Anyone playing World of Warcraft knows that the new ideas for the talent tree system are out (or should). I am not a theory crafter or an expert at any particular class, but I am here to talk about my thoughts on the changes, which by the way, will likely change before launch.
Blizzard is raising the level cap to 90. Instead of a tree system, they are going with a tiered system (up to tier 6). A new tier is reached every 15 levels. You have three choices per tier. 3^6 equals about 729 different combinations for each class. Blizzard has not released information on Monks yet (to my knowledge).
Tier 1 Druid
At tier 1, Druids have three choices. Feline Swiftness, Displacer Beast, and Tireless Pursuit. Feline Swiftness increases your movement speed by 10% (in any form) and an additional 20% while in cat form. I will never tire of bitching about walking long distances early on, and this is really a nice talent. However- I think the point can be better spent in Displacer Beast or Tireless Pursuit. Displacer Beast teleports the druid 20 yards in a random direction, purging all DOTs (ouch in PVP) and providing stealth for 10 seconds. Attacking or taking damage cancels the effect, meaning you can likely move around stealthed. Using the ability activates cat form. This is really cool- but can backfire in PVE (if you don't move away from a MOB). In PVP, this may give you a chance to get your bearings straight- or give your opponent their opportunity. Tireless Pursuit removes all roots and snares, and gives you a burst run (+70%) in cat form for 15 seconds. It activates cat form. This would be ideal for PVP.
Tier 2 Druid
At tier 2, Druids have Nature's Swiftness, Renewal, and Cenarion Ward. NS makes your next cyclone, entangling roots, healing touch, hibernate, nourish, rebirth or regrowth instant, free and castable in ANY FORM. Healing and duration of the spell is increased by 50%. This is great all around for a quick healing moment on yourself if you are in trouble. I don't think casting hibernate or entangling roots afterwards is the best idea. Renewal heals the druid for 30% their max health. Useable in any form! This is dang nice for those PVE or PVP moments when you are hanging on and the healer cannot get to you. Pop this for a little boost. Cenarion Ward kind of sounds like a disc priest bubble. Any damage on the target heals the target for X every 2 seconds for 6 seconds (3 times). Useable in any form. Good for a situation when a tank (or someone else) is very low on health.
Tier 3 Druid
At tier 3 we have Faerie Swarm, Mass Entanglement, and Typhoon. FS acts a lot like Faerie Fire from Cataclysm. In addition, here it slows the movement speed of target by 50% for 15 seconds. Target cannot stealth or go invisible. It is useable in any form, but incurs a six second cooldown in bear or cat form (probably to avoid spamming). Blizzard says that this will replace the old faerie fire. Mass entanglement roots every enemy within 12 yards of the cast circle for 8 seconds. Cannot be cast in bear form or cat form. I think this is some nice CC, but is more applicable in being an annoyance in PVP. Typhoon strikes targets in a wave in front of the caster, knocking them back and dazing for 6 seconds. Warning: don't do this against a mob that wants to kill you! This sounds very annoying in PVP.
Tier 4 Druid
At tier 4 we have Wild Charge, Incarnation and Force of Nature. WC (not to be confused with water closet) grants you a power depending on your form. in non-shapeshift, you can "fly" to an ally's position and the next healing spell you make costs no mana. As for the range on that, I haven't a clue. Bear form allows you to charge and grant 30% haste. In moonkin (yay lazer turkeys!) you will hop backwards and gain 20 solar/lunar, whichever is more beneficial at the time. Incarnation gives you specializations depending on your "specialization" for 30 seconds. King of the Jungle gives you improved cat form, which means you can use stealth only abilities regularly. Tree of Life increases armor by 120%, and enhances your lifebloom, wild growth, regrowth, entangling roots, and wrath spellcasts. How so? no clue. Force of Nature summons 3 treants (tree f*****s that punch people) to assist the Druid. Abilities will vary by specialization.
Tier 5 Druid
At tier 5 we have Demoralizing Roar, Ursol's Vortex, and Bear Hug (lol). DR disorients all enemies within 10 yards for 4 seconds, and activates bear form. UV conjures a tornado that pulls all enemies within 15 yards towards your location. Bear Hug is a melee attack that stuns the target and deals 10% of the druids health n damage every 1 sec for 3 sec (3 times). Activates bear form. DR sounds fun, but I like Ursol's Vortex for crowd manipulation.
Tier 6 Druid
At tier 6 we have Heart of the Wild, Master Shapeshifter and Disentanglement. HotW gives you the chance to off-spec immediately when fighting. What I mean by this is that sometimes heals will generate lunar or solar energy, grant 50% of intellect as agility, etc. MS is awesome too- melee abilities increase spell damage by 10% (I wonder what that means?) and non instant spellcasts increase attack power by 10%, and both can stack 3 times and last 15 seconds. You can't get three from both: either will cumulatively add up to 3. Disentanglement says that shapeshifting removes all roots (lol). Shifting into a form heals the druid for 20% of max health, and this can be done once every 30 seconds (to receive the heal).
The tier system is gone, and the talent system sure is simplified. I can't comment on how bad or good it will be- that is for the beta testers. I like that they are simplifying the talent system, the only issue will be keeping it fun. Here are my choices for talents:
1 Displacer Beast
2 Renewal
3 Faerie Swarm
4 Wild Charge
5 Ursol's Vortex
6 Disentanglement
I wonder how glyphs will be revamped as well, if at all.
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