Giant news from the PTR: A new build brings a new bug [UPDATED]
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Feb 22nd 2008 at 7:40PM
For the raiders, the Sunwell Plateau raid is available again as well.
In addition, a rather amusing bug has popped up. The scaling has gone a bit wonky on the Test Server, and you can now find massive Clockwork Rocket Bots patrolling around next to oversized Kwee Q. Peddlefeets. Warlock pets also seem to have gotten a shot of Giant Growth Elixir as well, while the Ogres hanging out above Shattrath City have been shrunk. Hortus is aware of the bug, and (unfortunately) it will be fixed. So if you're on the PTR, enjoy your oversized pets while you can! And Mages and Warlocks, enjoy your new talent changes.
UPDATE: Other class changes have been noticed now as well. The 41-point Shaman Enhancement talent, Shamanistic rage, is no longer dispellable. In addition, the Warlock Lifetap spell now is now percentage-based. It converts 26% of max hp into 26% of max mana.
Filed under: Patches, Bugs, Blizzard, News items, Humor, Mage, Warlock
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Nazrel Feb 22nd 2008 7:49PM
Don't forget to mention that they screwed over locks with Life Tap!
gilmer Feb 23rd 2008 3:41AM
Did they? Oh great! Jolly! Since locks always screw me over with that fracking life tap, they indeed need to learn a lesson ^^
/Gilmer, 70 dwarf priest, who hates locks more than rogues
Derek Feb 22nd 2008 8:46PM
The PTR is back down :(
BUT not before i got a couple shots of my toon inside the disgusting oozling!
Fletch Feb 22nd 2008 8:49PM
Life tap needed to be nerfed, but this was definitely not the way to do it.
SaintStryfe Feb 22nd 2008 8:55PM
OOOHHHHH HAPPY DAY... Non-dispellable SR! THat's a buff of buffs! Excellent!
Zeplar Feb 22nd 2008 9:15PM
The lifetap bug is not a nerf, it's a bug (confirmed). Currently a warlock with 0 mana only regenerates like 30 mana per lifetap O_O
Sakerin Feb 23rd 2008 1:00PM
Confirmed by who? Where?
qoa Feb 22nd 2008 9:32PM
I'd hate to be "that guy" but wtf? Give shamans MORE pushback, and mages LESS?
Aikiwoce Feb 22nd 2008 9:49PM
Frost mages could use some, but I have a 70 ele shaman too.
Give shaman some freaking pushback resist.
klink-o Feb 22nd 2008 9:49PM
Are there still lower ranks of life tap and can they be used effectively at 70 for smaller percentages? 26% is a big chunk of your life to give up and sometimes I don't have that much health to give and don't need that much mana(and I'm not just talking about arenas).
Bachus Feb 22nd 2008 10:42PM
It's currently bugged to be 15% of your max health to give 15% of your *current* mana. The less mana you have the less you get back. Even fixed to be max mana, it's still a *huge* PVE nerf. This plus the incinerate casting speed increase completely changes warlock itemization. No more stacking shadow damage or stamina.
And that's complete and utter $#@&($@.
Bearskunk Feb 22nd 2008 10:54PM
lifetap change goes life = one customer less
Dylan Feb 22nd 2008 11:08PM
And nothing of value was lost.
Bearskunk Feb 22nd 2008 11:20PM
same I'd say if you diaf :)
Finnicks Feb 22nd 2008 11:26PM
No potential patch change has EVER made me die a little inside as much as this lifetap change.
As unreasonable as it probably is, the initial shock of what I read literally made my stomach turn sour.
I mean... WTH? A straight % of your HP converted to a straight % of your mana? What if you have tons of HP (like most locks currently who stack Stamina over intellect)?
That kind of change is going to remake the face of Warlock PvE gear goals.. If it's really a straight % of HP for a % of mana, then PvE locks are going to have to go after more Intellect sot hat they spend less health on more mana.
This change had better be a bug.
Perderedeus Feb 23rd 2008 12:24AM
The change is not a bug, as tooltips were updated to reflect the change. It may very well be reversed due to outcry, though.
Taxis Feb 23rd 2008 1:15AM
I doubt its going to get changed due to outcry. Look at how many nerfs the shamans have had to suffer through and the outcry didn't do anything.
Locks have needed some more nerfing for a long time, they have way too much of an upper hand, as do rogues.
Pingping Feb 23rd 2008 2:18AM
Warlocks have the upper hand at what exactly in PVP? Have you BEEN inside arena's lately? It's all druids warriors and rogues. Fear has already been extensively nerfed and if you have the joys of playing an alliance warlock you probably CAN'T even use fear on 80 percent of your targets WOTF ftw.
If they want to nerf lifetap fine, this is NOT a nerf it's a total reset button on the warlock class. Warlocks DON'T self regen mana we don't have a single talent for it. Our class is BUILT and itemized around stamina and the lifetap mechanic. The only thing that needs to be done to lifetap to tone it down is decrease the spell damage coefficient.
This change makes stamina a BAD stat for warlocks. It sure is a good thing all our gear is based around this one key mechanic tons of stamina hardly any int. It's like taking stealth away from rogues, or bubble (and the hearthstone!) from a paladin, lifetap is our class defining ability.
With this nerf and the eventual nerf to improved shadow bolt (fake patch notes=real!) they will force every PVE warlock to become a crappy fire mage that can (woohoo) summon in replacements anywhere in the world!
Jack Feb 23rd 2008 3:09AM
If they change lifetap like this, they'll have to change all the warlock-itemized items in the game. o_O
Medievaldragon Feb 23rd 2008 3:14AM
It is a bug, but I have a hunch the code that made them this big was meant as an internal testing of the upcoming special loot card by Upper Deck. Wow TCG: Servants of the Betrayer will be on sale by April 2008. The loot card meant to make pet companions grow is the Papa Hummel's Old-Fashioned Pet Biscuit. Video of the PTR and loot card image here:
http://www.blizzplanet.com/news/2137