A couple of things come to mind for me (even if they’re not used often):
- Traps
- Pets (and taming them)
- Ranged weapons
- Tracking
- (Fulfilling the classic “Ranger” D&D class fantasy)
How about you?
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Agreed.
I just wish we had more options to explore the above within this class. More ways to further define what you mentioned above as elements of our chosen playstyles.
Examples(a few really):
Right now, we as hunters have traps, and for the most part, that is it. We no longer have much of anything that delves deeper into the fantasy of being a genuine trapper(and yes, I’m aware that the definition varies a lot in particular areas/environments).
Considering the design of our current specs and more.
I would say that for the most part, we’re okay here. At least when talking about combat.
BM is the spec that relies the most on pets. About strengthening it/them. Both baseline and through talents.
MM is the spec that does not rely on pets. You can choose to have one, but that’s it pretty much.
MSV as a melee spec kind of needs certain elements of baseline pet reliance in order to keep at least part of the original core design intended for the class. I would switch Kill Command for Flanking Strike in order to further the supposed fantasy of “coordinating attacks with your pet”. But that’s just me.
Looking at the above, what’s missing for me, is that spec which is for the most part, a spec with optional reliance on pets. The spec that has nothing baseline(beyond what we have now with being able to have a pet out), but instead has certain talent options for you to pick if you feel you want/need to further rely on your pet.
Yeah, as have been said before…
Right now, we only have 1 spec which actually focuses on the use of the ranged weapon itself. As BM you have one equipped but the main focus is still the pet.
That leaves MM.
We need something more than the above.
Something that is different to the sharpshooter/sniper(MM).
Compared to in the early days, it feels as if this feature is a bit…underdeveloped in the modern game.
We can ofc track various types of creatures. That’s all well and good.
For Shadowlands, they are bringing back Hunter’s Mark as a baseline ability and sure, that’s something that caters to the whole “tracking”-fantasy.
I just wish that it would only focus on the part that is tracking enemies, and not for damage purposes(passively increasing damage). Especially as it would most likely be on the GCD.
Anyway…
Never seen it so, can’t comment on it.
So…back to the main topic of what makes the class feel unique and what it is that for the most part, highlights what Hunters are about(general terms here ofc).
You can ofc, if you go deep enough, find unique aspects within all the hunter specs and what they are about, when compared to other classes/specs.
But it’s a bit ironic(and sad really) how, the spec that embraced all those things you mentioned the most, the spec that actually focused on all of the above…that spec, was Ranged Survival(RSV). The one we had prior to Legion.
-RSV was about improving Traps.
-For it’s existence, RSV always held options to rely more on Pets.
-RSV was designed around using a Ranged weapon(specifically, the ammunition/arrows)
-In the past, the SV talent category, along with the specialization we got later on that was RSV, was the one to focus more on the fantasy of Tracking prey. Not always through literal options to improve tracking, but also through straight up thematic design.
Sooo……
Hint @devs.
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Yep
Taming part for sure… but demology warlock does play a lot with its summon. The two are very much alike as to how they use the pet.
A relic of the past now, AA isnt as important. But I would say the fact that they are ranged and do physical dmg with abilities is unique compared to other class.
Yes and no, since tracking can be gained via food buff.
Yea pretty much, MM and Survival pretty much. BM is less that.
Other than that ? Mmm a bit hard, since over time all classes slowly became the same in a certain way. I guess you could add its the one class that is immune to interrupts when casting?
It’s the only ranged spec they has no movement penalty (BM). I love being free to move around as I please throughout fights. I have never enjoyed any other ranged DPS. I enjoy melee DPS from time to time but there is nothing like my hunter.
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I would say we have two core components that set us apart from other classes (Please note I am speaking from BM perspective):
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Ranged damage lacking cast times means we’re constantly on the move and have great up time in fights where we need to switch from target A to target B and so on and so forth. It feels really good.
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Taming pets is a tangible way of interacting with the world that is satisfying-- especially when actually rare pets are finally tamed after hours of searching for them. I do miss when each family of pet had their own unique ability, however. It made the class incredibly versatile. Crane for a brez, Core Hound for lust, Spider for a snare, etc… It used to be that we could bring any missing buff to the raid and I really wish Blizzard would restore that via our pets.
