Niche news from the Burning Crusade beta
by Mike Schramm 
Oct 18th 2006 at 1:31AM
Here's a few little things that aren't that far-reaching from the expansion, but I thought were more than worth sharing.First, a rumor was going around that Iblis, Blade of the Fallen Seraph (a one-hand crit sword from Razuvious in Naxx-- pictured right) would be switched to a main hand sword in the expansion, and Neth says that even though it is currently set to main hand in the expansion beta, that's a bug (whew for all you dual sword rogues out there). But then she goes on to say something even more interesting: the reason they were messing around with the sword in the first place is because they're tweaking all kinds of weapons around the new ability of Shaman to dual wield. Very sweet, especially if you're a Shaman-type like me.
And secondly, I hadn't heard this before, but it's great gnews for gnomes: Escape Artist will be instant cast when the expansion hits. Finally!
And lastly, if you've been wondering what Shadow Word: Death or Mutilate (new Priest and Rogue talents) looks like in use, click those links and wonder no more. I think it's great that Blizzard is really going all out to make sure that the expansion is really going to play like almost a completely different game. They're streamlining all kinds of things-- even stuff that just has its own little niche in the game is getting a nice, close look.
Filed under: Gnomes, Priest, Rogue, Shaman, Blizzard, News items, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Deafdumbandblind Oct 18th 2006 3:24AM
THE worst thing Blizz has ever done is give Shaman dual wield.
The Shaman, and I'm talking Shamen from RL as well as most common lore, is a spirit walker/magic user type. He wears leather and hardly uses any weapons at all...maybe a staff or dagger.
Since when in ANYONE's most deluded imagination did Shamen dual wield??
It's a farce. Blizz is cowtowing to all the horde whiners.
Windleaf Oct 18th 2006 3:46AM
Shaman can't use swords as it is now anyway. Will they be able to in the expansion?
Milka Oct 18th 2006 3:59AM
Talking from the playing a shammy point of view, I am playing an enhancement shammy and I certainly use weapons, currently wielding a two-handed blue hammer with decent dps - it would be silly for a shammy not to use a weapon with the fantastic weapons buffs they have. Let me guess, Deafdumbandblind, you have never played a shammy and you have no idea of what playing one is like?
As for whinging Horde, well I started out playing Ally and ended up on the Horde side because of all the whinging Allies.... /evil grin
Deafdumbandblind Oct 18th 2006 5:25AM
Actually Milka, my point is about the suitability of the traditional Shammie wielding dual weapons.
Clearly, if a Pallie, which is even more of a fighter/caster hybrid, can't use dual wield then there is no WAY that a shammie should.
It's lame. Blizz caved in. The Whorde whine.
By the way, I will NOT be playing an Ally shammie in TBC. The meer mention of an Ally Shammie or a Horde pallie grates on my ears.
Mordiceius Oct 18th 2006 8:44AM
"The Shaman, and I'm talking Shamen from RL as well as most common lore"
I don't give two craps about Shamans from RL or most common lore, this is BLIZZARD'S lore, if you do not like it, you do not have to play. If you saw Shamans in Warcraft 3 and the WC3 xpac, THEY DUAL WIELDED. Get over yourself. Personally, I can't way to play my blood elf paladin come xpac.
Elodren Oct 18th 2006 8:45AM
Deafdumbandblind,
The traditional shaman is a healer whose powers are to serve as an intermediary between the spiritual and natural world. Shamanism may have different aspects as it participate in many different cultures (Many areas in Asia, Ancient Greek paganism, Siberia, Native Americans).
But the point is that World of Warcraft has nothing to do with all that. Its a fairy tale world where Blizzard has the freedom to create a world that can be much different to the real traditional anthropological dimensions. Its their world, why would they have to create an accurate native american, or mongolian Shaman ? Its not history, its a fantasy game.
Gamerz22 Oct 18th 2006 11:30AM
Even though I'm a PvP guy, the new content in the expansion feels like a new game. Outland feels as though a extension of Azeroth by providing a new type of world... one that seems like a hugebattleground in itself with just a some refugee spots. Gives a more war insight, especially with all the new world pvp.
For those not in beta, I'll hint that this is definately a game that changes the feel of WoW in a good way.
Vimes Oct 18th 2006 11:35AM
"THE worst thing Blizz has ever done is give Shaman dual wield.
The Shaman, and I'm talking Shamen from RL as well as most common lore, is a spirit walker/magic user type. He wears leather and hardly uses any weapons at all...maybe a staff or dagger."
Hmm, ok.. get on the phone with blizz and ask them to increase our mana or decrease the mana cost of spells so we can play it your way...
Ever played a Shaman past level 20? They might be great in lots of ways but trust me, its on a timer and when your out of mana, your out of tricks a lot of the time. And you can burn through mana like crazy believe me. You need to be efficient or your a sitting duck.
Personally Im looking forward to dual wielding as are a lot other shamans.
Its just the same as people complaining pallys get mail from the start, deal with it and play your class well and it shouldnt matter...
Deafdumbandblind Oct 18th 2006 12:34PM
Well personally I think its complete BULL.
Mordy, u can bite me.
Soon, you whinging horde will have shammies wearing plate, summoning pets, stealthing, backstabbing and shapeshifting then no need to have any other classes. Everyone will just roll shammies. bleh.
So shammies in WC3 dual wielded, that doesn't make the whole idea completely ridiculous. Just because something happened in the past doesn't make it right.
Crap. Bilge. Swamp juice. Scum.
These are all things that Blizz is using for brains these days. And most of you by the looks of things.
paul Oct 18th 2006 5:33PM
delete shammys form the game, make us all happy.
Mordiceius Oct 18th 2006 1:55PM
*puts a sign next to Deafdumbandblind that reads 'Please don't feed the trolls'*
You play Alliance, don't you?
Mike Schramm Oct 18th 2006 2:04PM
It's getting warm in here, must be all the flames :)
DDAB, I'm all for a shammy-ful world. Except at least a few people need to roll pallies. That way, we'll have someone to gank with our dual weapons.
Swollen Oct 22nd 2006 6:56PM
"... summoning pets, stealthing, backstabbing and shapeshifting then no need to have any other classes. Everyone will just roll shammies. bleh..."
Hate to break it to you, but we can already shapeshift. It's called ghost wolf. And as of the expansion, we're going to be able to summon fire and earth elementals.
"...So shammies in WC3 dual wielded, that doesn't make the whole idea completely ridiculous. Just because something happened in the past doesn't make it right..."
No, but it does make it consistant with their lore. Their lore, as in not your lore. If you want to make a World of Deafdumbandblindcraft, feel free.
"...Crap. Bilge. Swamp juice. Scum.
These are all things that Blizz is using for brains these days. And most of you by the looks of things..."
Yep, but you still pay your $15/month.