Ok so this might just be me, let me know what you think, but I just read this recent blue post explaining that Warlocks got all their changes because they needed an identity, that they were too close to mages. I've been maining a lock since around mid-cata, and playing since late BC. I don't really get this. I see it to an extent, but frankly, I feel like the new lock specs are far similar to mages than before. Demo used to be a lot more about your pet, and using Banes and such. I like the changes to Demo in PvE, but it still just feels like playing a frost mage as far as I'm concerned. And Destro, I never really played much Destro before the changes, and not really after them either, but I get how embers work. It just seems that as a fire mage you stack all kinds of procs and dots and stuff and then burst. Destro you just stack embers and keep up dots, and then burst. Affliction has always been my primary spec, and here I'm kind of on the fence. I think Pandemic made Affy too easy, but the whole game is getting easier, so that's kind of on par with everyone else. I like the changes to the way shards work though.
But it's not just the specs, the talents feel that way too. Grim of Sac is like Arcane or Fire or Shadow, because you take away the quintessential Lock pet. Now don't get me wrong, I actually play with Sac, and not just because it's strong, even after the nerf I plan to. It caters to my personal playstyle, and statistically better or worse, it is better for me. I always wanted something like that for locks. But alas, it still makes them potentially more like mages. All mages got PoM, allowing for insta polly, and we got Blood Fear, so now both classes have the option to insta-8 sec CC. Dark Bargain is the lock version of Ice Block. Fel Flame is Ice Lance. Mages have Blink, Demo locks got a leap. Changes to Dark Regen make it now similar to Evocation. Mages have Blazing Speed, Locks got Burning Rush. Dark intent is a Raid Wide buff now, and while not producing the same effect, is still closer to Arcane Brilliance than it was before. Unending Resolve is a buffed version of Ice Barrier. Twighlight Ward acts more like Mage Armors than before.
Anyway you get the point. I'm not saying I don't like some of the changes. I'm not saying the old lock was even particularly "better," I'm just saying it seems to me, from my perspective, Locks are closer to Mages than ever before. Anyhow, thoughts?