ISF: 8% damage boost instead of 15% spell haste.

[Infernix]

http://blue.mmo-champion.com/topic/1...arlock-changes

How big of a change is this?

[MrMarique]

And it's been moved down a tier? I'm hoping this won't hit Demo/affliction too hard

[Seezer]

http://blue.mmo-champion.com/topic/1...arlock-changes

How big of a change is this?

It's huge. This means that we can only get it as destruction. I figured this would happen. But on the bright side, our T11 4 set got buffed.

[Exonos]

As it is also moved to tier 3 in destro it is a huge change. Demo and afllic don't have to think about it anymore as the can't reach it. I just hope they increase our dmg now tha we have 15% less haste.
But i like the change, because oh my god how i haded keeping that buff up.

[Infernix]

Agreed. I tried speccing for it and simply gave up. Trying to keep the buff up was overly difficult to the point of frustration.

[Faradin]

I'm not to surprised at the nerf, but it looks like demonology and affliction will be taking more of a hit than destruction. There may be some buffs to compensate that are thrown in, but I'm not too optimistic that they exist.

At the very least, the ideal haste threshold hasn't changed too much for destruction. It's now ~2588 (for the 30% tick) instead of ~2639 (for the 50% tick). Regardless, It will be interesting to see how much this affects our damage in comparison to other classes when all the class changes are all said and done.

Nothing has been mentioned about changes to the buff application, but there's a chance that the blue didn't think it was a notable thing to mention.

EDIT: A few additions

[Seezer]

I don't like this. If they are going to make a change like this, they need to also release what they are planning on doing for afflic and demo in the same breath. It didn't need moved, and the effects didn't need changed. The cd needed to be lowered. That's all.

[Infernix]

They're releasing the rest of the notes in the morning. Not too long to wait, I think.

[gherkin]

NEUTERED!

I'll casually wait until the notes are up before grabbing the pitchforks. As of right now there is no reason to be any spec but destruction, assuming nothing else changes.

[Seezer]

They're releasing the rest of the notes in the morning. Not too long to wait, I think.

You're right. I just get nervous when things like this happen. ISF is pretty game breaking, and it's scary to think we may be under compensated.

[Infernix]

The developers have done a fairly good job of keeping all three speccs close enough in DPS numbers to where we have had the luxury of being able to say "Play what specc you enjoy the most, the numbers are pretty close."

I doubt they're going to give a massive 8% damage boost to ONE specc and leave the other two unbuffed. That would cause the lock forums everywhere to explode until it was reverted or buffs were put in place to fix it.

[Mourning]

If Affliction gets compensation I'll be stoked. Being forced to work hard-casted Soulfires into my Affliction rotation left a bad taste in my mouth.

[Razaac]

this is a bullshit change imo as ISF currently adds a LOT MORE than 8% dmg with the added haste.

[Kelzam]

I don't like this. If they are going to make a change like this, they need to also release what they are planning on doing for afflic and demo in the same breath. It didn't need moved, and the effects didn't need changed. The cd needed to be lowered. That's all.

Actually, yeah it did need to be moved, and it did need changed. The fact that Affliction Warlocks found themselves putting two points in Emberstorm for Soulfire alone because the Incinerate half of the talent was completely useless, was bad design. After that, the fact that you spend another 2 points as Affliction and make Soulfire mandatory to cast outside of specs that actually use fire spells as a main source of their damage, is asinine. It should've never went live while being in the 2nd tier of the tree. As a matter of fact, it's entire design went against Blizzard's stated goal of not having mandatory talents that every spec takes when putting points in another tree.

[Infernix]

Agreed, I was never a fan of ISF.

[c4tuna]

They'd better buff the everloving shit out of felpuppy and felguard...

[Ludovician]

The damage reduction doesn't concern me. What does concern me is that watching things cast incredibly slowly makes things less fun. But maybe that's just me.

Also does anyone know if this affects dots cast before the isf buff goes up similar to coe, or if the damage boost is worked into the dot during the initial cast?

[Faradin]

The damage reduction doesn't concern me. What does concern me is that watching things cast incredibly slowly makes things less fun. But maybe that's just me.

Also does anyone know if this affects dots cast before the isf buff goes up similar to coe, or if the damage boost is worked into the dot during the initial cast?

If current mechanics are anything to go off of, the damage boost will be set on cast and refresh.

[Seezer]

Actually, yeah it did need to be moved, and it did need changed. The fact that Affliction Warlocks found themselves putting two points in Emberstorm for Soulfire alone because the Incinerate half of the talent was completely useless, was bad design. After that, the fact that you spend another 2 points as Affliction and make Soulfire mandatory to cast outside of specs that actually use fire spells as a main source of their damage, is asinine. It should've never went live while being in the 2nd tier of the tree. As a matter of fact, it's entire design went against Blizzard's stated goal of not having mandatory talents that every spec takes when putting points in another tree.

Ok, what about Bane then? Not as big as ISF, but all locks spec into bane. And we've been using it for quite a while now.

[fcdr1fter]

I'm very happy as an affliction lock. i refused to put any points into ISF just because i hate the idea of having to cast a long cast time FIRE spell in my rotation. and every without it I manage to pull 8-10k dps in heroics (depending on the fight and if i have to spend time CCing or not)