Lets discuss upcoming changes

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Originally Posted by mmo-champion

Quote from Blizzard staff

• Casters will finally get a Legendary item in one of the first raids of the expansion.
• Cataclysm will change the ways abilities are learned. Abilities ranks are gone and ability will just scale progressively with levels instead.
• Most of the Talent Trees will be changed dramatically, a lot of the passive bonuses will be removed and talent trees should be more fun. (No more "Hurray! Level up! I just got 1% more hit!)
• There is no plan to allow players to train more than 2 profession.
• There is no plan to allow more than 2 specs with the dual-spec system.
• Bags might get slightly bigger with Cataclysm.
• You will never be able to cleanse the Corrupted Ashbringer.
• Developers want shaman to be good AE healers and might buff Chain Heal even more.
• Multi-passenger flying mounts could be added in the future. They might also allow crafters to craft 310% flying mounts if they already completed an achievement rewarding one.
• Every healer class can now dispell magic, the niches will other debuffs.
• Engineers might be able to craft bows in the future.
• If you already own a 310% mount, you might be able to boost the speed of all your 280% mount to 310% just to let you use the one that you prefer.

http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...s/ihunters.gif Hunter

• Hunter's new ammos might drop from bosses or bought with emblems, nothing is decided for the moment.

http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...s/ipriests.gif Priest

• Shadow Priests will most likely get a nuke without cooldown in Cataclysm.

http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...s/ishamans.gif Shaman

• Shamans (Elemental) looks like "turrets" in PvP for the moment, the idea is to make totems funnier in the future ("put a totem down and something cool happens") but not a lot of details for the moment.

http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/.../iwarriors.gif Warrior

• Warriors won't be as affected as other classes by the itemization changes, the goal is to make other classes gears look a lot like what warriors have.

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Originally Posted by mmo-champion

Archaeology
Archaeology is the new secondary profession that will be joining the ranks of cooking, fishing, and first aid in World of Warcraft: Cataclysm. Archaeology allows the player to unlock new abilities and rewards by discovering ancient treasures throughout the world. Each archaeologist uses the profession to uncover clues hidden in the world around them, such as troll relics or map fragments, and decipher their meaning, enabling the clever archaeologist to manipulate pieces of the past, learning the location of a treasure cache or valuable artifact. Such artifacts are highly sought after by the Archaeology Society, and they pay in gold and items for their return. Those who have mastered archaeology can find Titan artifacts, earning special currency used to unlock character paths and allowing the player to further customize their character.

Reforging

• Reforging is another way to customize your gear.
• It will be relatively cheap, you will need a Blacksmith / Leatherworker / Tailor / Jewelcrafter / Engineer to do it. Each profession get to reforge a type of items.
• It lets you reduce one stat for another. Some restrictions will apply, you can't put the extra stat on something that is already on the item.

Professions

• Multi-gains will be added, while you level up your trade skills, rare items will give you more points as you skill up. (Rare items will give you 5 points for example, while green bracers will only give one)
• Gathering should be a little more fun.
• Engineering is a very fun tradeskill, but it's either amazing or it sucks and everybody drops it. More convenient items like Jeeves or Wormhole Generator will be added to the profession in the future to get back to the roots of Engineering.
• Fishing will also have some big changes, no details yet but it's going to be more fun.

Itemization
In World of Warcraft: Cataclysm, there are plans to streamline the statistics found on items. We want to remove all unnecessary stats, make all existing stats understandable, and make all "core" stats more appealing. Here are some examples of such plans.

• MP5: This will be removed from items and replaced with Spirit. All healers will be given a meditation-like ability.
• Spell Power: Spell Power is being removed from items as well. Don't panic, we'll be improving Intellect so that it provides mana and Spell Power.
• Attack Power: We're removing Attack Power from items as well. Instead, we're allowing Agility to provide the necessary Attack Power for leather and mail wearers. Strength will provide the appropriate amount of Attack Power for plate wearers. This means leather and mail items will no longer be desirable for plate wearers.
• Defense: The Defense statistic is also being removed from items so that players no longer have to worry about juggling around "the cap." Tanks will receive the necessary anti-crit from talents, like Survival of the Fittest.
• Armor Penetration: This ability is too confusing and "mathy." It is being replaced with Mastery, a stat that makes you better at what you do. More on that later!
• Haste: Will also increase the rate at which you gain energy, runes, and focus. Retribution paladins and Enhancement shaman will have a talent that allows them to take advantage of this benefit.
• Block: Block Value is being removed. Blocking will now always mitigate a percentage of damage.
• Stamina: Players will notice more Stamina on gear as Defense, Spell Power, Attack Power and Armor Penetration are removed.

