Icecrown Citadel Videos, Blue posts

[Boubouille]

Blood Queen Lana'thel and Deathbringer Saurfang Videos
It's time for PTR testing videos! Myth released a video of the fight against Blood Queen Lana'thel and Cuties Only released one of Deathbringer Saurfang.

<object width="640" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ESHpu5aoxfs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ESHpu5aoxfs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="405"></embed></object>

<object width="640" height="405"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/KpN14rSZt_A&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/KpN14rSZt_A&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="405"></embed></object>

Patch 3.3 Buff/Debuff Management Clarifications

There isn't a hard and fast rule for what goes into the box. We tried to go through the list of everything and make judgement calls. Very spammy things that you are grateful for but don't need to be reminded of constantly (say Replenishment) go in the box. Long-term buffs go into the box with a couple of exceptions. Things with relatively short ranges, like say totems or paladin auras, stay out of the box because you need to know if you move out of range of them. Things that are very core to your class, like Shadowform, paladin seals or warrior stances, stay out of the box. Inner Fire stays out because it has charges. Things like Inspiration and Heroism that might actually alter your behavior stay out. Anything related to a specific encounter will stay out of the box. If in doubt, we left it out.

The other new option, the castable debuffs, is a way to just see "your stuff" on a target, especially a raid boss. If you want to see your Corruption and CoA and not every lock's dots, it works well for that. It does not work well for debuffs that share the same exclusive category, like say Mangle and Trauma. That functionality is something we'd like to add in the future. If you're a raid leader, it's not going to let you see if all of the critical debuffs are being applied. But if you aren't a raid leader, don't have a lot of fancy mods to monitor such things, and just want to make sure your DK diseases are still up, it's great for that.

We find both new tools to be really useful, but they default to off, so we wanted to make sure players didn't miss them on the PTR while there was still some time to iterate on the design.

Blue posts

No Quel'delar for Tanks
We don't feel there is a need for it? We aimed to make sure that every class had something to gain from the Quel'Delar series, but that doesn't mean every spec of every class. Could a tank use the one handed dps version of Quel'Delar? Yes, it may give them more threat. Is this ideal for surviving while tanking? No, but there are other items available for that. (Source)

Rumors of Blizzcon in Las Vegas
We haven’t announced any details regarding our next BlizzCon, so please refrain from making any travel plans at this time. (Source)

Mimiron's Head in Patch 3.3
There are no plans to remove this mount in patch 3.3. Good luck on more Yogg+0 attempts! (Source)

Deathbringer Saurfang Issues on PTRs
The dodge and crit issues will be fixed in a new build, the higher values of those are a quirk of a setting we used on him.

It's just the Blood Beasts that have the AE damage reduction aura, you should be able to damage Saurfang just fine with Whirlwind and similar effects. (Source)

Emblems of Frost Plate Tanking Chest Bug
If you are talking about a certain badge chest, there is no block on that item. It has bonus armor, expertise and defense. [...] I think in this case it's actually a bug. We create some items by cloning old items and sometimes the old stuff doesn't get correctly removed. (Source)

Warlock
Warlock Threat
There is nothing to warlock spells that make them cause more threat than a similar spell by say a mage. The exception are spells like Searing Pain that specifically state that they generate increased threat. That issue is from a (possibly antiquated) design where the lock might need to pull off of their pet to save its life while soloing.

In general, it's not a good strategy to compare your spells to other classes. They are different for a reason, which is namely that we want different classes to play differently. One of the first arguments we tune out is "The only class who...". Our response to that is usually: Good!

If you feel like you have threat issues, those are totally valid to discuss. I would do so without saying "But this other class has a better spell." (Source)

Warrior
Heroic Strike
We have become pretty dissatisfied with the on-next swing mechanic. Come Cataclysm, we'd love to get rid of all of them. Obviously that will necessitate some pretty significant changes in how warriors generate threat or do damage (unlike Maul or Rune Strike, Heroic Strike gets a lot of use outside of tanking), which makes it too risky a change for 3.3. We think some of the other ideas like toggling the ability are also risky in the sense that they might require a lot of iteration to feel right, or worse, might mess up threat generation or damage dealt.

The original design of HS as a tanking tool wasn't that you replace every white swing with a Heroic Strike. You did it when you wanted to burn off rage. These days tanks (and increasingly dps warriors too) are rarely rage starved beyond perhaps the first few seconds of the fight. That turns Heroic Strike into a button you always push.

A couple of other ideas we have considered, as someone above referenced, were making Heroic Strike do more threat the more rage you have but also spend more rage. Another is that you somehow go into "high rage mode" at which point everything costs double but hits harder. This would work for dps warriors too. Those are just ideas at this point, not announcements. Please don't tell us in a few weeks that you were promised these changes for 3.3. (Source)

[Bloodstream]

The Queen's encounter looks sick.

[bbr]

Mimiron's Head in Patch 3.3
There are no plans to remove this mount in patch 3.3. Good luck on more Yogg+0 attempts! (Source)

Tempest keep's drop - ashes of alar was never removed either.
The difference here, is that you can skip most mobs to get to it, but get only a small 2-3% drop chance.

