Shadowmourne, Cataclysm Beta, Blue posts

[Zagga]

Legendaries should be guild heirlooms, usably by any member of the guild it was created in.

[JugglerPanda]

About not giving new classes to the spacecows is kinda lame, they dont want other classes to fit in with them but they give DK to all and even new races...lets not even speak about paladin fitting Taurens.

Either they leave the story and lore of classes combined to races at it is or all races have same chances...this is kinda unfair to some races.

Nobody is restricted to just one race, so there is no reason at all to complain about this.

[WilliamAG]

Blizzard employees are already back to work and there are already a handful of blue posts related to the expansion.

Shadowmourne is not for hunters!
Turns out that Shadowmourne for hunters was another misinterpreted joke from Blizzard. (Don't blame it on me, it even was in the official recap of the panel!)

Anyone capable of using a two-handed axe can use Shadowmourne.

The stat allocation may not benefit hunters or shamans as much as warriors, DKs or paladins.

There is NO Cataclysm Beta for the moment
The first Cataclysm beta scam reached my mail today, time for a small warning.
[blizzquote="Nethaera;http://blue.mmo-champion.com/1/19381854481-there-is-no-cataclysm-beta-currently.html]As always, when there is a beta, we will announce it. Please be wary of any and all claims of a beta or alpha for the new expansion being held. [/blizzquote"]


Blue posts

Stats simplification
What we were finding is that in many cases things had just become so complicated that players were not making intelligent decisions based on their knowledge of how various stats benefited them. That sounds like what you wanted to have happened, but it really wasn't. Instead players would pull up a BiS list, or plug the item into a spreadsheet. If the answer was "upgrade" they equipped the item. We could pretty much just give the items a name and art and make all the stats not displayed.

If you were one of those players who picked up a piece and understood how armor pen vs. attack power benefited you or whether defense was still worth collecting after you had hit crit immunity, then you were in the minority. Hopefully we can get back to a system where eyeballing an item's stats has some chance of being right. (Source)

Guild Leveling System
Guild advancement is based on the performance of the top 20 producers within the guild. If you have a small guild of 20 (or less), then every person's contributions will count.

[...] If you have some down days, it's not going to affect the guild progress adversely. If you have great days, you'll be up at the top. Keep in mind, this is a great way to not penalize large guilds for having a lot of members and it's also a great way for small guilds to not feel as if they need to mass recruit to keep up with the larger guilds both. (Source)

No new classes for Draeneis
We didn't set out to slight the draenei. As I said on the first panel, we just didn't think any of the missing classes fit them.

[...] While we picked some race/class combinations that were on the edgier side of things, that does not give credence to all potential race/class combinations. Draenei have a very well-rounded complement of class selections as it is, and none of the remaining classes are where we want to take the story at this time. (Source)

Terrain changes in old zones
The terrain is not guaranteed to change in every zone, many zones are likely going to stay the same terrain-wise but the questing will get the clean up. (Source)

Reforging
It's too early to go into a lot of detail on the new features, but the basic idea here was to make an undesirable drop possibly more desirable. It still shouldn't compete with gear that is actually itemized for you.

As an example, letting someone turn stamina into a dps stat is something we'd be unlikely to do (or at least impose a lot of restrictions) since that lets you turn an undesirable stat for most characters into something good.

Think of reforging more as a consolation prize or as a way to work around things like hit caps, and not the kind of thing that clever players are going to be able to use to vastly min max their character power. (Source)

Leveling easier in low level zones after the revamp
Yes, there are technically fewer brand new zones and fewer levels to level up through - but - in return for this there is a much cleaner leveling experience from start to finish and many other things. Think of it like this, would you rather have this cleaner leveling system, the guild leveling system, and the new path of the titans max-level progression system or more zones/dungeons to level up through?

We want to hear your thoughts on things especially since we are doing something very different this expansion, but if things don't become constructive the thread will be locked.

