Patch 6.2 Gnome Character Select, Patch 6.2 Pets, Shop Mounts, Blue Tweets, DLC #489

[chaud]

2.2.1 Hotfixes and Carnevil Bug, Iceblink Guide

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Patch 6.2 - Gnome Character Selection Screen Changes
Patch 6.2 adds some more detail to the Gnome character selection screen.

Patch 6.2 Preview - Pets Galore

As we continue to explore new territory in Draenor, it should come as no surprise that new battle pets and new battle pet rewards will be found. Thus far, Draenor has contained a great deal of diversity for pet battlers, and Patch 6.2 will be no different. Let’s take a look at some of what’s in store for your collection.

Please note: Spoilers are ahead! If you want to discover the new battle pets and rewards for yourself, don’t read any further!

Tanaan Stop Action
First and foremost, Tanaan Jungle is where the action can be found on all fronts. You will find battle pets of all types dotting the landscape, four of which are new and just waiting to be caught for the first time:

• Bloodbeak
• Cerulean Moth
• Violet Firefly
• Fen Crab

Keep an eye out for the new quest “A Fel Puppy Of My Own”, through which you can acquire the delightful new Fel Pup.

But the jungle doesn’t only provide garden-variety battle pets. If you look carefully, you’ll find that there are 15 fel-corrupted legendary pets scattered throughout Tanaan. Your Pet Battle Master in your garrison will have some new information for you to get started. You can only defeat any of these legendaries once per day, and when you do, you’ll receive a container of Fel-Touched Pet Supplies, which will include:

• Gold
• Pet Charms
• Pet Bandages

And has a small chance to include:

• A Fel-Touched Battle-Training Stone (single use, grants +5 pet levels)
• One of these rare pets:
  
  • Periwinkle Calf
  • Zangar Spore
  • Seaborne Spore
  • Nightmare Bell

We’ve also got a new achievement for you when you defeat all 15 legendary opponents in Tanaan Jungle.

You’re Too Charming
Patch 6.2 is going to introduce a new vendor to your level 3 Garrison Menagerie. Tiffy Trapspring and Giada Goldleash have been attracted to your impressive stash of Pet Charms, and want to take them off your hands in exchange for the following pets:

• Dusty Sporewing
• Bloodthorn Hatchling
• Glowing Sporebat
• Lost Netherpup

And the following toys:

• Magic Pet Mirror
• Indestructible Bone
• Spirit Wand

And the Hunt Continues
A number of new battle pets coming to World of Warcraft with patch 6.2 can be found all over the worlds. Back home in Azeroth, adventurers will cheer when they find the non-combative Nethaera's Light glowing in Dalaran. Meanwhile, two new fishing pets are turning up at the Darkmoon Faire. One is called Blorp (also a non-combat pet), and the other is the wondrous Ghostshell Crab.

Even more pets have found their way to the fields of battle on Draenor. Look carefully, and you may find:

• Crimsonwing Moth -- A rare spawn in Talador with many spawn points, and only one ever appearing in the zone at a time.
• Sapphire Firefly – A rare spawn in Spires of Arak who also has many spawn points and appears only once at a time.

• Cinder Pup – Available from a new Garrison mission in patch 6.2.
• Corrupted Nest Guardian – Dropped by Shadow Lord Iskar in the new Hellfire Citadel raid.

Get a first look at all of the above by testing Patch 6.2 with us on the PTR. Please note that availability to test some PTR content may be limited to certain time frames. Learn more about the upcoming Patch 6.2 and how to participate on the PTR in our 6.2 PTR Patch Notes.

Loot Changes and Drop Rates

The first part of the text explains that, like today, if 15 people are elegible to loot, 3 items will drop in Group Loot. Present personal loot doesn't work this way, it can drop nothing or more than 3, with an average of 3 considering all wow population. Now the game will reward 3 players with loot in personal loot.
In addition, to compensate the fact that loot can't be redistributed, MORE loot than that 3 loot will be given, say, 4 loot.
This is an accurate summary.

