Update Beta Raid Testing Schedule for Oct. 20
Originally Posted by Daelo (Blue Tracker)
More raid testing!

I'm going to turn on the following encounters in Bastion of Twilight, and leave the encounters from yesterday for Blackwing Descent open for a bit longer.

The following encounters will be available:

Halfus Wyrmbreaker
Theralion and Valiona
Ascendant Council

The Bastion of Twilight's entrance is located within Twilight Highlands.

Since these are the beta realms, this schedule is subject to change at a moment's notice due to bugs and server issues. More raid tests will be occurring over the next few weeks.

5 Things about 4.0.1 that I never had the time to news
Because, I really have to get them on the front page at some point.


  • Epic gems cooldown aren't removed, they're just syncronized with the daily quest reset now.
  • You can farm Anzu in heroic Sethekk Halls for his epic mount even if you're not a druid.
  • You can buy most of Arena gear even if you do not have the proper rating, requirements seems to be gone from all items. ilvl 277 weapons and shoulders are the only items left with a rating requirement.
  • The gold cap is now 1,000,000 Gold.
  • I don't actually have a 5th one, so here is a hug. /hug


Raid Testing Videos
More videos of the new raid instances have been released following yesterday's raid testing.









Class Balance & Hotfixes - 10/19
Originally Posted by Zarhym (Blue Tracker)
We have pushed a hotfix to improve hunter damage.

Specifically, we increased the damage of the signature abilities (Chimera Shot, Explosive Shot and Kill Command) by 15-25%. This will both improve overall damage-dealing and make sure that these abilities are prioritized higher than other shots. We think this will bring hunters to a good enough state until they hit 85. Aspect of the Fox and Cobra Shot solve some specific issues at higher levels. Marksman hunters may still trump Survival and Beastmaster hunters until they’re 85, since their rotations rely a little on Cobra Shot.

EU Raid Testing on Beta
Originally Posted by Daelo (Blue Tracker)
Don't worry, EU can test these bosses tomorrow! I'm not going to turn them off right at 10am our time, I'll keep them up through most all of the day tomorrow.

On a seperate note, 25 player Maloriak currently has a significant bug in place. We're working on a hotfix, but until that goes live it's not functioning properly. 10 player seems to be much better behaved, but we're looking at a despawn issue with it.

Atramedes is testable.

BlizzCon 2010 Registration Bar Codes
Originally Posted by Lylirra (Blue Tracker)
We are currently in the process of resending all BlizzCon 2010 registration bar codes. Now, don't panic—this is simply for your convenience. These bar codes are identical to those included in previous emails and the printable versions from your Battle.net order history.

Please be sure to bring a copy of your bar code along with a photo ID to pick up your ticket(s) at BlizzCon registration. We'll see you there!

Blue Posts
Originally Posted by Blizzard Entertainment
Armor changes in 4.0.1
We looked into your findings, and the armor numbers reflect an intentional change meant to cover the armor increases players would get between levels 81 and 85. We should have been more explicit with the rest of the announced Cataclysm changes that physical damage would go up. (It only affects creatures higher than level 80 -- bosses in this case -- so this change has no current PvP ramifications.)

Now that our live class balance changes are slowing down* and players are starting to learn their class changes, we can get a better idea of whether players are struggling more on content that they used to be able to clear. We've made some Icecrown and Halion changes already and we may need to make more.

Nice job on the analysis.

* -- We are continuing to make Cataclysm changes for classes. We will extend these to level 80 and / or hotfix when we think it's relevant. (Source)

Resilience Hotfix
My resilience post above was confusing.

