[sarcasm] Yes arcane is a very engaging and fun rotation AB AB AB AB ooh AM and then Abarr?

How could that be exciting ever? Yes mana management will make it slightly more interesting but only ever that slightly.

Now, now, arcane had its facerolling time in the sun. I struggled through LK with high hit rating needs, a sad addiction to Hot Streak and the constant whining of team mates to become Arcane, even taking Focus Magic to keep them happy. BC was even worse when I had to pretend to be half a Frost mage.

I don't want fire to be the best (although it should be ;-) ), I just want something like parity, so I can continue with being a Fire mage without the constant criticism. You can freeze em, you can explode them, but everyone knows, warlocks should BURN!

Fire's been the top spec in ICC for some time now, so if your friends are still pestering you tell them to go learn about mages :P

Arcane "faceroll" only applies in cases with infinite mana. In Naxx and Ulduar, Arcane was a spec that required a lot of skill because it was difficult to do max damage while managing your mana. There was lot of a skill even though there was only 2 spells (plus Evocation) in the rotation. That all went away with the arcane buffs that made mana management easy. With mana being finite again, finesse will be needed to play Arcane properly, and it'll be more difficult since both stack erasers aren't guaranteed to be up.

Of course, I'll be giving Frost a whirl, since it should be just as good in the DPS department without being overpowered in PVP.

Oddly enough, though, I think Frost is the most fun spec they got so far. Granted, the only experience i have with it is in the PTR servers, but I really enjoy what they have done to the frost spec. Need to check the numbers though, I haven't bothered installing a damage meter yet, so I've only had the chance to check the style.

I dunno. I've been playing Arcane on Beta and it just isn't fun to me. I mean yeah it needs skill but the skill isn't about doing or watching anything fun or engaging. I think it'll be even more boring for someone who chooses to level as Arcane since Arcane Missiles will just always be your proc from level 1-85, no switch up like in Fire and Frost. Here's hoping Frost is raid viable so I don't have to be Fire or Bored.