We don't usually provide exact drop percentages, and we're still tweaking the bonus when using Personal Loot in 6.2, but I can say that objectively:

• More items will drop on average for a raid using 6.2 Personal Loot than would have dropped using 6.0/6.1 Personal Loot.
• More items will drop on average for a raid using 6.2 Personal Loot than would drop for that raid using any form of Group Loot (Master, Need/Greed, etc.).

Shop Mounts Feedback

Mounts take a fairly significant amount of time to create, and in this case the Runesaber mount was made somewhere in the 6.0 production timeframe, and I believe was complete before 6.1 hit the PTR. Creation of store mounts is intentionally consistent and takes place months before they actually release. In this case we actually waited for a bit as we wanted to ensure the Token rollout went smoothly without adding in the potential complications of a store mount going live at the same time. In short: we didn't crank this thing out yesterday as an answer to something. Production takes a long time, and we have them on a regular release cadence. You can be certain than every few months there will be a new store mount.

As for why we make mounts for the store at all: most obviously of course because there is a significant portion of players that like being able to purchase cosmetic items for real money. Certainly there is also a desire by a significant portion of players to be able to obtain the Ironhoof Destroyer from Mythic Blackhand. Not everyone will be able to, or maybe even want to, obtain either mount, but we know that a wide variety of players look for a wide variety of acquisition methods for cosmetic items. Also certainly different players will look differently at these two mounts based on their acquisition methods, and it's the main reason why we don't mix game and store mounts. If someone buys a mount off the Shop we don't want there to then be confusion as to whether it's the Shop version, or a recolor obtained through in-game means. We essentially purposely ensure shop mounts stand out as shop mounts.

I do concur with the original poster that what people want is more in-game content and that a mount is not sufficient to that want.
Yeah, of course no one said "people want more content! let's make a mount!" and that was sort of my point, these will release regularly regardless and aren't tied to other game content.

Also, of course, the crux of the complaint isn't really (I believe) that this mount exists, but just that some people think it's poor timing to be selling something while they're looking for a new raid tier, etc. I don't think there's anything anyone can say to that except for us to just keep working on and release the content they're looking for. But in any case, I thought I'd try to offer a reasoned response as to how this mount is not an answer to anything, but just a standard timed release like all the other ones before it.

you are telling me, that to get the nicest mounts in the game, i have to buy it with real money? and i can count on them coming out with frequency?
No, I did not say that, and gave an example of the Mythic Blackhand mount also offering a rare and difficult to obtain mount. Judging by reaction to some of the store mounts, I would argue they are not at all the nicest looking mounts in the game. Certainly all of the most sought after mounts are valued due to their rarity, and store bought mounts are generally not very rare. Value will differ from person to person though, I suspect.

You say they take a long time to create and ok that makes sense, however I think what people are getting at is the "nice mounts" more or less have to be bought.
I don't believe there was much if any difference in production time between a shop mount and, say, the Vicious War Kodo in 6.2. Or the mechanostrider for that matter. Or Felsteel Annihilator. You could argue they're all "reskins" in that they use existing animation sets, but all three are new mounts with custom geometry and textures available through gameplay. Whether you think they're as cool or not is probably up to personal preference.

its very frustrating to hear blizzard take this stance on mounts. suddenly mounts are such a big production... like wrath and bc didn't happen.
The art in the game is overall of much higher polygon and texture resolution than it was. Production "costs" (e.g. time) only increase as we increase graphical fidelity. Not to mention huge and ambitious projects like updating 20 race models, all with updated customization options, new animation sets, etc. This expansion has a huge amount of very time and quality-control intensive art in it. But I do legitimately understand it's sometimes difficult to see the forest for the trees.

Condescension. Nice.
I'm not intentionally condescending anyone, and I understand the desire to turn this into a battle against us. But I really don't think that's necessary, or productive.

Burning Crusade Timewalking - Feedback/Bugs

I'm making a new thread to focus feedback on the current PTR build and subsequent ones.

Burning Crusade Timewalking is now open, and will remain so for a while. Since the last time we tested this system, we've fixed a number of scaling bugs. Doing so necessitating clearing a large number of buffs from players when entering Timewalking dungeons, as we do with Arenas, Challenge Modes, and some other content.

