Power Auras / Spell Procs in Cataclysm
The latest build introduced a VERY interesting feature to the game: a built-in PowerAuras. If you are unfamiliar with the mod, it is mostly used to watch and warn players when a spell proc is available and the game clearly reached the point where it's fairly hard (or just annoying) to play at high level without a mod like this.

Blizzard eventually agreed that watching your buff bar isn't really fun and a new icone appears on your character when situational spells such as Art of War are available, see the screenshot below.



Mages - Teleport/Portal Interface
Mages are getting an interface upgrade similar to Shaman's totems for their portals, you can now add a generic "Portal" and "Teleport" spell to your bar and pick a portal after clicking it.



Darnassus - The Howling Oak
A new sub-zone was added to Darnassus in the latest beta build - The Howling Oak, the area isn't populated yet but it looks like it will be the home of the worgens in Darnassus.

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Reforging - Video and Screenshots
For some reasons I still get a lot of questions about reforging, this new feature is fairly simple: You talk to a NPC in capital cities to swap 40% of any of the secondary stats of an item (ratings / Spirit) for another secondary stat. TotalBiscuit released a video of Reforging in the current beta build, if you want to take a look at it.



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Blue Posts
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment

Cataclysm Digital Download
If StarCraft II is any indicator you'll be able to download the client beforehand, and the the installer will unlock at 10AM pacific time. So, if you want it right at midnight (or a collector's edition), your best bet is probably a pre-order and midnight release at your local brick and mortar. But, this is all assuming things which we haven't release any information about.

I'd wait for more info... like... a release date. (Source)

Tol Barad Tunnel System
Those 3 micro dungeons will be closed off during the main battle. Anyone in them will be kicked out. They are there to support daily questing in the zone between battles. (Source)

Throne of the Tides portal on beta
The Throne of the Tides portal inside the instance was set to take you to Dalaran because for a while you couldn't get out of the cavern. In a future beta build, it will take you back to Vashj'ir. (Source)

24 Hour Maintenances
The 24 hour maintenances have all been related to large scale hardware upgrades. (Source)

Beta Feedback
This is a beta test, so generalized feedback about how and (vaguely) why healing is not fun -- when we haven't even reached the level cap in the test process -- doesn't give us actionable feedback.

There are a few things to consider here:

  • Healers don't play in beta quite like they do in Wrath of the Lich King. Yes, the system is designed to be less forgiving so that the heal you choose to cast, or how often you choose to heal your party or top off their health bars, should be a more meaningful decision.
  • Numbers are still being balanced, bugs are still being worked out with each new build, and we're still iterating upon individual spells and abilities.
  • The whole group could be approaching a dungeon like they do in Wrath, trying to pull as many packs of mobs as possible to charge through it. This isn't Wrath, nor are players or creatures balanced around Wrath numbers.
  • As an expansion of my first point, you might be making bad choices.

If you'd like to give us constructive feedback we can take with us to the drawing board, give us scenarios. Tell us what rotations you're using, the group make-up, whether you're using CC or AoE, a play-by-play of specific pulls or boss fights, etc. We want to know what the specific cases are where you are being as conservative as possible and still finding it to be a struggle, or even just too frustrating. We can look into that type of data. (Source)

Priest (Forums / 3.3.5 Talent Calculator / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
New Holy Spell
The new Holy level 10 spell is pretty simple, but it also has a lot of play with Chakra. I am just pointing this out, because many players never noticed the talent that made the old Holy level 10 (Desperate Prayer) into a tool that could heal others. (Source)
This article was originally published in forum thread: Power Auras, Mages TP UI, Howling Oak, Blue Posts started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 128 Comments
  1. ruga's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Lyeranth View Post
    I honestly hope that it is simpler that power aura. That thing is waaay too complicated
    Just because you don't take the time to learn how it works? I like power auras and what you can do with it.
  1. mmoc8749326aed's Avatar
    This is what I dont get. Why with the digital download cant we play it at midnight? Why does it have to be at 10am?
  1. CarnatiaSpiritfield's Avatar
    That wink is getting to me...


    "I'd wait for more info... like... a release date. "

    ... WHAT THE HELL DOES THE WINK ME!?

    We getting release date soon!? HUH!? TELL ME!

    -Ahem-

    :'D

    Interesting new interfaces, I like the portal one. My mage will likey
  1. thorenSSE's Avatar
    I'd guess the new Tree in Darnassus will be the place for mage trainers
  1. mmoc485edc1e5f's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Fenz View Post
    I just hope they'll never make their own gearscore, lol
    ugh... yeah, sure...

