Years after Hero Classes were first mentioned, they have finally arrived. Or, will arrive for the next World of Warcraft (WoW) expansion. Or, will arrive piece-wise, after the release of the next WoW expansion. The whole thing strikes me as rather silly, with Blizzard having stated, not long ago, that Hero Classes were off the table, and now suddenly back on, but not as a neat package. Really, if Blizzard was going to do Hero Classes justice, they should have an expansion expressly for them, rather than have a single Hero Class herald the coming of its eventual brethren. Let’s step back for a second, however, and consider what Hero Classes are.
Warcraft III differed from its predecessors by incorporating “hero” units, which had special abilities and were more powerful than other units. These heros were “named”, and were intricate parts in establishing the lore of the Warcraft world. In WoW, the idea of hero units lived on, and Blizzard planned to allow characters that were exemplary (i.e. a Hero Class). For each normal class, Blizzard would offer a “Hero” variant, which would likely be more specialized. In other words, a Hero Class would be like “specializing” in a particular talent tree.
While Blizzard could have a done a lot with the idea of the Hero Class, they dropped the idea because they weren’t sure how to implement it appropriately. Apparently, they never figured it out, and with the coming of the Wrath of the Lich King expansion, they prove they still haven’t figured it out. Much like the Jedi class in Star Wars Galaxies, the whole Hero Class concept looks like it will do little more than rattle the very balance that WoW marginally enjoys at this point in its development cycle.
The Death Knight, being the first Hero Class announced, which will be accessible once the expansion ships, is a DPS/tank class. The ridiculous thing is, it does both of these duties at the same time, capable of tanking while dual-wielding or using a two-hander. With this concept, the Death Knight spits in the face of everything we currently know about tanking. Worse, it’s available to every race, and unlockable by every class. Where is the “evolution” from an existing class, and how will Blizzard possibly be able to balance the Death Knight with existing classes, when it is capable of playing two roles at the same time?
What we’re going to see when the new expansion arrives is everyone and their mother rolling a Death Knight. In fact, there’s no reason not to, since all it involves is completing a quest chain. Worse, Blizzard didn’t like the idea of players complaining about “losing” anything in the idea that they would “convert” their character to a Death Knight. So, players will unlock the ability to start a Death Knight, and will still be able to play their old character. Why should players not be penalized in some way for getting a more powerful class? Simple – an overpopulation of Death Knights. Just as how everyone rolled a Draenei or Blood Elf with the last expansion, everyone will want to try out the new DPS/tank class, and servers will be packed full of them, which directly contradicts the whole premise behind hero units in the first place. Just as Star Wars Galaxies ended up having a ton of Jedi running around, WoW will have Hero Classes running around by the thousands. If the plague of Death Knights isn’t enough, since Hero Classes are unlockable by only a quest chain, every Hero Class announced will have players unlocking them one by one, and rolling yet another “rare” class.
If Hero Classes really are as powerful as they seem to be, no one will be playing normal classes anymore. Eventually, instance and raid groups will be made up entirely of Hero Classes. If there’s any utility left in the normal classes, Hero Class players will have the best of both worlds, because they never have to make the decision to play one or the other.
Hopefully, Blizzard will re-evaluate how they intend to incorporate Hero Classes. My proposition is simple: one Hero Class per account per server, and the “conversion” of the character who unlocks the Hero Class. This way, people will think twice about playing a Hero Class, and the population of “hero units” on individual servers will stay low. Let characters who unlock the Hero Class “try out” the Hero Class for a given amount of time, and if they don’t like it, allow them to revert back to the normal class. In this way, characters can unlock all the Hero Classes they want, but only be able to play one. Furthermore, make Hero Classes extensions of existing classes, and limit the Hero Class to races that can roll the derivative class. For example, if the Death Knight is a combination of the Warrior and Rogue (tanking and melee DPS), then limit the Death Knight to races who can roll both Warriors and Rogues. Or, at the least, to races who can roll Warriors (since DPS Warriors are feasible).
