Is the (Shadow)Priest the better Mage in WOW?

[Drasca]

The ability to run is worthless in PvE, where you'll be AoEing standing still anyway.

I'm not sure how that's a waste of mana or talents.

Warlocks that are Destruction specced to at least 21 can do it with CoS + Shadowbolt, warlocks that are all the way to 31 can CoE + Immo + Conflag.
[right][snapback]75595[/snapback][/right]

You show your wet ears.

In general, you do *not* want to be hit (though there are times I want to steal aggro and soak damage, instead of my party healers). When fighting, your party has many snare and immobilizing effects to the enemy. Secondily, aoe has a limited range, you may not hit all of them in the first attempt--and for warlocks every attempt is extremely costly. A mobile aoe'r has a far greater chance to survive through mobile action out of enemy attack range, and manage to attack all the enemies, than a standing one. No, healers are not always an option. In a crunch, there was only myself and a mage surviving baron rivendale (I think I accidently soulstoned the mage that time) in a raid party. He managed to survive and aoe skeletons through active running aoe.

Secondarily, CoS + Shadowbolt is not innately more burst damage. Both fire and arcane options give more dps, and aren't interruptable (unint channeled Arcane missles, instant fire blast, and other instant options). In PvP, if you're just trading burst dps blows, you deserve to die.

Over the course of 10 minutes, when mana becomes a concern, warlocks do better steady damage.

Skan, play a lock on a PvP server before you think these issues are negligible.

I've seen other players and classes at their best, and they're nothing short of amazing too. Warlocks have an option to step up and shine too, but its too easy to kick the footing out from under them.