Cataclysm had some decent ideas, but unfortunately reality turned out quite differently. Pretty much everything regarding warlocks are miles ahead of Cata in Mists. I haven't had this much fun with my class since I started playing the game.
I like what they've done for the most part, but I just wish Destro had maybe one more button to push. Thing is, I understand that with the three specs basically being completely rebooted, they had to leave room for growth for later patches/xpacs.
They are at a good baseline for further growth, I think.
I am the one who knocks ... because I need your permission to enter.
I really like what they have done with the warlock. Diversity, different resources etc. I might be biased but I think it is the best and most enjoyable class.
I think Affliction is the perfect spec right now. The basics are very simple - simple dot uptime and filler spam - but as you learn more about it, it becomes more and more complex: managing shards around intellect procs, refreshing dots at the start and end of dots, the beautiful - in my opinion - AoE routine, switching talents from encounter to encounter to maximize. You can really say "easy to learn, hard to master" about Affliction right now. All that while it still feels like a spec built entirely around dots. I love it. This applies only to PvE however - the spec is REALLY flawed in PvP as it's completely reliant on a hard cast to do any damage at all (dots on their own don't do anything) and the new dispel mechanic shuts down an Affliction warlock for 6 seconds (or 3 seconds + 2 shards).
I've never been a fan of Demonology, but I did play it extensively for PvP and dailies and I kinda enjoyed it. It felt really weird at first to play with just Corruption and having pets do such a large portion of my damage, but I got used to that and it even added flavor to the spec overall. The only thing I could never get used to with Demo is how Corruption and Doom work, I hate how it's the same button/hotkey (binding it twice is just a workaround) and it feels awkward jumping in/out of meta form just to apply it all the time. I don't think Corruption and Doom even have enough in common to work like that, not nearly enough like all the other converted spells.
I've also had Destruction as my PvP/daily spec after the nerf to Demo (it's still good in arena, but not for RBG) and I think that spec is also quite well designed. You have to actually set up burst, not just get the Ember and hit CB - need to hold back on Conflags for the haste and need to use Havoc properly. That's cool, another easy to learn hard to master sorta thing. What I don't really like about Destro is that Rain of Fire is just too good, it's really not a fun spell to use, making it regen so much Ember (especially in RBG) was a terrible idea.
The only thing I miss from Cataclysm and the other expansions is Soul Link. We're supposed to be the tankiest caster, and have been that for the entire game, but we are now the only caster without a passive damage reduction.
Last edited by Tya; 2012-12-31 at 01:20 PM.
Can't help but smirk at the contradiction between these posts above, and the one below.
Shadowflame aside, I enjoyed old Demo; but it's fair to say the new model is an improvement. We have lost a couple of buttons but not actions on the priority list and certainly no complexity. In regard to heals/Life Tap, you can glyph and talent to counter it. I don't think PvP is really a fair place to lay judgement because it is an aspect of the game I don't think anyone can argue is in a good place; even Warriors and Mages accept that.
Destruction is interesting now, and not a complete clusterfuck as was in Cata. I think only a masochist or troll could claim to want it back. And Affliction, I have mixed feelings about; I think I just hate being railroaded into Sacrifice.
I dont miss at all the cata lock specs, all of them are better now.
To all of you that want to be in melee roll a melee class, warlocks are RANGED.
I like the new Affliction, it's simple yet has a depth to it I'm approving. They managed to make the new demo even more tedious than it already was, now if you wanna talk clunky, talk demo...! Aside from the terrible long casts, the stance-dancing, and the mana issues, about the only fun thing is its high mobility. The new destruction is terrible compared to the old one - very straightforward, nothing much to do. I loved the old destro. Ah well, times change, we adapt, and we learn to enjoy the novelties!
edit: must admit the removal of shadowflame in its cata incarnation is a big + in mop.
I dont care about aesthetics , all that matters to me is the numbers and being in melee means u'll have to dodge more stuff, thus u'll have to interrupt your casts alot of times wich its a dps loss, thats what i remember from cata, having to interrupt my shadow bolts to avoid fire on the ground while the ranged grp was just fine in the back. We do have KJC now but this will make it mandatory wich isnt blizz intention, also u'll move 30% slower compared to other melees.
Warlorcs of Draenorc made me quit. You can't have my stuff.
I can't say that I love the Destro spec. It does feel like it's missing something imo. But Demo and Aff. I absolutely enjoy. The point was to make you pay attention in this expansion. So for you to complain about having more to pay attention to, then you obviously have never played a rogue, monk or even a DK in order to keep track of your dots with them. As well as their energy/combo points/chi/death runes etc. Cata locks were a shell of what they were from BC and LK. Blizz got them back on track in MoP if anything.
Imo they should have went full melee with demo spec, just make it so u're all the time in demon form and give abilities that work the same way it does for melee, only instants, as resource demonic fury could have been rage from warriors under a dif name.
I'm coming back to wow for the first time in a few years. My lock was my first char since vanilla and by far my favourite. At the beginning of cata i thought i'd mix things by trying the other classes, resulting in 8 85 alts. they just didn't feel "right" tho like my lock did. So I ended back on old faithful, but the net result of all that levelling and regearing of all those chars was burnout, turbo burnout!!! So I decided to give wow a break as work commitments also prevented me from raiding on a regular basis.
The reason I'm coming back..?.......one reason.
Xelnath and his team.
The job they did revamping the class and bringing it back to its grass roots of the dark wizard who lusts after power by inflicting pain and misery on others at the cost of his mortal and others mortal/demonic essence, made me wants to play my warlock again, I cannot wait to hit 90 so I can experience the full power but so far I am in awe at the depth and sheer difference experience each spec provides, what dps class can boast total and unequivocal difference style of play and feel!!
So no I say warlocks are not just in a good place, they are in the best place they have ever been since this games inception and we have one person to thank for that!!
So Xel, thank you for allowing me to rekindle the love for my favourite class, deeply sorry for what happened with regards to your position at Blizzard, however the legacy of how amazing the warlock class is now you left behind is a fitting tribute to your time there.
Looking forward to raiding and having fun again!! Just wish I had triple talent specialisation lol!
Jay B.