Cleaner leveling system? Are you referring to how the zones are being redone (i.e. Lordaeron zone level revamp)?
Yes. The new system will avoid requiring you to run back and forth between continents to find the right quests to do. Instead there will be a natural flow all the way through.

Also, are you guys going to increase the speed of leveling again, or is that remaining constant?
Hard to say, just making the system flow better will probably speed it up, but I am not sure that the actual number of experience points needed will change.

And with that in mind, lets say I roll an undead. What incentive do we have to explore say, Kalimdor? If I am a newbie starting out, and I can do everything by skipping along zone to zone in sight of the Undercity, doesn't that kinda kill the whole "big world" feel?
This goes into the "your choice" category. Would you prefer to hit all the zones in Eastern Kingdoms like Arathi Highlands and both of the Plaguelands or swing over to see what has happened in Stonetalon Mountains and Desolace? You can enjoy one area with one character and then hit the others on another too. We like the idea of giving players more options.

Druid
Treants
Treants do fine damage, but it's not terribly exciting. It's nothing that couldn't be accomplished by a spell that just did damage instead. The water elemental (less so the other elementals) and the shaman wolves are more interesting temp pets. (Source)

Paladin
Tauren Paladin Mount
Tauren would certainly look strange on an armored charger, wouldn't they? We're keeping this in mind. You'll see. (Source)

Draeinei Paladin Mount
We're thinking about this, too. (Source)

Rogue
Daggers
We drop daggers in raids. The only people who are super interested in them are Assassination rogues, but they have fallen behind Combat. We might boost Assassination without buffing its burst. Probably not through a new talent. (Source)

Finally! A Legendary item that an Enhancement Shaman can use!

[archery126]

Paladin
Tauren Paladin Mount
Tauren would certainly look strange on an armored charger, wouldn't they? We're keeping this in mind. You'll see. (Source)

Maybe Draenei will get a changed Pally mount too? I can't stand how mine looks on the charger, I had to buy an Elekk.

[Delijica]

@WilliamAG: And you just had to quote the entire the news post.

DPS Casters: wtf where's our legendary?
Melee: LOL @ YOU FOR NOT BEING THE 0.01% THAT WAS ABLE TO GET ATEISH /hugs 5 available legendaries
DPS Casters:

I think you missed the part of Blizzcon where they said that casters will get a legendary from one of the first Cataclysm raids.

[Kyrottas]

I love Blizzard!

Draenei Paladin Mount!!!!!

<3<3<3

[CaptainArlong]

Ok, why did people assume in the first place that the Shadowmourne would be a Hunter weapon? What exactly about the Lich King says "Hunter"? The man is a giant, muscular, plate wearing, Death Knight. If he dropped any weapon it would be for Warriors, Death Knights, and Ret Paladins. Just because you can use a certain type of weapon doesn't mean it's for your class. The caster legendary next expansion will be either a Dagger, Sword, or Staff, all which Hunters can use. Of course those special people are going to assume once again, that Hunters can use it!

[Dedweight]

Finally! A Legendary item that an Enhancement Shaman can use!

Finally?


Guessing you forgot about Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros.

Ok, why did people assume in the first place that the Shadowmourne would be a Hunter weapon?

No one assumed it would be, they announced it at Blizzcon as such, apparently they were joking about it.

[yeknom366]

Rogues using daggers is very simple, but will never be done. Disallow the use of swords, maces, fists, and axes. Then, buff combat such that daggers combat is raid viable and on par with assassination.

[LawnGnome12]

Mmm, as a fury warrior I am happy.

Anyone know if they will be unique equipped?

[Araella]

DPS Casters: wtf where's our legendary?
Melee: LOL @ YOU FOR NOT BEING THE 0.01% THAT WAS ABLE TO GET ATEISH /hugs 5 available legendaries
DPS Casters:

They said there would be a caster legendary early in.
imo:
If it's NOT the Scythe of Elune, it'd be utterly shocking.
(just saying I think you can kinda see this one coming...)

[Deleted]

Great!! This will be the 5th Legendary that melee can wear...

