With respect to the visual effects I was only referring to the effects from the items.
Ah, i got it a bit wrong because it was under the "Abilities" portion of your list.
The Warlord's Punisher's effect isn't that "special" (the lightnight bolt item), true, but I think it is quite adequate for a 300 dmg 1.5 sec. cast item, allready the first level of Torchbearers Fireball deals equal dmg, so it would be a bit "overdressed" to give it a more special effect. The second item your referring to is called The Orb of Veiled Storms, dealing 500 AoE istant dmg it got a adequatly nicer effect, you should see a small shockwave starting in midair, simple but good looking.
BTW, something i forgot before:
Why do I have to hover my mouse over a flag as I'm standing there to see the progress meter? Just show it to me if I am standing there.
You really don't have to, the progress meter is shown in the upper right part of the screen. It won't be visible for some seconds if you neutralized a flag, but afterwards and before it is visible.