I am a huge fan of the new soul shard system, but I'm sad to see it nerfed to oblivion. The reason I think it was hit? It's too complicated.

I think there should be 3 shards, and instead of each following ability do something different when you use a shard, have each of the shards be fairly predictable.

First - Instant Shard. Like the current incarnation, it would make summoning and pyrobla... soul fire instant. It would also make every other ability that warlocks have with a cast time instant. It's great for that extra demon, that extra soul fire, drop a circle while running, instant fear, or even those "oops immolate/Haunt/UA fell off while I'm running" moments. But you only get one.

Second - Speed Shard. This is a difaceted effect. If you're standing still, it provides an X% haste buff for Y seconds. This is similar to the current Soulburn for Drain life, but it isn't limited to just the one spell. So, while standing still, it's a mini-lust, or personal infusion. However, if used while moving, it's also a sprint, similar to the current Soulburn for DC:T. In short, It just makes the warlock faster, either as a turret or a runner, which means it's good, but not too good, for both PvP and PvE.

Last Shard - Unstable Shard. This is where I encourage the developers to get wonky. It gives the next damageing spell a secondary effect for Z seconds:
33% chance to be a Crit (Dots would have Crits each tick for the listed duration, but no more, even if refreshed)
33% chance to provide additional alternate damage (dots would have an additional DD component, and DD spells would create a DoT)
33% chance to have a random effect.(If the ability used after a utility spell, that utility spell will always get this effect) Such as:
DD spells hitting multiple targets (Chain of chaos bolt vs Haunt volley?)
Seed Spreading Corruption
Immolate causing target to have immolation aura damaging nearby enemies
Healthstone increasing max health for duration
Soulstone (new bRez) also providing a reincarnation debuff on the lock until end of party/raid combat
Summons 2 demons instead of one.
Summoning an Imp guardian in addition to summoned non-imp demon
Hand of Gul'dan, shadowfury & hellfire creating firey voidzones
Fear putting the target into a Dreamless Sleep, which heals & regains mana
Fear making the target cower instead
DoTs have a chance to spread to nearby targets
Provide effects of All curses (including ones not talented into) on the target for the duration
Removes Stack limit of Dark intent for duration
And whatever other strange effects they could think up. Basically, a "more magic" button.

The reason it's balanced-ish is because you only get one of each. You can't have 3 instant fears, you can't just be sprinting around like a Prep rogue.

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