A Little Teaser ...and by a little teaser, I really mean a little teaser. I am knee-deep in the design for the class revisions as I am writing this. I have a handle on it, I think that I am prepared to really start moving ahead on it and I think that it is high time for you to all hear it from the horse's mouth. As always, as we test anything listed here might change. There are some significant changes coming to the Warden. These changes are being made to enhance the overall role of the Warden. "Oh great, Orion is <expletive deleted> another class!" Well...I certainly hope that this is not the sentiment that people have when they get their hands on the updated Warden. In fact, what I want you all to say is: "The soul of the class is intact, we just have more choices in how we want to play now." What does all this mean? The intent of the update is to provide the Warden three distinct and viable roles. * Primary: Tank * Secondary #1: Melee DPS * Secondary #2: Ranged DPS Stance Changes Stances will play a big role in guiding the Warden to their current playstyle (Tank, Melee DPS or Ranged DPS), the names will be changing on two of the stances and remaining the same on the last. Salvation replaces Conservation and targets the improvement of the things that keep the Warden alive in the fight. Assailment replaces Determination and focuses on getting the Warden all the trappings they need to be viable ranged DPS. Lastly, Recklessness focuses on the Melee DPS slot. Tank - Salvation This is the primary role of the Warden now and it is going to be their primary role in the future. The issues facing Warden's now have been discussed until everyone here is raw of finger and blue of face, so re-hashing the details seems a little fruitless at this point. Instead, let's identify changes that are being made to address those many issues. Battle Preparation This new skill gained fairly early in the Warden's development will allow the Warden to build a Gambit out-of-combat and hold it in reserve for 30 seconds until used. This will allow the Warden to get some preemptive defenses up at the beginning of a fight. Defiant Challenge This legendary trait will no longer unlock a Gambit, instead. This will be a skill that can be used every 5-7.5 minutes (time is still not 100% certain). It will affect up to 10 targets and force them to attack the Warden for 5-6 seconds, reducing incoming damage by 40% and providing all targets striking the Warden the retaliation effect for 30 seconds. Gambit Builders The partial mitigation benefits implemented in Update 5 will remain in place and get a massive 20% boost to where they are currently (Note: This is sarcasm they are going to 6% max). They will also tier up and display only 1 icon, rather than displaying three at a given time. Gambits This is more of a generic change, rather than one focusing on Tank specialization; gambits will drive their beneficial and detrimental effects off of the stance that you are in. This means that fist gambits in Salvation will focus on threat, Evasion, and the like. Additionally, some benefits will stack to compel you to use lesser Gambits to further greater Gambits, or to revisit lesser Gambits once the greater gambits have been "maxed" out. As a rule of thumb for Salvation, Fist will focus primarily on Threat, Shield focusing primarily on defense and critical defense and Spear on damage dealing. Of course, damage is still a part of the former two Gambit Lines. Traits & Trait Sets There has been a lot of discussion on the masteries, they will be staying. They will be moving into trait lines and allowing you gain access to all of them by specializing 5 deep in any one trait line, or 4/2, 3/3 or 2/2/2. In fact, the Master of X traits will be allowing the benefits granted by the normal builders more over to the masteries. The last important tease in relation to the Tank spec of the Warden is a possible inclusion of the Trait Line - 4 or 5 deep - After receiving a critical the Warden becomes immune to critical strikes for x seconds. This is one that I need to be cautious with, but it will likely see the update. You have been patient and I have been busy. I hope tho continue sharing more of the changes coming down the pipe in the next few days.