Patch 2.3 and you: Mage edition
by Elizabeth Harper 
Sep 26th 2007 at 10:50PM
Like the rest of the classes, Mages are getting a glimpse of the love coming their way in patch 2.3. Drysc has hopped on to the Mage forums with all manner of exciting news about the next major content patch:- Mages will be getting a "Ritual of Refreshment" which, like the Warlock's Soulwell, will be conjured by the Mage and allow multiple players to pick up food and water. (source)
- The damage coefficient reduction (commonly called the "damage tax") will be removed from Fireball and Frostbolt. (source)
- Evocation is being changed to restore 15% of your mana every 2-seconds, instead of being spirit-based. (source)
- Arcane Meditation is being increased to give 10/20/30% mana regeneration in combat instead of 5/10/15% mana regeneration in combat, in line with similar talent changes for Druids and Priests. (source)
- Ice Barrier will gain additional benefit from spell damage bonuses, but the base absorb values of rank 5 and 6 will be reduced. (source)
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Skarlette Sep 26th 2007 11:49PM
So awesome! Ritual of Refreshment is the best thing since...well, Conjured Sliced Bread, I suppose. ;) Looking forward to the improved version of Evocate, too.
Acceptable Risk Sep 27th 2007 12:39AM
As if Spirit wasn't already somewhat deemphasized in Mages, now there will be practically no reason to stack it at all.
Delilah Sep 27th 2007 12:44AM
No more damage tax.......
.....
Oh that's tasty indeed.
Green Armadillo Sep 27th 2007 1:08AM
Heh, so now we're going to have to carry green +int staves for evocation instead of green +spirit staves. Good times. Ah well, Int is slightly more useful than spirit. :)
Byron Sep 27th 2007 1:35AM
Posted this on the article above, then scrolled down and found that this one is the more appropriate place for it, so reposting:
Healing debuffs will now affect Drain spells and abilities. More specifically, Warrior's Mortal Strike will debuff Warlock's Drain Life and Siphon Life:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=1778037077&sid=1&pageNo=4#66
I'm guessing Orc's Blood Fury will debuff Drain/Siphon as well.
phire Sep 27th 2007 1:55AM
hmm, some good changes coming up.
removal of the damage tax makes me wonder why they had to put it in the first place.
Memzer Sep 27th 2007 3:18AM
Getting a lot of gold spam on the these 2.3 threads today :/
These are some awesome changes for mages though! Keep the 2.3 news coming :)
Gustav Sep 27th 2007 5:53AM
Hell yeah!
BenMS Sep 27th 2007 4:09AM
No damage tax on Fireball and Frostbolt is made of Win and Strawberries.
Also, the more changes to come thing - I heard from a Complete Mage Nerd of my acquaintance that they are bringing back Rolling Ignites.
phire Sep 27th 2007 4:21AM
@#8
bringing back Rolling Ignites would be TEH WIN, Strawberries and Whip Cream. Keep the News coming.
Mystical Parrot Sep 27th 2007 4:33AM
no damage tax, yay!
other changes are also gonna be nice, just hope the ritual of refreshment makes a decent amount of food/drink.
evocation change is ok, but i like most people im sure just have a macro for equipping my spirit items.
best thing is definately no damage tax
Hone Melgren Sep 27th 2007 4:53AM
Man I hope that they dont limit it so you can only get *1* stack of food and *1* stack of water like how the healthstones from warlocks work.
TotalBiscuit Sep 27th 2007 5:46AM
About bloody time on all counts.
TB.
ErsatzPotato Sep 27th 2007 7:44AM
No damage tax is...wow. MASSIVE.
Can't begin to imagine how they plan to balance that against other DPS classes. Heck, it's such a big boost I can't quite believe it'll ever happen. If they do rescind it after the announcement they'd better have a buffed ice barrier up to survive the flames.
Vincent Avatar Sep 27th 2007 8:23AM
I think it's awesome that we mages get the most excited about Blizzard undoing things that they did to us long ago.
Also, the mass food/water thing is pretty awesome.
And I guess the re-worked Evocation rocks, too. Also the re-worked Arcane Mind is nice, giving the poor, neglected, Arcane Tree some love.
Fizzl Sep 27th 2007 11:29AM
There was some more stuff on my eu site,
# Detect Magic removed. All players may now see their target's beneficial effects at all times.
Fire Ward and Frost Ward now gain additional benefit from spell damage bonuses. Base absorb values of ranks 5 and 6 have been reduced.
Pook Sep 27th 2007 1:09PM
Haha I was surprised to get al the way to the 12th post before we got a comment from TB..
Happy days no more taxes....
Girl Meets WoW Sep 27th 2007 6:18PM
But what about changing my mage armor icon?
...seriously though,
Thorn Sep 29th 2007 5:56PM
Hmm... would rather have seen a new "Improved Arcane Meditation" talent a little further down the tree to get the bonus mana regen. Would have been a big help to the OOM arcane mages.
Beefmonger Oct 2nd 2007 7:54AM
"Can't begin to imagine how they plan to balance that against other DPS classes."
Mages are supposed to deal the most amount of damage in the game. Says so right on worldofwarcraft.com. You can't even spell damage without mage! Damage is the only thing mages have. Taking away from that simply defeats the very foundation of the entire class.
Also, the buffs to Meditation and Evocation confuse me.
Meditation now SCREAMS for stacked spirit, Evocation demands that you never bother with spirit again.
Say whut?