Legendary Item

• Shadowmourne - You won't get Frostmourne in Icecrown but Death Knights and Hunters will get a Legendary Axe named Shadowmourne.

Goblins

• Rocket Jump - Activate your rocket belt to jump up to 20 yards, every 2 min
• Rocket Barrage - Fire your belt rockets at an enemy within 30 yards, every 2 min. (Shared cooldown with Rocket Jump)
• Time is money - Cash in on a 1% increase to attack and casting speed.
• Best Deals Anywhere - Best possible gold discount, regardless of reputation.
• Pack Hobgoblin - Calls in your personal servent, allowing you bank access every 30 min.
• Better Living Through Chemistry - Alchemy skill +15, Your potions give more health / mana
• Goblins can be all classes except Paladin or Druids

Worgens

• Darkflight - Activate your true form, increasing movement speed by 70% for 6 sec, every 3 min.
• Viciousness - Increase damage by 1%.
• Abberation - Reduced duration on Curses and Diseases used against you by 15%.
• Flayer - Skinning skill +15, you skin creature fast, and you don't even need a knife.
• Worgens can be all classes except Paladins or Shamans

Worgen Form

• The Worgen Form is cosmetic only
• out of combat you can pick between Human or Worgen.
• In combat you will be a worgen.

http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/...s/ihunters.gif Hunter

• Hunter's mana is GONE!!!
• Hunters now use focus, no longer care about intellect or mana regen.
• Focus regenerates contunously, Steady shot improves the rate of getting focus bag.
• Rogue energy comes back at a 10 / sec rate, Hunter focus comes back at 6/sec (12/sec with steady shot)
• A shot costs 30 to 60 focus.
• Hunters will have fewer cooldowns on abilities
• Ammos will become an item, not a consumable.

http://static.mmo-champion.com/mmoc/.../iwarlocks.gif Warlock

• Soul Shards are no longer in your bags. The goal is to make them fun, not a hassle.
• Soul Shards will be integrated to the user interface. (Just like Death Knight runes)
• You get three shards per fight, they will regen very quickly out of combat.
• It will be possible to get more for long fights or mistakes through Drain Soul.
• Soul Burn (New Spell) : Cost 1 Shard, 30 sec cooldown, off the GCD. Empowers your next spell, many (not all spells) behave differently when empowered.
• Empowered Searing Pain : Next 3 Searing Pains crit
• Empowered Summon Demon : Instant Cast
• Empowered Soulfire : Instant Cast
• Empowered Fear : Instant Cast
• Empowered Death Coil : Longer Horror, more healing received.
• They are only used in combat, summons or demons won't use your shards.

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Ok I know everyone here can navigate to MMO-Champion and read, but I just wanted to start some discussion here.
1. No spellpower! WOW
2. Hunter mana gone, WOW!
3. No more +defense bullshit. Awesome!!
4. Plan on changes elemental shamans to something other than "turrets" in pvp. Interesting.... hope this goes somewhere good.
5. No cooldown damage spell for shadowpriests.. ABOUT TIME, maybe that group I have at 60 will be leveled.....
6. Goblin racials are INSANE. WTF free banker and best prices!?

Lots more that made my day. What are you looking forward to?

edit: Holy Shit the warlock changes are TASTY!

p.s. Anyone got info on the faction transfer?

No one can really complain about alliance getting worgen when goblin get some of the most awesome racials lol. Goblin rogues are going to be nasty

Imagine it. Stealth in open up on a healer in the middle of a pack. Unload, kill, jump out, vanish twenty yards away they'd never find you. Stealth detect isnt that big =)

Worgen shaman and soul shard changes is gonna be cool... Not so much the worgen it's more cause of the freshness I guess.

Flying mounts that can carry more riders: Million dollar question, will they make a 5 person carrier? That will make most of the annoyance of phasing go away, i.e. breaking follow. That feature alone will guarantee my continued playing. Fuck I hate phasing.

For those who havent done so already, watch the trailer

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/catac...lay=true#video

Fucking sweet, however one thing I noticed. I don't think 5 boxing on one computer will be a good idea anymore. Look at those waters effects, just ridiculous. I might have to buy two more computers. =/

edit: That video has me so damn stoked for this expansion!!!

has anyone tested how phasing affects current multipassenger ground mounts?

do you lose the passenger when you go into differently phased zones?