    PS. Oh and here some custom made addon.
  1. mmoc722c8a8050's Avatar
    Heads up: Warlock now have a similar demon summoning system, where you can use one button and get an extension where you can choose which demon to summon. You can still use the specific summons for demons, so you can put the demon you use most on your action bars
  1. njdss4's Avatar
    I'm liking the default, integrated Power Auras. I know it'll get better before launch, and we can always use the actual addon if need be.

    The Portal interface is awesome! I play a Shaman so I know how amazing it is to have a setup like the Totem Bar.

    I am REALLY hoping that Reforging stays the way it is in that YouTube video. Having it be profession specific encourages players to pick professions that make gear (Tailor, Leatherworker, etc) because they can Reforge most of their gear. That will make all the other professions seems worse. Just let everyone Reforge any of their own gear.

    ---------- Post added 2010-08-20 at 09:20 AM ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by Topgunner View Post
    This is what I dont get. Why with the digital download cant we play it at midnight? Why does it have to be at 10am?
    I would assume they would be releasing at midnight on a Tuesday, meaning there will be a regularly scheduled server maintenance. 10am would be the earliest time the servers would be back up. This also gives all the brick and mortar buyers to get the game installed before the servers come back up, leveling the playing field between them and the digital downloaders.
  1. Raksl's Avatar
    BTW. the warlocks also have that new interface for summoning pets; one generic "summon pet" icon on the actionbar that folds out to the available demons.
  1. mmoc443165a3eb's Avatar
    Wait, 10 am PST? That's like 1900 for CET. That's 19 hours after release. I really hope they'll change that.
    Starcraft2 I didn't really are much about the timing, but with WoW I'd love to race to the highest level and perhaps get server firsts.
    I hate standing in line for hours at a store tbh.
  1. ffcloud2000's Avatar
    Anyone have a video of the new spells ready feature?

    I'm thinking it would be more like Doom_CooldownPulse // JIM's Cooldown Pulse then PowerAuras
  1. Ikkatsu's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Topgunner View Post
    This is what I dont get. Why with the digital download cant we play it at midnight? Why does it have to be at 10am?
    Because otherwise the world would end.

    (Or maybe, just maybe, they actually want people to go to the Midnight Releases as it's great for publicity.)
  1. Ibbi's Avatar
    That's a nifty little feature for mages. I still prefer the DagAssist addon, saves all that button space (unless you like having a million buttons on your screen).
  1. Xilver's Avatar
    "The Howling Oak, the area isn't populated yet but it looks like it will be the home of the worgen in Darnassus."

    Fixed
  1. XBAT's Avatar
    Boub had forgot to add there is the same addition for WARLOCK DEMONS as for the mage portals.
  1. Ikkatsu's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by njdss4 View Post
    I would assume they would be releasing at midnight on a Tuesday, meaning there will be a regularly scheduled server maintenance. 10am would be the earliest time the servers would be back up. This also gives all the brick and mortar buyers to get the game installed before the servers come back up, leveling the playing field between them and the digital downloaders.
    I assume you never played when the previous expansions popped?

    They have never brought down servers for maintenance on release days.
  1. Nananea's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Lyeranth View Post
    I honestly hope that it is simpler that power aura. That thing is waaay too complicated
    Customization leads to complication. It takes less than 30 min to learn how to work PowerAuras and get up and running. Then you can start getting into the advanced stuff.
  1. Malthurius's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Terrax of the Wind View Post
    Reforging, at the moment, seems a bit... lame. Not what I was expecting. :/
    What were you expecting? From what I've seen, it's exactly what they said it would be.

    On a related note, The Power Auras change is very cool, one less add-on to clog my memory. The Howling Oak is a very neat looking spot for the Worgen, my favorite hang out city is Darnassus, so this addition is cementing it's place as my favorite.
  1. writhe666's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by XBAT View Post
    Boub had forgot to add there is the same addition for WARLOCK DEMONS as for the mage portals.
    Hunter's Call Pet also has the same functionality as the new mage teleports. Just sayin.
  1. kiphemyst's Avatar
    If 'Blizzard Auras' will be as customizable as Power Auras then GJ Blizzard!
  1. superstargoddess's Avatar
    Wow, they're always stealing peoples addons. I hope the Power Auras guy got paid for it.

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