Here's even more news of players having problems with their Priests and the Blizzard-executed adjustments to the class.

Over at the WoW Europe Forums, Blizzard Poster Ommra informs that Blizzard had originally intended for Prayer of Mending as a heal that should "bounce around a group of players." However, the skill was eventually used (yep, people started spamming the thing) as a means so that a specific target will be healed every time they're hit.

Furthermore, they noted that Shadow Priests were doing slightly more damage than intended, so he notes that "there were some minor adjustments made in order to reduce the effectiveness of Shadow Priests."

Of course, this report was welcomed with "adulation and great praise." Forum member Lelo notes: "Yea, about time. ...I suggest you nerf our spell scaling a bit as well, it's not far enough below the other classes yet." Forum member Volucer goes on to note: "'on a target' --> usually it was the Priest himself. Doesn't this tell You anything? we had to spam a button to survive (...longer...) and it doesn't tell you nothing?"

If it isn't evident yet, forum sentiment is basically outright negative, with some asking if Blizzard devs are even playing the same game as WoW players are. The most constructive of the flames that followed is one by Bellethiel. It is in response to Ommra's "slightly more damage" comment. Bellethiel says: "Can you tell us how much intended damage all classes should do then?"

Perhaps the slightly more intellectual dilemma here is that why does Blizzard even bother to "intend" that each class fit a certain mold, and then market the game as something that gives players the freedom to go play as they wish? Yes, it is the developers prerogative, and responsibility to nerf certain abilities every now and then, but the premise is that they do that to maintain a certain level of "fairness" to the game, especially during PVP situations.

Players will only try to make a class as effective as they can make it. If spamming a buff spell – that was intended for party members - on yourself, is necessary to at least be competitive with other classes, then Blizzard is obviously missing something.

That or there's a balance issue that they're neglecting to explain to us properly.