Oh boy i can just see it now a entire checklist of what you need per spec, be like simcraft on steroids.
I know what Ion said but that doesn’t make it right. He can be disingenuous all he likes but it doesn’t change the fact.
If these are subclasses then I’m a chair. Again, 2 abilities and some passives do not make subclasses. You know what do? Specs. Which we already have.
As for the second bit there… You find that acceptable? You’re talking more than a 20% difference.
I’m not sure that their intent was to offend. I can understand their frustration as I main a mage, of which basically all of the abilities are terrible.
I am a mythic raider. I still would like to go with the one that resonates with me from a lore/aesthetic perspective. I’ll probably end up having to go with what is meta though–and if it’s Maldraxxus I’ll probably just not play the game.
And no, you don’t need a cookie cutter build but when some of these are as much as a 20% throughput difference… Choosing the one that puts you at that much of a disadvantage is actively hindering your group.
If Blizzard can get the balancing right, it’ll be fine but… call my cynical but they unfortunately never do.
14 Likes
I honestly wish Blizz would just simply scrap the “borrowed power” and go back to Enchants, Glyphs, Tier pieces and PvP Vendors but make craftables via professions worthwhile(similar to the legendaries).
This boosts professions back, makes the game consistent from xpac-xpac and makes it something that they can have a realistic expectation of balancing.
14 Likes
It is a shame. I had chosen a covenant based on what I thought would be a fit lore wise, but after seeing the available spec abilities, I have to change to one that I would never choose just for the dps boost it will provide. 
3 Likes
They said even semi challenging content? This includes decently rated pvp M+ 15 or higher and mythic raids to hit the semi challenging level.
1 Like
In reality though, it’s a huge difference.
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But then it would cause a bigger uproar when they remove it next xpac.
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The only options we players have is to
- Pick the least worst option, the one with the fewest drawbacks for you - and Ion says drawbacks are built in by design, so there will be no clearly good or bad option.
- If that doesn’t work out, quit. Because you already made the best choice you could have made. It won’t get better from there.
- Don’t buy the expansion until it’s clear that people like you are having fun.
Sometimes the only way to win is to not play the game.
4 Likes
Well they just removed the only interesting Rogue specific ability so i really do not care.
They are so incredibly bad that i will simply pick the covenant i think is coolest.
Maybe that is Blizzards goal all along.
What?!?!?! After Legion legendries, azerite traits, essences, and corruptions you doubt their ability to balance borrowed power systems?
8 Likes
Surprising, right? 
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Sounds to me like what you like is doing more damage. 
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Just curious to the folks complaining about having their hands tied behind their back because of Blizzard.
You want your character to do the most damage. So you go over to a third party website or addon and plug in your stuff and then it spits out what is the best. That isn’t choice. Regardless of what covenant is the best, you were going to pick whatever one your addon told you to pick. So you never had a choice in the first place.
Like right now when I get a new piece of azerite gear, my addon tells me what one is the best. Heck I dont even read the abilities, just whatever number is higher is the one i go with because “that’s the best”.
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Exactly! And if covanents weren’t tied to power then it would be a choice.
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That only applies to me if there are large disparities. If things are within a few percentage points, I take the one I like. The current dragon wing trinket for example. I like the effect, and my other trinket for the slot is a small bump. So, I keep that one. However, if the new one did infinite stars like damage, I would probably swap it. That is a big difference. Some of the abilities function that way in covenants. At least so far. The problem overall is that Blizzard has never been able to balance that many variables. They suck at it in Diablo III, sucked at it in Legion, sucked at it with corruption, and now look to continue sucking at it into Shadowlands. There is a sweet spot you may eventually get to where it does not suck so bad, but getting there is not overly fun a lot of times (for me anyway).
Even if that were the case (which I don’t agree it is), you know Blizzard is going to adjust these things in the first patch and screw over everyone who picked a covenant just for the ability. Picking the covenant you like or that fits your character will result in a better overall play experience.
5 Likes
Here’s the thing: you can actually choose whichever covenant you want.
Yes, I know that some random on the internet told you how you have to play, but actually it’s your choice. Unless you’re going for world first, the performance difference don’t really matter. If you want the most power, go with that. If you want the sweetest mogs, go with that. If want one that flows well with whatever play style you prefer, go with this.
It is your choice.
Think for yourself. Make your own choices. Pick what you enjoy in a game that you play for fun.
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I have a feeling that unless you’re raiding mythic or doing high (over +15) keys, you should be fine picking what you want. For myself, I will have more fun by picking the one I like. My guild won’t hold it against me.
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Players will always meta this game to hell and back, stripping their own entertainment because they wish to follow the try-hards/sweats of the game. Pick what you enjoy.
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Just do what everyone else is doing, leveling to 60 and then bailing to an alt without ever choosing a covenant. Then once the dust settles, choose then. Expect a lot of max level no-covenant players for the first 3-6months.