[BETA] Destruction Warlock Discussion

[Fallensaint]

Also, I just realized something.

Conflag's description isn't clear whether it generates a shard on cast or on hit. If it's on hit, and works through Havoc, there's some potential for very strong 2-target DPS.

[Maleific]

Also, I just realized something.

Conflag's description isn't clear whether it generates a shard on cast or on hit. If it's on hit, and works through Havoc, there's some potential for very strong 2-target DPS.

I was wondering about this also, of everything i've seen of destro this version of havoc has a lot of potential. I guess the new shadow word: immolate would mean we're swimming in shadow on multi-target fights.

[Deleted]

Talents seems to be the gods of the expansion. I love how customization seems to be wide. We'll see in beta!

I liked the sound of it at first, but haven't liked it when I've seen what the burden it's made to carry is.

Specs are being cut down to a lower base number of buttons, then you re-build them with talents.

This has two major concerns for me.

1) Some talents will end up having a colossal draw to them because they're cut baseline abilities from either WOD or prior expansion, things like Shadowburn, Haunt and godknows what other goodies are tucked in there.

2) Some talents will be the active ones that are meant to address the rather unpleasant looking lack of buttons in a base spec.

We'll inevitably end up having the optimal talents for raids, which while nothing new, isn't something that's ever bothered me since I've never been put in a situation where I had to pick the optimal talent over something that was just absolutely core to the spec I was playing. I dread the fight that forces me to take whatever the alternatives on Shadowburns row are - that spell is just burnt in as core to destruction over the years, it'll feel weird without it.

Likewise I'm sceptical as to the balancing with passive vs active talents. I can't help but feel passives will have an inherent advantage since they'll require less thought and often do their job better in a raid environment, not convinced blizzard will be willing to tune the actives to have any notable advantage vs just rolling with passives - wasn't exactly fond of our perma-doomguard talent.

I think the system has a lot of potential, and it was one of the things I was most excited about when I heard about it, but the above really worries me. I can't help but think a system that should offer customization is going to have half of it's potential squandered on rebuilding tragically empty baseline specs and cut core abilities - not sure if the 7 rows of talents they've got will have many spare for actually having fun playing around with.

Like a lot of stuff I'm seeing, I love the idea behind it and the goal is laudable, but the mechanical class design and what looks like dumbing down of base classes hampers it a little for me. Hopefully it's better than I'm afraid it'll be though.

[Kromus]

Considering the amount of time that will be required for the artifacts ( granted there is some catchup, early indication seems it wont be THAT fast) the spec we start the max level experience at will be vastly important.

I'm very much not getting too emotional about any of the proposals released this week. The timeline for change is massive at this point, and I'd imagine a lot will change. As with pretty much every expansion I'll keep mildly in touch with the changes through beta, and a few days before launch read up on the finalised data and then decide where I'm going with my spec choice.

The only concern for me ahead of Legion is that artifact. As someone who plays hard on an expansion release, I really don't want to pour all the time and grind in, to then have to change spec and restart my artifact. IT seems so important this upcoming expansion.

While I main Destruction at the moment, that is very much open for interpretation as HFC has a few fights where I play affliction, and I basically need to maintain both specs.

What I think is most interesting for Legion was the comments they made about dual spec going, and you being able to basically play all three specs. That no longer will you need to visit a class trainer. So basically it seems that specs can be swopped on the fly?

Again, massive impact on artifacts and which one you choose to go with first. Obviously you'll end up grabbing ideally all three(unless one of the specs turns out to be dirt)

[kneeo]

That's something that confuses me a lot about the proposed changes. They're allowing us to freely swap between all of our specs, and yet artifacts aren't equally as interchangeable. There's always one that's more advanced than the others. I think for hybrid specs, that's okay. You'd generally have one spec that you main and gear out and the other that is close but still slightly behind because you don't use it for much, something like that. For pure dps classes, it makes no sense for our artifacts to be anything but equal in power because of how frequently we generally have to change specs on a fight by fight basis. And especially considering classes like priest or paladin where they only have their one dps artifact to be concerned with, it's just an odd design choice that I hope they don't stick with.

[Deleted]

Maybe we didn't need to switch the specs because we can switch talents instead?
So either we could play Destro AE/cleave or single target instead of switching to Affli or Demo.

Also I think you can either go with one artifact to the max and level a second one close behind or have two artifacts at the same level but not at max.

[kneeo]

Maybe we didn't need to switch the specs because we can switch talents instead?
So either we could play Destro AE/cleave or single target instead of switching to Affli or Demo.

Also I think you can either go with one artifact to the max and level a second one close behind or have two artifacts at the same level but not at max.