Finally, more than one Hero Class should be available from the get-go. Don’t stretch this Hero Class shit out over the next two years, because balancing these classes over time is going to be that much more difficult.
Right now, I’m not enthused about Hero Classes at all. With so much potential for the idea, Blizzard already seems to be royally messing it up, and in turn, messing up the essence of class balance and the rest of the game.
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I am still on the fence with how I feel about hero classes, or more appropriately, the hero class. As the Beta for the Lich King is likely months away, I have a hard time condemning Blizzard or predicting the end of WoW before they officially announce how this new feature will be implemented. I certainly agree with WyldKard that to get this class you should have to “trade in†an existing high level and that the class you trade in, say a level 70 Warlock, should in some way relate to the hero class you are getting. For instance, as all my toons are casters, I want a casting hero, not a tank or melee class.
I don’t have any issue with new hero classes being released over time, but at least Blizzard, please let me know that is the plan. I think the best implementation of a hero class is a new class that starts at say 60 and has unique but equal strength to other classes. So for example, if you want to play a conventional caster class class (mage, priest, or lock) through 60, you then have the option to convert them to a casting hero class starting at 60 with different yet balanced skills. Hopefully, Blizzard takes their time, tests their theories, and continues their tradition of turning out a polished and balanced product. I believe they will, as in my humble opinion, WoW is the best videogame I have ever played. At least nine million subscribers seem to agree that they do a pretty good job. Have faith WyldKard, at least you play melee classes.
The big concern is balancing. At this point in time, years after the game’s release, class balance is still controversial, both from a PvE and from a PvP perspective. Throwing another class into the mix will only complicate things, especially if one looks at the “bonuses” the Death Knight is said to have.
Tanking while dual-wielding, or with a two-hander? A DPS and a tank class? What will this new class give up to maintain balance? How will it be able to tank without a shield giving it the necessary armour? Are we not talking major re-itemization issues, or very class-speific gear that will only annoy classes that should be able to use these new weapons but can’t?
As an aside, my class choice isn’t all melee, Max. My current main is a Hunter, and my Shammy was Elemental at pre-BC endgame (and is now Restoration). While my Druid was Feral, if one looks at all my characters above level 40 (which includes my long-abandoned Rogue, prior Hunter, and recent Paladin), we’re still looking at only 50% of my characters being melee.
i think you are all over reacting i think WoW is smart enough to realize that Wow Neees to die and kill themselfs thank you
stfu u turd
I am a big troll. E-mail me at kifn@yahoo.com to tell me how turd-ish I am.
Hey,
well i believe the whole thing is realy fucked up.It is obvious.
WoW seemed it started going out of control since the release of the first expansion Burning Crusade.The reason Blizzard launched second expansion SO fast,there were people who didn’t have fully explored Outland when Blizzard droped Wotlk.Reason?Blizzard knew that the Warhammer Online would attract most gamers so without thinking, quickly and scrappy they launched second expansion to keep the interrest of their fans.Only the idea of having new hero classes in WoW and sieges is a strong attraction. Thats why you see everyone rolling Death Knight.Everything is simple logic.WoW is ruined, its a matter of time until it drops of the market.How many bots and hackers are all over WoW? And how many times we reported to GMs, they never banned anyone because they need accounts,if they ban bots they lose money simple as that.
The other problem…tiers,rewards and shit, made WoW gear dependent instead of skill or logic dependent.When i was playing as 70 paladin,things in PvP were disapointing.I remember myself and other 2 players in a battleground fighting a druid fully geared with some arena gear.3 vs 1 Druid, he was casting 0.5 heal and was getting fully healed…spamming it, we couldn’t not defeat him until mana ran out.It’s disapointing how gear dependence ruined the game,things like that wouldn’t happen at the very first days of World oF Warcraft.And i mean long before epic mounts and battlegrounds were droped in.The game was wonderful then, its just too bad it ended like this.