1) [Thunderfury, Blessed Blade of the Windseeker]: Warriors and Rogues
2) [Warglaive of Azzinoth]: Warriors and Rogues
3) [Thori'dal, the Stars' Fury]: Hunters, Rogues, Warriors (basicly everyone who can learn the bow skill)
4) [Atiesh, Greatstaff of the Guardian] : Staff from Naxx40 this was both for ranged as for healers
5) [Val'anyr, Hammer of Ancient Kings]: One-handed mace wielded by priests, druids, paladins and shaman
6) [Shadowmourne]: 2h axe for Warriors, DK's and Paladins
7) [Sulfuras, Hand of Ragnaros]: 2h MELEE mace (probably any class who can use 2h maces could wear this)

Summary:
Melee Legendary's: 5 (Last Legendary: Black Temple or Sunwell Plateau)
Ranged Legendary's: 1 (Last Legendary: Naxx40!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Healer Legendary's: 2 (Last Legendary: Ulduar)

So why the f*ck does blizzard release more melee legendaries than any other?
Now Blizzard mentioned a 'ranged' legendary is coming with the expansion, I was like "FINALLY, Did it take you more than 3 years to realise that maybe just MAYBE ranged deserve a legendary?

Anyway comment..

[Daelos]

Who the fuck cares?

Roll a melee if it bothers you that much, I'm just fine without equipping any legendaries ._.

[Exavior]

mate. lichking destroyed pvp and pve and loot and raidpicking all because of one fact

melee is FARRR superior to caster.. As a warlock I always have to outroll 7 other classes on items. 70% of all lichking drops is plate. PVP is nonsense because of lichking and people prefer melee people in group then casters.

[Deleted]

Who the fuck cares?

Roll a melee if it bothers you that much, I'm just fine without equipping any legendaries ._.

Typical melee answer didn't except more...

mate. lichking destroyed pvp and pve and loot and raidpicking all because of one fact

melee is FARRR superior to caster.. As a warlock I always have to outroll 7 other classes on items. 70% of all lichking drops is plate. PVP is nonsense because of lichking and people prefer melee people in group then casters.

True, me too I play a warlock and getting yourself geared, as a ranged, is MUCH harder!

[Humanity]

The bow in SWP was a ranged legandary, so no, it did not take blizz 3 years to "FINALY" announce a ranged / hunter legandary.

And This axe is Warrior, DK, Ret weapon only. Melee didn't roll on legandary bow just for stats, hunters wont roll on legandary melee weapon just for stats.

I hope its not unique-equiped. I wana see warriors dual wield it. Maybe I'll be one of those warriors, I wish.

[JasonWuzHear]

Where's the love for tanks Blizzard? The only weapon that came close to a tanking legendary was Thunderfury

[Khanon]

Yeah...SWP wasn't 3 years after WoW came out...it was...4?

Aside from that, why do people keep harping on these things like people are doing NBG in raids?! Casual non-raiders aren't going to be rolling against you for your phat lewtz... If the Raid Leader (or Guild Leader) lets a hunter go for a legendary drop for the stats, take it up with them...there's an inherent problem with the leadership of the guild in that case. All other arguments about who rolls for a legendary are completely moot.

[Humanity]

This axe will be a DK tanking weapon maybe /shrug.

I wana see the next legandary beeing not a weapon but a Helm or Ring or something.

like Helm of lichking could be legandary. plate offcourse.

[Abyssos]

The bow in SWP was a ranged legandary, so no, it did not take blizz 3 years to "FINALY" announce a ranged / hunter legandary.

And This axe is Warrior, DK, Ret weapon only. Melee didn't roll on legandary bow just for stats, hunters wont roll on legandary melee weapon just for stats.

I hope its not unique-equiped. I wana see warriors dual wield it. Maybe I'll be one of those warriors, I wish.

It depends on the procc, "all" legendarys have had some kind off procc.
And I think the best player in the guild should have it if he can use it (and wants it), if a guild give the first one to a hunter then he prob deserved it.