4th Mage spec - Battle Mage

Classes Mage
1

  1. Supported by lore, there are countless in-game frontline mages.

  2. This spec will sacrifice damage for sustainability by using arcane magic to boost shields, wards and melee-short range spells. A Battle Mage cannot block, parry or dodge as traditional tanks do. Instead they use a % absorption barrier that is increased by Mastery or pure Intellect. Chrono spells that reverse damage or delay damage are also a good arcane solution.

  3. Instead of melee damage, they can automatically pulse a very short ranged spell (mini Arcane Explosion)

  4. Staff users. Think Saruman fighting the Wraiths in the Hobbit.

  5. Two new hero talent trees: Kirin Tor Guardian and Spellbreaker. The possibilities (within reason) are endless.

Thoughts appreciated.

3 Likes
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Sounds good, but how are healers supposed to heal it?

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i approve. 10char

2 Likes
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The one time they ever mentioned Battle Mage for World of Warcraft was in relation to Enhancement Shamans.

"The identity of the Enhancement Shaman is cool, but we donā€™t feel that the mechanics do well to establish that. We want this spec to be more than a melee-range Elemental Shaman, while having a distinct ā€œBattle Mageā€ feel. "

The reason Mages donā€™t have a Battle Mage spec is because if you want a Battle Mage, Shaman is the class to go to. That may sound counter-intuitive, after all we are the Mage class, but a Battle Mage fantasy is really the application of an idea from other franchises to WoW. And in WoW that particular fantasy seems to be for Enhancement.

1 Like
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The shield could be moving in steps between two points within several seconds, i.e. 20%-30% damage reduction every ten seconds. 20-22-24-26-28-30 and then back down.

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I seeā€¦ For me though, the distinction is that a Shaman channels the elements through spirits and the natural world, whereas a Mage directly wields arcane power to command the elements. That difference makes the fantasies feel separate and it also leaves room for a Mage spec that fights up close.

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True, but in practical gameplay terms it is about going to up to someone and hitting them in the face whilst casting spells.

Thatā€™s pretty much an enhacement shaman right now. Maybe one day they introduce 4th specs and itā€™s a melee spec, but if they feel Shamans fulfil that fantasy right now it may impact those chances.