Maintenance day café
by Eliah Hecht 
Mar 6th 2007 at 11:00AM
Another Tuesday, another day where I can't play before 2 PM EST. Whatever happened to that live maintenance, anyway? I realize they couldn't do that today because of the patch, but there haven't been any downtime-free Tuesdays for a while now (in fact, I think they only did it live twice or so). So what are you all doing with your extra time, those of you who might normally be playing at the moment? As for myself, aside from writing this post, I'm watching last night's Black Donellys and chuckling over how Blizz decided the way to make Circle of Healing worthwhile was to bump down its outrageous mana cost by 25%. (Hint: we're more upset with the amount it heals for, its position in the talent tree, and the limitations on who it heals than we are with the mana cost.)Anyhow, I figured I'd make this post as a place we could hang out and chat to kill time while the servers slowly trudge back to consciousness. If it works well, I'll do it again next maintenance. What do you guys think of the changes? (No trolling, please.) Is your class changed enough that you think you need to respec, and if so, what spec are you going for? How's Karazhan going for your guild?
Filed under: Patches, Odds and ends
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Night Rider Mar 6th 2007 11:11AM
I don't understand why they can't do these updates late at night. Blizzard sure as hell has enough money to employ people to do it.
Pashy Mar 6th 2007 11:13AM
Working ^^ best way to spend patch day earning some more money. Now dont start on positions in talent trees hehe not when us shamans shave mana tide at 31 pts.
Eliah Hecht Mar 6th 2007 11:16AM
Pashy: I would kill to have Mana Tide (or anything that restores mana) as our 31 point holy talent instead of Lightwell. Heck, I'd take it over Circle of Healing, which is ten points deeper, in a heartbeat. *shrug* Might just be "grass is greener," I suppose, but it sure looks nice to me ;)
Eegg Mar 6th 2007 11:21AM
Tuesdays don't bother me normally, since I have a day job. But on the subject of the holy tree for priests - I respecced holy the other day all the way into the 41 pt, going disc only to get meditation (now THERE is a required talent, IMO). I have to say, I'm actually enjoying the respec, including Circle of Healing, which I justified picking up since I decided to finally drop Holy Nova.
EvilCheese Mar 6th 2007 11:21AM
My main is an Undead priest. Just got him to 70 the other week. Currently enjoying the flying mount and all that. I specced almost exclusively shadow for the Great BC Grind of 2007. I don't long for the days of being a holy priest. I'm currently playing around with the idea of a mostly discipline hybrid type of build.
At any rate, I'm pretty displeased with the changes to the priest class. I could see if they thought priests were doing too much DPS as shadow spec. I guess I can buy that. But why take the heals from VE down to 15%? That's just kicking us while we're already down. As far as I'm concerned shadow is the most viable PVP spec for priests. Those heals are not massive in a PVP environment. Perhaps enough to keep me alive, but not really enough to tip the balance in any sort of extreme.
I guess what I'm really saying is: I have no idea what I'm going to do once this patch is out. Probably see how the changes affect my shadow spec, and go from there. I'm definitely more useful to groups as a healing spec, because we have a shortage of healers, so if anything this patch is probably a patch that just forces me to buy a respec faster then I otherwise would've.
Twinny Mar 6th 2007 11:25AM
warlocks are underpowered!1!oneone!!!
/hide
Will Mar 6th 2007 11:26AM
I was just thinking the same thing about live updates. What exactly happened to that?
Rakeleer Mar 6th 2007 11:28AM
All I can say about the priest nerf is...
Why?
And I feel bad for druids. They had their day in the sun, and I hope it isn't over.
Luenamme Mar 6th 2007 11:29AM
Im watching Scrubs to make the time go, hooray for scrubs! And late night updates sound nice don't they *sigh*
Justin Mar 6th 2007 11:30AM
Yes, Black Donellys. Great show. It's no Heroes but still good.
Sylythn Mar 6th 2007 11:40AM
@1
Actually, I think they time it to hit the minimum server pop times. Late at night is actually a big playtime - especially among their main demographic. And late into night EST is still not really late at PST. Tues Morn-2pm is working/class hours for EST, sleeping/working/class hours for PST - and totally screwing over asia and australia who hit prime time...
Duromiir Mar 6th 2007 11:38AM
Well, I'll be respecing to add Imp. Thunderclap (brings it down to 13 rage with Focused Rage).
I do feel bad for Druids and Priests, though. I really do hope that they re-touch the Druids a bit and let them have some of their beefy feral-goodness back.
Donk Mar 6th 2007 12:24PM
I'm watching Scrubs too. Gotta head to school at noon. Out at three to work on playing the rest of the day. My main is a level 59 Human Warrior on the Anvilmar server.
Larawen Mar 6th 2007 11:47AM
Reading gaming news is a great way to pass the patch time. Am I allowed to link to other news sites here in the comments? Either way as a rogue I ushally don't get hit with nerf bat, I guess it's all that AGI and +dodge%.
Jorrell Mar 6th 2007 12:06PM
If it is a Tuesday you'll usually find me sleeping till i can play WOW, and what did ever happen to those "live updates". Thanks Bliz Thanks
quaunaut Mar 6th 2007 11:56AM
I'm a Warrior and am okay with the patch notes- I wish Blizzard would find a way for us to be able to solo things at least decently well at all, let alone as prot- having to stop and eat after every 2 fights is pretty expensive.
Otherwise things aren't bad. I thought the Druid nerf was overcorrection for a overcorrection as well- yes, they became better tanks than Warriors, but now their damage is so low that the low threat generation is actually gonna be pretty vicious.
TwhiT Mar 6th 2007 12:00PM
I have class but I always seem to get out early on Tuesdays, so I have to wait a bit for my realm to pop back up, so I watch ESPN highlights hehe
Auriea Mar 6th 2007 12:16PM
I'm a druid OT/MT for the guild and we have Kharazan planned for tonight. I hope it goes well.
Karl Mar 6th 2007 12:23PM
Late night updates would be pretty hard on me, since I (and everyone I know) play in the evening.
I'm here at work killing some down-time. Not too busy today (which means preventive maintenance on our networks is paying off). I will probably hit the server a little after I get home to download the patch, and then play after I put the kids to bed.
I feel for the classes getting nerfed. None of my regularly played classes seem to be affected (Pally, Rogue and Warlock). My friend is pretty happy that his Warrior might finally have some life back. I'll take some time to help him level to 70 now.
Orizon Mar 6th 2007 12:24PM
I have a 70 druid and I feel that healing is the only advancement option for me now and since my previous guild broke off I find myself in a less friendly guild and less motivation. I pretty much burned out of healing and had fun tanking 5-mans but I'm now leveling a 42 pally and 34 rogue for kicks until LotRO arrives (open beta at the end of March) and then I'll decide if I keep my WoW account. By all means, WoW is a great game and I still love it but the ups and downs of class "balancing" is a bit frustrating.
I hope druids are still viable but mine is parked in STV and protecting my alts from the evil horde who please themselves at 1-shot kills.