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Patch 8.2.5 Hotfixes - October 16th, 2019 

by
Stoy
Published on 2019-10-16 08:19 PM

Patch 8.2.5 Hotfixes - October 16th, 2019
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker)
Items
  • Increased the chances for someone who does not have a Rank 4 Condensed Life-Force (Essence) to loot it from Queen Azshara (Mythic difficulty).

Pet Battles
  • Fixed an issue that allowed some battle pets to become invincible after being resurrected in battle by Finduin or Gillvanas.

Player versus Player
  • Fixed an issue that caused Fire Mages’ Conflagration (Talent) to interfere with PvP diminishing returns on enemy targets.
  • Resolved an issue that prevented characters that have not yet obtained their 9th weekly Conquest’s Reward from gaining the Spoils of War buff (50% bonus Conquest) during Rated Arenas and Rated Battlegrounds.

Quests

World Quests
  • Naga Incursions now award gold or war resources to players who can no longer progress their Heart of Azeroth (level 70).

WoW Classic
  • The buffs obtained from the guards in Dire Maul North after completing a tribute run will no longer stack.
4 Comments

Patch 8.3.0 PTR - Build 32203 

Published on 2019-10-15 09:17 PM

Check out the MMO-Champion Discord!

Patch 8.3.0 PTR - Build 32203
A little bit of an upcoming patch was pushed today with an update to Retail WoW. Some of the assets that it included are below, including a portal that looks like it may go to the Frozen Throne.

Icons




Portals
48 Comments

WoW Classic - Dire Maul Active Today, Patch 8.3 PTR - Raid Testing Schedule 

by
Stoy
Published on 2019-10-15 03:49 PM

WoW Classic US - Dire Maul Releases at 10:00am PDT
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Following up on our announcement from last week, Dire Maul will become available today, October 15, at 10:00am PDT.

WoW Classic EU - Dire Maul Releases at 7:00PM CEST
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
Following up on our announcement from last week, Dire Maul will become available today, October 15, at 7:00PM CEST.

Patch 8.3 PTR - Raid Testing Schedule - October 17th & 18th
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
On Thursday, October 17th and Friday, October 18th, we will be continuing our raid tests in Ny’alotha, the Waking City.

Thursday, October 17th
Wrathion, the Black Emperor - Heroic Ny’alotha, the Waking City
13:00 PDT (16:00 EDT, 22:00 CEST)
Maut - Heroic Ny’alotha, the Waking City
14:00 PDT (17:00 EDT, 23:00 CEST)

Friday, October 18th
The Prophet Skitra - Heroic Ny’alotha, the Waking City
13:00 PDT (16:00 EDT, 22:00 CEST)
Ra-den the Despoiled - Heroic Ny’alotha, the Waking City
14:00 PDT (17:00 EDT, 23:00 CEST)

As always, this testing schedule is very fluid and subject to the realities of a test environment. We might have to change the time of a testing session, change the bosses being tested, or cancel a test entirely, due to bugs, server hardware issues, etc. Keep an eye on this forum for the latest information, and thank you in advance for testing and providing feedback.

Q: How do I get into the raid zone?
A: In Zuldazar, Boralus, Dalaran, Orgrimmar, or Stormwind, you may speak to Nexus-Lord Donjon Rade III in order to teleport into the raid zone while it is open for testing. (The option to teleport into a zone will not be available when the zone is not open for testing.)
Q: What character should I use to test the raid?
A: Whichever you prefer. We will be scaling players’ effective level to 120 for raid testing, and their item level to an appropriate threshold for the encounter(s) being tested.
Q: How long does testing last?
A: The primary purpose of testing is to give us the information we need to balance the encounters, evaluate how mechanics are playing out in practice, and identify bugs. Once we’re satisfied that we’ve received that information for a given boss, we’ll be shutting down testing. Usually this takes anywhere from 45 minutes to 2 hours, but there are no guarantees.
11 Comments

J. Allen Brack: Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament 

Published on 2019-10-12 02:13 AM

Update: Blitzchung has released a statement.