With yogg, you need to clear past a good large number of mobs to reach it, and then still only one head drops. Even if it has a 100% chance to do so.

[Sellest]

Actually it looks like that 3.3 is comming out soon

We find both new tools to be really useful, but they default to off, so we wanted to make sure players didn't miss them on the PTR while there was still some time to iterate on the design.

Please don't tell us in a few weeks that you were promised these changes for 3.3.

Soon could be few weeks?

[Bruuin]

Warrior
Heroic Strike
We have become pretty dissatisfied with the on-next swing mechanic. Come Cataclysm, we'd love to get rid of all of them. Obviously that will necessitate some pretty significant changes in how warriors generate threat or do damage (unlike Maul or Rune Strike, Heroic Strike gets a lot of use outside of tanking), which makes it too risky a change for 3.3. We think some of the other ideas like toggling the ability are also risky in the sense that they might require a lot of iteration to feel right, or worse, might mess up threat generation or damage dealt.

The original design of HS as a tanking tool wasn't that you replace every white swing with a Heroic Strike. You did it when you wanted to burn off rage. These days tanks (and increasingly dps warriors too) are rarely rage starved beyond perhaps the first few seconds of the fight. That turns Heroic Strike into a button you always push.

A couple of other ideas we have considered, as someone above referenced, were making Heroic Strike do more threat the more rage you have but also spend more rage. Another is that you somehow go into "high rage mode" at which point everything costs double but hits harder. This would work for dps warriors too. Those are just ideas at this point, not announcements. Please don't tell us in a few weeks that you were promised these changes for 3.3. (Source)

[Facepalm.jpg]

So, Did any US guild down Deathbringer saurfang?

[Bruuin]

So, Did any US guild down Deathbringer saurfang?

Your name is fitting for you post. Go fig.

[Tps]

Not having an "On next swing" attack for warriors, means more white hits, and more rage generation.

I like.

[Weakling]

First video:

Kurusaki = 12,4k dps
Not bad.

Thats what I noticed, and ofc when he one shotted a healer while MC.

[Alianthos]

Good to see that they have concerns about Heroic Strike. Indeed, with VHL stuff you are NEVER rage starved (both in prot and fury spec, as far as i'm concerned, both 232/245 average ilvl) so basically i keep spamming my HS button every second.

It definitly needs a twist

[Vanyshh]

looks like Saurfang is going to be a gear check......have to damage through all of his healing

[Lycanthro]

Don't worry guys we can still get head in 3.3.

[Blabclaw]

Gief 'high-rage mode' tbh, sounds wicked

[Riltia]

Warlock
Warlock Threat
There is nothing to warlock spells that make them cause more threat than a similar spell by say a mage. The exception are spells like Searing Pain that specifically state that they generate increased threat. That issue is from a (possibly antiquated) design where the lock might need to pull off of their pet to save its life while soloing.

In general, it's not a good strategy to compare your spells to other classes. They are different for a reason, which is namely that we want different classes to play differently. One of the first arguments we tune out is "The only class who...". Our response to that is usually: Good!

If you feel like you have threat issues, those are totally valid to discuss. I would do so without saying "But this other class has a better spell." (Source)

Blue speak for "Yes, you have threat issues, but we're not going to do anything about it"?

[Rowen]

When the Queen minds control someone, is that character immune to CCs? Is the second video or stream I see where the mind controlled guy isn't CCed.

[TheDrifter2k]

So, Did any US guild down Deathbringer saurfang?

I don't believe so. He was bugged in that he was ignoring player expertise (dodging and parrying at inordinate rates) and ignoring player defense (critting tanks above def cap). Those dodges would account for some melee dps loss, at least, but the fight is definitely a free for all zerg.

Does anyone know what kind of +damage modifiers are present in the Lana'thel encounter? 17k Heroic Strike crits doesn't sound normal =/

[Dziukas]

Does anyone know what kind of +damage modifiers are present in the Lana'thel encounter? 17k Heroic Strike crits doesn't sound normal =/

This one I guess: http://db.mmo-champion.com/s/71473/e...-vampyr-queen/

[Pumps]

"Queen Lana'thel"

They have to change that name, I keep seeing Queen Latifah!

[talrob]

Blue posts

No Quel'delar for Tanks
We don't feel there is a need for it? We aimed to make sure that every class had something to gain from the Quel'Delar series, but that doesn't mean every spec of every class. Could a tank use the one handed dps version of Quel'Delar? Yes, it may give them more threat. Is this ideal for surviving while tanking? No, but there are other items available for that. (Source)

...and the award for dumbest reasoning by a blue poster goes to...

Seriously that is the worst excuse for not making a tanking weapon and a dagger caster dps weapon I have ever heard.

[zolok]

[blizzquote author=Boubouille link=topic=126825.msg1740224#msg1740224 date=1258123310]
Please don't tell us in a few weeks that you were promised these changes for 3.3. (Source)
[/blizzquote]


HAHA They basically just told us 3.3 will be out within a few weeks.