We had buffed resilience by 50% and then lowered it by 25%. This is a 12.5% buff from before the patch. To use clean numbers, if you had 40% damage reduction, we buffed it to 60% (a 50% increase) and then lowered it to 45% (a 25% decrease). (Source)

Balance in low-level BGs
So can a blue state whether or not the very, very high damage outputs in low level pvp will be addressed or not? Rogues able to one-shot most enemies in sub-80 pvp: working as intended, or not?
Nobody should be one-shotting at any battleground level, so yes that (and many other class abilities) will be addressed. (Source)

Mage (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
Weak mages on Beta
This is a case of having to balance differently between 80 and 85. The original mage numbers were targeted at 85, which made them overpowered at 80. We nerfed them at 80, which then made them weak at 85. We now have two sets of numbers in place so that they should be relatively balanced at both levels.

Mages are not the only class with this problem, sometimes in the opposite direction. (Source)

Paladin (Forums / Cataclysm Talent Calculator / Beta Skills/Talents)
Holy Paladin Hotfix
Yes, we buffed the 5 paladin direct heals (FoL, HL, DL, HS, WoG). This is a change for both level 80 and 85. We are going to tone down Holy Radiance as I described in the other thread. It can be powerful without being 75% of paladin healing.

I know it's customary for players to classify everything as either overpowered or garbage, but we believe there are actual numbers in between say 1 and 100, so give the changes a chance before you dismiss them.

It is possible we will nerf Word of Glory for Prot and Ret at 85 to compensate for this buff since they probably don't need stronger Words. (Source)
This article was originally published in forum thread: 4.0.1 Changes, Raid Testing Videos, Class Balance Hotfixes, Blue Posts started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 150 Comments
  1. Boylicious's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Gordon View Post
    What's the problem? You just don't need a Druid anymore to summon him. You're butthurt because of that?
    No ones butt hurt. But Anzu has been a summon from a "Druid" quest line for over 3 years. And the raven lord was in many ways very similar to the Paladin and Warlock class mounts except it could be won by other players if they were present. The amount of time people invested in clearing the summon room and soloing Anzu now means nothing. Thats all im saying. Im sure there are many non druid players who are happy about this change, but it doesnt seem right to me.
  1. zhixson's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Boylicious View Post
    No ones butt hurt. But Anzu has been a summon from a "Druid" quest line for over 3 years. And the raven lord was in many ways very similar to the Paladin and Warlock class mounts except it could be won by other players if they were present. The amount of time people invested in clearing the summon room and soloing Anzu now means nothing. Thats all im saying. Im sure there are many non druid players who are happy about this change, but it doesnt seem right to me.
    So everyone can run it once a day to make an attempt at the mount instead of having to hunt down a druid to run it once a day to make an attempt at the mount?
    Seems like the druid community should be thankful if anything.

    Also, if Pallies and Locks were somehow granted the Druid's flight form after the encounter, then your first point might make a bit more sense.
  1. Jurias's Avatar
    I just bought the 2h Wrathfull axe and I have been in arena 5 times since it was launched.
  1. Laurabelle's Avatar
    5th thing ought be:

    The Epic Gem sales person for Honor points > Gems is still in existence. And I believe it's 165 honor per gem.
  1. Rifter's Avatar
    What is the music that's playing in the background on the conclave of wind vis? Thanks.
  1. Mendol's Avatar
    I don't believe the transmutes are synced to quest resets, unless they've moved those.

    Previously, the dailies would reset at 2am server.

    The transmutes are definitely at midnight server.

    I can't say I've checked for when the dailies reset recently, though.
  1. SKLR's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by skillol210 View Post
    They did no such thing. Hybrid tax is still ingame and will still be in cataclysm. Enjoy your subpar dpsing class.
    2010 says hello. Pure classes are so vanilla.
  1. mmoc7578a14c40's Avatar
    If you liked our sneak peek at the Conclave of Wind, check out our other videos on Youtube at the link below.
    Raiding Playlist

    We've currently got videos for:
    Omnitron Defence System
    Theralion and Valiona
    Halfus Wyrmbreaker
    Chimaeron
    Conclave of Wind

    Plus, we have a quick look at the new models and groups of trash mobs at that start of Blackwing Descent and Bastion of Twilight, as some of the packs have some pretty funky abilities, especially in the below video with a crazy gauntlet!



