Possible new Badge of Justice loot unlocked on the PTR
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Feb 16th 2008 at 7:00AM
MMO-Champion has just posted a whole batch of loot that's just been unlocked on the test server. It seems no-one's found a vendor for it yet, but especially with some it still sporting "Sunwell Badge Loot" names, speculation right now would suggest it's part of the new tier 5 Badge of Justice gear we were promised by Drysc a bit back. Right now, one of the new daily quest givers at the Sun's Reach Armory named Smith Hauthaa implies that if you can help her get supplies, she will be able to sell you powerful weapons and armor. It looks like we'll need to do her daily quest "Making Ready" enough times to unlock the ability to buy the gear. There's definitely some sweet upgrades here. Casters who've not had any luck getting Prince Malchezzar to drop his dagger (and even those who have it) should be ecstatic for the Scryer's Blade of Focus, while the hunter in me is drooling over the Crossbow of Relentless Strikes. Haste and spell haste rating seems to figure quite prominently on the various types of armor, but there's also a good amount of hit rating as well. Some of the cloth pieces might even get some tailoring Shadow Priests and Affliction Warlocks to shed their Shadoweave sets. The search goes on for a vendor for all these goodies, but with any luck they'll be found soon.
If this is the badge gear, and it is unlockable by finishing different levels of the daily quests at Quel'danas, I'd say it's another great mechanic by Blizzard, in that it's yet another thing that'll definitely bring the server together by giving a really excellent incentive to finish the race. In addition, the badge gear should not only let casuals who prefer to stick to clearing Karazhan and running Heroics have a definite avenue of improvement, but also let raiders who have been waiting forever for that one boss drop have a chance at picking themselves up some reasonable side-grades, especially now that they'll be able to get the badges they need from the 25-man raids themselves.
Filed under: Patches, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Events
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Indalamar Feb 16th 2008 7:41AM
it sounds like the theory posted by WorldofRaids today.
theRaptor Feb 16th 2008 8:20AM
The only reason I could see an spriest taking those boots is if they have the best +haste/damage gear, which currently leaves you short of the +hit cap. If you just have T4/T5 gear it is so easy to reach the +hit cap that you will want the raw damage of FSW boots.
Tirion Feb 16th 2008 8:22AM
There's no way this is Badge of Justice loot. It's just too good... this has to be some kind of special Sunwell badge only available to the top-end raiders who don't really need the items....
theRaptor Feb 16th 2008 8:43AM
T5 equiv badge of justice loot was introduced, and now that Blizzard have T4 equiv dropping from a 5 man and heroic like candy, it seems perfectly reasonable that low T6 style loot would be available for badges.
Matt Feb 16th 2008 5:50PM
there is, if you figure a new expansion is on its way before the end of 08 and they want to get everyone that is raiding through these instances so they arent forgotten or missed by some. Also you have to figure the SMAAAAALLL % of raiders that have even been in these instances let alone dream of it...i have a couple characters and one of my more casual guilds is just now getting into SSC so that would mean they have to get through SSC, Mag, TK,BT,hyjal...considering the gearing of tanks for the +frost and +nature resists takes AGES(36primals of everykind but earth for each set)....it would be a long stretch to say we are gonna make it by then....im hoping the expansion doesnt come till 09 so those guys can see everything =-D
Balasan Feb 16th 2008 8:32AM
I just hope its cost is fair for such powerful gear.
And evidently, again, they're alternative sets. Cloth with spirit just doesn't seem suitable for warlocks.
Mats Feb 16th 2008 9:37AM
this bothers me as well, clearly the damage gear is focused for Spriests and not warlocks, but on the other hand the warlock gear is specked out in crit and no-hit, so destro locks? But they need hit gear even more then Affliction locks, who on the other hand don't need crit.
Balasan Feb 16th 2008 9:44AM
Come to think of it, these items are clearly designed as sidegrades for people who have t6 gear, and as an easy gear upgrade for those under t6 gear.
Take the example of the mace:
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=34896
it has pure healing. A lot of it, but it's just plain healing with lots of stam and average int.
Compare it with
http://www.wowhead.com/?item=30918
As a paladin I'd still prefer the hammer of atonement for its 1% extra spell crit chance over pure healing. I, however would probably grab the other hammer if I've got lots and lots of badges and I have yet to get the hammer of atonement (quite reasonable, as my guild has 5 pallies each vying to get the silly hammer).
So yeah, it's a t6 sidegrade or loot for the people who has hated rep with Lady Luck, or it's a huge upgrade for people not in t6.
Oh and 25 man bosses dropping badges helps A LOT. Thanks blizz!!
Ciross Feb 16th 2008 10:36AM
Actually, Drysc said it would be T6 equivilant badge gear. He said that it would be similar to Hyjal/BT loot drops.
storment Feb 16th 2008 2:22PM
So it begs the question...do I start saving my heroic badges up for this stuff, or go for the current items? hmmm
Aureliana Feb 18th 2008 1:17PM
This means that my druid may not be stuck with her disgusting Japanese tentacle pr0n staff until the expansion! HOORAY!!!
Lucas Feb 18th 2008 9:02PM
Great... 2.5 speed weapons... Another blow to shamans...
Meh, I can probably get my S3 weapons faster.
Ryan Feb 19th 2008 11:19AM
Well, since Supremus will likely be the new Void Reaver, you might not have to worry about that too much.
Lucas Feb 19th 2008 5:31PM
I'm in school so no time for 25 mans : /