That would be silly, but I wonder what happens if you are in different levels of progress of phasing... do you get dismounted in your own phase?

edit: I would go buy a multipassenger mount, but 16k is kinda a lot to waste.

Soul shards are going to be interesting. I'm still skeptical about the implementation. Though 100 points to Blizzardor for getting those damn things out of my bags.

I'm not surprised by the hunter change. Well, maybe a little. Kind of odd to switch their "dps resource" after 5 years, but whatever. Seems like their aim is to further simplify itemization, which is good, since they seem to folow this trend of simplify-overcomplicate-simplify.

Wonder if they have a plan to tackle the "gifted for gear" classes like Holy Paladins, Moonkins, and Tree Druids who have loot that takes up loot table slots but isn't really transferable to other classes?

Gifted for gear will be changed, I bet. If you read changes above you can take a piece of gear and move stats, i.e. move +int from plate to +sta on plate.

edit: Wow, gatherers can now have both gathering skills up on minimap at same time! Wooot!

editx2: Found out that once faction change service is implemented they will do race change service too! I can see it now, 99% worgen alliance.

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Originally Posted by Multibocks

editx2: Found out that once faction change service is implemented they will do race change service too! I can see it now, 99% worgen alliance.

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Can you link?

http://elitistjerks.com/f15/t71334-b...3/#post1359824

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Originally Posted by Alerian

http://elitistjerks.com/images/chest...c/citation.gif
Originally Posted by vallkyr http://elitistjerks.com/images/chest...s/viewpost.gif
With faction change now available, wonder if you could level a horde character to 80 now and change it to a worgen on the first day of the expansion.

A dev mentioned today (my stream went out for a bit so this was via Tankspot's feed) that they'll be doing same-faction race changes after they make sure faction changes are working.

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I'm hoping they let you turn off the water effects. That looks fairly taxing on a single machine

You are forgetting the biggest change. Leveling from 1 to 85 will be a whole new experience. Why would I convert an 80 to a Worgen when I get a chance to level again and enjoy it because its all new content!

Also, Goblins cute; Worgen sexy.

- Souca -

From a "Day 2 systems panel" thread:

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Mastery system

* There are too many talents right now and a lot of them are boring and just give passive bonuses. (1% hit bonus, etc ...)
* The goal is to make talents more fun and useful, Body and Soul or Juggernaut are a good example.
* The old passive bonuses will be automatically added to your character through the Mastery system as you spend more points in a talent tree. Spending a lot of points in Fury will give you extra crit, etc ... this will be implemented for all classes.
* Mastery bonuses will lower energy cost, increase your armor penetration, etc ...

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Hmm, so that's what's happening with hit/crit/mp5/etc. Wonder how this will affect hybrid specs. Example: elemental mages. Used to be able to sneak in mana regen from arcane and then do split frost/fire. If it requires deep spec in a line to make that line's spells efficient, will it completely neuter using other schools' spells effectively? Be interesting to see how that turns out.

mp5 is gone.

hit/crit may be another stat on your equipment or there may be a scaling talent. Don't know for sure at this point.

I think they should've had BILLY MAYS do the Systems Panel with all these stat simplifications. If he wasn't dead, of course.

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Originally Posted by Ughmahedhurtz

From a "Day 2 systems panel" thread:



Hmm, so that's what's happening with hit/crit/mp5/etc. Wonder how this will affect hybrid specs. Example: elemental mages. Used to be able to sneak in mana regen from arcane and then do split frost/fire. If it requires deep spec in a line to make that line's spells efficient, will it completely neuter using other schools' spells effectively? Be interesting to see how that turns out.

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It's complicated. Thats the simple answer.

They have a lot of changes they are planning for talents and stats, but when you have it all in front of you, it actually seems like it will make sense. Most of the stats we are used to will become derived from the base stats (STR, STA, AGI, INT, SPR ). Itemization becomes a lot simple and they are even going to let you take points from one stat to give to a stat that isn't on a weapon.

I'll try and see if I can't put together something going over all this, as there is a lot of moving parts you need to see before you realize it's a watch and not just a pile of random gears.

- Souca -

I am quite surprised at this direction. I don't really understand why they keep making such dramatic changes to the basic "mechanics". It almost seems like they are heading in the direction of a console game. I hope I am wrong, but I don't really see a lot these changes as positive.

