honestly I think this could actually be a good idea, a nice example of paladins as a hybrid support class.
Combat resurrection is a very, very, very powerfull spell and under a lore prospective I would argue that paladins and priests should deserve it more than druids.
Despite that, let’s see it in pratcice:
What are the main problem for ret paladins today (in PvE, since CR can not be used in pvp)?
- low mobility
- average dps
- no valid support spell (when compared to other classes paladin’s utilities fall apart, just think to a DH AoE defense spell. R Paladin can only BoP once every 5 mins at the cost of preventing the affected player from using phisical abilites (EDIT: as stated from a comment below this is wrong, i just got confused since i’ve been playing classic for the last months), use freedom once every 20 secs, which is not so usefull in pve, expecially if there is any other class in your party with a magic dispell. The only really strong support spell we have is LoH, wich only affect 1 player,can be used once every 10 mins, and is pretty useless if you have a good healer.).
How to fix it?
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Low mobility is a god damn problem for a melee class, since it means that we need more time to run out of problem and/or to get back to combat. Can give us a cr fix thix this? no
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Average Dps: as for me, i think it’s ok to have an average dps for an hybrid class. I do accept it. BUT only if we can bring valid utilities to our party (ofc i would’nt complain about receving some dps buff). In the end to fix the problem n.2 we would need either a dps buff or to fix problem N. 3
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No valid support spell. As i said we have some of the most powerfull utilities in the game, but they are either useless or not valid enough. Today, in a raid or m+ group, valid utilities are cr, AoE defensive/offesnive buff spells, AoE stun, party buffs and invisibility. We have none of these. Bringing a Ret paladin into your raid or M+ group means preventing you from taking a stronger dps, or a cr class or any other class with better utilities. we even no longer have party buffs! (just 2 st buffs, also pretty useless).
Giving Rpaladin a cr would greatly fix this point (although i think we would also need something more, like some group buff to increase overall dps/health res/mana rec) and so, also point n.2
In short give ret paladins a cr will help to fix 2 of their 3 main problems.
Speaking of PvP it should not be of any problem since in rated pvp cr is blocked (aswell as LoH), and in arena our utilities are more than enough. Actually in pvp we have only problem n. 1, the other 2 points are ok in pvp.
How it could work?
Option 1 (if Shadowland will keep Holy Power)
10 mins CD, cost 5 HP and instant cast. Bring a player back to life with x% life and x% mana. also makes him immune to dmg for 2 secs.
i think that it should somehow feel expensive to cast it, in terms of dps lost, and 5 hp should be enough to give you that feeling. cast is instant becouse you will probably loose enough time building the required HP.
Option 2 (if HP will finally be removed in shadowlands)
10 mins CD, 60/70% of base mana and 1.5/2 sec to cast
Brings back to life a player with x% life and x% mana. Also makes him immune to dmg for 2 secs.
Mana cost should be enough to feel somehow expensive and since ret paladins are a melee class and will usually be near the boss, i think that 1.5/2 sec cast is more than enough, otherwise they could fell into boss mecanics, while still being a huge dps lost and a risky move.
Both option should have a 1 min forbereance debuff effect.
Paladin class spell or Ret spec only spell?
It would be a nice class spell, however in terms of balancing, Holy paladins totally do not need it, it would make em to much powerfull in M+ (and also in raids).
Protection i don’t know maybe yes, maybe not.
Definitly a ret only spell, maybe prot + ret, but not holy. It could be given as a base spell OR as a talent.
I would also agree to have it as a talent choice replacing LoH for a Combat res (this would be great since it would let us make a choice and keep the system balanced).
Raid balancing?
I do not think this is a problem, instead this will help ret paladin to feel like a nice choice to have in your raid instead that a lost. Today mythic raid group can bring around 5 melee classes. of this 5 paladin bring good burst dps but average overall dps, and not much utilities. So again it can be nice to bring a cr.
Also CR cd is shared, so having 1 more player with a cr will likely not be a real balancing problem during boss fight.
Little example:
With my guild ,during mythic fights, problem was usually not a lack of cr due to a lack of cr-capable classes, while a lack of cr due to em be all on cd since once any1 uses it every1 get it into cd. I must admit that i’m not sure about this last statement, so i can be wrong.
Overall give ret pally a cr can actually be a good idea in pve while also NOT being a balance problem in pvp.
Let me know your opinion on that and thanks for reading this very,very long post
P.S. As stated from another player in a comment below, i wrongly said that BoP applies a melee debuff. I repeat that it was just a little confusion due to being playing classic for the last months. I apologies with you guys, and i really hope this will not prevent you from reading this post and evaluate it honestly.
I still thank Stormenson for his comment and every1, but i also ask you all to be a little more quiet in the comments. People can make mistakes.
I’d rather be more solid overall than bring just 1 big thing to the group that can be provided by other classes as well.