    We'll be adding the two bosses from yesterday this evening for people to have a look at as well, so watch out for them and we hope you enjoy them!
  1. Thessalor's Avatar
    Aww, poor Druids. Well at least you still have Epic Flight Form...
  1. Firebyrd's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Mendol View Post
    I don't believe the transmutes are synced to quest resets, unless they've moved those.

    Previously, the dailies would reset at 2am server.

    The transmutes are definitely at midnight server.

    I can't say I've checked for when the dailies reset recently, though.
    They are most definitely not synced with the quests. Just did it on my alchemist at 12:51 pm server and got a cooldown of 11 hours 8 minutes. Daily quests reset at 4 am. Very stupid that they /raised/ the cooldown time, at any rate.
  1. raven1245's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Jurias View Post
    I just bought the 2h Wrathfull axe and I have been in arena 5 times since it was launched.
    Is the removal of rating requirements only on certain battlegroups? On Shadowburn (Twisting Nether) all the requirements are still in place.
  1. Nathiest's Avatar
    You heard the man people make sure your next QQ includes a rating number between 1-100.
  1. Hagu's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by cool_freezer View Post
    rating requirements still exist on top tier weapons, shoulders and the tabard. all of them have a requirement of 2000+!
    Did you mean top tier weapons or weapons? I went looking for any kind/tier of Shield and all I have seen require rating. WTB Shield and I hate Lord M.
  1. Boylicious's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by zhixson View Post
    So everyone can run it once a day to make an attempt at the mount instead of having to hunt down a druid to run it once a day to make an attempt at the mount?
    Seems like the druid community should be thankful if anything.

    Also, if Pallies and Locks were somehow granted the Druid's flight form after the encounter, then your first point might make a bit more sense.
    I dont think druids having flight form can be used against us. We shapeshift. Its a core mechanic of our class. Every form represents some type of combat style or travel style. I dont think outside of druids who charge gold for runs, or druids helping friends do runs, any other druids actually want to see this mount around every corner. Theres nothing wrong with have some things be exclusive.
  1. Lemons's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Infinitus View Post
    Actually, buying pvp gear completely free from any rating isn't exatly true. I found that I could buy anyting up to 1800 rating but not gear or weapons at 2000 or over.
    Damn, I knew it was too good to be true. I wanted those shoulders, and I already have everything else QQ
  1. DuoandKat's Avatar
    about time they give some love back to hunter
  1. Tokas's Avatar
    You can farm Anzu in heroic Sethekk Halls for his epic mount even if you're not a druid.
    so I guess this will be the same when 4.0.3 hits? Awesome, finally I won't be forced to play a class I don't like just to get a mount I like (yes I know having a friend druid works as well, wtb friends)
  1. Evilnapkin's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by turbare View Post
    You can farm Anzu in heroic Sethekk Halls for his epic mount even if you're not a druid.

    Totally lame. Now every noob out there will have one.
    Do keep at least some rare things rare :|
    After farming for the ZG mount for 3+ years id say they have done that quite well.
  1. Civfanata's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Bruin View Post
    With having a Druid as my main, I was a little disheartened by the Anzu change. Not so much that anyone can farm him, but now that he's free standing in an empty room :-( At least I had to go through an epic quest chain to even *see* him; I don't care if anyone fights him, but it would have been nice if at least some of the work was still in place.

    But its not all bad, it just puts the Reins of the Raven Lord in the same category as Rivendare's mount, or the White Hawkstrider- still cool mounts, just fairly obtainable.
    I guess having flight form that you can herb in without having to unmount or instant mount up while flying isn't in game anymore huh?
  1. ItalianSpaghetti's Avatar
    What a mistake it was to release these pre-cata changes onto live servers. Should have just kept everything the same until people could level to 85 and no one would be worrying about meaningless numbers... oh, well, I'm not the one stuck trying to fix all these classes and then immediately revert them come December!

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