Enhancement Shaman Concerns

When we are ready to talk about shamans for 3.1, we will. If we haven't answered a good thread, then you can assume one of two things:

1) We aren't going to answer at all. Perhaps we have noted the feedback, but don't want to respond to every thread. Perhaps we want to see where the conversation goes. We are not going to answer every thread, and we don't track per class responses to ensure that everyone gets a cookie every day. That's not the way our development process works.

2) We aren't going to answer yet. Perhaps we are still discussing the problem and trying to agree upon a solution. Perhaps we aren't working on shamans that day.

I avoided answering this thread and those like it, because I predict that an answer with no content is going to be more frustrating than no answer at all. But I wanted to try and discourage all the bumping. When we have something to say we will say it. Don't fish.

I have left this thread open so that you can still discuss the original topic. If this turns into a thread bemoaning the lack of a blue response, then we will lock it.

P.S. Please don't address topics to me or Blizzard in general. You end up just wasting our time if we want to respond to a good thread because we have to change the title. More than likely, we'll just get to a point where threads with those names get ignored or locked. Let's not go there. :)

Q u o t e:
The reason we were so optimistic when you made your appearance here, GC, was due to near-immediate feedback and a glimpse into the developers mind. I guess it's just too involved for a Dev, and too third party for a CM to function in a way that the community can appreciate.

And you are still going to get that. You are probably not going to get it on every topic or perhaps as often as you would like.

The designers are very aware of the WF vs. FT discussion. We are still talking about the issue and exploring different ways we can shift numbers back and forth. This is something I very much want to discuss with my team some more and it would be irresponsible for me to comment on our direction or solutions until that time.

I haven't posted that yet because some players get pretty frustrated with "We are looking into it," responses. I promise we read these forums. You don't need a blue tag on everything for us to "prove" that. (Quotes intentional, because I suspect it would not. :) )

Q u o t e:
I just wish you had posted this in the other thread where the discussion has actually been somewhat productive with varying viewpoints and possible solutions instead of sticking it in a thread calling you out by name and basically whining about a lack of any response.

I know that your post was basically saying not to make threads like this but it sends the exact opposite message when I look at the end of the constructive thread and get told to look here instead of the other way around.

You are complaining about where I post, which we also suggest multiple times in the stickies is not something you should do.

I chose this post because I was making a response with no content. I know from experience that such replies tend to derail good discussions. Blue comments attract a lot of attention and fill up threads with "While you're here can I ask you about this unrelated topic?" Notice how this thread has almost completely changed topic into how I should post instead of shaman concerns?

Q u o t e:
For instance, we were promised in-built totem timers for the Shaman patch which was supposed to be 1.9, which got pushed back once or twice more, and then we got told that totem timers were still yet to be included. It took until 2.4.x to get in-game totem timers. Something that is a fundamental aspect of the class did not even have an easily viewable duration tied to it like any other class's buffs and debuffs have had.

I am very careful to never promise *anything* except that we will read your posts and take your comments seriously. And this is exactly why. :)

Q u o t e:
But honestly, it doesn't seem the Shaman class has received as much attention as any other class has or gotten even some of the things the players have asked for.

That is never going to ever be a very strong argument. Other classes will argue they have been just as ignored and then you have to get into a debate on who is loved the most, which in itself isn’t helpful or particularly sensible. My advice: just don’t go there.

Q u o t e:
You guys often say this, but I just don't see it. *Some* players may get frustrated with that, but I can guarantee a lot *more* players get frustrated with no response at all.

But think about the logical extension of that. Imagine 50% of the threads on the front page have “We're looking into it responses.” Even if you don’t think players will grow to find that insufficient, which is debatable, once so many threads have a "looking into it response" then the few times a thread doesn't get one, those players are going to feel really, really ignored.

Have you ever had one of those coworkwers who sends an email and then runs over to your office immediately to ask "Did you get the email?" I feel like that sometimes. We read all of these threads. If there is a legitimate problem, we'll discuss it. You don't need a blue response on every thread to know that. If there is a misperception among the community that is perpetuated for very long, we will be sure to correct it.

I can't respond to every topic. I try to respond to some of them, but I hate that it turns into a competition over where and when I do respond or means something when I don't respond. It really doesn't. :)

I have a reasonable answer on the WF / FT issue. I posted it in the other thread (and increased the post limit) since several players in this thread thought the other one was superior (and I managed to derail it further with my previous posts).