Malleus2
Dalayan Elder
Request:
Add Swarm Mastery and Lesser Swarm Mastery to items being created for the upcoming expansion that are usable by shaman, beastlords and enchanters.
Reasons:
1. A. Remove the “must have” item status from the Ancestral Mask of the Tal’Yan.
2. Bring the focus to tier appropriate gear to negate the need to swap in the item during slowing.
3. Bring the focus to slowing classes that cannot currently attain it.
4. Provide more options for “flavor” to developers creating items.
1. Currently almost all tier 4+ shaman either keep the Ancestral Mask equipped all the time or at the very least swap it in before they slow a mob. This fact underlines the obvious feeling by the community that 10% greater slows are very important thus elevating the Ancestral Mask to “must have” status for shaman. I have gotten the impression from several threads (most specifically the warrior cmal3 gloves thread) that the staff wished to avoid “must have” item situations as much as possible. In the past it was suggested that if this focus were put on a dropped item that people wouldnt bother with the mask. If the drops were of sufficient tier (8+) I dont see this as being a problem as the mask has such great stats for its tier and the work involved. In fact, the mask quest becomes a great way to get a focus that is otherwise unavaiable until a much higher tier.
2. The Ancestral Mask is obtained through a quest culminating in an encounter with a tier 4 raid mob. This means this item is intended to last through 7 tiers of raiding. Although the mask has extremely good stats and effects it starts to show its age around tier 7 when masks with significantly more mana and/or resists are available. By tier 9 there are several masks that are vastly superior with the exception of the fact that the shaman loses roughly 5% to slows by equipping them. The Spiritcaller Sleeves had the lesser focus added back when the Thaz armour was rebalanced giving shaman access to the watered down version at tier 8/9 but you are quickly back to swapping the mask in once you have Armguards of the Nobility (tier 9) or better. Not having this focus on higher tiered gear is akin to having any other focus item with increment 7 only on gear from tier 6 and 7 thus forcing you to swap it in when you want the effect. All other top level focus effect items are available on several items at the appropriate tier. There is no logical reason I am aware of to limit shaman to swapping in a “must have” item through 7 tiers of raiding. I know there is some precedent for items with unique must equip click effects being kept as such despite requests to change the item. This is however different as it is a worn spell focus not a duration and recast limited click effect.
There was some discussion of what to do with the mask/focus in this thread but nothing came of it. The final word from Thinkmeats at that time was “I really, really, really do not see us adding yet another focus effect for players to worry about” but that seems to have changed with the addition of the charm focus. It should also be noted that Wiz approves of adding the focus elsewhere in the same thread:
Although I’d gladly put the time into a high level quest that upgrades the mask further or yields a slow focus aug it still leaves other classes unable to obtain this focus.
3. Bring the focus to the other slowing classes. There has been no stated desire to keep the focus from enchanters and beastlords but it is currently unavailable to them. Damage increment and cold focus are available to shaman despite the fact that Fury of the North is highly inefficient compared to a shaman’s other dps methods. In fact it appears that all usable foci are available to all classes that may want them in some form or another with the exception of the slow focuses. Some may argue that this steps on the toes of shaman in one of their primary roles. I would argue that although it would bring up the utility of the other classes you could never supplant shaman as top slower with their best-in-game slow, AoE slow and versatility of magic or disease based slows. It should also be noted that Swarm Mastery gives greater returns for shaman as it is a 10% bump to the base slow meaning +5.5% for archaic versus +5% for a beastlord’s best slow and 4.5% for an enchanter’s best. Additionally you are never going to replace a shaman in a raid with one of these classes based on their improved ability to slow due to the fact that shaman still do it better in addition to bringing buffs, healing and dps to the table. By adding this focus for other slowing classes you add to their utility in a non game breaking way that doesn’t require any encounters be rebalanced. This may not be as important to beastlords at this time but the staff have been looking for ways to make enchanters more appealing in groups and raids.
Slows Compared:
Shaman:
Turgur’s Insects (51): 50% magic slow, 250mana, 3 second cast, 6 second recast
Tigir’s Insects (58): 50% magic slow, Target based AoE, -200 hate, 350mana, 5 second cast, 5 second recast
Festering Insects (60): 50% disease slow, 335mana, 6 second cast, 5 second recast
Archaic Spirit Sleep (65): 55% magic slow, 265mana, 1 second cast, instant recast, -100 resist adjust
Enchanter:
Forlorn Deeds (57): 45% magic slow, 225mana, 4 second cast, instant recast
Beastlord:
Sha’s Reprisal (65): 50% magic slow, 195mana, 5 second cast, 5 second recast
Plague of Insects (63): 40% disease slow, 250mana, 6 second cast, 5 second recast
4. Adding another option for developers is a no brainer. I’ve seen Zaela and others comment on this in numerous posts. Its only one more tool in their box but it’s a box that needs more tools.
Summary:
Three solid reasons (and one beneficial by-product) for expanding the availability of the slow focuses have been given. I invite anyone to discuss the validity of the claims or present reasonable arguments against such an addition.
