Hi, I’m a new player who just has played WoW for 2 months. I started with curiosity, and the game really gets me. I’m that kind of player who just wants to have fun in the game. I don’t mind winning or losing PVP. The quests and activities around the world seem to be more interesting for me. Okay, as a new player I wanted to have a taste on different roles and playstyles in the game, so I did some research and selected a Druid as my first character, and no joke it was fun. I can be a tank, a healer, a melee or a ranged DPS if I got the items right. All with different playstyles, and overall, I had a good time. But then, how about other classes? Are they fun to play as well? I want to know how they work but I don’t have time to experience all classes. So, I did some research again, watched intro videos of all classes on Youtube (thanks to Tsetzuko), and I got some initial conclusions.
During my play, I found that the most crucial things in playing a character are about keeping a good rotation while managing your resources. This is what I call as a playstyle in this discuss. One conclusion is, regardless of what names they have, there are only a few types of resource management style.
- Some classes don’t use any resources and relying solely on cooldown, this also includes many mana users because their mana almost never runs out. The playstyle is basically ‘wait for cooldown and do what needs to be done’. For example, protection paladin, ice mage, fire mage, and many healers.
- Some classes use 1 type of resource, which automatically regenerates at a fast rate, and there is nothing you can do to make it regenerate any faster. Their playstyle is like ‘wait for resources regen and I’ll decide what do I do next’. Most of their spells cost this resource. Classes such as brewmaster monk and beastmaster hunter.
- Some classes use 1 type of resource, which is although slowly generating, the consumption from spells is way faster. These classes usually have active spells that let them get the resource back. The playstyle is ‘let me use all of my resources and let me cast regen spells and let me do all of this again’. Classes include arcane mage and marksman hunter.
- Some classes also use 1 type of resource that doesn’t regenerate, and it is required for casting powerful spells. They also have spells that cost no resource to cast. Importantly, casting these ‘free’ spell generates the resource for powerful spells. They have the playstyle like ‘I’ll just cast trash spells and build up my resource, then I’ll nuke them down for good’. For example, all specs of the warrior, Moonkin druid, demon hunter, DPS shaman.
- Several typical classes are normally considered needing more skill to master, as they use 2 types of resources. On the start of combat, one resource (A) is full and the other resource (B) is empty. Some spells require resource A to cast while generating resource B. And resource B is used to cast some most of their powerful spells. The rotation is focusing on managing these 2 resources. Their playstyle requires more attention are a bit difficult to describe, perhaps something like ‘okok B is building up, oh no I’m running out of A, fine I’ll wait to use more A so I can deal more dmg using more B… Ok points are up. Damn that’s a lot of dmg!’. These classes include all specs of rogue, feral druid, Windwalker monk and all specs of the death knight.
- Despite the resource classification, some classes use minions to do more DPS. I have to say they have unique playstyles too. Classes include hunter, warlock and unholy death knight.
- At last, there are special class specs that play in unique styles, such as the shadow priest. Yes, it feels like category 4 as it builds up one resource with free spells, but entering the void form and granting a new ability seems unique. And further spells casting would sustain the void form a little longer, I mean, that’s different.
Ye that’s about it. No matter what names they give them: rage, fury, pain, astral power, maelstrom; they have a very similar style of rotation. So here is a list of all classes and specs I concluded (‘limitless’ mana doesn’t count as a resource):
- No resource: Paladin protection; Druid restoration; Mage fire; Mage frost; Monk mistweaver; Paladin holy; Priest discipline; Priest holy; Shaman restoration
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One resource:
- Fast regen: Hunter beast mastery, Hunter, beast survival, Monk, brewmaster;
- Slow regen with active spell generation: Hunter marksmanship, Mage arcane;
- No regen & built from free spells: Demon hunter Havoc, Demon hunter Vengeance, Druid balance, Druid guardian, Paladin retribution, Priest shadow, Shaman elemental, Shaman Enhancement, Warlock affliction, Warlock demonology, Warlock destruction, Warrior arms, Warrior fury, Warrior protection
- Two resources: Death knight blood, Death knight Frost, Death knight unholy, Druid feral, Monk Windwalker, Rogue assassination, Rogue outlaw, Rogue subtlety
- Pet lover: Death knight unholy, Hunter beast mastery, Hunter beast survival, Mage frost, Warlock demonology
- A unique resource management: Priest shadow,
If you think some information in the table is wrong, please let me know and bear with my limited knowledge of the game.
Please don’t be offended if I’m your loved character has similar playstyle with others. I’m sure that each spec of each class has a unique way of playing, but this discussion is just to help new players understand different playstyles so that they can decide which one they’d like to have a go with. I hope this will be helpful.