As title suggest, I am not happy with consumables in WoW atm. And i know for sure that some of you share some of this feelings with me.
This topic will not be just complain topic I will compare wows bad consumables with other RPG games and how it changed feeling and combat depth in that games, and advantages or disadvantages of WoWs consumables in some of the game aspects so stay with me this will be huge topic.
To start, first, why do I hate this consumable system. Well most obvious reason is that removes need for consumables and buffs in the first place, tell me when is the last time you used Healing potion, bombs, etc.
2nd more important reason why I hate it, well to be honest is boring, lacks depth and engagement with player. Take flask, well i guess i am done for one hr. Enchant your weapon, well i guess I am done till i do not get new one. Get gear with socket well I guess I will take haste one.
It does not feel like a gameplay feature it feels like chore because of community demands for some of specific consumables like flasks and weapon enchant(and i am not blaming community for that gameplay demands it too)
1.Potions: As most common and most simple consumable item that you can have in RPG game wows potions are biggest miss in wows gameplay to this day, you just dont need potion for anything rly, is that fine yeah, but it takes out of RPG feel greatly, you can tell that potions are simple and boring anyway, but using them in right time can change your gameplay greatly and save your life in almost all RPG games.
In my opinion best potion system by far is in Witcher 3, every potion has its clear use that will help you in combat or out of it, potions are extension of Witcher 3 combat system that is not complex at all, and what Devs done here is rly smart they added toxicity so there is a limit to potion use in game that is in close connection with players actions or players choices when upgrading perks on their character, and that makes it even more engaging.
Can wows system be like witcher system? to be honest i do not see why it cant borrow some things for example giving cd on potion use and adding toxicity debuff that starts with 10 and then falls down overtime and getting new potion adds 10 more to it, this will reduce healing and if you rly overuse it it will start to drain your health.
Plus potions just have to be stronger then they are now, healing potion should heal more, and damage potion should have lower duration but larger dps buff in general that will make people that use them good to stand out of crowd and people that do not use them good to be lower on dps charts.
Toxicity can also be bind to flask use, that will give permanent toxicity debuff so flask lose a bit mandatory feeling to it.
Will this be obvious steal from W3⌠well borrow but who cares as long as it is fun.
2. Sockets: Can socket can even be called a system in WoW anymore, its random, takes no brain function to use right and it is most boring system in game by a mile, it does not have engaging use and feels like it has no impact on your gameplay what so ever.
Old socket system was so much more fun and so much more engaging, why they changed it to what it is now i just cant know.
But here is the wild idea, can sockets be used like⌠idk like ways to instead of just simple stat buff give some kind of proc or ability like some of the Azerite armor boring stuff that we have now? Yes it can question is just are devs willing to make it like that or it will just stay most boring system in game forever.
3: Item enchants. Again boring, nothing engaging nothing fun just a simple stat buff that you need to have.
WoW had rly good enchanting system back in a day, having enchant that gives fire or frost damage was rly good way to customize your character, why it was changed again i have no idea.
Having something like slow fall enchant for back, faster running for boots, attack power for hands, could not just add depth to customization, gameplay and combat but to wows economy and crafting.
And last but not least BOMBS: There is bombs in WoW ???
There is ofc more consumables in wow, food for example that are simple yet doing good job, i would only add more option for cooks to make, and some more interesting buffs, and maybe even some debuffs coming from some food.
So what is impact of this system to wows gameplay?
It makes it simple without depth, it brakes economy of the game, it makes WoWs fell less like RPG more like Looter shooter, and it makes customization not existent and boring and sad thing is that some of the changes that could be done are not even that hard to manage.