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Originally Posted by heffner

I am quite surprised at this direction. I don't really understand why they keep making such dramatic changes to the basic "mechanics". It almost seems like they are heading in the direction of a console game. I hope I am wrong, but I don't really see a lot these changes as positive.

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One of the DTV guys asked one of the cheif operations officers or something about wether it would goto a console.

They said for WoW - never. It was too much work and they didn't think the game fit that enviroment. They have talked about there other projects but overall they seemed like they are a PC games company.

Same for phones they arn't interested in putting there games on phones (it was mentioned BioWare is making Mass Effect for the iPhone) but they are going to use the mobile space to add features to support the PC game - ie mobile armory, authenticator and possibility of accessing Guild Chat or the AH from your phone but never the actual game.

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Originally Posted by Slats

One of the DTV guys asked one of the cheif operations officers or something about wether it would goto a console.

They said for WoW - never. It was too much work and they didn't think the game fit that enviroment. They have talked about there other projects but overall they seemed like they are a PC games company.

Same for phones they arn't interested in putting there games on phones (it was mentioned BioWare is making Mass Effect for the iPhone) but they are going to use the mobile space to add features to support the PC game - ie mobile armory, authenticator and possibility of accessing Guild Chat or the AH from your phone but never the actual game.

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I think Heff's talking about the dumbing down of the game to a console-like smaller set of operating parameters, not actually going to console release or hardware. :P

Actually I like what they did. Did you know that to see what piece of gear was actually an upgrade for you that you had to run an excel spreadsheet to figure it out? The existence of Rawr is an abomination for those people who like to min/max.

I used to follow it and then I realized that it was too much work and time figuring out what piece was an upgrade that I spent more time staring at a spreadsheet than I did playing the game. That's stupid. It should be something you can do a little mental math and figure out. Currently the game is too complicated for the average person to know what's what. Armor penetration anyone? Bleh.

I think the intent is to make it more obvious and I aplaud that effort. Just because they are moving it down to less stats does not mean it will be easy. You are forgetting all the talent changes(masteries, etc) and how they can increase the complexity of equipment management.

All I want is for their gear progression to be constant enough that I don't get stuck hitting my relative gear ceiling and quitting for 3-6 months while I wait for more content to be added.

damn and I worked hard to get my 2 pally tanks def cap, so kind of sucks that it dont mean crap when expansion comes out. I guess that will make leveling the new guys easier, but damn i wanted a worgen shaman. I guess it will have to be 5 DK worgen lol. But yeah some of the changes kind of make sense. And can you see an 80k HP tank!

I want worgen druid team. /sex

I am so relieved that they are streamlining stats, there's just too much crap to consider now. Armor is starting to look like a grocery list. Though it does sound like there's going to be a pretty big tear-down and rebuilding of classes, which always scares the crap out of me.

I was a bit disappointed with reforging.

The moment they announced the name, I immediately imagined something altogether different, like being able to reforge the stats of one armor piece with the looks of another piece that you own(other games do this).

The stat boost thing is pretty meh in comparison >_>

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Originally Posted by mmcookies

I was a bit disappointed with reforging.

The moment they announced the name, I immediately imagined something altogether different, like being able to reforge the stats of one armor piece with the looks of another piece that you own(other games do this).

The stat boost thing is pretty meh in comparison >_>

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I'm really curious what this is going to mean for itemization. I mean, there aren't really many pieces of armor where the difference between role allocation is a single stat on the thing. Might be interesting, but it kind of seems like we're just getting more and more to the point of:

Step 1: Get stats to X, Y, and Z.

Step 2: Upgrade at 2X : 1Y : 1.5Z

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Originally Posted by Bigfish

I'm really curious what this is going to mean for itemization. I mean, there aren't really many pieces of armor where the difference between role allocation is a single stat on the thing. Might be interesting, but it kind of seems like we're just getting more and more to the point of:

Step 1: Get stats to X, Y, and Z.

Step 2: Upgrade at 2X : 1Y : 1.5Z

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I could see it used in a scenario where the item has lots of INT but zero STAM. Take some of the INT away for STAM. It's nothing that makes me giddy, but it could come in handy.

The onther thing to keep in mind is that almost all the things people are listing are statements that started with "we'd like to...". Blizzard is good about playing around with things and dropping them if they don't work, even if it means dropping it a patch or two later.

