There are many threads already and I’m pretty sure developers steer clear of these forums, particularly on the EU side, but this is a topic I care about and therefore will feel better to put thoughts somewhere. Being unable to post in the alpha forum, it will be here.
I started playing the game in MoP and became captivated entirely by the Subtlety Rogue. I have tried other classes and played other specs, but none have elicited the same satisfaction. I’m not necessarily at the peak of the game, but to a typical engaged player’s level: AoTC and ~2k in arena. This is my disclaimer to my four problems with the Shadowlands current iteration. Sorry in advance if this is excessively wordy.
1 Counterintuitive fundamental theme
The character selection screen has the following as the main thematic description for Subtlety:
- Ambush exploiting opponents’ weaknesses
- Slink back into the shadows
Present playstyle incentive in the SL alpha:
- Maintain as much uptime as possible to (1) reset Shadow Dance cooldown and (2) maintain near-permanent uptime of Find Weakness
I know in PvE you want 100% uptime, but thematically this makes no real sense for anyone choosing to play Subtlety based on the spec description. Find Weakness used to have a short duration and be more potent, which does indeed fit the with identify of the spec. Perhaps this new version is easier to balance, but it is fundamentally incongruent. I can only recommend revisiting earlier iterations of Find Weakness and making Shadow Dance a true 1 minute cooldown - leave the cooldown reduction mechanic to Outlaw, which is a toe-to-toe swashbuckling spec.
2 Minimal interaction DoT effect
Rupture used to have the Sanguinary Veins passive and Nightblade had a similar passive, which gave the DoT at least some meaning beyond simply having a DoT. It rewarded planning for Shadow Dance/resets. This now seems to have gone, rendering rupture a really dull debuff, even if it does have its original name now. Consider a reversion or even have backstab/shuriken storm critical strikes advance the DoT (much like multistrike in WoD) in lieu of applying Find Weakness, either of which would liven it up.
3 Symbols of Death
Given this ability its own section. Introduced originally to make Shadow Dance feel to have punch after Legion’s reincarnation of the spec, it feels out of place in a world with Find Weakness and Dark Shadow. It’s just clunk to press that adds no real depth or fun, particularly as we now have Slice and Dice returned. Consider removing this and either baking the loss of damage into Find Weakness/Dark Shadow or thinking about a way to make it an old style Cold Blood effect.
4 Ambush
Assassination and Outlaw have both been granted Ambush back. Ambush traditionally has been a Subtlety-orientated spell, at least in the most recent incarnations pre-Legion. If Subtlety was also granted Ambush back (again, refer to the fundamental spec description), then the auto-teleport on Shadowstrike from stealth would be lost and hopefully the damage-mobility-control triangle would become more manageable. It seems that presently, at least for PvP, Subtlety’s damage cannot be meaningful because it has the teleport plus two charges of Shadowstep and opportunity to stun an entire team every DR window. Everything from the sound effect to the theme of Ambush is missed. Removing the teleport and bringing Shadow Dance to 1 minute static cooldown would hopefully permit the burst damage that Subtlety should have.
I’m not here to request more old abilities back, although Garrote and Gouge would be delightful (if overpowered, particularly if Subtlety does as much damage as it ought to), but the above changes would, in my opinion, make the spec more engaging, rounded and fun across the PvE-PvP spectrum.
I do have some other, more minor problems with the spec (i.e. not particularly liking our new AOE finisher, nor its animation) but these are both personal and less crucial to the flow and theme of the spec.