Regarding Last Weekend’s Hearthstone Grandmasters Tournament
At the Hearthstone Grandmasters Asia-Pacific last weekend, Grandmaster Blitzchung made a comment in a post game interview about the political situation in Hong Kong. Blizzard took back his prize money and banned him from Hearthstone eSports for a year.

You can see Blizzard's initial response on Hearthpwn, as well as the community reaction. Brian Kibler and other casters have now decided to stop working the Grandmasters Tournaments.

Originally Posted by J. Allen Brack (Blue Tracker)
Hello Blizzard Community . . .

I want to take a few minutes to talk to all of you about the Hearthstone Grandmasters tournament this past weekend. On Monday, we made the decision to take action against a player named blitzchung and two shoutcasters after the player shared his views on what’s happening in Hong Kong on our official broadcast channel.

At Blizzard, our vision is “to bring the world together through epic entertainment.” And we have core values that apply here: Think Globally; Lead Responsibly; and importantly, Every Voice Matters, encouraging everybody to share their point of view. The actions that we took over the weekend are causing people to question if we are still committed to these values. We absolutely are and I will explain.

Our esports programs are an expression of our vision and our values. Esports exist to create opportunities for players from around the world, from different cultures, and from different backgrounds, to come together to compete and share their passion for gaming. It is extremely important to us to protect these channels and the purpose they serve: to bring the world together through epic entertainment, celebrate our players, and build diverse and inclusive communities.

As to how those values apply in this case:

First, our official esports tournament broadcast was used as a platform for a winner of this event to share his views with the world.

We interview competitors who are at the top of their craft to share how they feel. We want to experience that moment with them. Hearing their excitement is a powerful way to bring us together.

Over the weekend, blitzchung used his segment to make a statement about the situation in Hong Kong—in violation of rules he acknowledged and understood, and this is why we took action.

Every Voice Matters, and we strongly encourage everyone in our community to share their viewpoints in the many places available to express themselves. However, the official broadcast needs to be about the tournament and to be a place where all are welcome. In support of that, we want to keep the official channels focused on the game.

Second, what is the role of shoutcasters for these broadcasts?

We hire shoutcasters to amplify the excitement of the game. They elevate the watchability and help the esports viewing experience stay focused on the tournament and our amazing players.

Third, were our actions based on the content of the message?

Part of Thinking Globally, Leading Responsibly, and Every Voice Matters is recognizing that we have players and fans in almost every country in the world. Our goal is to help players connect in areas of commonality, like their passion for our games, and create a sense of shared community.

The specific views expressed by blitzchung were NOT a factor in the decision we made. I want to be clear: our relationships in China had no influence on our decision.

We have these rules to keep the focus on the game and on the tournament to the benefit of a global audience, and that was the only consideration in the actions we took.

If this had been the opposing viewpoint delivered in the same divisive and deliberate way, we would have felt and acted the same.

OK, what could Blizzard have done better, and where do we go from here?

Over the past few days, many players, casters, esports fans, and employees have expressed concerns about how we determined the penalties. We’ve had a chance to pause, to listen to our community, and to reflect on what we could have done better. In hindsight, our process wasn’t adequate, and we reacted too quickly.

We want to ensure that we maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all our players, and that our rules and processes are clear. All of this is in service of another important Blizzard value—Play Nice; Play Fair.

In the tournament itself blitzchung *played* fair. We now believe he should receive his prizing. We understand that for some this is not about the prize, and perhaps for others it is disrespectful to even discuss it. That is not our intention.

But playing fair also includes appropriate pre-and post-match conduct, especially when a player accepts recognition for winning in a broadcast. When we think about the suspension, six months for blitzchung is more appropriate, after which time he can compete in the Hearthstone pro circuit again if he so chooses. There is a consequence for taking the conversation away from the purpose of the event and disrupting or derailing the broadcast.

