#1 - Aug. 16, 2012, 10:06 p.m.
This is a game "feeling" post, not a numbers feedback post.
Putting the Aspects on the normal GCD as it with the latest Beta build feels very clunky and "un-fun."
While I realize the attempt here to make aspect switching macros non-mandatory, I would argue that they already are non-mandatory. In a PvE or PvP situation using Fox for every steady/cobra cast will lose you damage, all be it not much in the PvP area. It is far more effective at current to use situational setups and macros that allows the use of hawk while standing still and being aware enough to switch to Fox via macro (Independently or with a separate key-bound macro for a SS / CoS cast) or manually when you have to move.
The use of the aspect switching macros and using those 100% of the time is just a laziness issue (useful for non-serious situations to save some strain if you took the time to create the macros.) They are not however mandatory to have to reach your maximum effectiveness. However, by putting aspects on the normal GCD it breaks both macro switching and manual switching of aspects to being very cumbersome and greatly limiting the use of Fox to situations where you will be moving for very long term periods where you will not have enough focus to fill GCDs. Especially with talents such as Fervor to keep Focus going... it is unlikely Fox will ever see use in PvE in high movement situations unless that situation is rather long in length (thinking of Atramedes air phase as an example) and lower the amount of time use it will get in PvP.
Another major impact is on the already lackluster "feeling" of MM in the current builds. With Steady Focus lasting only 10 seconds, even with Fervor, MM will need to "waste" another GCD to keep it's buff going whenever it has to move or suffer even greater DPS loss than the other two specs. Which frankly even if Serpent Sting falls off for BM and SV due to improper maintenance during movement (While they use Thrill of the Hunt / Fervor to keep spam going), reapplying it is not a great impact, more so for SV where they will also get an Improved Serpent Sting Damage out of its reapplication to lower the impact further of using focus to reapply.