Cookie Cutter Builds

[Kevin]

If you want to be a little crazy why don't you just build a class on one talent tree.  Maybe something like a straight Frost mage (no arcane) or even to take GG's idea a bit farther; a beast only hunter...
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That got me to thinking. Do all trees have the same total points you can place? And the answer is of course no. So how much does this lend to cookie cutter choices? Does it impact it? First number is total points you could spend, number paranthesis is total talents in that tree.

Mage: Fire 48 (15), Frost 48 (16), Arcane 49 (15)
Druid: Balance 56 (16), Feral 57 (18), Restoration 57 (15)
Paladin: Holy 51 (15), Protection 52 (14), Retribution 51 (13)
Priest: Discipline 50 (15), Holy 52 (14), Shadow 48 (15)
Rogue: Assassination 55 (16), Combat 63 (19), 55 (18)
Shaman: Elemental 51 (15), Enhancement 57 (19), 55 (14)
Warlock: Affliction 49 (17), Demonology 52 (17), Destruction 53 (16)
Warrior: Arms 59 (18), Fury 60 (17), Protection 53 (17)
Hunter (current): Marksmanship 51 (14), Survival 60 (17), Beast 52 (15)
Hunter (new): Marksmanship 51 (14), Survival 48 (16), Beast 49 (16)

I realize some of the cookie cutter comes from the tree layouts as well. Most arms warriors look alike because 4 of the talents and 20 of the possible points are weapon specialties, 5 and 25 if you count 2 handers in that. So that is more like 45 over 15 talents if you take just one weapon mastery along with 2H spec. If you start looking at useless/marginal talents, such as improved thunder clap in arms, it gets even simpler with some of the choices. Really arms warriors due to where talents are have to choose which weapon spec they want, or you can take no weapon skills and get to 31 while maxing every other skill in the tree.

So the system does lend itself in more than just that one case as well, to cookie cutters.

It's interesting to note how massive the survival tree was changed. 12 fewer points and one less talent. Though I'm wondering how long it will take the griping to have both preperation and counterattack in the tree now. :)