World of Warcraft™

So I'm gonna be starting over in a new realm to play with friends I met in college, and I feel this is a good time to make a caster which Ive wanted for years.

I have a couple questions though. In terms of leveling/dungeons (I probably wont raid, although I would like to, its just impossible with school);
I'm not really sure what my type of caster is though. Ive been a tank since I made this character and it is my only character passed 40.
-I'm looking for something with a challenge to it. I don't want a class that I will master in 5 minutes but also something that will require homework to play. I have enough as is since I'm in college.
-I like the idea of DoT casters but I have always had this notion that priests are nagged into healing and Warlocks being useless if their pet dies. Is there any validity to those statements or am I clueless (You can tell Ive been under a rock for a while).
-Mages look rather rigged in terms of what they do, too static. Mages seem interesting but Its hard to get an idea when 99% of threads are about that website with raiding info and flaming about the nerfs to fire mages (lawl pun) or whatnot.

I do not really know where I am going with this. Its late. I guess I'm just looking for opinions about Shadow priests/ warlocks and mages with regards to the above stuff. To help guide me if you will.

Hugs to all who help.

Looks like your not really interested in playing either of the classes you mentioned. How about you head into a different direction maybe try ele shammy?

Tried leveling a priest, couldn't make it past Hellfire Pen.
Tried leveling a lock, couldn't make it past lvl 30.

Currently leveling a mage and it's at 78, should be 85 in a day or so. Leveling as fire has actually been pretty enjoyable. Nice change of pace from always bashing things faces in.

Shadowpriest.

I would'nt worry about the pressured to heal thing: the days of hybrids getting nagged into roles they don't want to play are largely over. The only way you'll face that is if you choose to heal, build up a gear set, and demonstrate a high capability for it - once people know you can heal and have the gear to do it, then yes, you may face some pressure; but I know many hybrids who firmly planted their 'this is my spec' flag and never get harassed to change it - most people know and accept that forcing a shadowpriest to heal against their will is not going to end well for anyone.

The healing door is a door you have to choose to open, it's very easy these days to opt to keep it locked, and since Spriests have been one of the top dps specs for a long long time now (Above most pures much of the time), it's pretty easy to get accepted as dps.

02/21/2012 10:20 PMPosted by Lowen

I'm looking for something with a challenge to it. I don't want a class that I will master in 5 minutes but also something that will require homework to play. I have enough as is since I'm in college.

Some classes (Arcane Mage) are easy to learn, some classes (most DoT classes) are hard to learn.

Irregardless, all classes are pretty hard to master, so if you want to take things to the next level rest assured you will be challenged.

02/21/2012 10:20 PMPosted by Lowen

I like the idea of DoT casters but I have always had this notion that priests are nagged into healing and Warlocks being useless if their pet dies. Is there any validity to those statements or am I clueless (You can tell Ive been under a rock for a while).

Mostly, you play as the specs you want to play as (the days of hybrids being expected to do everything are mostly over). Yes, some guilds will only recruit people with at least one good off-spec, but generally you should be able to be accepted as your spec, and that's it. Especially with the hybrid tax gone, shadow priests are more than "legitimate" as a DPS class of their own right, and not just as an "off-spec healer."

Warlock pets don't die. If they do die (rare in Firelands - sometimes if they are stupid they stand in lava, almost never in DS), you just insta-summon another one. This is coming from a warlock main.

02/21/2012 10:20 PMPosted by Lowen

Mages look rather rigged in terms of what they do, too static. Mages seem interesting but Its hard to get an idea when 99% of threads are about that website with raiding info and flaming about the nerfs to fire mages (lawl pun) or whatnot.

Most mages are one-button spam with the "occasional use of a few extra buttons." Problem is, the difference between bad mages and good mages is pretty much how well they actually use those "few extra buttons."

Awesome thanks. I think I'm going to go either warlock or Shadow priest. I'm leaning towards warlock though.

Thank you all!

02/21/2012 10:34 PMPosted by Clutchshell

Looks like your not really interested in playing either of the classes you mentioned. How about you head into a different direction maybe try ele shammy?

