The Queue: Lorewalker Monks
Speculating about which new specs the WoW classes could get is the kind of thing that really gets me going, and a lot of the community as well. Earth-based tank Shamans, “Shockadins,” Gladiator Warriors, tanking Warlocks and others are common fantasies for new specs players want to see. Today, we delve into some of those ideas.
This is The Queue, where you tell us all about why you want to play a tanking Priest wielding warglaives, and I point you at Tyrande butchering fools in Darkshore and ask you “why not?”
Blizz has said they’re open to adding new specs to existing classes in the future, where it makes sense.
What would you most want to see?
My #1 pick would be an earth element-based Shaman tanking spec. They can already equip shields, they’ve had some faux “tanking” tools in the past (even Rockbiter Weapon used to generate extra threat!), they have skills like Earth Shield, and they’re missing earth out of the four elements (with fire for Elemental, air for Enhancement, and water for Restoration). It makes too much sense.
On that same “a class already has a theme with four aspects, but only three specs,” I’d add a caster spec for Monks called Lorewalker. The Lorewalkers are already firmly established in lore, and they could be blessed by Chi-ji (instead of having Xuen for Windwalker, Niuzao for Brewmaster, and both Yu’lon and Chi-ji for Mistweaver). They could read scrolls and cast spells from them, a common spellcasting fantasy.
Retreading old ground, Warriors would get Gladiator, a “one-handed weapon + shield” melee DPS spec, and Warlocks would get a spec that would mimic their old Dark Apotheosis skill that allowed them to tank in demon form. Both of those were in the game during Mists of Pandaria, we’d simply be restoring (and evolving) those same ideas.
I’d have the usage of bows and crossbows be shared with two more classes: both Rogues and Demon Hunters would get new physical ranged DPS specs using those weapons. The Rogue spec (which we could call Sniper) would be like a darker, stealthier version of Marksmanship, while the Demon Hunter spec would operate somewhat similarly to how the Diablo 3 version of Demon Hunters does, with some dark magic to help them trap and slay demons.
As for Hunters themselves, they could get a tanking spec. Melee-based like Survival, but the Hunter is dodging attacks that happen to come their way while their pet, close by, growls at enemies to taunt them and absorb the brunt of their attacks. We could even have some abilities where the Hunter themselves disappears (Camouflage-style) and the player directly controls the pet for some brief moments. I think that would be fun.
Two classes would gain caster specs that use offensive Holy spells: Paladins could get Inquisitors, and Priests could get Prophets. This would work especially well in an expansion where we have a lot of Light-based lore (certain things seem to point that way, with the Arathi empire and more).
Death Knights would take a page from Bolvar, and learn a Fire-based DPS spec. It would be all about self-inflicting immolating pain and using that to harm enemies. Since the whole “Blood, Frost, and Unholy runes” concept is firmly-rooted in established lore, we’d be evolving the class by treading new ground, from the new Lich King.
Mage would get Chronomancer, a time-based spec. Although time-manipulation effects are currently in the Arcane spec already, it’s a very small part of that class that doesn’t explore it the way WoW lore itself does. There’s much more potential there. And if we wanted to differentiate them from how Evokers use Bronze time magic, we could have the Chronomancers dabble into some dangerous Infinite Dragonflight power!
Evoker would get the tanking spec that many players thought they were getting back before Augmentation was announced. Black Dragonflight magic to harden their scales, and lots of self-healing effects from Red, Green, and/or Bronze sources. Definitely not hard to imagine, and branching out into a new role would probably work well to attract more players to this class.
Druids would get nothing. Until everyone catches up with four specs, it makes no sense to give them a fifth.
1) Q4tQ What game(s) are you picking up at the Steam Winter Sale?
2) Q4tQ Do you think we’ll get a K Pop Demon Hunters vidya game? Seems like a natural extension of the franchise to me.
1) I’ve picked up one so far: Lysfanga: The Time Shift Warrior. It’s been sitting on my wishlist for quite some time, and I have no immediate plans to play it, but the discount was HUGE, and it was very cheap!
I also have my eyes on games like Baldur’s Gate 3 and Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, but the discounts those are getting aren’t big enough yet.
2) We’re getting playable K Pop Demon Hunters, in Midnight! It’s a new spec, mid-ranged, using a lot of super cool-looking purple Void effects. A real feast for the eyes! And Void Elves will be allowed to play it too!
