wow Blizzard Talk Class Development During Beta

[Starym 3,779]

 

Just how locked in are the classes in the beta, which specs need more work and more.

The biggest and most long-term relevant changes in any new expansion are class modifications and Blizzard have been a little more forthcoming with their design goals and principles during the Alpha, from the dev watercooler back at the start covering the design overview to come, to pretty regular updates on specific topics like changing how blocking works and the ever unpopular global cooldown changes. 

Today we have another explanation on class design, related to the Beta that's just launched and going into just how "finished" the current class design is, as Kaiwax responds to a forum post. The TLDR on it is that nothing is set in stone yet, but most specs have their rotations and look and feel in place, with Unholy and Frost DKs and Prot Warriors set to receive some changes in those areas. The Azerite system will impact class changes during the beta the most, as it still hasn't been fully tested and implemented.

For more specific info on class changes you can always check out our BfA hub for all the updates, or just head to the latest talent changes or Azerite traits directly.

Kaiwax (source)

Hello!

I wouldn't call anything "locked" during testing and active development. Our development processes are as iterative as they've ever been, and we're always looking for places where we need to make further changes to meet design goals.

Having said that, we're close to finished with the changes to the rotations and the look and feel for most specs. We’ve still got a few changes coming soon in the Beta to Unholy Death Knights, Frost Death Knights, and Protection Warriors.

We used the Alpha timeframe to make some surgical changes to several other specs, and we're somewhat finished with that stage of development for this expansion.

In the days and weeks to come in the Beta, we're going to keep a focus on how every spec plays with regard to the new itemization systems in Battle for Azeroth. While it's certainly possible that feedback on how Azerite affects a certain spec could lead us to do further development on that spec's rotation, we don't expect to need any big changes to talents that would justify the words "severe" or "overhaul".

Beyond itemization concerns, there may be spots where we’ll do focused problem-solving around rotational issues (examples: “it turns out that simulations say never to use X, but X seems like it should be part of my core rotation” or “my spec is too feast-or-famine, and if I have bad luck with Y procs, I feel useless.”).

As always, thank you very much for testing the Beta and making your experiences testing inform your feedback. Focused feedback is super-helpful.

[Nazka 4]

Good thing they keep an open eye on how Azerite will influence rotations. 

Also good, I can now forget about using my Icy Veins without any Finger of Frost proc! :D (FML as a Mage...)

[Yridaa 490]

8 hours ago, Starym said:

“my spec is too feast-or-famine, and if I have bad luck with Y procs, I feel useless.”

Or "I got an amazing proc on my trinket and skill but the smaller DPS window due to DPS CD's requiring GCD's was too small to make much use of it, and the additional GCD time also made me waste 2 procs."

[PatrickHenry 293]

15 hours ago, Starym said:

The TLDR on it is that nothing is set in stone yet, but most specs have their rotations and look and feel in place, with Unholy and Frost DKs and Prot Warriors set to receive some changes in those areas.

Ya i mean they didnt even lose like their main defensive ability, really.  :P

 

[BaronOz 0]

I say this knowing that although class feel and play is generally set and done at this point and its all fine tuning, however:

I cant help but feel neglected that Brewmaster monks, regardless of their state at present, don't have any revisions to their talents comparable with Windwalker and Mistweavers. Whilst I can understand that Brewmasters status at present can be arguably well enough, it seems its just being relegated to "its okay as is, lets move on" while the others are "they're decent but let's build more into them". Sweeping leg talent is good holistically for the class, but that's the only change I/we receive as BM's. 

Before I get jumped on with "dude they're fine, quit yer bitchin", this is just my personal opinion as I view BMs in the scheme of changes. I'm not stupid and know they're okay, its just as if this status of being fine means no changes/additions/inspirations for newness or variety can be implemented. 

tl;dr: a Fan of Brewmasters in Legion gripes about class direction or evolution in BFA 

[X3912 0]

I hate that everyone who has a problem with this post is going to post about it for days on any website but if people like it they are most likely just going to have fun and enjoy a new thing that is coming to WOW. Why cant we just enjoy a new thing that people are always begging for in this game?

[Oceola 4]

I for one will not be participating in BFA. I found Legion tedious and boring. Legion took any interest I had in PVE play and flushed-it!

I am not a "gameboy mentaI" and have always been a solo player. What game time I have available will be focused on playing lowbie RBG's and, looking forward to, "Classic WoW".... hopefully blizziod won't screw that up.

[Valks 2,373]

On 26/04/2018 at 6:39 PM, Oceola said:

I for one will not be participating in BFA. I found Legion tedious and boring. Legion took any interest I had in PVE play and flushed-it!

I am not a "gameboy mentaI" and have always been a solo player. What game time I have available will be focused on playing lowbie RBG's and, looking forward to, "Classic WoW".... hopefully blizziod won't screw that up.

On every post I have seen you comment on, you not only spell Blizzard wrong, but you just comment the same thing about only play low battlegrounds.

Can you really write-off an entire expansion because of the one before it? Seems pretty silly to refuse to even try it.

[Oceola 4]

Blainie, I spell Blizzard, "blizziod" because that is what I think and feel about them after 13 yrs of Wow game play. With regard to your question pertaining to the BfA expac, I am totally "burned out" on Wow PVE content... Legion pushed me over the edge.

I am only interested in playing lowbie RBG's because at the lower levels, I have learned over time that Blizzard can only do just so much to screw-up talents and power. The higher one levels, the worst the power and talent imbalances become. I hope this clarifies somewhat.