I think you are missing the point.
I'm definately one of those "i dont see a problem with artifacts the way they are right now"
but i dont like it when my sides defense defend the wrong thing.
The problem is the fact that there is one iconic Item that only exists once. Yet even if they look different you will have ALL dps paladins wielding the one single ashbringer. When by definition there is only 1. Same with Legendaries. its a legendary item, so while you will ocassionally see more than 1 person in a given raid or bg with it it is extremely rare to do so.
Blizz has even enforced this by having iconic raid drops often become the standard uniform for npcs later. For example many Draenei in Draenor wielded the Champion draenei sword from the draenei quartermaster for the tournament, and others the mace that belongs to maraad, to show that these weapons are actually fairy common among wielders. thats because its easy to see how that any of these weapons, even if they were previously only used by a specific hero can be duplicated. because what was special was not the weapon but the hero.
With artifacts and legendaries the ENTIRE point of them is that they are special and one of a kind.
Again I dont have anything against this but that is why people are against it. For instance i think they should change it so that your character is said to be one of many leaders of your order hall sending out missions and working with your champions. not a Single one. it would make sense if it was canonized that there are at least 3 champions per class. i'd like to see dialogue about a npc talking tot he Ashbringer of how the Wielder of the Silver Hand saved a great many soldiers on the battlefield, so its time for the Ashbringer to go on the offensive. Thus leaving ambiguity as to who wields it while simultaneously giving credit where credit is do. Is the wielder of the Silver hand the Ashbringer himself? His companion? a rival from the horde? Amongst the story that doesnt matter as much.
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yall are missing the greatest plan of all. N'zoth could have crustacean followers!
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/mantis_shrimp
Mantis shrimp can see in 12 visual spectrums, create explosions hotter than the sun!