An optimists roundup: Things I'm excited about in Patch 2.4
by Amanda Dean 
Mar 5th 2008 at 9:00AM
Every new patch to World of Warcraft brings buffs, nerfs, new content, and sweeping changes. The game has evolved tremendously from when I first started playing two years ago. I was thrilled with Hunter changes and leveling tweaking in patch 2.3. Sure there are plenty of things to be unhappy about, but I'm a "glass is half full" kind of girl. Read on for a roundup of the top ten changes I'm most excited about.
Seriously, the old one was kind of lame. Perhaps the old icon could have been cool if the lightning bolts to the side were yellow instead of pink. We'll leave the Hammer of Justice icon to the Paladins. The new icon captures the power of the Stormstrike ability and looks much more Shamanistic. I can't complain a bit about a totem timer. instant cast Ghostwolf isn't bad for two talent points either. Maybe it's because I'm Resto specced, but of all my level 70s, it's my Shaman I love the best.
I really like that Blizzard is making an attempt to recognize their UI shortcomings and correct them. The new UI will include a threatmeter and a customizable combat log. This change mirrors some common addons for players, and Blizzard reports that the changes are facilitate rather than eliminate interface modifications.
I've found the flight time from Orgrimar to Tanaris for CoT instances to be an excellent time to take my dogs for a walk. It takes forever, and then there's the jog across the zone to the CoT. True, there's already a summoning stone there, but at least two poor players have to make the trek.
Some people love this change, other people hate it. Since I do not raid, I'm in the former camp. I invested in Blacksmithing to make the Lionheart Blade, because I love it above all other swords. I expected to be able to upgrade it to the Lionheart Champion, but Lionheart Executioner seems out of reach. True, I'll pay an excessive sum for the Nether Vortexes (if this change even goes live), but it will be worth it. (Please let this fly, Blizzard, pretty please).
I'm kind of tired of waiting for honor to roll before I can get my shiny new gear. Diminishing returns have consistently caused an overestimation of my honor gains and I've been repeatedly disappointed when it's off by thousands of honor. With new changes, I will be instantly gratified for my PvP activities.
Alright, so the closest my Hunter is ever going to get to this beauty will be in the center of Shattrath where it's wielder will likely be posed. Still, it's awesome to see a new Legendary weapon. I will be very jealous of it, not because of the stat and DPS bonuses, but because the proud bearer of this weapon will be able to carry five bags.
Alright, it's still not perfect, but Blizzard is trying to make this battleground more bearable. I'm thrilled that both flags will be trackable. As it stands WSG is a huge time sink compared to the amount of honor I typically get out of it, even for a win. I trust that blizzard will tweak the time it takes for the damage debuff to begin. I also hope that the changes to
- New content: Sunwell Plateau and Magister's Terrace-
Admittedly, I will never set hoof inside the Sunwell Plateau, but I'm glad that it's there. I will most likely poke my nose around Magister's Terrace at least once or twice. I'm not a major lore junky, but I do love the visuals in new zones. My understanding is that Sunwell Isle is designed to give
I have a confession to make. I didn't get my epic land mount until the day that the Burning Crusade came out. I was playing undead priest at the time. Gold was much more difficult to come by back then. I saved up my marks and I wanted to be the first person to get an epic warchicken. The first thing I did after I loaded the expansion was to dash into the hall of legends to lay claim to my fancy, feathered mount. I was heartbroken that it wasn't there. How could they not have a battlebird? I settled for the Red Skeletal Warhorse and moped off into the Dark Portal. The priest is now a retired level 70. If the Swift Warstrider was black instead of white, I would consider suspending her retirement.
This is defiantly the best of all. I love battlegrounds. I love honor. I love not having battleground marks of honor decaying in my inbox. That makes this new quest a win win win situation for me. Since my current characters include two Tauren and a Blood Elf Paladin who has no intentions of dismounting her Charger for a giant chicken, I won't need my marks for the Warstrider. I'll be saving up for honor, glory, and shiny new epics.
To be fair, as a Shaman, I have been a little bit intoxicated on the delicious Warlock tears that have been flowing so freely lately. But relax everyone, this is just the test realm and absolutely nothing on it is set in stone. There's still plenty of time to nerf Shaman and distribute Mortal Strike to all classes. There will be changes as Blizzard dials it in and the last PTR build will be different from the Patch 2.4 that goes live. I can't wait to see what else the developers come up with, but I find there's plenty here to be happy about.
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Classes, Rumors
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
uncaringbear Mar 5th 2008 9:08AM
As a hordie lock who loves PvP, I simply can't wait for 2.4. An AV map that is inherently biased towards Ally will become even more Ally biased. And of course, the wonderful nerf to Life Tap. Oh boy, I can't wait.
Tseran Mar 5th 2008 11:23AM
Ummm.....I PvP with a horde lock too, and I will be the first to admit, the AV map pre-2.4 is VERY Horde biased. That is, if the Horde actually USES the advantages. If you don't take advantage of your choke-points, then that is your own fault. As has been stated many times before, the Horde has the best frontal area, the easiest to defend. Horde can make the game a royal nightmare, should they choose to. And with a starting gate closer to that area then the Alliance, its even better. Want more map inequities? The Horde recall point, while in front of the base like the Alliance one, is still a good 40ish yards from the relief hut flag. The Alliance one is practically on top of the flag. Why is this bad for Alliance? Well, let's see, you see Horde are attacking your base, and recall. By the time the screen has loaded, you've been hit by a few ticks of all the AoE's going off on the flag, and probably nailed by more then one multishot. And if they already have the RH, then you also have all the flag guards to contend with.