That's my point though, you'd never have multiple artifacts that are maxed. Which seems pretty important when you're a class that regularly changes specializations on a per fight basis. It's not something that hybrids with one dps spec have to be concerned with.

[Deleted]

That's my point though, you'd never have multiple artifacts that are maxed. Which seems pretty important when you're a class that regularly changes specializations on a per fight basis. It's not something that hybrids with one dps spec have to be concerned with.

But they have the same problem with there 2nd artifact for Heal or Tank spec.

[Jessicka]

That's my point though, you'd never have multiple artifacts that are maxed. Which seems pretty important when you're a class that regularly changes specializations on a per fight basis. It's not something that hybrids with one dps spec have to be concerned with.

Yeah, I think the aim is for specs to be slightly less overspecialised into niches thanks to being able to adapt by talents instead. They were pretty explicit in that they preferred players to pick a spec and stick with it than to play the merry-go-round.

[darkstar0306]

Looks to me like they made Demo the smooth resource gaining spec for locks. They get a SS on SB, EVERY time?! Ive been a Destro lock since I started in BC, never liked Demo or Aff, that will most likely change. The key thing I have gathered from all these changes and previews is that, if you don't like the spec mechanics for class X, then find a class & spec that you agree with more. I know that this isn't a good idea for some of you, as you have devoted a ton of time and energy into your Destro Lock. But if you truly want to continue playing this game, maybe you should. Otherwise I feel like you're going to be disappointed. Blizz has an obvious direction they want to take this xpac. I just hope that the beta feedback, talent changes and artifact is enough to save one of my favorite specs ever.

[Deleted]

Destro is regressing, not progressing... SHAME. This along with mutilation of demonology is the reason why I am not playing warlock in the next expansion. Priest will now be my main.

[kneeo]

Yeah, I think the aim is for specs to be slightly less overspecialised into niches thanks to being able to adapt by talents instead. They were pretty explicit in that they preferred players to pick a spec and stick with it than to play the merry-go-round.

That's true, I'd forgotten about that bit.

[Deleted]

I hope the soul shards display over your head like affliction does currently. But i suspect that they will just use the four shards we have now instead of five to not change the soul of the spec.

[Deleted]

Yeah, I think the aim is for specs to be slightly less overspecialised into niches thanks to being able to adapt by talents instead. They were pretty explicit in that they preferred players to pick a spec and stick with it than to play the merry-go-round.

As someone who enjoys the 'merry go round' I must admit that I'm slightly apprehensive about just how much of a timesink the Artifact will be.

I'm excited to level and progress through something once, however without an easy catch up mechanic I can see myself losing patience.

[Baconeggcheese]

As someone who enjoys the 'merry go round' I must admit that I'm slightly apprehensive about just how much of a timesink the Artifact will be.

I'm excited to level and progress through something once, however without an easy catch up mechanic I can see myself losing patience.

That was actually one of my only 2 real concerns after the announcement. What's the reward structure gonna like like and ohgod how the fuck am I gonna get my alt caught up for splits when it already looks like my main is going to be heavily overloaded.

It looks like we're gonna have *too much* to do. It's kind of a funny problem considering.

[Duckz0rs]

That was actually one of my only 2 real concerns after the announcement. What's the reward structure gonna like like and ohgod how the fuck am I gonna get my alt caught up for splits when it already looks like my main is going to be heavily overloaded.

It looks like we're gonna have *too much* to do. It's kind of a funny problem considering.

Really depends on how spread out all the other content is. Maybe upgrading the artifact for an alt fits snugly in between, for example, finishing gearing up in Emerald Nightmare and the release of Suramar Palace? Could either work very nicely or be an ironic new problem compared to WoD, dunno...

[Baconeggcheese]

Really depends on how spread out all the other content is. Maybe upgrading the artifact for an alt fits snugly in between, for example, finishing gearing up in Emerald Nightmare and the release of Suramar Palace? Could either work very nicely or be an ironic new problem compared to WoD, dunno...

Yeah... no my alt needs to be ready to go for week 1 of emerald nightmare.

That's how splits work.

[Duckz0rs]

Yeah... no my alt needs to be ready to go for week 1 of emerald nightmare.

That's how splits work.

Forgot about that, my bad.

[Baconeggcheese]

I'm curious if that's how they plan to kill splits for the more insane guilds. At least early on.

Just make it so that it isn't realistic to fully level and gear 6-7 toons in 1-2 weeks.

[Deleted]

I've gone casual (only just cleared mythic) and won't be doing splits anymore, however some of my old guildies are expected to have 5 raid ready characters.

Like, minimum 5 artifacts. I feel bad for my friend who's main characters are Hunter, Warlock and Mage haha. I suppose for shittier alts you'll get away with just the one Artifact even for pure DPS classes (and stick to one spec thanks to increased capabilities), but still.