So while im having fun with my Varian Wrynn warrior and Effigy mage, theres a class i like thats just left completely in the dust for this expansion (Rogue).
So what happened with the design? Top players like Dog refuse to play Rogue after TGT because he said "they got absolutely nothing". Ryzen, one of the best rogue players on stream only added Refreshment Vendor to his mill rogue and thats it.
1) After Trade Prince Gallywix, they still dont understand how rogues tick. Trade Prince Gallywix is a great legendary. I believe many decks would play it if it were neutral. But why doesnt rogue play it? Simply put, rogue cannot play control long enough to play high cost minions with a delayed effect. Rogue is BAD at control with limited health gain and removal tools, unless you give them these tools you cant expect this to take off.
There is simply no point in investing so much to deviate from your objective of gaining tempo and bursting your opponent down. Blizzard didnt learn a thing from this experience, and continued to put large cards like Anub'arak and Shado-Pan Rider which rogue simply cannot use.
2) They try pushing pirates, again. To be fair, its not a bad idea to push this, pirates a cool but was never competitive. But with only cards like Buccaneer and Shady Dealer (Which isnt even a pirate), did they really expect that to change?
3) TGT sucks for rogue in the first place. Rogue dont run big minions, the biggest minion in oil rogue is loatheb, occasionally Dr Boom is fringe played. Like i said, control rogue is not really a thing, so Joust sucks at this point for rogues.
What about inspire? Obviously the design team thought oh crap rogue cant hero power frequently without destroying their buffed weapons. SO what do they do? Enter Poisoned Blade, the worst weapon ever made. This card is a serious insult.
Did they just throw this piece of crap out after someone voiced out the inspire problem and say "Yea sounds good who cares" without ANYONE in the team realising it takes 8 mana and 2 turns before it even becomes an Assassin's Blade with 1 less durability? And to top it off they made it epic too?
4) Throw in a couple of RNG spells like Beneath the Grounds and Burgle and you have a recipe of a complete garbage expansion for rogue. Even Ryzen, the best mill rogue player i have ever seen doesnt put beneath the grounds in the deck.
5) Remaining cards like cutpurse and undercity valiant are too low powered. Cutpurse [/card]is a joke compared to [card]Darnassus Aspirant, Mechwarper, even Sorcerer's Apprentice with those stats. And it costs 2 mana which is usually a dagger turn.
6) No neutral cards AT ALL for rogue, with the exception of Refreshment Vendor which is only played in fringe decks like control rogue and mill rogue.
Seriously, what a disappointment. What on earth happened to make TGT so bad for rogue? People said Shaman had it bad but this is the first time i've seen an expansion for a card game that has absolutely no cards usable competitively for a class, not even neutrals.
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There is a huge reason - the Pre Purchase. The more they wait the more people will get hyped and buy it.
Blizzard is well known for their greed and I don't see any reason for them to release it early then late.
I'll be shocked but very impressed if they will indeed release it at the 18th