Now that we’re a month away from pre-patch there are some things I’d like to bring up about the new demon hunter spec.
First I want to preface with the spec icons and in-game visual effects are amazing and are appropriately void themed from glide having void-wings to vengeful retreat having the subtle void effect.
I also think devourer demon hunter is the best thing that has happened to shadow priest since it used to be the only void-themed spec and felt like it was trying to do too many things. With the full focus on void for devourer it feels like shadow priest can go back to its roots with more tentacles and old-gody stuff.
Story:
Leona Darkstrider: While I like that there is a character representing learning both the devourer specialization and the transition of void elves getting demon hunters this particular character feels flat.
From the 11.2 quest chain, pre-patch and her Voidstorm quest her motivations don’t strike me as very strong. While she nails down the void elf nature of trying to research void magic she lacks the demon hunter side of things which is the thematic representation of sacrifice and revenge. For example, many of the Night elf or Blood elf Illidari have lost friends or family either in the War of the ancients or indirectly from Legion’s use of the Scourge in the Third War.
Leona doesn’t feel like she is trying to avenge something or someone. It does not feel she mentions using these forces against Xal’atath specifically. Her venture into becoming a demon hunter feels more scholarly than anything. Nor does she sacrifice anything all that is asked of her is to kill some stuff with the players assistance. If I had to suggest anything it would be to give her motivation here either losing friends in Dalaran or when Xal’atath directly attacked Telogrus Rift. That the ritualistic sacrifice of eyes be maintained too.
Lack of other NPCs: It is odd that Leona really is the only notable new devourer demon hunter. There are no other void elves alongside her trying to learn to become demon hunters too. There are a couple new demon hunter trainers added to Stormwind and Orgrimmar but they don’t say much.
I want to see other npcs. Not just void elf npcs explaining why they become demon hunters. I want to see Kaldorei and Sin’dorei demon hunters explaining why they take up the void to protect Azeroth from the void invasion because that is in theme with what Illidan’s last order was to keep protecting Azeroth.
Demons: The normal story of the demon hunter is absorbing the essence of a demon as part of the ritual to become a demon hunter. Currently there is no mention of an equivalent for devourer or void elf demon hunter but I feel like this is such a vital part of the demon hunter fantasy. I would like to see the ritual changed in someway, altered for the new spec fantasy. For example either taking in a voidwalker or a void-infused creature like one of the voidhounds or void-observers on K’aresh.
Tattoos?: The current lore of the Illidari tattoos established in Legion is that they are arcane in nature to help keep the fel forces in check. At least in the Beta quest-chain in Voidstorm it doesn’t really describe how the tattoos work for void. They also just randomly appear after instead of being inscribed.
Eyes?: For the fel-wielding Illidari at least they ritually sacrifice their eyes for their enhanced sight. Currently I have not seen any mention in pre-patch or beta if devourer or void elf demon hunters participate in this ritual.
Themes:
For such an addition like Devourer demon hunter spec and the void elf demon hunter I expect a bit more in terms of going into the fantasy compared to lets say, Augmentation evoker or if a earth tank spec got added to shaman. That is because the void theme for demon hunters is new with adopting a whole different magic source so it is more of a thematic shift. While I am pleased with the new spell effects and visuals there are some nitpicks regarding hero specs and the racial customization is sorely lacking.
Void-scarred: While it was nice that the hero-spec changes based if you are havoc or devourer it is sill distinctly feels off when all of the icons are green. At the least Enduring Torment should use the existing purple version of the icon.
Annhilator: The voidfall visuals are fitting for devourer but not quite so on Vengeance. I personally was expecting it to be similar to fel-scarred/void-scarred where instead of void meteors the Vengeance spec would be calling down fel meteors to be more visual fitting.
Void elf customization: At least so far with pre-patch less than a month away the void elf customization feels lacking. There is nothing new added for demon hunters despite the new void spec and nothing unique about void elf demon hunters. At this point I am wondering why Nightborne demon hunters weren’t just added at the same time.
One thing I hope is added is void-colored eyes instead of fel-green eyes. Either as a customization spec or something that changes when you change specializations like how when entering devourer spec your glide wings turn into a cosmic void color.