With regard to the casters, remember their purpose is to keep the event focused on the tournament. That didn’t happen here, and we are setting their suspension to six months as well.

Moving forward, we will continue to apply tournament rules to ensure our official broadcasts remain focused on the game and are not a platform for divisive social or political views.

One of our goals at Blizzard is to make sure that every player, everywhere in the world, regardless of political views, religious beliefs, race, gender, or any other consideration always feels safe and welcome both competing in and playing our games.

At Blizzard, we are always listening and finding ways to improve—it is part of our culture. Thank you for your patience with us as we continue to learn.

Sincerely,

J. Allen Brack
President of Blizzard Entertainment

Blitzchung's Statement
Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
Thank you for your attention in the past one week, this is a personal statement and my view on Blizzard's latest decision. First of all, I'm grateful for Blizzard reconsidering their position about my ban. Earlier this week, I told media that I knew I might have penalty or consequence for my act, because I understand that my act could take the conversation away from the purpose of the event. In the future, I will be more careful on that and express my opinions or show my support to Hong Kong on my personal platforms.

Many people has been asking me if I accept the latest decision of Blizzard, I will discuss that on two parts. Tournament prizing and suspension. For tournament prizing, I quoted what Blizzard said on the official website, they mention that I played fair in the tournament and they believe I should receive my prizing. This is the part I really appreciate, Blizzard also said they understand for some this is not about the prize, but perhaps for others it is disrespectful to even discuss it. People
from Blizzard had explained this to me through a phone call and I really appreciate that and I accept their decision on this part.

For second part about the suspension, Blizzard had changed their suspension on me from a year to six months. Once again, I appreciate for their reconsideration on this. To be honest, I think six
months is still quite a lot to me. But I also being told that I can continue to compete in the hearthstone pro circuit which they mean the grandmaster tournament. I appreciate for this decision
they made because grandmaster is currently the highest level tournament in competitive
hearthstone. However, I wish Blizzard can reconsider about their penalty on the two casters involved.

Lastly, many people wants to know if i would be competing in hearthstone in the future. Honestly, I have no idea on that yet. Since my next tournament is very likely to be the grandmaster tournament of next season, it's probably at least a few months from now on. I will take this time to relax myself to decide if I am staying in competitive hearthstone scene or not.

Hearthstone changed my the way I live, I really love this community. Blessing to all the players out there, and blessing to Blizzard.
1294 Comments

Patch 8.3 PTR - Ny'alotha, the Waking City Raid Testing 

Published on 2019-10-11 08:30 PM

Patch 8.3 PTR - Ny'alotha, the Waking City Raid Testing
Shad’har the Insatiable - Heroic Ny’alotha, the Waking City testing started at 13:00 PDT (16:00 EDT, 22:00 CEST).


Originally Posted by MMO-Champion
Ny'alotha, the Waking City
Ny'alotha, the sleeping city, has awakened. For the first time in millennia, N'Zoth sits on his throne within the Black Empire. His armies flood from their dark halls, once again wreaking havoc on Azeroth. As the world shudders from these invasions, a desperate plan is hatched. Champions from the Horde and Alliance are gathered to face this ancient enemy within his own realm for one final confrontation that will decide the fate of the universe.

Shad'har the Insatiable
One of N'Zoth's more abberrant creations, Shad'har the Insatiable devours anything he can. Fed by slurry secreted from the walls of its domain, this ravenous beast is wracked in constant torment as the very thing that sustains him also causes radical mutations.