Now, I agree on lifetap, that sucks big time. But you will never convince me the map is Alliance biased in AV.
kraak Mar 20th 2008 3:41AM
actually a reply to tseran.. but the av map is definitely ally favored, especially if you compare towers, horde bowmen hardly hit you and are fewer, alliance bowmen are with more and they have more los, plus its way harder to tag the flag without killing a few bowmen, and furthermore horde has to kill way more npcs then alliance ( ive played both sides so i know and experienced allie av is just way easier )
Jessica Mar 5th 2008 9:12AM
I'm intrigued about new content, trying not to overspoil myself so I can enjoy it when it comes out. Also excited about more badge gear, and intersting changes to the arcane tree.
I hadn't heard about the portal to caverns of time, but that's a nice improvement. Usually when you got a CoT run going you could tell what sort of group you had on your hands by seing how long it took just to get everyone out there (becuase if people were slacking on just getting out there, who knows if they'd have enough hustle to get a morass run done)
Khanmora Mar 5th 2008 9:14AM
I didn't see a new default threatmeter on the 2.4 PTR last time I was on, what push did they add that?
Tekkub Mar 5th 2008 4:24PM
Threatmeter isn't due in 2.4, it's just a "someday soon" thing we've been promised.
Arabelli Mar 5th 2008 9:22AM
I know this is going to sound way lame, but I'm more excited about all the new dailies instead of the actual raid instance. I've reached the crushing boredom phase of what's currently available, and can barely bring myself to bother doing the same stuff. While I know that the new dailies are nothing super-groundbreaking, just having new ways of getting the gold I'll need for enchanting/gemming/threading my new crap is a huge relief.
Plus, yay for new vanity pets! I still haven't seen how large that bag is going to be yet, but hopefully it'll help the strain on my bank space. :)
peaglemancer Mar 5th 2008 9:46AM
Oh come on, who can get tired of being chased, hamstrung and thrown to your death by Monstrous Kaliri (getting a well deserved buff in 2.4) whilst playing griefer musical chairs with the horde on the escort quest?
Why it's easily as delicious as the "collect-10-fel-glands-then-get screwed-by-bugged-out-mobs-in-Netherwing-ledge-athon". No need for new dailies, Blizz just make the drop rate a little lower for a greater challenge! That and maybe just have one Ravager in the mines to truly make getting those 5/5 a task worthy of kings.
Arabelli Mar 5th 2008 9:48AM
You forgot the part where the birds call you names.
... cause they totally do.
Wow Mar 5th 2008 9:29AM
Your last paragraph, and your constant 'Oh golly woohoo battlegrounds are the ultra!' shows that you are the kind os person who has been dragging this game downhill as Blizzard caters to your simplicity. Enjoy your easy epics, and have fun continuing to whine when warlocks still kill you every time you see one. Pathetic.
Michael Mar 5th 2008 9:40AM
Speaking as someone with a Thunderfury, both Kel'Thuzad swords and 9/9 T3 I'd like to say shut it. Who cares? The game is MUCH more enjoyable now that you don't have to spend 900000 hours raiding to get acceptable gear. It's a game.
Angry Joe Mar 5th 2008 10:24AM
I think people are not aware that The Burning Crusade cycle in coming to an end and that's the main reason Blizzard is "giving away" epics and such at this point.
Patch 2.5 is Wrath of the Lich King.
Enjoy your somewhat easy great gear, they won't last you long.
Tetelestia Mar 5th 2008 9:33AM
Void Crystals splitting into 2 Large Prismatics suspiciously absent.
Naix Mar 5th 2008 9:31AM
"The new UI will include a threatmeter"
Great something I did not want. I will just disable this and play on.
Manatank Mar 5th 2008 1:04PM
Why wouldn't you use a threat meter? It is inconsiderate and rude.
Naix Mar 5th 2008 2:13PM
I don't want to watch a bar, I want to play the game. It's rude to tell someone how to play.
Theserene Mar 5th 2008 2:48PM
I won't group with someone who doesn't have a threat meter. But then, if you don't care about aggro you probably don't group a lot.
Matt Mar 5th 2008 3:08PM
Ignore him. He was whining constantly in the Omen newspost as well. Copy and pasting replies from there the instant the words 'threat meter' come up in a new post? Troll more?
Manatank Mar 5th 2008 3:37PM
Here's the thing Naix, if you want to just play the game, then stay out of groups and stick to the solo content. When you group with other people and don't pitch in to help, then you are inconsiderate and self-centered. We don't want you.
The thing about threat meters is that there are only a few reasons you might not need one:
1. You don't care that you pull agro all the time (in which case I don't want to group with you).
2. You are a terrible player and you never produce enough damage to be in danger of pulling agro (in which case I don't want to group with you).
3. You are a healer running with a paladin tank in 5 mans and are never in danger of pulling healing agro (this one might fly with me, but what's the harm in having a meter just to be considerate to the tank?)
4. Your PC does not have the performance to handle running add-ons (This reason is passable to me)
5. You are a tank and you don't care that people pull agro because they don't know how much threat you are pushing out (In which case I don't want to run with you).
6. You are a 1 in a million sort of player that can watch the combat log and figure threat on the fly (impressive, but realize that by not running a threat meter, you are denying the other players information about your threat. I'm hoping that with the latest changes to the combat log, this wont be an issue).
Naix Mar 6th 2008 9:38AM
Just wanting to play the game means I will do 5 mans, raids, and every piece of content I can. Excluding myself from those would mean I am not playing the game. I pitch in plenty to help. In fact my damage is usually tops the damage meters without a threat meter. *Shrug
Here is how you too can do it.
1. Steady damage. Stop mashing those buttons so fast and let the tank gain agro.
2. When the mob/boss is about 15-10% health go all out damage.
3. Now roll on your loot.
Ta DA!
Manatank your number 3 concusses me. I have never seen a good paladin tank.