PTR Notes: New Arena weapons, Fanatacism tweak, Hunter dead zone
by Elizabeth Harper 
Oct 25th 2007 at 10:32AM
- Three new Arena weapons: A caster staff, a gun, and a bow.
- The Retribution Paladin talent Fanaticism has been changed to decrease threat only when Righteous Fury is not active.
- The range for a Hunter's ranged attacks has been changed from 1 - 41 yards, eliminating their dead zone.
- The Mage's Ritual of Refreshment now requires 2 arcane powder instead of a rune of portals.
- The 4-piece bonus on the Mage PvP set has been changed to 2 seconds off the cooldown of Blink.
- Sorry, Hunters, but those cool-looking Zul'Aman bears are no longer tamable.
- Mats for the Adamantite Arrow Maker reduced. Was: Adamantite Frame, Simple Wood x10, Fel Iron Bolts x2. Now: Adamantite Bar, Simple Woodx4, Fell Iron Bolts x2. However, the schematic no longer specifies that the item has multiple charges. Whether this means the new version of the Adamantite Arrow Maker is single-charge or if that particular information was cut off the tooltip for some reason, I can't say. Any engineers out there want to hop on the PTRs, make one, and let us know if the item itself has been changed?
- Darnassus has its own guild bank now.
- Ogri'la potions buffed.
- New Sporebat pet for exalted Sporregar faction.
- New level 70 elite guards outside Zul'Aman. However, these guards certainly aren't graphically themed for Zul'Aman (and why would Tauren and Orcs be guarding a Troll temple?), and I wonder if they've been added to the PTRs to curtail the PvP-fest happening outside.
Filed under: Patches
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Stoneblade Oct 25th 2007 10:41AM
Interesting that they would deem to make another available sporebat that's nearly as useless as the tamable version. It's a neat idea, I'll admit, but I'd rather they'd have just given the poor thing some actual skiils, instead.
Borrodir Oct 25th 2007 10:43AM
"The range for a Hunter's ranged attacks has been changed from 1 - 41 yards, eliminating their dead zone. "
I hope this sticks! It would make a big difference.
Doffencrag Oct 25th 2007 10:47AM
@1: Agree... like maybe that healing furbolg you get at Exalted with Timbermaw. That would be sweet.
Fireflash38 Oct 25th 2007 10:53AM
2, Apparently, it is a tooltip-bug. You can shoot from 4+, but no closer. And anyway, 1-41 shot range would be retarded against any caster.
MechChef Oct 25th 2007 11:03AM
Reduced to 1 yard? If they can shoot me at 1 yard, then they're the same as any other caster class. Hence, should be wearing cloth. I'd be more comfortable with 5 yard minimum, which seems to the average melee weapon range.
Markymark Oct 25th 2007 11:04AM
Omg no more deadzone...time to roll the hunter of my dreams and not get pwned by wimpy casters.
Todd Oct 25th 2007 11:04AM
Aww, look at that little itty bitty Sporebat.
That mage staff is badass.
Acceptable Risk Oct 25th 2007 11:09AM
Okay, so what's the point of even having Hunter melee abilities now? The dead zone was their one weakness. It was the one thing that made them require a tiny bit of strategy. Are all hunters such newbs that their whining had finally gotten the better of the dev team.
Also, I'm glad to see the Fanaticism change. That way it doesn't completely ruin Ret pallies from tanking.
Markymark Oct 25th 2007 11:25AM
The deadzone in all honesty was horrible. The reason being was at a certain distance if u maintained the hunter can neither melee or use ranged attacks. This at least gives u the chance to defend your self without being exploited.
dacamper Oct 25th 2007 11:29AM
"Sorry, Hunters, but those cool-looking Zul'Aman bears are no longer tamable." Well Blizzard won't let us tame druids in beast forms either, which is a real shame :)
My druid friends are wondering/hoping that they might finally change Dire Bear Form to something more threatening, such as an armoured bear... if only they had such a model...
Tommysalami Oct 25th 2007 11:49AM
The range change should help immensely with PvE and PvP. The change to BG's is fairly negligible, but arena play is where this will shine. It will finally allow us to do something about pillar humping healers.
Here's to hoping this will make it to live.
Salty Oct 25th 2007 11:41AM
This change is not about eliminating hunter melee, it’s about closing the deadzone - an area outside of melee and too close for ranged attacks. It's largely regarded on the PTR that the effective minimum for ranged attacks is 4 or 5 yards, which is where melee range begins. There is no removal of melee. If you're 4-5 yards away from the hunter, you will have no problem running 1 or 2 more yards to get in melee range. The difference is that mages, shaman and druids will no longer be able to ice nova/earthbind/entangle a hunter and hover in the deadzone, then nuke us while we can’t use either melee or ranged attacks. I can see a lot of players yelling overpowered, but you can all go die in a fire – this fixes one of the most cheap-assed exploits in the game and something that has kept me out of Arenas and BGs forever. No other class in the game has a dead zone on their primary attacks, and this was a fix long coming. Deal with it, you will either be wing clipped or concussive shot, no more free Hunter HKs. I won’t even elaborate on the PvE benefits of this mode, but no more running around like an idiot trying to get ranged in a tight hallway.
Vestras Oct 25th 2007 11:43AM
Damn, and here I was hoping to assemble some Bear calvalry of hunters with those bears and hunters riding bear mounts with a bunch of druid tanks...sigh, a man can dream can't he?
Meanwhile, glad to have more rally pets. I think every faction should offer one personally as they are more recognizable (and less an eye sore) than the tabards.
Qanaesin Oct 25th 2007 11:43AM
I swear, i had a hunter and we learned to make do with our dead zone. The hunters today are so easy i gave up on my hunter, i mean 1yard why even have a weapon equipped. Blizzard should get rid of all hunter melee skills if they are gonna do this.
rgoff31 Oct 25th 2007 11:49AM
I am guessing the Hunter change was made because of Arena feedback. Blinking Ice Mages are in trouble now.
DavidC Oct 25th 2007 11:51AM
"The range for a Hunter's ranged attacks has been changed from 1 - 41 yards, eliminating their dead zone."
That is wrong ... don't know where you got your information as the link doesn't state that.
There is now like a "1 yard" deadzone or something so small as to be unable to be exploited by PvPers.
There is a "min range" on ranged weapons so you can't stand 2 yards from a boss and auto-shoot.
Please correct your post on the front page ... min range for hunter ranged weapons is not 1 yard.
womack Oct 25th 2007 11:58AM
so why does the new bow and gun not have the 1850 personal rating requirement? is this becuase no bow/gun weren't previously available? if so amen.
ThorinII Oct 25th 2007 11:58AM
If I can fire at any distance, even point blank, I would be just fine with Blizz taking away my melee skills. They aren't that great as it is, so I wouldn't miss them. Just give us zero deadzone on ranged weaps and a bigger ammo pouch. That would be fine with me!
Zor Oct 25th 2007 12:08PM
umm
whats a hunters main weapon?
with the dead zone wipe
shouldnt those WEAPONS have a minumum rating?
sheesh
talk about nub sauce toon
Grimia Oct 25th 2007 12:13PM
Re Dead Zone. Oh c'mon, why can't I SHOOT YOU IN THE FACE.
Now maybe it should be 1yd for Guns and 3-4 for bow/xbow or something :)