First of all here is the link to the full post detailing the latest changes. I encourage everyone to read it.
Let me start by saying that I am very encouraged because now we’ve had consistent proof that feedback is being heard and actively iterated on in subsequent Alpha builds. Speaking for myself, virtually everything bit of feedback I’ve provided so far seems to have seen and acknowledged. Whether that’s because my own opinions are largely echoed by the community at large or because my long time experience playing the spec offers some particular insight I am not sure but at the end of the day it doesn’t really matter as long as we’re getting beneficial results. I will note, however, that I have yet to see any mention of updating outdated VFX on various arcane spells with newer and more crisp versions that already exist in the game and will require minimal effort to implement. I realize that may not be top of mind right now but it’s definitely something that should be looked at.
Ok enough about that, on to the direct feedback!
Clearcasting
The team absolutely hit the nail on the head with this change. Untethering CC proc generation from mana spent was unquestionably the right step. My one concern is that the new flat rate of 10% might be too low, particularly in single target but that can be addressed easily enough with slight number adjustments or perhaps giving Arcane Blast a higher base rate of say 15%. But of course the data will show what needs to be done once we know what the PPM will be with these changes.
Clearcasting Out of Combat
Again, fantastic change. Personally I always thought “fishing” for CC procs before combat was a degenerate playstyle and never engaged in it but was definitely penalized in damage output as a result so I am thrilled that will no longer be the case.
Arcane Battery
Another good change. Arcane Battery is just too cumbersome to manage, even as a tier set bonus, but especially as a talent. The new changes to all of the talents involved appear to streamline it and make it much more manageable.
Wizened Wit
Personally, I was ecstatic when I first saw that I could opt out of Presence of Mind because over the years it had become diluted to the point where it was just another thing you added on to your burst macros and forgot about it. Some people were trying to utilize it optimally but I think the vast majority of us were just ignoring it as was the case with Nether Tempest being tacked onto the TotM macros. I am not surprised that it was nerfed but perhaps 50% is a little steep. Either way I will almost certainly be picking it over PoM.
Buff Tracking
This is a very welcome step and something that is, frankly, overdue because over the years the game has become increasingly complex and the need for third party software such as WeakAuras is now all but mandatory because the game’s native UI does a poor job of tracking all of these buffs and procs.
To sum up I will just repeat how heartened I am to see that feedback is being listened to and that you’re actively communicating with us. Keep up the good work!
P.S. Please, please, please see about updating the spell visuals for Arcane! Arcane Orb hasn’t been touched since it was first introduced well over a decade now and Arcane Blast is barely noticeable, especially when fighting targets with larger hit boxes like virtually all bosses. Again, all of these updated spell visuals are already in the game and all that is required is to just change the spell IDs in the game’s code.