And exactly the kind of thing they want to eliminate - downranking has all kinds of side-effects that mess with game mechanics (you can flush out a stealther but pay virtually no cost for doing so). The elimination of downranking lets blizz create spells for those functions that they feel are legit but gets rid of cheap stuff like rank 1 frost nova etc. Want to flush out stealthers with a Frost Nova or Consecrate? Fine... spend the mana.

and that's what tophy is saying

downrack certain spells and leave one or two class's with them?

i would hope they don't make that mistake

*downrank

There are a few comments I have on this.

Flushing out stealthers using rank 1 is not full proof. Between ticks and GCD's, I've seen good rogues/druids rush in for an opener. Shadowstep/Sap etc.

They haven't been very clear about what unintended side effects have occurred from down ranking? What specifically is the issue with it? It adds an extra dimension to caster classes.

It doesn't "mess" with game mechanics. It essentially adds tools to classes. Mages, Priests and Paladins have a cheap AoE that they can use when the damage component is insignificant in order to save mana.

This change in it's current form is now officially anti-caster and pro-stealth. Interrupts are still cheap, but anti-stealth techniques are now prohibitively expensive?

Additionally, rank 1 frostbolt will still be useful (even with increased mana cost) due to its cast time. However, Arcane Explosion and Blizzard downranking will be completely gone.

I agree with Algorithm on the pro stealth stance. What I actually can't understand is why Blizzard has suddenly decided to side with the stealth classes. Like priests and mages are just so vastly overpowered considering stealth is the most powerful PvP weapon there is. Any rogue who isn't a moron will see a mage run around trying to flush them and position themselves away accordingly.

God forbid they require patience and wait for an opportune time instead of just ez-button walk up with stealth and start stunlocking people. Ever seen a rogue cry about hunter flares? Hard to have sympathy for people who can't figure out extremely difficult concepts like "avoiding" and "waiting".