One of the older blue posts explains that arcane torrent was placed on GCD because of its dual-functionality: resource generation and AOE purge. This then makes me think, why does warlock and mage still generate mana when all of their specs except arcane do not use mana anymore?
Shared with both a primary resource and a mana resource, retribution paladin and shadow priest have arcane torrent generate 1 holy power and 15 insanity, respectively. Ironically, such hybrid classes can utilize mana more for healing, but mage/warlock cannot.
It seems to make sense to have warlock generate 1 soul shard from using arcane torrent. This way, this skill can match its functionality with Windwalker monk and Retribution paladin who receive 1 chi / 1 holy power.
While this is true, the functionality of the same skill should be on a similar level. That is, it should not generate resource that is useful for some classes and useless for others.
To be fair I find all the multiple resource generation classes to be quite derpy and flow badly. CDs + GCDs + Resource 1 + Resource 2, it smacks of someone with too much of a focus on programming and none on actual game design.
I agree let’s make it so arcane torrent doesn’t generate anything that isn’t mana. If anything that would make more sense to me and arcane torrent is already enough strong for me.
I think it’s a holdover from the original concept (WCIII) where everything was mana.
But, if that’s your gripe, then just picture all resources as being different variations of mana. Mana is just magical energy in its rawest, most basic form, and Arcane Torrent happens to convert it to its most usable iteration for the individual in question.
And even if you are a Blood Elven Warrior… Magic is a fundamental part of the fabric of Thalassian existence. An Elf needing magic is like needing food and water. This side of the equation is less one of the class, and more one of the race (it IS a racial ability afterall). Arcane Torrent feeds your Elf like Cannibalize feeds your Forsaken. It just manifests as action resources rather than physical vitality.
Arcane pulse is good on a warrior, because the slow helps you stick to people and you’re general in range for it to hit everyone… so I actually don’t get your point here.
The slow is negligible with it being nearly as much as the thunderclap one, it’s mostly cosmetic at this point with how other warriors slow are used. Blood elf racial is totally fine with the 1% crit, arcane torrent is just fluff.
Its an interesting point. Paladins can use holy power for damage or utility (depending on talents) but soul shards for Warlocks are just for damage ( I think?). But on balance I think it wouldn’t be unreasonable to have torrent generate some amount of embers/shards.
If anything that would make more sense to me and arcane torrent is already enough strong for me.