Patch 4.3 Valor Changes
Originally Posted by Blizzard (Blue Tracker / Official Forums)
With the 4.3 patch we'll be introducing some changes to the way Valor Points (VP) are obtained, as well as the items that they can purchase.

Changes coming in 4.3:


  • Looking for Dungeon — 150 VP per run, with a cap of seven runs per week. All Cataclysm heroic dungeons introduced in 4.0, 4.1, and 4.3, will provide 150 Valor per run.
  • Looking for Raid — 250 VP per run, with a cap of 500 per week. The 4.3 raid, Dragon Soul, will be split into two separate raids for the Raid Finder. While individual bosses do not drop Valor when using the Raid Finder, you will receive 250 Valor for completing each Dragon Soul raid. Each boss will only drop loot for you once per week, but you will continue to get the 250 Valor for completing each Raid Finder raid, up to the 500 cap.
  • 10 player raid boss — 115 VP. There are nine bosses per week, counting Baradin Hold.
  • 25 player raid boss — 135 VP. There are nine bosses per week, counting Baradin Hold.
  • Valor Points cap at 1000 per week.

As you acquire Valor you'll want to spend it, and vendors will be offering a wide range of items to equip you to take on the Dragon Soul raid encounters, including cloaks, rings, ranged weapons, necklaces, trinkets, chest pieces, helms, gloves, bracers, boots, and belts, all of which are ilvl 397.

Our goal with these changes is to move Valor back to the original intent of currency rewards as a consolation prize, for two main reasons: to make it less frustrating when you keep having bad luck getting an item you want from a particular boss, and to help encourage you to keep fighting bosses (and helping out the rest of your group) even if that particular boss didn’t drop anything for your character in particular. Over time we have also offered Valor as a reward for doing other activities (such as participating in Heroic 5-player dungeons) to provide players something to do on an off night or when they couldn’t raid.

In the past we have offered some tier pieces on the Valor vendor for players that just couldn’t justify the time or logistics necessary to participate in raids, but we’re hoping that the introduction of the Raid Finder tool helps remove that barrier. We think most players would agree that killing a giant monster and looting its corpse is more exciting than slowly farming a currency to purchase a reward. Currencies have their place, but we want them to be a secondary avenue of progression to boss killing.

While the Raid Finder will provide a lower difficulty for the Dragon Soul raids, and thus a lower ilvl of gear, the normal 10 and 25 raids will drop ilvl 397, with the final Deathwing encounters dropping ilvl 403. For the Heroic version, 10 and 25 will drop ilvl 410, and the Heroic Deathwing encounters will drop ilvl 416 loot.

As we near the release of 4.3 we’ll be posting everything you need to know about the Valor to Justice down-conversion process, so stay tuned.
This article was originally published in forum thread: Patch 4.3 Valor Changes started by Boubouille View original post
Comments 194 Comments
  1. mmoc7d0ef109c7's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Spoiledkid View Post
    So, there will be groups with avg ilvl over 380+ farming valor points in 4.0 5-mans. Must feel you really earn your 397 gear.
    It's like Anakin going full dark side on the younglings. He also got plenty rewarded with a shiny new set of armor.
  1. Charblaze's Avatar
    sounds fair to me.
  1. jayremy's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Thestalos View Post
    Stop putting caps on things... If people want to farm currency, let them.
    One thing I always hated with the game, artificial slowing on progression. Whether or not you have 40 hours a week to play or 8, you still have to put in that time to get the reward, whats the difference if you done it all in a week over a month long period?

    ---------- Post added 2011-10-05 at 04:51 AM ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by kuku2 View Post
    That'd be great for business, wouldn't it?

    No, it wouldn't be.
    Fact of the matter is raids still have a 1 week lockout, consider doing hardmodes, I'd rather be quick to farm up alts or my main to be geared enough to participate in such not play the game, then be bored of it because I have to wait until the caps are undone.

    I think there is more player boredem and burnout when there is caps on things for the people who would like to play the game as much as the could, but aren't motivated to. Instead its an incentive not to play anymore for the week, thus making it seem boring in the meantime.


    Generally farming sucks, sucking because farming in WoW is something associated (rightfully so) with easy/guaranteed win, never any risk/reward at failing at it is all fairly predictable or static. Blizzard doesn't add new bosses or challenges every 1-4 weeks to their game, nor do they change how old bosses fight in mechanics for the sake of making new challenges for players to embark.


    Its a general problem with the game. I also find it bad for people's lives, luckily things are on a week basis over a day basis but still I hate being pressured into playing hours every day to week to reach the cap, even though I may not feel like it, so I can be "caught up" in case I am too busy or don't feel like playing for a week or two, you know? Or for at least more than the few raiding hours those weeks etc.