Speaking of…
When the Void DHs come out, what’s their shorthand going to be?
…since we already have Vengeance, so maybe it’ll be VoDH and VeDH?
The comments were immediately helpful here.
“Arthonos said: The spec is Devourer, so DDH.”
This is correct, but I’m also gonna go with “Devo” for the shortened form. Kinda like “Ret” or “Demo.” I could see people talking about their “Devo DH.”
Saw ads for that Tomb Raider garme, saying “coming in 2026! Wishlist it now!”
It’s really weird to see them advertising you to put it on your wishlist.
I mean, certainly there are metrics that a game on a wishlist is xx% more likely to get bought. But it feels like an overstep.
To be honest, I don’t have a huge problem with it. Wanting players to wishlist your game isn’t necessarily about metrics, but rather about making sure people remember the game when it gets released, and later, see it when it goes on sale, etc. Kinda like a different form of advertisement, where people choose what they want to see/be reminded of. Feels… less aggressive to me, I don’t know. I don’t really mind it.
1) I have to make a difficult choice: I’m at 97% upgrades in Metroid Prime 4. The issue is I’ve picked up everything marked on my map, so the missing 3 upgrades must be in hidden chambers. The game also doesn’t track the locations of upgrades you’ve already picked up, so I’d have to print out a list and manually check each location while crossing them off. I don’t get the true ending unless I’m at 100%, but I could always just look it up online. What to do?
2) One of the plot points in Midnight is the overwhelming Light energy causing plant life to begin growing wild and unchecked. Do you think the Druids from the Wailing Caverns and the Gorgrond expedition from Draenor will team up since they have both delt with overwhelming plant growth before?
1) If it’s a game you’re enjoying, I’d definitely go for the true ending, unless the whole manual checking thing gets too tedious. But given the choice between doing “some work” to earn the true ending or just watching it on YouTube, 99% of the time I’ll go for the former — again, assuming it’s a game I’m enjoying, and the process of earning it doesn’t get so boring/demanding that it becomes something I’m really struggling to get done. When you earn it this way, the satisfaction is much higher than just watching it. Dopamine brain, happy.
2) That’s an interesting assumption, yeah! Especially for a game like WoW, with so much past lore and a permanent world, the writers should never let opportunities like this pass. Having players retread old ground when possible values your past work and helps with player recognition/identification. I don’t expect Wailing Caverns druids or people from Gorgrond to have any major roles in future events, but minor appearances (or even just cameos) would certainly be appreciated.
1) Which stone is it that people are dyeing to make mosaics, etc?
2) What is your Christmas/holiday must-have food?
Mine used to be split between Christmas Eve’s “Auntie’s meatballs and mushroom gravy” and Christmas Day’s “roast ham with potatoes and rolls”
1) Beats me, and I couldn’t find anything on a search. Still, I’m leaving this here for visibility. Maybe someone will share the answer in the comments!
2) I’m all about the desserts, honestly. My mom and my sister make these delicious chocolate pies, and it’s easily one of my favorite parts of the holidays.
QQftq: Which tifa is the worst tifa?
I’ve seen some fanart of people who ship Tifa with… Sephiroth. So that one. The Tifa that is in a romantic relationship with freaking Sephiroth is definitely the worst Tifa.
I can’t wrap my head around shipping heroes with people who tried to kill them, or to kill their friends, or to destroy their world, etc. I get that “enemies-to-lovers” is a popular trope, but there’s a big difference between “Elizabeth didn’t really care for Mr. Darcy at first, they were from wildly different backgrounds and had contrasting worldviews” and “I’m falling for the guy who stabbed me in the chest, and killed my dad and my friend’s mom, and murdered everyone in my hometown.” Eugh.
Thankfully, that isn’t a real Tifa. All Tifas (that exist) are best Tifas.
Do you think dragons are devouring whole herds of cattle while the random adventurers are preoccupied?
This is an important question. I don’t have an exact answer, but I think it’s possible, and likely important, that Azeroth has found ways to control the overpopulation of the dangerous Elwynn Cow.
Don’t kid yourself, Waffle. If an Elwynn Cow ever got the chance, it would eat you and everyone you care about.
This has been The Cow. I mean, The Queue. Take care, friends, and have a good weekend!
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