Bornakk hints that Tier 3 might be removed from the game
by Adam Holisky 
Apr 17th 2008 at 5:00PM
With solid confirmation that Naxx will be "floating" off to Northrend (and not exist in two places at once) also comes a strong hint by Bornakk that they will be removing the ability to get Tier-3 armor pieces along with the rest of the current Naxx loot. Bornakk says that "For players who want the look and the stats of tier 3 armor at level 80, hopefully they are already farming the dungeon for them." This is a very strong indication that post WotLK, the current Tier 3 gear will be no longer available.Before today it has been pure speculation that this removal of loot would or would not happen. The only time that the WoW Insider staff can think of this happening before (save for the holiday and special events) is with a few old mount models getting changed. And that is nothing compared to entire loot tables being removed from the game. Note that the changes in patch 2.3 to old world loot were just that – changes, not removal.
In many ways this removal does make since, given that the armor models will be reused in Wrath of the Lich King's version of Naxx. While there is similar looking and colored gear floating around WoW, none of it is really twenty levels apart and powerful each in their own right.
However with that said, the removal of items from the game like this stirs a mixed reaction in me.
Part of me doesn't really care, given that it's not going to be useful for my characters past level 68 or so. But another part of me is unsettled that I won't be able to get my lowbie characters a super-powered item from Naxx. Don't doubt that this hasn't been done – I've taken a level 59 toon into MC and retrieved some pieces of gear that've lasted me until 63, and have done the same with Naxx.
The other thing that this removal of loot might do is create the ultimate status icon – old world Tier 3 armor. If people are no longer able to get it, the demand for the armor will be ridiculously high given the non-existent supply. This creates a situation where those who have it still will automatically posses one helluva status symbol, especially in the years following the release of WotLK.
What are your opinions on the removal of Tier 3 loot? Quite an interesting change, is it not?
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion, News items, Raiding, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
RogueJedi86 Apr 17th 2008 5:08PM
Add Tier 3 as Argent Dawn rep items. Argent Dawn won't be carrying over to WotLK(no unfair advantages or whatever Blizz said), so I don't see why they couldn't just put it on a special vendor in Light's Hope Citadel using the highest level Scourgestones there is, the ones that drop off Strat and Scholo bosses and the like. I know it'd be easier to get than Tier 1 and 2, but it'd still be a way to get it using the old world meothds.
Mir Apr 17th 2008 5:45PM
Seriously, that's a great idea. Mid-level rep factions like Tranquilien etc make a fun addition to the game, and might be a valid reason for a levelling player to stop and do some grinding. It's not like it's giving away free epics either, the AD grind can be rather painful. Very nice idea indeed!
My main concern is the pieces of Atiesh... will they drop in the new Naxx? If not, one of the longest and best quest arcs will be wrecked :/
Ruben Apr 18th 2008 2:46AM
Screw that, if you clowns want old school Tier 3 you can earn it by pissing away 30 hours a week for six months like I did
Treima Apr 17th 2008 5:08PM
I don't think this will affect the game all that much. Again, this armor will be twenty levels below the maximum, it's not getting stripped from characters that already have it, and the awesome skins are being reused for the new armor for the area, so I fail to see a problem.
Badger Apr 17th 2008 5:09PM
Damn! Those were the sweetest looking armor sets in the whole game.
RogueJedi86 Apr 17th 2008 5:13PM
Except for Paladins. No Paladin armor set has yet to top Tier 2 Paladin armor. Tier 6 comes close, but Tier 2 reigns supreme in looks.
Xonate Apr 17th 2008 6:34PM
Oh no. The paladin Judgment set (Tier 2) is the best looking set in the entire game. Not just paladin gear. I have the entire recolored version on my warrior because it looks badass, though not as good as original set... though it does manage to aggravate several paladin healers I know who have been trying to get it...
Retron Apr 17th 2008 8:04PM
Um everyone gets that they're reusing the awesome T3 models for the New Naxx sets right?
Badger Apr 17th 2008 8:20PM
Rogue and Xonate: You're absolutely right! How could I forget the Judgment set like that?
Retron: Have they actually specified that they were planning to reuse the armour skins in that particular way? I hadn't seen anything to that effect, but I might have missed it.
Ruben Apr 18th 2008 2:54AM
Redemption blows that stupid Judgement set out of the water in looks and stats
Heilig Apr 18th 2008 3:17AM
Ruben: You're out of your mind. Tron helmets are not what pallies need to be wearing. I mean, come on. A visor? We're wearing something to guard our face that has a glass visor? I guess it makes sense, pallies were healbots back then, but still, Judgement blows it out of the water.
RogueJedi: Tier 6 comes close? I want what you're smoking. I don't need to wear a halo, thank you. The people whose faces I'm smashing don't think I'm an angel. Season 2 looks pretty cool. The models are neat, but the T5 colors are atrocious. The orange/brown of S2 is better on those models. Plus we look like Cylons, and that's bonus points.
infection Apr 18th 2008 2:07PM
Actually, tier 3 is the ugliest for warlocks out... besides the curse of agony head....
the warrior tier 3 easily wins as the best suit in the game for killer look... pending that you arent on a gnome. Well.. I can't say easily, as the lock tier 5 was pretty sick. Those 2 are the choices as best in the game for me.
For pally? It's a tie between tier 2 and tier 5. Lets be honest... tier 2.. a skirt? that's what killed it's COMPLETE look at dominating. the helm and shoulers were killer. then you drop down to a skirt. RUINED. Tier 5 helm actually was one of my fav's for them, and they didnt have a skirt.
ninjasuperspy Apr 17th 2008 5:11PM
Dang, I kinda liked some of the features of the Redemption set. That Holy Power proc was kinda cool, and the heal-on-cleanse thing was sorta raw. I wonder how many 70's I'd need to con into running Naxx...
BaboonNL Apr 17th 2008 5:12PM
I guess they'll actually move Naxxramas to Northrend, so there won't be 2 Naxxes floating around.
Badger Apr 17th 2008 8:34PM
Yep, that's exactly what's going to happen.
Actually one of the other Bloggers hit on this point earlier today when the "return" of Naxx was announced as an "entry-level Raid."
mrderekt Apr 17th 2008 5:15PM
Bornakk confirmed in the same thread, a few posts later that new Naxx is a 25man dungeon and that it will have the same encounters re-tuned.
Finnicks Apr 17th 2008 5:14PM
If my prediction (that Naxx will be the new Kara, only bigger) is right, then we might see T3 armor pieces retooled, maybe recolored a bit, and become the new tier 7.
I won't mind this change at all, since I'd say that most players never got to see Tier 3 armor at all, even semi-hardcore raiders, so being able to wear it on your character as rewards from entry level raiding would be very nice. The only people I could see complaining would be the "hardcore elite" people who actually got fully decked out in T3 back in the old days, but those guys are so hardcore they're probably going to be running around Northrend in Tier 6 so why should they care?
Treima Apr 17th 2008 5:15PM
Actually, what upsets me more is what Bornakk says after: Naxx is going to be the exact same raid, just re-tuned for 25 level 80s. In essence, the only "new content" in the dungeon will be the loot table. That sucks.
Snailking Apr 17th 2008 5:19PM
...except for the millions of people who never got a chance to set foot in Naxx.
Dethrock Apr 19th 2008 8:49AM
So what is going to happen to the Ateish (?sp)