    ---------- Post added 2011-10-05 at 05:03 AM ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by Dracbane View Post
    The cap is to keep the game balance. If they removed the cap the no life players who are on 24/7 would eclipse everyone else in terms of gear. Day 2 of patch and you have ppl in full current lvl gear? That is the major flaw of having an easily obtainable currency in any game. Gold not really counting cause it doesn't directly translate into top lvl gear, some prof. pieces, but that is about it.

    them being ahead is and will always be temporary, they still had to pour in hours to get there. I dont see the problem with letting some people who have the time and will able to do so. I think people just get jealous of these players or something.

    The argument of making content "last" longer seems more sound, but still its the same content, I think the thing this 6+ year old game people are not as intrigued to chase the carrot every time over long durations, but to get it while its fresh. I don't see as many focused on getting the absolute BiS gear over time, as much as getting an immediate upgrade to perform and settle til next x-pac.

    It makes a little more sense in PvP but still, think of it from this pov, you start a month or weeks late or leave for a period of time, no matter what you can NEVER catch up to regulars even if you put more time in, that cap holds you behind.

    If this was really an issue the idea formula would be cap general lifetime earned cap, that increases every day by date for all players. Say in December it will raise to be higher than currently, and refresh every patch.

    I doubt people just plan on gearing up fast as possible because they look forward to quitting the game immediately afterwards, if anything acquiring something through hard work is more inclining to keep you attached to it, people actually plan on using these items whether if its just to dress to impress, it still is for a purpose for their use in game.
  1. onlyindweebs's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Crawler24 View Post
    So Heroic Deadmines nets you the same ilvl as H Ragnaros? That's just brilliant!
    Yes...minus the heroic tier 12 helm, the heart of flame, the badass looking weapons, the achievement title, the sense of accomplishment, the mount.

    But yes, of course they're the same.
  1. jax's Avatar
    This is a complete joke....Cap should be 2k and 5s need to be toned down. The ENTIRE problem with Cata has been the inequity and lack of forthought through the distribution of powerful gearing tools.
    No, the entire problem is you thinking that you deserve raid level gear from not raiding. There are full sets available in 5 mans and if your not willing to put the time and bring the skill to the table to even do faceroll 10 mans why would you think you deserve even 1 piece of raid gear? Seriously? 5 mans need to be toned down???? How much easier can they get???? What I hear is you want the best gear for sitting afk in Org... well sorry but that no longer will happen, you will actually have to put a bit of effort into your toon (and not very much as the LFR instances are gonna be so easy its not even funny... about on the level of normal 10 man FL now) to be equipped with the best gear.... /gasp shocking and totally against the self indulgent society we all live in now but hey, that's the breaks bud... and I am so glad they did this.
  1. senshu's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by jax View Post
    No, the entire problem is you thinking that you deserve raid level gear from not raiding. There are full sets available in 5 mans and if your not willing to put the time and bring the skill to the table to even do faceroll 10 mans why would you think you deserve even 1 piece of raid gear? Seriously? 5 mans need to be toned down???? How much easier can they get???? What I hear is you want the best gear for sitting afk in Org... well sorry but that no longer will happen, you will actually have to put a bit of effort into your toon (and not very much as the LFR instances are gonna be so easy its not even funny... about on the level of normal 10 man FL now) to be equipped with the best gear.... /gasp shocking and totally against the self indulgent society we all live in now but hey, that's the breaks bud... and I am so glad they did this.
    I agree with all you've said, but I think you really misread the guy you were replying to.
  1. mmocf091b86e91's Avatar
    No, thanks Blizzard. You want me to raid because I want the helms and shoulders? I am not bad, I actually raided and again, it's the same old shit - the correct token rarely drops and when it does I am always outrolled. Always. Forever alone, forever outrolled. Where the fuck is the fun or challenge in that???

    Lich King gave me helm and shoulders in advance, so I raided the fuck out of everything to the point I have burnt out. No regrets. I liked to raid not worrying about tokens so much.

    So, see Blizzard, you are doing it wrong. And surely I am not the only one who thinks no tier helm/shoulders for valor points is a bad idea.
  1. ssviolett's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Daegalus View Post
    I agree, no more caps, and whats with the "lower difficulty" raid finder. I want it just the same as normal or heroic. Just because I can't necessarily make a solid time window for a Guild to run with, doesn't mean I am any less skilled (or unskilled) than a guild raider.
    In other words I dont want to raid, but I want to get phat lewts ?
    Dont be stupid, its not about low difficulty of dungeon so even noobs can raid - its about difficulty to get place in raid group, to make this raid group. Its about to beat all bosses, not to gather a raid for hour, wipe with pug on 2 first bosses for another hour, people leave and gg.
    Think about it.

