Balance is subjective. The classes are balanced now.
Thinking there is some magical state of the game where everyone will be in love and think the classes are perfect doesn’t exist.
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These are two separate points though.
The overarching idea of class balance is one, while the need for new classes not to be redundant vs. the existing roster is another. Neither are invalid points, and yes, the Necromancer is a terrible idea for myriad reasons, but “no new classes until the existing ones are balanced” is separate from that.
To that angle, my answer is… this isn’t an either-or situation. Blizzard has to stop screwing around with all these carnival goldfish, 1-expansion styrofoam systems and balance the base game mechanics. They whine about “oh, adding new things every expansion isn’t sustainable!” but then continually fart around with massive, disposable, one-time use systems, pouring god knows how many hours into massive features with no future?
… If instead of wasting resources on things like artifact weapons, Azerite Armor, and covenants, they might actually stand a chance of bringing the classes up to a relatively even playing ground. And while they’re doing that, building on the foundation, they could, in the process, add things to that foundation, like classes that do get continued support.
What new classes they add is a discussion to be had, and yes, those classes do need to fit and play nice with the existing ones. But they need to add big things like that - new classes and new races, and they can’t just settle for half-measures that come off like this lame, phoned-in “customization” expansion. They need big, lasting, impactful, flagship features to be a part of an expansion, otherwise it just feels hallow and largely pointless.
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Well to be fair, what abilities have the Necromancers used in Shadowlands that step on the toes of Warlocks and DKs?! 
.
Currently with this new lore that Blizzard has dropped on us, with the Primus being the creator and father of all Necromancy, it really opened up a lot. Before Shadowlands I’d 100% agree with you, for all we knew about Necromancers was the little information we had seen and gotten mostly in Wotlk.
Shadowlands actually opened up a lot of lore and went deeper then we could ever imagine, I see it exactly how Kul’tirans are Druids, previously it would of sounded crazy, but BFA opened up so much with the lore and Drust being another avenue for Druidism.
All I can say is you shouldn’t be so closed minded, the lore is constantly changing and moving forward, just because previously new classes did take from other current classes doesn’t mean moving forward has to be the same.
Edit: WoW needs a new class/race, it creates replay ability, it creates hype, brings old and new players back, gives that fresh feel in a old game. Sometimes it gives a theme and connection that a player is looking for, DHs for example visually stunning, fast paced action, I knew so many players return or join in Legion specifically just for a Class they connected with. It’s healthy for the game.
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no it doesnt
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If the new class is not something to do with either dark rangers or tinkers i would be surprised. I think wow needs better class design over a new class. The only reason people want a new class is because the old classes have been basically the same and dumbed down for a decade now.
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And some more character slots, please.
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My argument would be for a new class, but new specs for existing classes.
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They could introduce so many RP-only classes and balancing/specs wouldn’t be an issue! To be honest, I don’t see a huge market for this with the current player-base. But a utility-only class (not allowed in instances) that can have six professions and play music, for example? I would still make one.
Or maybe just increase the profession cap and give people more music toys.
Also, no more new classes without increasing the account character cap.
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WoW doesn’t need new classes. What it needs is the ability to change your class like you fan in other games. I’d like to tank raids as a Brewmaster monk and do dailies as a Demo lock.
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So… here’s the thing.
In Raids, balance is literally the same as its always been. It has not gotten any worse.
People have been whining specifically because M+ entered the scene and balance there is screwy because classes weren’t designed for THIRTY MINUTES OF NONSTOP AOE as an entire pillar of the game.
A new class won’t change anything, and frankly additions like that are more important than perfect balance even if it did have a notable impact (but it won’t).
That said, I don’t think Bard or Necromancer need to happen in WoW.
I feel like it’s pretty clear that the Necro archetype was used for Unholy DK. That’s WoW’s Necromancer even if it’s not exactly what people typically picture. I’d be okay if they leaned into it even more in a future revamp though.
