edit 3: recap
Originally I wanted a discussion on whether wind shear is a balanced spell (in 3on3 arena), given that it is unique as an interrupt. Believe it or not, I'm fine with dps (i.e. ele/enh) having an "op", difficult and pressuring spell like this. The real problem is the resto spec wind shear, since 2 dps + resto interrupts stack too well. Most constructive ideas have been along the lines of: make mastery or some talents modify the base spell to keep it as it is for ele/enh but nerf resto.
Warrior, rogue, dk, pala, feral - they all have interrupt. That means all melees. I think cooldowns are 10, 10, 10, 10, and ... 10. It seems clear that blizz wants every melee to have a 10s cooldown interrupt. Interrupt lengths are probably 4sec for all. That means if two melees train me, I need to really work hard to get a cast off. But as a frostmage, I have many tools. It is difficult, but it can be done - sounds like a fun mechanic. There are few other interrupts: mage&lock - both interrupt for very long (7&6 seconds), and apply a silence, but both have cooldown of 24 seconds (a lot longer than 10). Since the cooldowns are so long, these are well worth juking.
So at the moment, 7 classes have an interrupt, but 5 of them are melees with short cooldowns that I can nevertheless avoid, and 2 of them ranged that have longer cooldowns and I can try to juke. And then... the odd one: Shaman. Windshear. 6 seconds cooldown, long range. 2 seconds interrupt.
This spell doesn't fit either category. Its not melee range and its not long cooldown; actually it has the shortest cooldown of them all. The only "bad" thing about it is the length: 2sec. But actually its not just the length of the interrupt that determines how good an interrupt is. As a mage, I need to know, when a good spot opens up: "If I start freecasting now, how long can I continue". This is important to do good cc or to do any pressure with frostbolt. Therefore, although 2sec interrupt on 6s cooldown is less interrupted time percentually than 4sec interrupt on 10sec cooldown, it is a LOT more powerful than the latter. And add to that the ranged part... I really think this spell just has to be changed.
edit 1
When writing this thread I was mostly thinking about the resto spec, because I think resto shamans are the best healer atm. But tbh, although ele/enh deserve buffs, I think this specific spell is annoying in all specs. The reason is that juking takes time, and in 3's, there is hardly enough "time to juke" every 6 seconds. For a 10sec cooldown it already makes sense to juke, for 6sec no. So wind shear is basically impossible to avoid, at least sometimes, and thats frustrating. Still, I'm not saying its a super powerful ability for a dps, and if any spec should keep it as it is, I think it fits best the elemental spec. But a resto spec shouldn't do this type of pressure, especially when comparing to the state of e.g. holy palas at the moment.
edit 2: on homogenization
In general I agree that same abilities for every class is dumb, but in such a core mechanic I believe homogenization can actually be good. All pvp control effects are now 8sec, and I don't see anyone whining about that. The reason is, that give or take some minor things they can all be traded with each other: a cc effect is a cc effect. Therefore giving one cc a longer duration would lead to it being OP. For example, a hunter could make an argument that "ice trap is hard to do so it should be longer" but I could reply by saying "I have no time to sheep" etc., and the argument would go on and on. But the real important thing, in cc effects, is the duration, and homogenization was a good idea. In this case also blizz didn't completely homogenize everything. There is still cyclone, and I think all will agree blizz needs to do a very careful job on balancing that one different spell. In contrast with all other homogenized cc's, cyclone's differences are only emphasized.
So wind shear is to interrupts what cyclone is to cc's. All other interrupts fit in those two categories (10/4 melee or 24/6 ranged) except wind shear. And whats really special about windshear is, a healer can have it. Since wind shear is a unique interrupt, blizz should be especially careful in balancing it.
There is no good way for a caster to play against a team with the healer having a 6sec cooldown interrupt, and two dps with interrupts as well. And although you could argument "that sort of team counters mages", the point is then that almost all teams are "that sort of team", if they just have the resto shammy healer. Furthermore the same team counters e.g. pala healers. That makes it OP. There are too many interrupts in the game now that all melees have interrupts, and the logical place to decrease the amount of interrupts is the single healer that has such.
