New Tank (Beastmaster)

[AriaEnia]

Totem? you mean like a Tauren or something..?

[Aldora]

Well, i like the idea that Ceodore posted. But, i don’t really see how a pet class would work for a tank. From what i’ve read in the OP, the pets are mainly meant as a buff, rather than an actual pet like the Egi’s.

We can’t really have a Pet be a tank, unless we have full control over the actions the pets had, especially for keeping hate and popping the proper buff for each situation. Because of that, it’s better that the character him/herself would tank the target, while the pet is on the sidelines for support.

When you look at it like that, i would rather see something like what Iagainsti said earlier, a skill or stance that would give the caster or it’s party members a buff. Or maybe a combination of both, like skills that could only be used when you are in a certain “Spirit Animal” stance.

[Kazrah]

Well, i like the idea that Ceodore posted. But, i don’t really see how a pet class would work for a tank.

DCUO actually had a pretty interesting system for a pet tank, where they used a mix of damage absorption as well as a damage deferrence system where their pet would intercept a set amount of damage the master would take (sorta like how Cover works) and the master would have an ability that heals the pet (like the Arcanist's Sustain skill) on a limited cooldown.

Honestly, bravo to the OP not just for that much dedication in that creation experiment, but also to prove that the next tank job doesn't have to be the outstandingly unimaginative Samurai.

[Sylve]

DCUO actually had a pretty interesting system for a pet tank, where they used a mix of damage absorption as well as a damage deferrence system where their pet would intercept a set amount of damage the master would take (sorta like how Cover works) and the master would have an ability that heals the pet (like the Arcanist's Sustain skill) on a limited cooldown.

Honestly, bravo to the OP not just for that much dedication in that creation experiment, but also to prove that the next tank job doesn't have to be the outstandingly unimaginative Samurai.

Didn't Yoshi already say that he wanted the Samurai to be a DPS and not a Tank?

On topic, I dont think a pet focused Tank Job would be ideal. Speaking as an Australian with significant lag problems just controlling Fairies and Egi's, trying to use pet control abilities in Warrior-like timing just would not end well.

I don't think the totem really fits for what you described either, especially given your use of the Tauren imagery. Tauren totem weapons are not limited to the Shaman, In fact, Tauren are literally the only race in WoW to ever utilize such things as weapons. Tauren just happened to be the original Shaman race.
Back in vanilla, Tauren had Shaman on the Horde and Alliance Human/Dwarf had Paladin as an analogue which is why Totems there gave virtually the same buffs the Paladin Auras/Blessings gave.
Its a cultural thing for that race more than it is an aspect of the Shaman class, they even use Totem themes in their buildings.

A two-handed Mace or dual maces would fit better than a totem.

I really quite like your idea, however i feel that it sounds more like a spiritualist/elementalist than a Beastmaster. Especially given the way you described the elemental totems at the end.
(The last 2 skills sound incredibly underwhelming though lol)

[Kazrah]

Didn't Yoshi already say that he wanted the Samurai to be a DPS and not a Tank?

I was mostly making a shot at all the people I know who want samurai tanks. "Oh, you want a tank in heavy armor with a big sword that relies on parry?".....yeah, dark knight's that way. ------>

I do agree with you on most of those points though. I'm well aware of Aussie latency issues, which is why a pet tank job would probably bear about as much control over their pet as Machinist turrets (basically none at all). Either a greathammer, dual mauls or dual chopper axes would make more sense as weapons of choice given how unwieldy a carved-out massive wooden post would be. Some of the skills do seem either lackluster or broken as well, but I understand the attempt to link the Beastmaster to something more spiritualistic for the sake of job lore and ability inspiration.

BTW Sylve, if you're gonna talk WoW lore, orcs were the original shaman race before tauren. =P

[Sylve]

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I forgot about Orcs. Entirely. Whcih is sad considering my Shaman was an orc when i took down Lich King. /facedesk.

In my defense, i was primarily Alliance during vanilla up to mid Wrath... Which is no excuse at all, i cant believe i forgot about the orc shamans T-T

[ApolloGenX]

Milk of the Wolf- Thanks for that image... now I can't get it out of my head... /gag. Wolfteets!!

[Radacci]

Titan egi, worked for a while, then it didn't...they aren't gonna add any other pet tanking.