You trying to get him to quit?

Don't let the forums fool you into believing mages are super easy mode.

Mages are one of the few classes with specs that have very low skill floors but very high skill caps.

Also if you want SUPER EASY play ele shaman or hunter >.>

I'd try a shadow priest to be honest, but you could also do a Boomkin. A druid gives you a lot of flexibility if you change your mind later.

Shadow priests don't get pegged into healing from what I've seen, they aren't as common as mages and caster dps is typically welcome in most groups.

I have a druid, and it didnt quite stick well. It wasn't engaging enough. I decided to make a warlock on my current server. My friend and I decided it wasn't really worth me switching servers because our play time is gonna be sporadic, (and the ability to RealId que eliminates any real need anyways). I'm going to see how well it goes, I'm liking it so far though (at level 5 haha).
I decided against Shadow priest because when I looked at the talents/skills they didn't catch my eye. However if warlock doesn't work that will be my next adventure haha.

For whatever reason, I've always enjoy Destruction.

Which on the plus side, seems to be going experimental in Mists.

Demo or destro lock suited me just fine.


hit some rough patches but if you focus hard on int and get some glyphs you are golden.

Awesome thanks. I think I'm going to go either warlock or Shadow priest. I'm leaning towards warlock though.

Thank you all!

Of the two I would strongly suggest spriest (and not just because this alt is one). Spriests are pretty solid and fun, but locks are currently acknowledged to be suffering some design flaws with hoped for love come MoP.

I am also, finally finally finally, having fun leveling a mage, but they are much more bursty than dotty.

Don't let the forums fool you into believing mages are super easy mode.

Mages are one of the few classes with specs that have very low skill floors but very high skill caps.

Also if you want SUPER EASY play ele shaman or hunter >.>

Yeah, mastering a hunter is super easy in comparison to the frost mage. Oh wait, not it isn't.

If you want an actual challenge in Pvp, Hunter would be it. Terrible mages can destroy average of most other classes - it's a simple class, and I've leveled one to 85. There's no reason to deflect the reality about your class because your ego's bruised that you find one hard to play.

In a recent thread in the General Discussion the subject was "what is the kludgiest class to play."

The hands-down top vote getters were....ret pally and any lock. I can only concur, although I am finding my Afflic lock fairly effective in LFR.

I dont get what all the hype is about shadow priest. I just levelled mine from 80 to 85 and its just blah, the appartitions, shadow orbs? Mages are by far the most effective and fun caster.

Go fire mage.

Awesome thanks. I think I'm going to go either warlock or Shadow priest. I'm leaning towards warlock though.

Thank you all!

Of the two I would strongly suggest spriest (and not just because this alt is one). Spriests are pretty solid and fun, but locks are currently acknowledged to be suffering some design flaws with hoped for love come MoP.

I am also, finally finally finally, having fun leveling a mage, but they are much more bursty than dotty.

What are some of these design flaws? Ive stuck through what I thought was a rough patch with my pally. I don't remember when it happened but when they took away my 3 types of judgements I felt it was never the same. (clearly more was included then that but that's what my time of reference is).

I'm not looking for perfect, Just a fun class to play, and I think a warlock will be different enough for my tastes and a challenge enough to do the same.

Frost mages are pretty zany in pve. Also mages #1

Nothing is really difficult to learn at all. I like mages for their deceptive simplicity.

I dont get what all the hype is about shadow priest. I just levelled mine from 80 to 85 and its just blah, the appartitions, shadow orbs? Mages are by far the most effective and fun caster.

Go fire mage.

Shadow has an intuitive and easy enough rotation....shadow orb rng not withstanding. They have great aoe that is ridiculously easy to apply for how strong it is, strong multi-dotting and very good burst with Mind Spike on stuff that needs to die immediately. They have great survivability and a good amount of raid utility. Damage wise, overall they have probably been the best all-around caster of this expansion when you factor in all three raid tiers.

Of course, you can't go wrong with Mage either.