Please queue up and check out the dungeons. On the encounter side, we remain interested in experiential feedback regarding clear times, and any outliers that felt excessively easy or excessively hard. On the systems side, we're curious to hear whether there are effects that get canceled upon entering that are particularly annoying to lose (we've tried to preserve cosmetic buffs, and core effects like stances), and whether any effects or abilities seem like they aren't scaling properly even after our latest changes.

In particular, logs (or just damage meter screenshots) are very helpful in identifying problem cases - in general, we'd expect to see DPS values in the 1500-2000 range from scaled-down players doing this content. Some burst timers and abilities may cause spikes well in excess of these values, but overall that's roughly what things are tuned for currently. If you or a groupmate is consistently doing significantly more than that range, something may be wrong and we'd appreciate data to help us track down exactly what.

Blue Tweets

Classes
Shaman (Forums / Skills / Talent Calculator)
Nerfing Stone Bulwark Totem Talent, just shows you guys realy have no idea what you're doing or check on statistics.
Thank you for your feedback. (WarcraftDevs)

Character / Items
Tusks of Mannoroth... still in game?
Yes, and they are still very rare. (WarcraftDevs)

We don't currently allow transmog to "invisible" items. It's an aesthetic choice we've made, but we understand the common feedback. (WarcraftDevs)
at the risk of losing my favorite xmog piece. This makes no sense because the dk belt from the starting zone is invis
Sorry, more specifically we're referring to shoulder pieces. (WarcraftDevs)

Flying
Would be cool if you could answer the question. Will flying return in 6.2? Yes, no, or "can't say".
It's not my place to say, sorry (Muffinus)

PvE
i thought for WoD you guys made LFR flexible? I tried queuing in with 30 people and it didnt let me do it
Queuing for LFR is still a 25-player thing, but if people drop the content scales down so you needn't wait for backfills. (WatcherDev)

Will Mythic dung lock you to instance with bosses dead like a Mythic raid? Can I help friend do one I have completed already?
Mythic dungeons have a weekly loot lockout, but you can help friends if you’ve already gotten your loot for the week. (WarcraftDevs)

Any chance you guys could tweak the spines of deathwing fight to be a little more solo friendly?
We don't have any plans currently to go back and alter this encounter. (WarcraftDevs)

Can achievements be done in Timewalking dungeons, and can the Blue Proto Drake drop in that difficulty?
Yes to both. (WarcraftDevs)

Professions
Any chance you're removing the WoD crafted limit in 6.2? Could be a good catchup mechanic for those who have the mats
We will not be removing this limitation, however, we are adding new tiers of crafted gear. (WarcraftDevs)

Garrisons
How rare is the 6.2 conquest\honor reward mission supposed to be? Any prequisites or conditions?
It'll have a small chance to trigger once you have a solid collection of high-level followers. (WarcraftDevs)

Misc
The artists are the real heroes when it comes to icons. Designers are just annoying and picky about them.
"I want a brick! A magic brick! No, FOUR magic bricks! They have to be all cool and like *explosive hand gesture*" (Muffinus)
Then we get the icons, and we're like, "No, that's not what I wanted. READ MY MIND!"
*Sends back terrible, indecipherable MS Paint picture* LIKE THIS (Muffinus)

why is it up to the players to tell you how to implement it? Don't you collect a check for game design?
Should we never ask players their opinions on how they'd like to see something show up in-game? (Muffinus)

My point is I'd like Blizzard to act like the old Blizzard and be honest with it's customers like it use to.
Well I'm just one rando dude, and usually ask questions I'm personally interested in. What do you feel has been dishonest? (Muffinus)
not just give an answer. If you don't want us anymore, please just tell us and we can bring peace to Wow.
It may seem like indiv. devs are trolling by not responding, but it's just not something our personal accts should address (Muffinus)

I like it how blizzard replies mostly to positive feedbacks esp on pvp but ignores the "negative" ones @WarcraftDevs
We take all feedback into consideration. Whether or not we reply publicly has little to do with that. (WarcraftDevs)

When to expect more Developer interviews or Q&A?
We'll be setting some up as we get closer to 6.2 release, but don't have dates to share yet. (WarcraftDevs)

DLC #489 - Clone Shoes
DLC #489 has been released.

