Edit: Since this reply, I’ve decided to create this topic - [Suggestions updated] Pre-Legion Survival [4th spec]
Been replying to most threads that bring this subject up. I very much agree on the fact that we should get the ranged SV spec we had prior to Legion back.
Why? First off…it makes sense.
The aspect of ranged combat(with weapons), and coating your ammo/bullets or arrows in various venoms/poisons or adding explosive effects to them. It just fits.
I’ve been proposing since early Legion that hunters should get the ranged SV playstyle back through MM. Many key abilities are already in there, just they work a bit different. Also, thematically, marksmanship while at the core, is about mastering archery or sim. it still makes sense to add a version of this spec that instead focuses on the ammunition/arrows used by your ranged weapons.
Now, how to actually fit old SV into current MM?
SVs past core abilities were:
Explosive Shot
Black Arrow
Serpent Sting
Make Explosive Shot work as it used to. Make it replace Aimed Shot as a 2-charge ability(though with an instant cast time)
Make Black Arrow return and be a replacement for Rapid Fire. Same CD as it used to have. Each tick from the DoT applied should restore focus to you(in total, similar to what Rapid Fire gives you). And in addition, any target affected by Black Arrow also takes increased “Elemental Damage”, which is essentially what SV used to be about in the past. Meaning, damage caused by Explosive Shot or Serpent Sting on that target is increased.
Serpent Sting could essentially stay as it is. However, I would argue that we should get the Serpent Spread effect back we had for example in Cata. Where Multi-Shot applied a version of the SS-dot to all targets hit.
Bonus:
Since we got Tar Trap instead of Ice Trap I’ve toyed with the idea that Explosive Shot could interact with it in a way.
For example, if you hit a target with Explosive Shot and that target is standing in the tar applied by your trap, it’s(the tar) set on fire and any enemy caught in that fire takes damage along with receiving a small DoT-effect.
Make this version of the MM spec be about what old SV used to be along with making AoE-damage come from Serpent Sting as well as proper placement of your Tar Trap.
There is ofc more to this than what I’ve written here, but no real need for such details right now.