Many people will disagree with me and scream “all classes are the same!” but I beg to differ until we get a stun back… ahem Anyway…
On a serious note the beauty about comparing these particular classes is that both have something unique to provide to the table. Now, I don’t know BM hunter or fire mage that well so for my comparisons I’ll be generalizing frost and arcane, and then MM/surv.
Why go Mage?
Utility utility utility. Whether in combat with a variety of snares, roots, aoes, a longer lasting counterspell, spammable cc, shields, better invuln with ice block, better invisibility compared to camo (if arcane), and ‘longer lasting’ burst which makes it harder to shut down OR out of combat with conjured food usable in arenas that heals wicked fast regardless and PORTALS, mage has an answer to almost any problem thrown at it with enough cunning and planning.
Aesthetically speaking, mage has much flashier spells if you’re into that sort of thing with three very different styles. Big fiery explosions? Check. Massive frozen environmental hazards? Check. Displays of overwhelming arcane power? Check. You could even go so far as to have a transmog for each and ever speck to fit its color scheme more.
The fantasy is clear regardless of spec. You’re a wizard, Harry, and you’re a damned good one at that.
Why go Hunter
You have a much easier time setting up burst, and traps can provide you with more utility than other classes may be able to provide other than mage. If you’re MM learning the class will be fairly easy and it’s a great class to re-introduce you to the game’s core mechanics both in pvp and pve PLUS having that additional range on abilities with MM’s mastery is always fun. Compared to mage, you have a better time moving around in low level dungeons if you like to farm transmogs or gold runs if that’s your thing between aspect of the cheeta and disengage + post haste + pathfinding passive from a pet. Compared to mage, your invuln (aspect of the turtle) provides you with mobility but it falls short in that it won’t remove any debuffs and can’t be used while stun unlike mage’s.
Plus you can be melee/ranged hybrid or pure ranged, so there’s that flexibility with specs.
Aesthetically hunter is far less flashy than mage. If you like mechanical explosives and a display of physical agility hunter would suit you. You also have a very strong sniper aesthetic as well. So if you prefer more discreet animations hunter is the clear winner here.
As for covenant abilities I think both have solid choices and are fun to use given the options presented between the four covenants. Although hunter’s Kyrian ability looks really cool/unique being able to ignore LoS and see people through walls similar to a DH.
Notice I didn’t say anything significant about damage. Both classes are pure DPS so there will always be a strong spec at any given point in the game to snag you an invite. Now if I had to really pick between the two I would say mage at the end of the day given its proven track record across expansions, better party utility (hunter greeeedy). I understand the bias given my main will be mage as it almost always has been, but you can’t make a wrong choice right now between the two.
But of course, at the end of the day none of this means anything if you pick a class and don’t have fun, so make sure whatever you do you’re having fun!