So.....the latest "leak" got me thinking.
What DO players want next Xpac?
1: A fourth spec
Enough said - refresh the existing specs, add variety in playstyle, perhaps use the oppoortunity to fill in gaps by adding classes to use gear with low competition (SpellPlate, etc)
2: A new class
Again - enough said. Add a new class with new gameplay, new lore.
3: Rationalise and refresh the existing specs.
Don't add new specs.....but look at the ones we have. See where they overlap, see if they can be merged, expanded, improved. Where they simply provide style of combat, see if those features can be provided via Glyphs or talents instead. Should existing trees be considered for revamping to provide new roles
For example:
Rogues have three melee DPS specs. Could those three specs be consolidated into 1, with Glyphs or talents providing any necessary style preference?
Shamans have three trees - Resto, Ele and Enh, each with a particular theme. Should it get a fourth spec?
Paladins have three trees. Should it consolidated those into Melee and Caster?
Mages Arcane spec has been focussed more at time management. Should it be revamped to include a healing mode?
Upside? More defined specs, greater hybridisation and the potential for a refresh of the classes
Downside? Players may not like losing playstyle to Glyphs, greater hybridisation necessitates an end to pures and players would miss the ability to player as their favorite spec.
Fourth: Reduce all existing classes to one spec, with differences in role and style accounted for by stance mechanics, glyphs and gearing choices.
A Warrior tank would thus gear and Glyph for tanking, and play in Defence Stance. He can switch to DPS Stance, but would lack the gear and Glyphs to fully exploit it. A Holy Priest could enter Shadowform for DPS, and lose healing. And so on.
EJL