Originally Posted by
Queen Ultima
Sadly, before everyone else stated it, I saw this and thought it was your own opinions on Locks that don't meet current Warlock concensious (in before Warlocks are Geth, Warlocks do not have windows, structural weakness)
Can't talk about T15 other than my own feeling that Blizz wants 5.1 Soul Leech gone completely. Not opposed to Demo spells healing the pet (and only the pet) aside from how it would go with Soul Link.
T30.... This removes the one major element of MoP talents: Choice. Howl of Terror was only baseline with a cast, remember. I don't see a reason in removing these talents other than to make way for your T90 talents (which I'll get to in a bit). The argument that "Well it was baseline once" doesn't cut it when Shaman T60, Mage T15 and DK T75 have all (arguably) existed as spec-specifics before, now Talents.
T45... This tier is meant to have downsides on it's mitigation. Removing the downside from Soul Link is either OP or redundant, I haven't decided yet. Soul Link is meant to be an effective health increase of 50% of your Demon's health, instead of a CD 200% pet hp shield, or a 50% damage reduction, DOT shield. I honestly don't think you understand the reasoning behind having downsides to it. Besides, to look at the talents at a non-90 viewpoint (shock, horror) it's quite helpful to allow one to level without needing a Voidwalker.
T60.. This is meant to be indirect damage mitigation. Think, cutting off a toe to save the foot. Adding a shield to this tier (instead of, you know, the direct damage mitigation tier) is like having a DPS increase in the middle of a utility tier. It's out of place. Not to mention adding damage to it is even worse, it'll make Warlocks want to get back into melee range in PvE, just like Shadowflame in Cata. You say it's defensive and not OP, but In My Opinion, it is both.
(On Blood Fear: Yes, the redesign is stupid. Yes, the old design was/is stupid. It might not be too bad if they decrease the health cost, increase the charges, but I doubt it)
T75 - Agreed that the tier is good in theory. However, I will say that I see far more choice and "experimentation" in the other tiers (especially the damage mitigation, the utility and the healing trees) than "Affli takes Sac, Demo Serv and Destro Sup".
T90 - Ok. Take a look at every other DPSer talent T90. DK - Slow/snare. Druid- Out of Spec benefits. Hunter - Rotational/AoE spell. Mage - Rotational DPS increase. Monk - Rotational DPS increase. Priest - Rotational/AoE DPS increase. Paladin - Rotational DPS increase. Rogue - Passive DPS increase. Shaman - Passive/Rotational DPS increase. Warrior - Rotational DPS increase. Now, all those classes with DPS increases are balanced around having, eg, the Evocation buff, Elemental Blast buff, Avatar use on cooldown, etc etc. Now, Warlocks aren't balanced around the basis of having a DPS talent, but rather that in the right conditions, a certain Talent may increase damage in specific situations above what Warlocks are "balanced" for. Having a 90 tier based around damage will just mean our other abilities will be nerfed to adjust for damage. The irony is that you say you want to put the "useful" stuff here, but current T90 is far more useful than your suggestions.
Now for the non-damage aspect.. Since you didn't flesh out the spells (ie, name and proper tooltip) I'll assume you're just taking a thought exercise in all this. (On another note, the spells are essentially new forms of Devouring Plague, Cata Hand of Gul'Dan (with the side-linked talent Aura of Doom, IIRC) and Seed of Corruption respectively). They're not bad, the DoT for 50% healing is waaay too much healing, not even DP does that much and that has a big ramp-up. Nothing too bad, but it pushes out a tier for subpar copies of existing spells that haven't been fully thought out.
Now I'll agree that Demonology needs a better mana system, I'd suggest Mana Feed, at least the "gain mana when your Demon, Wild Imps or Metamorphosis attacks hit a target". DF is meant to decrease while in form, it means you don't have to wait in-form, not casting, until your demon/imps attack enough for you to get Fury. Only reason I can think of for allowing no passive DF degeneration at 200 Fury is demon form RP, and if I find anyone RPing as a demon I tie them to a chair, put a gag in their mouth and force them to listen to Harry Potter: My Immortal for the rest. Of. Their. Lives.
Affliction: Shadowbolt is redundant. It doesn't synergize with the spec, and would be a pure DPS decrease. Drain life would never be a main nuke, it'd be OP, hence the channeled Malefic Grasp.
Destruction: Chaos Bolt being channelled... Now THIS is a thought exercise. Ultimatly I'll say, no thanks. For one, it'll reduce the point of interrupts when fighting Warlocks, bringing back, you guessed it, the villain who stretches in the middle of the night wishing to invade and corrupt the dreams of nice little spellcasters, BLANKET SILENCE. I'd rather an interruptable CB that requires smarts to get off than being silenced pre-emptively.
Life Tap as resource builder: NO. It's a Utility spell, for mana. Not a rotational spell. That's why they removed the glyph back in Wrath that gave Spellpower when you LT'd.
Shadowflame: Ok, now I know you're trolling. I prefer being able to see more than the boss's shins.
Demon Hunting: PvP and current PvE Balance takes more precedence than ability to solo outdated instances (yes, by now, typing for 30 minutes, quite tired)
Can't comment on UA, I don't PvP at high levels, though the damage IMO should be enough to make the healer have to focus on healing themselves and the target and lose attention to all else.
Cosmetics I don't care to talk about here. Crimson is a small change, but that's what many of these are (level in Outlands and you'll see why someone may want it).
Final words. For the love of Gul'Dan. Please. Please. Please. Never make me write this much again. You aren't concerned with balance, obviously, and/or you are ignorant of the reasoning behind Warlock mechanics. That's not a crime in and of itself, but you asked for opinions and you got it. I don't see anyone in this thread who says they want these.