  • Overview - Shad'har the Insatiable's Slurry Breath changes its damage type and secondary effect based on the slurry present in the room.
    • Tanks -
      • Make sure that neither tank has both Crush and Dissolve at the same time, taunting when necessary.
      • Avoid Slurry Breath.
      • Use your cooldowns to reduce damage taken when Shad'har the Insatiable casts Frenzy.
    • Healers -
      • Debilitating Spit initially deals high single target damage, then changes to AOE healing.
      • Avoid Slurry Breath.
      • Tanks will be taking high damage after Shad'har the Insatiable casts Frenzy.
    • Damage Dealers -
  • Hungry - Shad'har the Insatiable becomes hungrier as the fight progresses. At 10 applications, Shad'har the Insatiable gains Uncontrollably Ravenous, increasing damage done by 250%.
  • Slurry - When the fight starts, the room fills with a toxic slurry, which inflicts periodic damage to all players. This slurry is absorbed by Shad'har the Insatiable, and his Slurry Breath changes based on the slurry present in the room.
    • Volatile Slurry - A fiery mixture fills the room, inflicting 2 Fire damage to all players every 1 sec.
      • Volatile Eruption - Every few seconds, the Volatile Slurry erupts under each player, inflicting 25 Fire damage and additioanl 5 Fire damage every 1 sec for 6 sec to all players within 4 yards of the impact. This effect stacks. The frequency of these eruptions increases as the fight progresses.
    • Bubbling Slurry - A caustic sludge fills the room, inflicting 15 Nature damage to all players every 3 sec.
      • Bubbling Overflow - Bubbling Overflow bubbles over, growing outwards, increasing damage taken from Bubbling Slurry by 2,000%.
    • Entropic Slurry - A dark energy fills the room, inflicting 1 Shadow damage to all players every 0.5 sec.
      • Entropic Buildup - The Entropic Slurry builds up into shadowy orbs around the room, which explode after 15 sec, inflicting 10 damage to all players. Standing in Entropic Buildup causes players to suffer 3 Shadow damage every 1 sec, but reduces the size of Entropic Buildup, lowering the damage of the final explosion.
  • Crush - Crushes the targets armor, inflicting 125 Physical damage and increasing damage taken from Dissolve by 400%.
    • Dissolve - Bites the target with acidic jaws, inflicting 10 Nature damage and additional 25 Nature damage every 1 sec for 20 sec.
  • Slurry Breath - At 100 Energy, Void hound casts a breath, inflicting damage in a cone and causing additional. The type of breath cast is dependant on the type of slurry present in the room.
    • Volatile Breath - Expels a fiery breath, inflicting 50 Fire damage to all enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
    • Volatile Breath - Expels a fiery breath, inflicting 50 Fire damage and disorienting all enemies for 10 sec in a cone in front of the caster.
    • Bubbling Breath - Expels a toxic breath, inflicting 50 Nature damage to all enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
    • Bubbling Breath - Expels a toxic breath, inflicting 50 Nature damage and an additional 10 Nature damage every 1 sec for 10 sec to all enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
    • Entropic Breath - Expels a shadowy breath, inflicting 50 Shadow damage to all enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
    • Entropic Breath - Expels a shadowy breath, inflicting 50 Shadow damage and reducing healing received by 50% for 30 sec to all enemies in a cone in front of the caster.
  • Debilitating Spit - Covers the target in a vile spit, inflicting 5 Nature damage every 1 sec for 5 sec and initially applying 4 applications. Upon expiration, Debilitating Spit jumps to new targets, giving each new target half the previous target's total amount of stacks.
  • Living Chow - The slurry in the room coalesces into Living Chows, which fixate on random targets. When they reach their target, they cast Slurry Outburst.
    • Slurry Outburst - The caster explodes, inflicting 75 Shadow damage to all players within 20 yards.
    • Slurry Outburst - The caster explodes, inflicting 60 Shadow damage to all players. Being farther from the caster reduces the damage taken.
    • Tasty Morsel - When a Living Chow explodes, it leaves behind multiple Tasty Morsels. Feeding Shad'har the Insatiable a Tasty Morsel reduces how Hungry it is, but inflicts Slimy Residue upon you.
      • Slimy Residue - Tasty Morsel leaves residue on your hand, inflicting 4 Nature damage every 2 sec and restricts the ability to pick up further Tasty Morsels for 3 min.
  • Frenzy - At 25% Health, the caster frenzies, increasing damage dealt by 25%.
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