Removing the symptom not treating the problem

Community General Discussion
31
  1. Where the Policy Misses the Mark
    Popular Add-on What It Solves Why Players Needed It
    Plater / TidyPlates Coloured nameplates, visible purge/dispell icons, custom aura timers Standard plates hide critical information—especially in Mythic + and raids
    OmniCD / PartyCD Tracks party defensive & utility cooldowns Built-in frames only show health & power; coordinating externals without info is blindfold play
    BigWigs / DBM Clear telegraphs for boss wipes, mythic affix timers Raid VO & small cast bars are easily missed in modern encounter chaos
    WeakAuras Rotations, proc auras, HUD-style alerts Default action bars bury procs or play loud SFX that overlap others

The pattern is obvious: we’re filling informational gaps that the base game leaves open.
2. “Just Ban It” ≠ “Just Fix It”

Removing these tools without shipping replacements is like confiscating everyone’s glasses and telling them to drive home safely. Encounter clarity, spec feedback, and party coordination will feel worse, not “more immersive.”
3. A Better Roadmap

Step 1 – Embrace, Don’t Erase
Start with a UI audit of the top 15 add-ons on Wago. Why do players install them? What data are they surfacing that Blizzard hides?

Step 2 – Build Core Replacements

    Cast-bar 2.0 – colour-coded interrupts, purgeable buffs, dispellable debuffs.

    Nameplates – built-in custom colour sets + icon slots for important auras.

    Cooldown HUD – party & raid CDs in a compact bar (toggleable).

    “Smart” WeakAura Lite – simple editor with drag-and-drop triggers; advanced scripting stays external.

Step 3 – Bring the Community In

    Contract the Wago.io team and a handful of add-on authors (Luxthos, Nnoggie, etc.) as paid consultants.

    Host quarterly “UI Jam” blue-post threads + PTR focus tests.

    Open-source chunks of the default UI so third-party code can guide best practices.

Step 4 – Encounter Clarity Pass

    Any boss mechanic that requires a WA or dies instantly to a WA should be re-examined.

    Use colour, ground decals, and unique SFX instead of stacking four buffs with the same icon.

  1. Design Tweaks That Reduce Add-On Dependence

    Redundant Dispel Mechanics – If every trash pack has purge/soothe/MD nodes, allow multiple class answers or reduce frequency.

    Fewer “Simon Says” Rotations – Boss modules exist because we fight timers, not enemies. Bake reactive cues (e.g., telegraphed weapon glint) instead of scripted stopwatch combos.

    Flexible Class Kits – The stricter a spec’s “correct” rotation, the more players lean on rotation helpers. Give specs viable priority systems, not piano openings with a single miss = wipe.

  2. Closing Thought

Players like customising their HUDs—it’s half the fun of MMOs. But the base experience must be functional without community crutches. Don’t ban the glasses. Improve everyone’s eyesight first, then decide which sunglasses are too extra.

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