Don’t pull the ripcord, keep blurring the meta.
9 Likes
Why do you want to blur the meta?
4 Likes
I am legitimately curious how you say this is significant and lasting when in theory, I could swap between the covenants over and over again (not saying it’s easy or quick, but it’s possible). For this to be significant and lasting, wouldn’t it have to be you could never swap for your statement to be true?
9 Likes
Pull the rip cord.
That is the truth. 
5 Likes
We’re going from 36 potential choices to 144 potential choices. This will stratify the meta, not blur it.
7 Likes
So that it is more difficult for players to disclude classes, specs, or covenants for dungeons or raids. Ideally I would like it to be as challenging as possible to find a meta.
2 Likes
Although there are some problems with the covenant system, I like the overall idea a lot, and do not support a “ripcord” solution. I agree with Ion’s stated goal of not having all characters who play the same spec be functionally identical. I think that based on Blizzard’s track record, it is very likely that there will be some issues that remain when the expansion goes live, but I am interested enough in the idea of the “semi-permanent” choice that I don’t want them to throw that in the garbage quite yet. I am ok with them trying their best to make this system balanced, and holding onto the ripcord as a last ditch solution if it truly doesn’t work.
9 Likes
Let’s make it a thousand choices.
2 Likes
How many nerfs will Blizzard make to specific covenants week in and week out frustrating the playerbase the same as they did with Azerite?
Blizzard has a terrible track record with borrowed power. Let me play the game how i’ve always played it, let me have access to all my abilities like i do now, i don’t mind farming for my gear but don’t make me pick ONE choice and pigeon hole me into it. We’ve always had some freedom and choice before but now that is being taken away for no reason.
It hurts all players. Not just hardcore, not just casual.
If you’ve actually played beta you will see the story plot holes involving covenants that make the single choice stupid in the first place.
14 Likes
This will do the opposite though. There will be a “best” and the chances of being that “best” will be even slimmer with this new system than they are today.
Then your chance of picking the right thing is even less. You following?
3 Likes
Okay, that can make sense, noone likes being excluded, but I think we can find a solution where everyone is happy, without leaving one side or another angry that they ‘lost.’ I’ve brought this up a few times before, but the loyalty system. If someone asks you to swap, you can tell them you have a loyalty bonus with the covenant, and that may effectively blur whether swapping covs would be better, dont you agree?
2 Likes
In order to successfully blur the meta, all classes would have to play identically to each other in terms of:
- Utility
- Mitigation
- Single Target Damage
- AOE Damage
Let’s talk MDI for two seconds. This past season the keys were capped at 19s. Every class and spec has completed a 19 on time, just check raider IO. One of the highest tanks in the world is a guardian druid.
The meta in the MDI is determined by the above list and how it ranks against the other team. It’s a different discussion, but it comes down to the fact that in the MDI you are not racing the timer, you’re racing a different team and you want to be able to reduce variables that could cost you the match.
Locking Covenants will make it so there is a stronger meta than keeping them unlocked, because unlocking them allows greater choice and flexibility across all types of play.
11 Likes
Bingo. 
5 Likes
Sometimes I think the devs are masochists and just enjoy the torture they put themselves though to try and balance all this stuff out lol.
8 Likes
There will probably always be a best, but it should not be so easily defined or achieved.
1 Like
It’s like the bots in junkyard. Also its beta and not final.
The point of beta is to identify potential problems, we shouldn’t wait until it’s live to air grievances.
6 Likes
True. The meta will just become even more prominent and more clearly defined based on a list of requirements.
3 Likes
It will be easily defined. People will use computers to do the simulations. It will also easily be achieved. People will click the button and become the meta covenant.
Then everyone else who didn’t will be even worse off than they were before.
It’s not like bots in Junkyard. Anyone can click those.
2 Likes
I don’t agree, with all due respect, meta is more easily achieved with balance. Blizzard should only intervene if something becomes massively overpowered.