    ---------- Post added 2011-10-05 at 06:13 AM ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by Thestalos View Post
    Stop putting caps on things... If people want to farm currency, let them.
    So others need to play days and night to compete with guys who have no life ?
    Omg please THINK before you post something.
  1. Teasy's Avatar
    I was waiting for those changes to come. SO much! Sounds fair and reasonable! Good job
  1. obscurede's Avatar
    Whiners shall anyways whine. but from what I have seen, this is the only possible way to satisfy all of them.
  1. mmocb4f942f2ee's Avatar
    and let people do more difficult stuff to get gear.. now these days every noob can get high itemlvls cause they only do hc dungeons with (fake) epics..blizz is going way to much casual with the game
  1. ssviolett's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by jayremy View Post
    wall of text
    I really think there are quite few people who able to play 24\7 in WoW - Blizzard aim for casual community proves this point. So it seems if you and people like you will get bored and leave the game community overall and Blizzard wont lose much.

    ---------- Post added 2011-10-05 at 06:26 AM ----------

    Quote Originally Posted by Crawler24 View Post
    So Heroic Deadmines nets you the same ilvl as H Ragnaros? That's just brilliant!
    Heroic Deadmines already give the same loot as Sinestra does (378~379) ?
    You are a bit late, sir ...
  1. twelvedogs's Avatar
    seems pretty fair, i'm happy with being able to buy off tier hats shoulders etc for valor points *as long as there is something for every slot*
  1. davep's Avatar
    So you can get full 397 minus the shoulders and rings without raiding the new stuff, nice...
  1. darkwarrior42's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by twelvedogs View Post
    seems pretty fair, i'm happy with being able to buy off tier hats shoulders etc for valor points *as long as there is something for every slot*
    From what I've seen, shoulders are the obvious gap in gearing from points atm. "including cloaks, rings, ranged weapons, necklaces, trinkets, chest pieces, helms, gloves, bracers, boots, and belts" is what they said... assuming that list is everything, that leaves out:

    -Shoulders
    -Pants
    -Second Ring
    -Second Trinket
    -MH/OH items

    Pants can be purchased for justice (T12), as can the second ring and a second trinket. MH/OH items are rarely put on points vendors this expansion, though if you want there are still some blue off-hand options. That leaves just shoulders, which again you could fill with a blue item from points if you wanted to, but there are better options out there.

    Feels like alts will be getting weapons and shoulders from the new 5-man dungeons, everything else through valor (depending on what/how much you raid, of course).
  1. mmoc1c945ab0db's Avatar
    so they upped the cap for 20 points, interesting As far as the entire VP gear goes, giving people tier equivalent (as in ilvl) I'm fine with that, but tier sets should be kept in raids. It's been used a lot but I'll say it too: what use is gear to you if you don't/can't raid.
  1. Eleveneleven's Avatar
    We think most players would agree that killing a giant monster and looting its corpse is more exciting than slowly farming a currency to purchase a reward.
    LOL NOPE People like to be certainly rewarded for their efforts. How would you like to work for 2 weeks on your job with a RANDOM chance of getting what you need? Getting loot off a corpse is fun, but considering it's a double-hurdle...RNG for the drop, and either RNG or a very flawed and exploitable grinding system (DKP, EPGP, etc) to actually be awarded the loot decimates the fun. A few great moments winning loot will never surpass the amount of frustration for all the times it never dropped, and/or you never won it...primarily because the odds are against you. Give people options. You're slowly learning after finally being slammed in the back of the head by your bleeding subscription numbers...don't stop now.
  1. Firebert's Avatar
    I like how they did not release the item level of loot gained from the Raid Finder tool.
  1. mmocf091b86e91's Avatar
    Quote Originally Posted by Eleveneleven View Post
    LOL NOPE People like to be certainly rewarded for their efforts. How would you like to work for 2 weeks on your job with a RANDOM chance of getting what you need? Getting loot off a corpse is fun, but considering it's a double-hurdle...RNG for the drop, and either RNG or a very flawed and exploitable grinding system (DKP, EPGP, etc) to actually be awarded the loot decimates the fun. A few great moments winning loot will never surpass the amount of frustration for all the times it never dropped, and/or you never won it...primarily because the odds are against you. Give people options. You're slowly learning after finally being slammed in the back of the head by your bleeding subscription numbers...don't stop now.
    My new sig! Thank you.
  1. herpookybear's Avatar
    Looking for Dungeon — 150 VP per run, with a cap of seven runs per week Valor Points cap at 1000 per week. sooo...150x7= 1000 now?

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