The stats aren't all going away, they're just getting derived from base stats. It's like Bonus Spell Damage and Bonus Healing combining, or Melee Hit Rating and Spell Hit Rating. You'll still be able to min/max, but you'll just have new spreadsheets.

- Souca -

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Originally Posted by Bigfish

I'm really curious what this is going to mean for itemization. I mean, there aren't really many pieces of armor where the difference between role allocation is a single stat on the thing. Might be interesting, but it kind of seems like we're just getting more and more to the point of:

Step 1: Get stats to X, Y, and Z.

Step 2: Upgrade at 2X : 1Y : 1.5Z

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It's been like that since stats came on equipment. This just makes it easier to get 2x 1y instead of having to settle for 1.8x 1.2y.

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Originally Posted by Ughmahedhurtz

I think Heff's talking about the dumbing down of the game to a console-like smaller set of operating parameters, not actually going to console release or hardware. :P

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Yes, sorry. That was what I was trying to say.

One of the major attractions for me in playing PC-based games, particularly online games, is the complexity. Although I realize console games have come very far, I typically do not play them as I get bored quite fast. When you have a game where the player base is deconstructing the mechanics with Matlab, well that's the game for me :)

If they make sweeping changes it doesn't mean I won't play or it won't be fun, but when they do make these types of changes this becomes a possibility for me. Perhaps the younger console generation needs a different game. Marketing does drive all these decisions after all. Time will tell.

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Originally Posted by heffner

When you have a game where the player base is deconstructing the mechanics with Matlab, well that's the game for me

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You should try EVE Online, it's massively over complicated.

OK back to original discussion:

I like the fact that Blizzard have been 'dumbing down' WoW for a long time, I wish other games would do the same, I like playing WoW but one of the reasons I multibox is becasue there are a lot of players out there who are really hardcore and they aren't fun to play with.

WoW succeeds so massively because its easy to sit down for 15-30 mins and have fun, working out itemization using a spreadsheet is not fun and is not quick. In EVE you can't get anything done in under an hour and you need at least two third party applications to work out how to progress. It's the total opposite of WoW and it's almost entirely without fun at all.

When I spend my leisure money I want to get the most fun out of it. Blizzard have figured out that more fun is more players paying them money. It's a win-win. Other games should be as 'dumb'.

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Originally Posted by RobinGBrown

WoW succeeds so massively because its easy to sit down for 15-30 mins and have fun, working out itemization using a spreadsheet is not fun and is not quick.

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i do get your point, but you should also keep in mind that there are people who do enjoy thinking / planning their characters.

ontopic: really hope blizz is going to rework the old racials. worgen/goblin seem to be pretty op compared to what othere races got.

from MMOChampion:

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All races will have updated racials with Cataclysm, they should be similar to what the Goblins have. (Increased health/mana potion effects, etc ...)

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seems like i have missed that one. anyway, very welcome news :)

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Originally Posted by Multibocks

Fucking sweet, however one thing I noticed. I don't think 5 boxing on one computer will be a good idea anymore. Look at those waters effects, just ridiculous. I might have to buy two more computers. =/

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Intel will be shipping low-cost quad-cores by the time the expac ships, and both Intel and AMD should have a variety of multi-core CPUs, including 6, 10, and 12-core chips. Some will be server chips and require an expensive setup, but you should be able to put together a 6 or 10 core system without breaking the bank.

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Originally Posted by Multibocks

mp5 is gone.

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By the way, when they were saying that certain stats were GONE, they meant gone from gear itemization. In other words, you will no longer have a gear item with X mana per 5, or with XXX spell power, or with XXX attack power. They plan to go back to the basic stats and have things like MP5, AP, SP, etc based off of the basic stats. AP will be based on 2x AGI or STR depending on class, SP will be based on INT, MP5 will be based on spirit, and so on. Defense, which was mostly used for crit avoidance, will actually be removed and crit avoidance will become a tanking tree talent for tank classes.

But you'll still have attack power, and spell power, and MP5. It'll still show on your character tab and affect your abilities. But it simplifies gear itemization very nicely.

Oh yeah, if anyone already covered this, nevermind. :p

no, youre the first one to clear that up...which is what i was goin to do but you beat me to it... =P

Sorry that is what I meant when I said mp5 was gone. I thought it was clear, but I didnt think that people would actually think that they were removing your regen per 5.

-_- (Accident)