BC beta changes for rogues
by Elizabeth Harper 
Nov 5th 2006 at 2:30PM
The 41-point talent for rogues in the subtlety tree, Cloak of Shadows, never really impressed me. However, while I can't see myself spending that many talent points for it, I can certainly see its uses, and I know I'll be using it frequently if the change in the Burning Crusade beta -- making it a trainable skill -- makes it to the live realms. And before you think it's too good to be true and start pointing out that Cloak of Shadows is still listed as the 41-point talent in the official talent calculator, you should know that Tseric seems to have confirmed the change -- or at least, in his posted response to the thread about the change, he doesn't deny it -- only talks about reasons for making trainable high level talents.
Of course, if the 41-point talent is trainable, that leaves the question of what the new talent might be -- and I believe the above screenshot is legitimate. The Shadowstep ability is getting too much discussion on the beta forums for it to have been a fabrication by a single person.
Filed under: Rogue, News items, Expansions
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Calous Endin Nov 5th 2006 3:04PM
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6032597467946712547&q=shadowstep&hl=en
Flux Nov 5th 2006 3:46PM
That's great. Rogues get another "I Win" button.
Lavis Knight Nov 6th 2006 4:41PM
The pallies also got a change to Righteous fury and another skill in the protection tree. More mitigation.
bane2571 Nov 5th 2006 5:21PM
Wait, did I miss something here?
Use this on a player and generally they'll be out of range because they were already running in your direction.
Use this on a mob and the autospin kicks in completely negating the effect.
Seriously, am I missing something?
bigboi Nov 5th 2006 4:51PM
look at it this way...this really means nothing when it comes to world PVP...a rogue is gonna to gank u regardless of this skill or not...
What i like about this skill is how much it helps rogues in group PvP such as AB...many times ive gone to a node with a rogue as my partner and by the time he stealths to the battle im already dead because i got jumped but if he were there at least 5 seconds eariler the battle might have been won
nice nice change and a cool skill for 41 points...too bad other classes dont have alot of WOW skills
Roth Nov 5th 2006 4:58PM
Confirmed. Just checked beta. Awesome talent.
Zigbee Nov 5th 2006 6:20PM
Yep, you missed the fact that you're still stealthed. Think of it like a stealth "blink". You're 30 yrds away from your enemy and they have no idea - you hit this talent and all of a sudden you're behind your enemy, and they have no idea. Your next sneak attack gets the attack bonus and you're good to go from there. It's a kick ass talent!
How quickly you can pull off a sneak attack after you've done this to a player running somewhere, I don't know. I'm thinking it'll only be reliable against stationary, or slow-moving targets. Otherwise your mob will be out of your range before you can strike.
Bill G Nov 5th 2006 10:20PM
Not to mention that with that talent a rogue is no longer the trivial kiting kill for hunters.
Hunter at max range kiting a marked rogue > Vanish [mark gone] > Shadowstep [inside gun/bow range] > Hunter now meleeing rogue, good luck.
bane2571 Nov 5th 2006 11:06PM
ooohh shite, missed the 30 yard range that is crazy awesome, get in range of any target AND behind them for backstab. Nice.
Abhinav Nov 6th 2006 1:09AM
This brings up many interesting points for PVP rogues now. Going deep into the Sub tree is now a high viability for dagger rogues as this would be a very nice opener for clothies and helpful on Hunters as stated above. One problem to this is not being able to get the basic requirements for a dagger rogue (or atleast maximize damage). Anyways, nice upgrade for rogues, no longer is being slowed a death crutch.
Hory Nov 6th 2006 7:13AM
So, what do hunters get that will counter this?
Dave Nov 6th 2006 9:50AM
Raptor Strike.
Maliboo Nov 6th 2006 10:05AM
I can almost guarantee this will suffer from the same problem as a Warrior's Charge where your Charge and Target don't meet up and you Charge to the middle of nowhere.
warforge Nov 6th 2006 11:39AM
You knee jerkers need to calm down about rogues. The clothers are plenty super powered in beta and currently its a "b#tch" to fight any casters as a rogue.
Seriously play a rogue if you think it's so easy. And go pick a fight with a tier 2 lock or mage. Watch how fast you get kited and beat down.
I am glad to see shadow step and im gona give it a shot.
Currently trying assasination tree and Mutilate (double dagger backstab)....I really dont like it.
Now i know why my talents got reset the other day..they changed subtle tree =) Sweet gona have to give that new
skill a try and pvp with it.
warforge Nov 6th 2006 11:47AM
@Bill G
Before you cry (like typical whiney hunters) Research those hunter talents again.
Fyi I play hunter in pvp also. And I always throw down flare over hunters mark. Cause it sticks to rogues for a bit.
Those new hunter skills rock. I am beast master spec and in a tower I ripped into a rogue trying to creep up on me...both myself and pet in bestial wrath commenced his beat down.
And if you bothered reading about the new pet changes...hunters have a extremely big arsenal of skills to use against others in pvp.
So put down your tissue ..stop crying. And learn more about your class in beta. It's very strong and this ONE rogue skill isn't gona be a game breaker fool.
warforge Nov 6th 2006 11:59AM
@Hunters like Bill G
Counters? Put down your fricking tissue paper. Go research the current beta talents for hunters.
There is an OLD skill that is your best friend. Use it often. FLARE ..sheesh.
Its ONE fricking move. Everyone wants a "I win" one shot pony trick vs rogues.
Hello mcfly Rogues are supposed to be feared assasins. Not cannon fodder to be easily Kited.
And currently with new hunter skills, New PET skills, and kickass new gear...Hunters can rock a rogue.
I use beast spec in beta. And so far I enjoy Rogues getting close...Sick pet..both of us go into BW mode and my melee with pets melee tear into the rogues arse....I cant be stunned,feared, or slowed just like my pet.
I feel sorry for rogues vs hunters in beta.
ANd also rogues have almost no chance vs mages frost spec....A elemental that frost bolts and NOVAS also.
Great double the frost bolts and double the novas to deal with.
Seriously it ticks me off with this knee jerk crying. Either get into beta and see for yourself..or stfu till you know what you are talking about.
The ONE rogue move isnt a game breaking move. And Rogues currently need the love cause every other class out there is way stronger now in beta vs live.
What the hell do you want? Give everyone else new talents and godly strong new skills and leave rogues as is? Be realistic. Rogues need to be the feared assasins they are meant to be.
Roseroyce04 Nov 6th 2006 12:08PM
Holy crap that is dope! It took a while for it to register, I saw the video and I never noticed him blinking... I guess I thought it was editting. That is awesome!
@ Hory: Shutup, hunters don't need more counters against rogues.
@ Subtlety Rogues: Grats!
Unkle Nov 6th 2006 2:39PM
Us hunters will be able to drop traps without feigning. So the rogue blinks to us .. big deal? Drop a frost trap, then back off for a fresh aimed shot.
there's your I Win Button.
Guernia Nov 6th 2006 4:05PM
Don't forget that Hunters are (rumored? confirmed?) to be getting in-combat trapping ability. So any rogue that doesn't stunlock a hunter will soon be a block of ice, serpent stung, pet fodder then dead in short order.
Or there's the trick you can use now, with a bit of luck: feign death, freeze trap, dead rogue.
All these tricks can be performed well before the level 50 that'll be required for Shadowstep.
warforge Nov 6th 2006 4:29PM
Yes hunters Can use traps in combat. They have there own cooldowns for it...its an ass saver too.
Its confirmed..Ive used it several times now.