Stealth used to be a defining trait of the class. Now everything is so homogenized… it doesn’t feel like there’s ever any payoff for playing rogue. Complicated rotations make no sense either.
Melee
Squishy
Complicated
No Group Buffs
What’s the draw of inviting a rogue to your group (might be a better question)?
I still like playing my sin rogue, but it does take more effort than any other melee I play, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. The drawback is I can accomplish more on a few alts than I can on my rogue in the same time frame. So it’s just not time efficient.
I hadn’t played since BFA and when I came back for Remix it felt off. The heal doesn’t feel the same. Vanish is used differently for aoe n not st. The aoe target garotte looks nice to have but I was so used to tab’n it on 3+ targets before, now needing vanish for it throws me off.
Before, I was be able to get all my abilities on my Razor mouse, but now it’s not enough. I loved how active sin was in the past, but now it just seems overcomplicated with being more squishy n less healing.
Funny reading in here - Assa used to be the entry level rogue spec, the one that was atleast remotely doable for new comers. And now it’s convoluted to the point of being too complicated for most.
Stealth pre pull, locate prio target, ambush to apply DS mark, then you need some very precise target switching with Garrote/Rupture to optimally apply your bleeds to all enemies, then crimson tempest, then you need to target switch BACK to the main target, Mutilate them to apply your caustic spatter, don’t forget to shiv them before AND during your Deathmark, and definitely don’t forget to have your weakaura tracking your Darkest night so you know when to full CP envenom to maximize your hero talent
Yeahhhhh this is just a little too much for an opener.
Why would anyone bother with any of this if you could just roll Ret pally, press 3 buttons and delete packs? AND have utility + survivability.
It never occurred to me.
I do play Rogue sadly. I’ve been hard stuck on it since Wrath. I’ve wanted to swap mains for a long time but until they tie literally everything together, every rep and personal achievement, I can’t.
I completely understand why people wont play Rogue. It’s high skill low reward. We have stupidly complicated rotations that take a bit to ramp up while others can just press 1 of their 6 pretty shiny buttons and sky rocket to incredible dps. Why would anyone subject themselves to this? Because Rogue players are masochists.
I personally don’t main my rogue anymore for the simple reason that they can’t heal. I mained a rogue in TBC and most of Wrath. I came back to rogue briefly in MoP, as well.
After MoP, I was 100% a healer player.
That said, rogue is amazing, and I love Assassination PvE to the point that I have played sin even during the seasons/expansions it was tuned into the garbage bin. I think Assassination is just one of the most fun DPS specs to play in the game, followed shortly by Affliction. What can I say? I love HoTs and DoTs in gameplay.
Reasons I think Rogue isn’t more popular in general:
1. People think the rotations are too complicated.
That isn’t the case in practice, but explaining how it works can make it seem daunting. Assassination in particular suffers from “sounding really complex” when the true core of it is simply “maintain your bleeds and poisons at all times.”
Once you actually learn and get cozy with Assassination, it’s very simple, intuitive, and easy to understand, but that initial blast of learning it from scratch can be overwhelming, I think. It’s hard to play as a rogue right out of the box without learning it first, and if you contrast that with other melee PvE specs that are “hit whatever lights up and you’ll be on the meter,” people get intimidated away from rogue-ing.
2. Rogues are squishy and are more punished than other melee DPS for making mistakes
Rogues get one-shot if they mess up. Other melee DPS are hardier and have a less punishing skill floor. Rogues have to execute their rotations well AND never gamble poorly with damage mechanics to be successful. A Ret pally can take a floor mechanic right in the face and just mash whatever’s glowing on his action bar. That’s a huge motivator against rogue and in favor of other melee options.
That’s it. Rogue gameplay is fun, and they bring a lot of utility.
Ah yes, a DH.
While wearing 500 pounds of steel armor, and protected in a cocoon of magical spells. Meanwhile a Rogue is wearing a flimsy leather jerkin with his derriere hanging out for any one to chop a big chunk off. And stealth, but someone sneezes and you’re bagged.
I do play a rogue, assassination. One of two toons that I’ve had since vanilla.
Although I don’t main him I find it fun to play.
I can run nonstop and swim in my 500 lbs of armor and bags full of stuff. Even the smallest Gnome in WOW would be more fit than any real life human.
I’d rather be a mushroom
I have an alt rogue that I play, I don’t play well, but I have fun.
If Iron Fur was actually 10sec or longer CD, it wouldn’t be a high button spec. Honestly you hit 4 buttons plus big CDs when tanking. I find guardian druid pretty easy and in delves i just don’t use iron fur…saves me some spamming. I wish they just got rid of iron fur mechanic (seems new, i don’t remember it the last time i tanked on this class) and did something so you don’t have to hit more than a few buttons at a time.
i started off thinking to play rogue back in the day but hunter seemed more beginner friendly and then i never really got back to it. i think after that i made a shaman and druid and I’ve never really been too much of a melee player.
I agree , the cost of ironfur isn’t worth the effect , If I get in real trouble i just use barkskin or trip frenzied regeneration.
I used to love my Combat Rogue, it was one of my three most-played classes pre-Legion. I never really cared for Subtlety or Assassination. Legion turning it into a pirate-themed spec just killed my enjoyment; I don’t care for that fantasy. Hats off to those who enjoy it, though.
I’ve wanted a glyph for what feels like forever now - something to change the pistol animations of Outlaw into crossbows. Maybe then I could get back into it.
But why, when you could be scissors?
I don’t like Sub so I don’t play rogue anymore in case Sub is the best spec. I would rather play a dps where I like all three specs.
Because I want to fight the enemy, not poke and run away like a coward
Rogue was a lot of fun in WoD. Since then it’s been going downhill.