next patch, on ptr's now

[Kelrathos]

this is it or this, if you want it official

Mages

* Each rank of "Improved Fireball" now reduces your spell damage coefficient by 2%.
* Each rank of "Improved Frostbolt" now reduces your spell damage coefficient by 2%.
* "Counterspell" no longer triggers the global cooldown.
* "Mana Shield" now absorbs magical damage as well as physical damage.

counterspell back in the game, with no gcd?
Blizzard gains +500 Reputation with the "mages of Azeroth" faction.
Mana shield finally absorbing magical damage?
Blizzard gains +500 reputation with  "mages of Azeroth" faction.
Making core talents in fire and frost have an inherent nerf?
Blizzard is now hated with "mages of Azeroth" faction.

Welcome to arcanespec. I know I will (well, I've wanted to make an AM-spamming spec anyways, and am going to at 64, when I get Arcane Blast).

[Starbrow]

Minor adjustments, nothing gamebreaking. Live with it, stop whine.

[Goza]

Nerf warlocks.

More seriously, having a talent decrease spell casting time but now also lowering the dmg bonus is a bit... weird. Is the 2% cumulative, e.g. -10% at max?

As I never played a mage, I can't really comment if it makes sense. (Of course 99% of the mage population will say OH NOEZ CANCELLING AKKOUNT!).

[delling]

They better not do the same to the smite casting time talents...

[kawe]

Goza, I think it's in the same style as the old version of Rogues' improved garrote, where the duration was increased but the damage decreased.

More of a playstyle change talent, a little bit PvP I guess, when casting time is quite important?

[Kelrathos]

Yes, it is cumulative, Goza. And of course we will all get by, I just don't see why they would make a talent that, for a raiding spec, means you will HAVE to get the empowered version of the spell to even things out! You take one talent, and then you take another to make up for it? That is bad gamedesign right there...

And it may be a pvp-balancing act, but as I see it, the much improved HP-count of every class in the game is still looking to make 1-2-3 shotting a thing of the past (which was never a frost-trick, mind you), just means frost (in particular, as fireballing in pvp was never worth it versus scorching) is being directly nerfed. It's not like people were moaning that frost-mages were overpowered (well, except warriors, which was totally understandable, and won't change without giving warriors some ressources instead of taking some from mages). Ah well, at least counterspell is proper again

And this was not meant to be just about mages, I'm surprised no hunters have been in this thread, announcing their forthcoming reroll (I kid, I kid).

[Gaeios(Graxlos)]

I think the most obvious thing missing in these patchnotes is the much needed buff for feraldruids

Feraltanks have no viability anymore, we have no hp no armor and we do no damage or threat.

Lololololol! Giev lacerate faster

[Palmar]

Don't see why they nerfed frost/firebolt

But why the hell make counterspell not on a GCD??? Priest silence is, warlock spell lock is, shaman earth shock, pummel, shield bash, kick, silencing shot, EVERY FRIGGIN INTERRUPT except for counterspell...

It's a bit stupid.

[Goza]

I think warlock's spell lock is not on global cooldown, as it's a spell of one of our pets.

[kawe]

Aye Kelrathos, agree on most points there.

Perhaps this is another step towards refining frost into a tree where PvP is based even more on control, and moving the damage focus down a bit, wheras fire will continue to be pushed in the opposite direction?

Also agree with palmar. Man, what I would give for pummel and shield bash to be outside of the GCD, would mean interrupting would finally be down to my own reaction times rather than being owned by a GCD.