spend focus.
- Tip of the Spear: Make it a passive talent that offers a flat increase to Flanking Strike’s chance to proc.
- Mongoose Bite: Another unpopular opinion here, as I want to keep it a talent. I love the functionality, I just think MB as a talent meshes well with what I’d like to see in talent and talent tree design (a separate topic). That said, Blizzard and I don’t agree on talent design, so I wouldn’t complain if it were made baseline.
- Caltrops: Give it back. It was cool, it fits the “any tool for the job” theme. Give it back.
- Wyvern Sting: Give it back. It was cool, it fits the “any tool for the job” theme. Give it back.
- Wildfire Infusion: Neat talent, wouldn’t trade it for the world. Needs some adjustment in this build. Replace Shrapnel with an effect that “detonates” the new ice DoT and causes a brief bleed. Replace Pheromones with an effect that causes all autoattacks within the window to guarantee a Flanking Strike proc.
- Raid Utility: 5% increase to the raid’s physical damage. Let’s be real: This is what Hunter’s Mark should be doing (and should be doing without active application). Monk shouldn’t have this. They’re a hybrid class as it is. They bring enough to the raid.
And … I think that’s it. I could go on for a while about talents, I suppose … but I won’t.
Footnote: If you want to make it a ranged class: Replace Raptor’s Strike with an instant-case shot. It could be Arcane Shot, or it could be Arcane Shot’s Survival-specific replacement. Mongoose Bite effects this shot the same way it effects Raptor Strike. Replace Carve with Multi-Shot. Replace Butchery with something range-appropriate - like Explosive Shot. And you’re done.