[MrExcelion]

I wouldn't have noticed the character screen changes had you not pointed it out lol

[Rioo]

Blizzard thinks a mount from mythic Blackhand, which in the end only like 3% of the playerbase can get if they all really tried, justifies having unique and good-looking store mounts and crappy recolours of the same few animals without running animations in-game. I really hope no-one buys their bullshit justification (or the store mounts).

[Deleted]

Blizzard thinks a mount from mythic Blackhand, which in the end only like 3% of the playerbase can get if they all really tried, justifies having unique and good-looking store mounts and crappy recolours of the same few animals without running animations in-game. I really hope no-one buys their bullshit justification (or the store mounts).

Like they said,for most people the value of a mount is partly based on its rarity.Having a mount from the shop is nothing special,everybody can get it,it just show you have extra money to spend on such things.

[Deleted]

And yet again, zero information about any form of pvp. this expansion is a joke for the pvp communtiy.

This one amused me, why even BOTHER feature this shit?

" Would be cool if you could answer the question. Will flying return in 6.2? Yes, no, or "can't say".
It's not my place to say, sorry (Muffinus) "

[Sunnydee]

I'm not intentionally condescending anyone, and I understand the desire to turn this into a battle against us. But I really don't think that's necessary, or productive.

Quote of the day. This so much. there is literally NO reason to bash for a bloody mount when you don't have to buy it. alot of the negative people nowadays are just doing it beacuse its trendy.

Let's get real here, You know why its not necessary? beacuse no matter how much those few rage about "buhu purdy mount in cashshop", blizzard wont give a shit. They are a company and the point is incase you missed it is to earn money. But in the end its your choice to purchase it or not. half of MMO doesnt need to know you don't like it. this aint a blog.

[Grimalkin of Old]

Cheers for the Feet of Strength!

[Xentronium]

Magic Pet Mirror (Toy)

"Take on the appearance of your companion pet. Only works on pets that can battle."

Sounds like fun. So many pets to choose from.

[Kaleredar]

Blizzard thinks a mount from mythic Blackhand, which in the end only like 3% of the playerbase can get if they all really tried, justifies having unique and good-looking store mounts and crappy recolours of the same few animals without running animations in-game. I really hope no-one buys their bullshit justification (or the store mounts).

Isn't that what people wanted? Rare, prestigious mounts?

Well, boy howdy, they're still in the game.


Regardless. Blizzard has reused models for mount reskins since the game came out.

[elvor0]

Quote of the day. This so much. there is literally NO reason to bash for a bloody mount when you don't have to buy it. alot of the negative people nowadays are just doing it beacuse its trendy.

Let's get real here, You know why its not necessary? beacuse no matter how much those few rage about "buhu purdy mount in cashshop", blizzard wont give a shit. They are a company and the point is incase you missed it is to earn money. But in the end its your choice to purchase it or not. half of MMO doesnt need to know you don't like it. this aint a blog.

Or y'know, because the shop mount got a cool looking, semi new mount with extra model elements, while the achievement mount for HFC is a WOLF with orange claws, that's it, no bells, whistles, or even a kazoo pop.

Or that Alliance Trading Post gets a unique Iron Horde Elekk, while the Horde gets...a fucking wolf, and the Grinning Reaver becomes a shop mount, despite the Laughing Skull being our Trading post faction. I normally defend Blizzards actions, but given that, can you see why people might be annoyed?

[Kaleredar]

Or y'know, because the shop mount got a cool looking, semi new mount with extra model elements, while the achievement mount for HFC is a WOLF with orange claws, that's it, no bells, whistles, or even a kazoo pop.

Or that Alliance Trading Post gets a unique Iron Horde Elekk, while the Horde gets...a fucking wolf, and the Grinning Reaver becomes a shop mount, despite the Laughing Skull being our Trading post faction. I normally defend Blizzards actions, but given that, can you see why people might be annoyed?