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Traps
Have a unique form of CC in that they can be placed and forgotten. We do not need to cast it or have a direct line of sight to use it. -
Pets
(and taming them)Sure there are other classes that use pets, but we can tame a Zoo of them and give them names.Warlocks have minions who act as tools not companions, minions have given a randomly generated name, they can sacrifice their demon for more power, and not all demons like to be called on with threats.
Mages and Death Knights pets act as slaves to be used like a shield, and other classes can summon temporary combat pets.
Hunter are the only class that forms a bond with their, fighting as one. -
Ranged weapons
While Warriors and Rogues could equip ranged weapons Hunter are now the only class that is proficient with them. Their basic attack is Auto Shot that requires a range weapon. All range weapons have stats that are Hunter focuses. -
Tracking Hunter can tack anything while other classes can learn only a few, or require the ability through other means.
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(Fulfilling the classic “Ranger” D&D class fantasy)
D&D Ranger Class Details
Rough and wild looking, a human stalks alone through the shadows of trees, hunting the orcs he knows are planning a raid on a nearby farm. Clutching a shortsword in each hand, he becomes a whirlwind of steel, cutting down one enemy after another.
After tumbling away from a cone of freezing air, an elf finds her feet and draws back her bow to loose an arrow at the white dragon. Shrugging off the wave of fear that emanates from the dragon like the cold of its breath, she sends one arrow after another to find the gaps between the dragon’s thick scales.
Holding his hand high, a half-elf whistles to the hawk that circles high above him, calling the bird back to his side. Whispering instructions in Elvish, he points to the owlbear he’s been tracking and sends the hawk to distract the creature while he readies his bow.
Far from the bustle of cities and towns, past the hedges that shelter the most distant farms from the terrors of the wild, amid the dense-packed trees of trackless forests and across wide and empty plains, rangers keep their unending watch.
Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition
The ranger was included as a character class in the 5th edition Player’s Handbook. At third level, players chose from one of two ranger archetypes: the hunter, and the beast master. The hunter archetype gains combative capabilities, while the beast master gains an animal companion to control. Xanathar’s Guide to Everything adds three more ranger archetypes: the Gloom Stalker, Horizon Walker and Monster Slayer. The Gloom Stalker focuses upon hiding in areas of low light, the Horizon Walker gains access to certain teleportation features, and the Monster Slayer becomes adept at attacking certain studied foes.
Rangers are a half caster class in 5th edition, gaining limited spellcasting. Their features and spells focus on exploration, survival skills, and tracking foes.
Classic Hunters were more in line with D&D Rangers being able a mixture of melee and range combat, and able to use infuse magic into their attacks. Now each spec is a piece of D&D archetype Ranger.
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Ease in combat, Customization, pets and variety.
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Hunter, all specs can kill stuff AND stay alive while doing it.
I just used my restore toon for this Paladin i’m posting on but once it open again, I’m thinking of restoring one of my Hunters.
I’m remembering why I dusted my ret/paladin.
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It’s ranged, uses a bow, has great mobility and can collect so many different pets to all tastes.
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Fighting alongside my pet with a spear…
Feign death…
Easily killing rogues…
Rexxar…
I felt like a boss when I could use tracking to help my guild find kj and jaina in boss fights. I hope they do more tracking stuff like that in the future.
Also pets, ranged weapons (bring back auto shot weaving), trueshot aura.
Oddly enough I remember being more durable back in the day. More like a scrappy skirmisher then the glass canon we are now.
In Heroes of the Storm Rexxar, along with Misha, is classified as a ranged Bruiser who throws axes from afar while Misha engages in melee combat.
nothing really makes them too different rn other than they are terrible in pvp.
MM = mage
MSV = Unholy DK but with no survivability
BM = is unique but hasn’t changed at all in 10 years.
it was unique when rsv was around, no other class has high burst dots like that.
That’s cool, never played that game.
MSV has amazing survivability.
Those two things mostly. Hell pet taming is like a hunter only minigame. I remember competing with other hunters over who has the best rare pets.
I don’t see why ranged weapons differentiate hunters so much.
I mean hello, Survival…
Because no other class/spec is based on using a ranged weapon for their core abilities/gameplay?
…is a Hunter spec yes?
Albeit one that makes us less unique compared to other classes.
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MM : The Archer
BM : The pet trainer, making his pet do the work.
SV : The hunter that fights along side his trusted companion.
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Sure champ.