I mean…oh my god,i saw the arena season 4 sets, they were…Blizzard obviously doesn’t care.They just drop things in to amaze and keep some accounts active.No worthy new skills/spells were added on expansion.Cheap work…
I realy pity the fathers who give their credit cards to their 12 year old sons to play the game.And i pity the idiots who gave 40 euro for…death knights? HAHA -Idiocy Rules and lives-
I would say more things but i quess i’m out of topic, well i said what i wanted to say and i hope YOU will open your eyes and judge your stupidity, don’t let your stupidity judge you.Happy New Year!
what I think sucks is that they will probably never come out with a regular class again. They never even bothered adding a regular class. All they will do is add hero classes that start out at higher and higher levels, until one day Old World will serve absolutely no purpose and be completely dead, because everyone will make a character that starts at 55.
I completely agree, and I will always stand by my Gnome Mage to the very end, simply because the original WoW was tended lovingly and therefore is, deep down, the greatest… Blizzard is getting lazy. They are bringing out expansions quickly to keep fans interested, because they will always go for the newer things. Blizzard knows that other games are arriving, and if fans are interested, the market will continue to be theirs. The fans will start to be more insistant on expansions, and Blizzard will obey, and the quality of the expansions will drop at an alarming rate due to time, as has ALREADY been shown by the Burning Crusade’s space goats and the Death Knights in WotLK. Whats more, Hero Classes will start beginning at higher and higher levels as the level cap increases. It won’t be long before this actually outcaps the original Azeroth, and people will just keep playing their Heroes, which will outrole the original classes which will subsequently become unplayed… Azeroth will be empty, everybody will be a crummy overpowered Hero Class, milling about in crummy new continants shipped by poorly made expansions. WoW will then drop off the market, simply because it will have lost it’s magic.
My dream blizz expansion.
First, make all hero classes require trade-ins (pre existing level 60 character becomes a hero taking on the new class).
Second, make all hero classes restricted to its parts. Ie, only a Lock or
Warrior can become DK. A race can become DK If and only if it could be both a lock or a warrior. (ex, Undead can be a Warlock, Undead can be a Warrior. Undead can be DK. Tauren can be Warrior, Tauren can NOT be a Warlock, Tauren can NOT be a DK).
Warrior/Warlock become a Death Knight
Paladin/Priest become Knight of the Silver Hand.
Shaman/Druid become Arch-Druid.
Hunter/Rogue become Demon Hunter
Mage/Priest/Warlock become Spellbreaker
Give each class 2 hero class options.
and so on
This would limit the races to the Hero Classes in a way that would make sense. ie, no Tauren Death Knights
Third, release the game with a facelift. An OPTIONAL graphic enhancement of the ENTIRE world, new faces, bodies, better character creation options. I want a short, fat, human! I want a normal (human like) proportioned gnome! Free re-customization of character appearance with the expansion!
Fourth, my dream expansion would offer Geared and Ungeared BG’s. Some simple tracker would track gear level (modified by your item enhancements) and assign you accordingly. All BG’s would either be Twink on Twink action, or normal, fun, PvP based on skill, not on Equipment…
Fifth, Arena gear would work in Arena’s and Geared BG’s only. Just like the potions and bandages. What the heck? Heirlooms now???
Finally…. When my decently geared Rogue 60 walked into the Outlands for the first time, I realized that all my level 60 instance gear was crap compared to the level 60-61 green outland drops. SO sad. Now, as I wander Northrend, I see the same thing. Maybe, just maybe, the new gear should be on par with the standard continuum set up in the glory pre BC age? +75 stam gear? Holy!
Ok; having played WoW since just out of beta, having taken many a stab at Naxx, AQ20/40, ZG, etc….having suffered through BC and endless Kara runs and BT, Hyjal and sunwell runs….
I love my death knight. He’s not really op, he’s in top level PVE gear but I can get owned in PVP if I’m not careful; ret pally’s still slaughter me if they hit first. There are flaws but the DK has in fact fit into things nicely, IMO. I am unholy DPS and I top the chart every time. I don’t always have the top DPS, but I always have the top damage done. And with dual spec, I can also tank/pvp better too. It’s fun.