As for Bard – it’s fundamentally a support class. WoW isn’t a game that uses Support Classes. Blizz has actively moved further away from that since Vanilla. Add playable instruments instead – not a class.
I could see Tinker happening despite cannibalizing Engineering thematically. I personally have 0 interest in such a thing though, so I’d like to see what else they could come up with.
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New classes are always really nice to get because they’re new and shiny. I agree that there should be more but I think the way blizzard goes about it is what’s key. Rather than introducing new classes, I would prefer new specs to existing classes.
The most obvious changes I can think of right now would be changing a spec like a survival hunter into a tank role. Maybe adding a new spec to warlocks for cloth tanking. This would itch my desire for a new class without having to massively hodge in some lore. Or even something like an “earthwarden” shaman tank of some kind. Something new and fresh to offer differences in our current styles.
I like when they add a new class in full but I also favor my current class more than any newly introduced ones. I main a pally but have always wanted a ranged caster spec, or an entirely new melee healing support role that is separate from holy entirely. Offering new ways to play the current classes seems like the better route I guess, at least in my own mind.
A necromancer can be added to the DK, a bard can be added to any class I suppose depending on what it revolves around, maybe a tinker spec could be added to a few current races in general like gnomes and goblins in addition to their normals spec options. I assume you don’t need fantasy sense here because it’s mechanical in nature. Something like a tidesage can be added to mages for some sort of healing. idk
I guess that’s my 2 copper worth. I would like more specs so our existing playstyles can be spruced up a little. I think WoW more or less has its fill of logical classes.
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I’ll take three of each.
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Well, Tinker doesn’t step on any toes.
Even the kind trolls wiggle in GD threads.
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then ‘balanced’ is clearly subjective…because this forum is perpetually filled with complaints by others who say they AINT all balanced, lol
I want a new healing class and tanking class.
I think Tinkerer/Artificer or Void Sovereign would facilitate those roles and add interesting DPS roles.
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Honestly surprised we don’t have a necromancer as we’ve heard that title being called out by NPCs in-game so it exists in lore and is separate from warlocks. The real question is what races could be allowed to have this class.
I’m not familiar with what necromancers we’ve seen in-game because I never really paid a lot of attention to that tiny detail.
A tinkerer class would make sense with the inventions these goblins and gnomes are making and it would fit in as long as the abilities match what we’ve seen in-game up to this point.
In a perfect world?
Almost everyone.
Humans
Dwarves
Gnomes
Worgen
Void elves
Dark irons
Kul’tirans
Mechagnomes
Orcs
Forsaken
Darkspear
Blood elves
Goblins
Nightborne
Mag’har
Zandalari
Vulpera
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Not the same tired old ideas like bard, necromancer, or tinker which are bland and uninspired. To be honest I have to say even 10 years ago any time a new class was speculated it always ever seemed like it was just one of those three. they’re just all so lame sounding when it could be something exciting, and considering a new class happens so very rarely and it’s such a big thing for the game there’s no room to mess it up in my opinion
Let’s think of something new, something different, something that hasn’t been seen before.
I think there are wayyyy too many cooler, better options on the table for them to explore and I am excited to see what they may do with dragons. it’d be so neat if they did something magic based to go along with the dragon theme, maybe magic with some type of archer abilities.
I remember maple story had a fire / poison and ice / lightning themed archer, and it was literally the most glorious thing ever.
Or maybe ancient themed magicks something… all the new classes have been melee and there’s definitely room for them to carve out a new space for magic
I dont really care for balancing because WoW was never balanced. However, the closest we got was in MoP imo. I think we should go back to MoPs class design. And you’re right, we do need a new class.
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So… What class is inspired to you?
All three of those and Warden seem inspired to me. Even Dark Ranger sounds good.
But since you don’t seem interested in those can you tell us what you are interested in and why it’s more inspired than the others?