PTR Notes: Hypothermia reduced, weapon racials changed
by Eliah Hecht 
Nov 7th 2007 at 9:00AM
In what must surely be the final build of the patch 2.3 PTR, which was pushed last night, few changes seem to have been made. Which makes sense, because they're only going to have a week to test it. As far as the good folks at World of Raids can make out, here's the list of changes in the latest build:- [Mage] Hypothermia changed from 45s back to 30s.
- Human and Orc weapon racials changed from 1% crit to 5 expertise.
Since there were no updated patch notes for this build, it's always possible that there are additional changes that no-body's noticed yet. If so, please feel free to post them in the comments and I'll update the post.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Todd Nov 7th 2007 9:53AM
30 seconds is still too long for PvE.
evestraw Nov 7th 2007 9:54AM
mages dont need iceblock
they can already kite you and blink out your stuns
evestraw Nov 7th 2007 9:56AM
devine protection should be 30 sec cooldown too then
squishy Nov 7th 2007 10:02AM
@1 agreed. Pretty much every nerf to us mages has arose from whiners in PVP slowly making the class undesirable. i dont know why these morons at blizzard cant separate PVP from PVE. they can introduce these rules in battlegrounds and arenas. i hate the fact that arena is dictating how classes will perform in PVE.
really really really stupid.
glad they took the 45 sec change back. but there still should be no stupid hypothermia to begin with
ds Nov 7th 2007 10:01AM
Question: How should I feel about the change from +skill to +expertise? My first raid drop, the Deft Handguards purple gloves from Karazhan have great +stats, but I was more interested in the +15 sword skill. I notice that it seems no matter how much +skill, my sword still caps at 357+10 (Rogue talent bonus). Is +expertise going to be preferable to the +hit that higher weapon skill gives, especially when it seems to cap at 357 anyways?
Nexxius Nov 7th 2007 10:05AM
@everstraw, do you ever PvP? Arena at least? If yes, quit playing WoW please. If no just shut up.
amasen Nov 7th 2007 10:20AM
@3
Mages can't move and attack while Ice Blocked like a pally bubbled. They also can recast it every 30seconds. Maybe if you weren't an idiot you'd ask for forbearance to be reduced to 30 seconds which is the same thing as Hypothermia. But once again pally bubble > Mage ice block.
Please never speak again, you reveal your ignorance with every word.
Hybrys Nov 7th 2007 10:23AM
Pssst. You don't need double Ice Block if you aren't a complete and utter moron in PvE. Stop pulling god damn aggro.
Nexxius Nov 7th 2007 10:36AM
@8. Hai Hybrys. Is good to see you again, I missed your "awesome&fullofwin" comments. This is about PvP, not PvE. Thanks, come again.
Jackie Nov 7th 2007 10:38AM
Let the mages get the cd for their Iceblock reduced. I couldn't care less, I'll just my priest partner to dispell it.
Case closed.
nein89 Nov 7th 2007 11:04AM
9. Hey, see that first comment of the story? The one bitching about how he he needs to ice block more than once every thirty seconds in PvE? I bet that's what Hybrys was responding to.
As for the change: Meh. Ice block spamming teams were annoying in 2v2 arenas, but that's about it. It's a nice skill, and I'm happy my mage has it, but even as an affliction lock before hypothermia was introduced at all I never felt like it was overpowered. Likewise, not being able to do it twice in thirty seconds doesn't render it useless. Nonissue.
John Nov 7th 2007 11:42AM
I am confused, as i dont play a mage. whats the big deal with hyperthermin? says cant cast ice block for 30 seconds, but it is on a 4 min cool down?
can somebody please explain.
nein89 Nov 7th 2007 11:48AM
Cold Snap resets the cooldown.
hpavc Nov 7th 2007 11:51AM
re @12@ they have 'cold snap' (3rd tier) that allows them to reset all frost cooldowns (frost nova, iceblock, etc) every 10 minutes.
Todd Nov 7th 2007 12:14PM
@Hybrys
Ice Block isn't only an aggro saving spell. There are numerous boss fights where Ice Block can cleanse debuffs and help prevent unnecessary wipes. Illhoof is a prime example. Maiden. Moroes. Baron Geddon. The list goes on.
@John
Cold Snap resets the 5 minute cooldown of Ice Block. However, Cold Snap does not reset the 30 second secondary cooldown of Ice Block, preventing from an additional immediate usage.
PeeWee Nov 7th 2007 12:15PM
So? Just kill your oponent instead of hiding in the ice block in the first place. That's what mages are all about, no?
j/k ^^
my2cents Nov 7th 2007 12:48PM
Grats Nexxius on having nothing to contribute other than obnoxious trolling. Anyway, I think 30 seconds is long enough. There was no need to make it 45 seconds to begin with imo. However, I gotta disagree with those who say the hypothermia debuff shouldn't exist in the first place. If you have ice block, it's pretty much a given that you have cold snap as well. Hypothermia just keeps iceblock from being OP...yes there is a difference between pvp and pve but spells need to be balanced. Wow is not a pve (or pvp) only game.
Ortai Nov 7th 2007 12:52PM
@3 Give mages plate and well call it even.
Falconous Nov 7th 2007 1:57PM
I pvp and pve (clears on SSC and working on TK) pretty heavily with my full frost mage and I have to say that its very very rare when I have to ice block in pve faster than 30 seconds. There are some fights were it is certainly useful, but considering a majority of mages raid full fire without the benefit of ice block and live through them, I hardly think hypothermia is in anyway a pve nerf.
Mats Nov 7th 2007 2:25PM
@4 As a rogue, as long as you have the hit gear, and stand behind your target, you won't need expertise rating. Its much more a tanking stat then anything else.