I’d like to talk about it before DF is released. I don’t like the fact that literally every spec is based on builder → spender rotation. While it works for specs it makes other feel clunky. I’m not going to lie as Elemental Shaman I don’t like maelstrom as a resource. I prefered old Lightning Shield stacks but since Earthquake and in DF Elemental Blast became spenders it makes more sense. Also we all remember when we expressed that we are not happy with Lavaburst hitting like wet noodles and Earth Shock dealing so much damage. It got fixed.
The problem is that there are more specs built literally on the same premis. Good example is Boomy. I absolutely loved old Eclipse mechanic (Cata and MoP) and hated it in WoD when it moved itself. In Cata and MoP casting Wrath or Starfire felt worth it since they dealt meaningful damage. Now it’s all about Starsurge and Starfall and Wrath and Starfire became meaningless builders. On the other hand we have SP that builds Insanity with everything even with shielding partners and purging but the only spell you can spend it on is Devouring Plague. I feel that Orbs were more unique and interesting as resource.
The worst case of this builder and spender for everyone design is Affliction Warlock. While Soul Shards work perfectly fine on Destruction and Demo I don’t think that Affliction ever worked that way. It was always more about maintaining dots and refreshing them in the right moment. Back in the days when snapshotting was a thing it was actually quite complex to keep dot pressure as Affli and it kinda had unique playstyle. I think they “fixed” snapshotting in WoD and while it was qol it imo ruined Affliction forever for me. From a spec that was all about dots and exectue phase it became UA stacking and now this 9 button builder and Soul Shard damp with Malefic Rapture. I can’t express how I hate this button and how much. Imo maybe the Feral take and actually making snapshotting a mechanic is the way to go and bringing old Affliction back.
While I understand why Blizzard went away from Starsurge and instant Mind Blast procs for builder and spender on most chars it actually did the same thing. A lot of specs basically became homogenized. Enhancement literally was the same thing. We built maelstrom to damp it on Stormstrikes. Now it’s a bit back to basics and I feel that some specs need the same treatment. Affliction is definetely one of them.
Not to mention it’s one of the things that makes the spec so slow and predictable in pvp.