The mounts would never have been made otherwise.

Blizzard doesn't whip up a set of mounts and then say "alright, which of these are the coolest, so we can stick them in the store?"

They intentionally made those mounts to put in the store.

[Deleted]

I would argue they are not at all the nicest looking mounts in the game.

That is FU***ING RELATIVE!

But the fact is: there are more polygons and work time in the store mounts than in the ingame mounts... I hate these blue posts... They make me feel upset!

[Deleted]

I dont think anyone is denying the business model - it obviously works, people are happy to splash cash on store items whilst still paying a sub fee. Its the moral debate coupled with the apparent lack of content delivered in this expansion (its a short expansion, the most expensive yet also) - he outright admits they take a 'significant amount of time to create', our sub fee pays for those designers to design for the game, not to double up and charge us for their work again.

[Paula Deen]

Man, when is Blizzard just going to announce they give up? This is just.... so pathetic.

[Kaleredar]

That is FU***ING RELATIVE!

But the fact is: there are more polygons and work time in the store mounts than in the ingame mounts... I hate these blue posts... They make me feel upset!

Yeah, it's fucking relative.

Personally, I don't like any of the store mounts. I prefer my Invincible, or Swift Razzashi raptor, which I feel look much, much cooler.

So... yeah, it's fucking relative. So you defeated your own argument.

- - - Updated - - -

I dont think anyone is denying the business model - it obviously works, people are happy to splash cash on store items whilst still paying a sub fee. Its the moral debate coupled with the apparent lack of content delivered in this expansion (its a short expansion, the most expensive yet also) - he outright admits they take a 'significant amount of time to create', our sub fee pays for those designers to design for the game, not to double up and charge us for their work again.

They take a significant amount of time to create... but aren't done so on anywhere near the same schedule. Notice how store mounts are datamined months and often several patches in advance. The collector's edition mount sat in the game files for like, a year. The fey dragon was in the game files for at least four or five months.

So they might take more time... but they can spend more time on them. They don't need to ship them with patches, like they do all the other mounts.


When was the last time an in-game mount was just smashed in between patches? Never. Not even back in "glorious BC."

[arcaneshot]

That is FU***ING RELATIVE!

And it's also relative that I think the Iron Clefthoof looks better than nearly all of the store mounts.

Even more so that I probably wouldn't ride that even if I did have it.

[kornek21]

Blizzard thinks a mount from mythic Blackhand, which in the end only like 3% of the playerbase can get if they all really tried, justifies having unique and good-looking store mounts and crappy recolours of the same few animals without running animations in-game. I really hope no-one buys their bullshit justification (or the store mounts).

i support them, i even bought the mount, and all other mounts and pets they have released on the blizz store...dont like it?...sue me!

[Deleted]

I cannot stand them trotting out the "art models take time" argument over and over again.

We live in a world where GTA V exists, where Witcher 3 exists. But to reskin a Vanilla Cat mount, or whatever it is, is suddenly akin to carving out Mount Rushmore.

I also want to know who the person that thought the gnome screen needed touching up is, as they obviously have FAR too much time on their hands and should be put to work elsewhere.

[Magemaer]

I cannot stand them trotting out the "art models take time" argument over and over again.

We live in a world where GTA V exists, where Witcher 3 exists. But to reskin a Vanilla Cat mount, or whatever it is, is suddenly akin to carving out Mount Rushmore.

I also want to know who the person that thought the gnome screen needed touching up is, as they obviously have FAR too much time on their hands and should be put to work elsewhere.

They've been assigning their artsts with other tasks ("finishing" d3; hearthstone; heroes of the storm) while they keep the fools (we players) stuck into this sad sad hamster wheel, satisfied with a minimun as long as the wheel keeps rolling to distract us from the emptyness of ourselves.

[Eliazer681]

Here comes 125 comments of people whining about stupid shit that doesn't matter. Also laughing extra hard this morning at the guy who brought up the "moral debate."

It's a videogame. Grow up.