For a lot of these abilities, they look fun and interesting. But some appear better suited for different specs of a class. While on my hunter, for MM, I want to try Night Fae, But for BM I want to try flayed shot. The death Chakram also looks fun to play with. I would consider trying it out with survival.
This is the case with most of my classes. I play different specs constantly. For me at least, it keeps my characters from feeling stale. But with the covenant abilities, I kind of have to decide on a primary spec for each class. If I decide to play a different spec, I now have to use the ability which I chose for the previous spec. Even if it isnt Ideal or more importantly FUN.
This isnt about Min Maxing. This is about how my character feels to play. If one ability adds a fun element to one spec, but falls flat on another, why do I want to switch specs?
Another example. For my warlock. I would love to try Scouring Tithe on Destro, but for Affliction Decimating Bolt looks like it would be fun to work into the rotation.
Unless I roll 3 locks or 3 hunters, I can only play 1 out of 3 specs how I want to. And switching between specs has a negative aspect to it. I dont like that.
These examples are for DPS classes. It gets much worse for classes who I Tank/DPS/Heal on. You have to pick a primary spec and let your other specs suffer or at least feel less fun to play.
My argument is purely for gameplay. Not Min Maxing. The covenant abilities look fun and interesting. Some of them look like they can be pretty dynamic to one spec or another. I just want the ability to play each spec of a class in a way that feels interesting and fun to me. Not be penalized for playing multiple specs. It was a pain farming 3 sets of azerite gear for BfA, but doable. With this system, if you want to play a different spec, you either have to use the same covenant ability, or switch covenants, and then negatively effect how you play your previous spec.
Its not a good system.
10 Likes
Well technically you can.
Provided you have a lot of characters.
Like, a lot of characters.
4 Likes
Systemlands is supposed to be about player agency but all I see is not allowing players to experiment or not allow players to have fun.
Very unfortunate! 
1 Like
You WILL get to test them or have you not paid any attention whatsoever before going on your tangent? Each zone as you are leveling gives you both abilities to use.
10 Likes
You missed my point. While I get to try them while questing through the zone, I have to choose one at the end. And if I switch specs on my character, and want to use a different ability on another spec, I cant. I have to use the same ability for all three specs. Even if the ability adds a fun and dynamic element to one spec, but does not on another.
Did you read my “tangent” before you posted? Yes I know that you get to use each ability when questing through the covenants. That has nothing to do with my post. I want to be able to play different specs of a class, and use an ability which adds a fun and interesting dynamic to that SPEC of the class. Not be forced to use 1 ability for 3 specs.
2 Likes
I don’t understand why people keep looking at it as if they should have a right to all eight abilities. That was never the concept. The concept always was join a Covenant, get two abilities.
Everyone needs to be happy they are getting two new abilities instead of none and quit being so entitled and avaricious.
10 Likes
Don’t they let you change covenant once a week?
Yup and remember how a covenant plays at level cap will not the same as the questing experience because of how they will interact with everything else at level cap. 
3 Likes
If I remember correctly, you literally get to experiment with every ability while you level. So you’ll get that opportunity.
2 Likes
Nope.
BlizZard is putting in gates on top of gates with systemlands. Not good at all. I would argue systemlands has less player agency than even BFA. 
I can switch out essences but I am penalized if I want to switch covenants? 
2 Likes
it is. its about finding new and interesting ways to limit player agency.
less fun=more fun!
1 Like
Or maybe they mean player agency by forcing people to level four different covenants.
1 Like
This post hurts to look at.
3 Likes
I swear people only read the title. Each Spec plays different and feels different. The abilities look like add fun elements to certain specs over others.
You can switch covenants Yes. But then going back is “not easy”. So If you want to switch specs and try a new ability, you better want to stay in that spec with that ability for a while.
If you play multiple specs, you are negatively affected. You pretty much have to choose a primary spec and the ability that you want to use with that spec. Then your other specs HAVE to use that ability, regardless how it feels with the spec or if it even works with that spec.
I view covenants almost like I view races. You pick one and you stick with it. The fact that you can still change them in-game, makes them more flexible than race choice.
You are brave for saying what we are all thinking. I think that is a case of BlizZard defense force into hyperdrive.
1 Like
I some times wonder how is it possible to have so many great game developers on the forums and on twitch and blizzard still doesn’t hire them 
IF THEY DID then we could have the greatest expansion ever made
Wrath of Arthas the old God of Classic WoW 
My point is you HAVE TO USE 1 ABILITY FOR ALL THREE SPECS. So lets say you Tank Raids and want to use Swarming Mist for that. But you play Unholy for Mythic + and the abomination Limb looks fun for that and you want to use it. You now have to decide between playing one or the other how you want to play them. You cant play both how you want to. Thats my point.
I mean 