But….
I still prefer playing my shaman or original mage. So I can honestly say that I agree with at least some of what everyone is saying and yet, I can also say that DK luvin is good luvin. I think this is mainly because yes…everyone rolled one back in november. But most of them sit unlevelled or un geared since people realized that properly playing a DK…playing one well….isn’t easy. It’s a technical class and requires thought and strategy. You can’t fully take advantage of the DK abillities by sitting back and button spamming and auto-attacking. You have to focus….so, I’m ok with it.
From what I’ve learned as being a DK for 5 months is, yes, they are awesome tanks, and mabye they do pump out more dps than other tanks… but, that doesn’t mean a whole raid group will consist of DKs… they aren’t as overpowered as you say they are. My guild currently only has 4 DK’s, they like to balance it out.. because in end game, DK’s aren’t overpowered, they’re the same as everybody else. They can’t provide all the buffs other classes do, neither can they heal or range dps. DKs are fine as they are, get over it.
So you’re saying that even if DKs are far ahead of other dps (ahead of pure damage classes) or that they are completely viable tanks (hell, choice tanks for certain fights), DKs aren’t OP? Do you really need DK raid groups to be viable before calling them as such? You have a pretty distorted sense of the word.
Our raid DK consistently top our charts at upwards of 7.5k dps while the rest of the melee: rogue, warriors, shammies, paladins swim around at 5.6-6. Mages, druids, hunters, shadow priests and locks fill out the space between DKs and all other melee.
As tanks, DKs have so many saves, it makes tanking some bosses so much easier (general and 3d sarth are pretty much jokes with a DK tank).
Fact is unless you expect a DK to heal, I think that pretty much makes them THE top choice for 2 out of the 3 roles.
There’s a good reason for blizzard nerfing DKs every patch since their introduction last year – they’re OP.
PS – One more thing, what class can provide all the buffs other classes do anyway? is this one of your criteria for what makes a class OP…? really?
You were wrong buddy, you wasted your time writing that article. The death knight ended up being a wonderful class and WoW won. I am sorry the doomsday scenario you wished for did not come true. Perhaps you can send a message to my death knight some time and I can show you how powerful the class is.
@hello – Did you even read the OP, or just the title? One of the main arguments was that DKs were potentially overpowered, and that this would mean more people rolling DKs, and an issue presenting itself with playing “single role” classes. Both of these things happened.
1) DKs are the most popular class in WoW, both looking at levels 10-80, as well as just end-game characters.
2) DKs received numerous nerfs after their arrival to bring some semblance of balance back. Still, their ability to solo and provide group functions just as easily made them incredibly popular. So popular, in fact, that during early level-80 instances, it was not uncommon to find two DKs per group, either dealing damage, or tanking. Many people questioned why one wouldn’t take a DK over a Rogue or DPS Warrior/Paladin.
3) Blizzard responded not just by nerfing DKs, but by making certain encounters more amenable to certain classes, thus giving more incentive to taking Druids, Warriors, and Paladin tanks along for particular encounters. Blizzard also responded by offering dual-specs, effectively bringing every class in line for a dual-role opportunity.
In our opinion, that is a doomsday scenario, and has only continued putting WoW on a slippery slope where little differentiates characters of the same class. Maybe DKs didn’t do this on their own, but they’re very indicative of the desk problems that pushed many people away from WoW.
If anything, the thought behind the DK upon the release of WotLK illustrate precisely what’s wrong with a class that’s too powerful: either the class needs to be nerfed considerably and anger early adopters, else all other classes must be buffed to compensate. Neither is a good scenario, though the former is better.
No offense, but this article is retarded.
Adding extra classes has NEVER been the problem in WoW. Lack of creativity, innovation, class/skill options, and character freedom ARE the only problems WoW has.
Blizzard completely ruined WoW after BC because they played it safe and stomped on the lore.
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