WoW Forever GuideHunter, then and now
2004 said
Hunters are "almost as dangerous in melee" as at range. Leather armor until 40, then mail.
Forever says
Aimed Shot for every hunter at 20, traps usable in combat, pets that scale with your gear. The dead zone stays.
The 2004 guide was optimistic about hunters up close. It describes them as nearly as dangerous in melee as they are with a bow, a view the next twenty years did not support.
Blizzard's hunter post for Forever lists four changes. Aimed Shot comes to every hunter at level 20 instead of sitting in a talent tree. Traps can be used in combat. Your pet gets stronger as your gear does. And the dead zone stays: inside 8 yards, your ranged shots won't fire.
Melee hunter remains a lifestyle choice.
You fight from a distance with a bow or gun while an animal companion keeps the enemy busy. It's the friendliest class to learn the game with, and you get a pet.
Where this comes from
How we verify- The 2004 guide
Hunters "almost as dangerous in melee"; leather, then mail at 40
Read from the guide, printed page 101 - Blizzard
Aimed Shot at 20 for all hunters, traps in combat, pets scale with gear, dead zone within 8 yards
Blizzard: class deep dive, Hunter and Druid
More from this chapter
Changed in ForeverHuman hunters and five other firstsHumans can be hunters too. It's one of six new race and class combinations.
Testing in betaPets never stop eatingBlizzard hasn't said whether pet happiness returns. We're testing it in the beta.
Testing in betaThree bags, feeding twoBlizzard hasn't said whether quivers and ammunition return.