Add Swarm Mastery and Lesser Swarm Mastery to items being created for the upcoming expansion that are usable by shaman, beastlords and enchanters.
Reasons:
1. A. Remove the “must have” item status from the Ancestral Mask of the Tal’Yan.
2. Bring the focus to tier appropriate gear to negate the need to swap in the item during slowing.
3. Bring the focus to slowing classes that cannot currently attain it.
4. Provide more options for “flavor” to developers creating items.
1. Currently almost all tier 4+ shaman either keep the Ancestral Mask equipped all the time or at the very least swap it in before they slow a mob. This fact underlines the obvious feeling by the community that 10% greater slows are very important thus elevating the Ancestral Mask to “must have” status for shaman. I have gotten the impression from several threads (most specifically the warrior cmal3 gloves thread) that the staff wished to avoid “must have” item situations as much as possible. In the past it was suggested that if this focus were put on a dropped item that people wouldnt bother with the mask. If the drops were of sufficient tier (8+) I dont see this as being a problem as the mask has such great stats for its tier and the work involved. In fact, the mask quest becomes a great way to get a focus that is otherwise unavaiable until a much higher tier.
2. The Ancestral Mask is obtained through a quest culminating in an encounter with a tier 4 raid mob. This means this item is intended to last through 7 tiers of raiding. Although the mask has extremely good stats and effects it starts to show its age around tier 7 when masks with significantly more mana and/or resists are available. By tier 9 there are several masks that are vastly superior with the exception of the fact that the shaman loses roughly 5% to slows by equipping them. The Spiritcaller Sleeves had the lesser focus added back when the Thaz armour was rebalanced giving shaman access to the watered down version at tier 8/9 but you are quickly back to swapping the mask in once you have Armguards of the Nobility (tier 9) or better. Not having this focus on higher tiered gear is akin to having any other focus item with increment 7 only on gear from tier 6 and 7 thus forcing you to swap it in when you want the effect. All other top level focus effect items are available on several items at the appropriate tier. There is no logical reason I am aware of to limit shaman to swapping in a “must have” item through 7 tiers of raiding. I know there is some precedent for items with unique must equip click effects being kept as such despite requests to change the item. This is however different as it is a worn spell focus not a duration and recast limited click effect.
There was some discussion of what to do with the mask/focus in this thread but nothing came of it. The final word from Thinkmeats at that time was “I really, really, really do not see us adding yet another focus effect for players to worry about” but that seems to have changed with the addition of the charm focus. It should also be noted that Wiz approves of adding the focus elsewhere in the same thread:
Although I’d gladly put the time into a high level quest that upgrades the mask further or yields a slow focus aug it still leaves other classes unable to obtain this focus.
3. Bring the focus to the other slowing classes. There has been no stated desire to keep the focus from enchanters and beastlords but it is currently unavailable to them. Damage increment and cold focus are available to shaman despite the fact that Fury of the North is highly inefficient compared to a shaman’s other dps methods. In fact it appears that all usable foci are available to all classes that may want them in some form or another with the exception of the slow focuses. Some may argue that this steps on the toes of shaman in one of their primary roles. I would argue that although it would bring up the utility of the other classes you could never supplant shaman as top slower with their best-in-game slow, AoE slow and versatility of magic or disease based slows. It should also be noted that Swarm Mastery gives greater returns for shaman as it is a 10% bump to the base slow meaning +5.5% for archaic versus +5% for a beastlord’s best slow and 4.5% for an enchanter’s best. Additionally you are never going to replace a shaman in a raid with one of these classes based on their improved ability to slow due to the fact that shaman still do it better in addition to bringing buffs, healing and dps to the table. By adding this focus for other slowing classes you add to their utility in a non game breaking way that doesn’t require any encounters be rebalanced. This may not be as important to beastlords at this time but the staff have been looking for ways to make enchanters more appealing in groups and raids.
Slows Compared:
Shaman:
Turgur’s Insects (51): 50% magic slow, 250mana, 3 second cast, 6 second recast
Tigir’s Insects (58): 50% magic slow, Target based AoE, -200 hate, 350mana, 5 second cast, 5 second recast
Festering Insects (60): 50% disease slow, 335mana, 6 second cast, 5 second recast
Archaic Spirit Sleep (65): 55% magic slow, 265mana, 1 second cast, instant recast, -100 resist adjust
Enchanter:
Forlorn Deeds (57): 45% magic slow, 225mana, 4 second cast, instant recast
Beastlord:
Sha’s Reprisal (65): 50% magic slow, 195mana, 5 second cast, 5 second recast
Plague of Insects (63): 40% disease slow, 250mana, 6 second cast, 5 second recast
4. Adding another option for developers is a no brainer. I’ve seen Zaela and others comment on this in numerous posts. Its only one more tool in their box but it’s a box that needs more tools.
Summary:
Three solid reasons (and one beneficial by-product) for expanding the availability of the slow focuses have been given. I invite anyone to discuss the validity of the claims or present reasonable arguments against such an addition.
Last edited:
