Trading mount trinkets for mount enchants
by Mike Schramm 
Apr 24th 2008 at 1:00PM
As Eliah reported in the undocumented changes post yesterday, MMO Champ has done a little searching through the PTR files, and come up with some interesting changes to mount speed items. According to the code found yesterday, Blizzard was trying to change items like Carrot on a Stick and the Riding Crop to mount enchants (like the Shoulder or Head enchants available from many places for rep) so that they simply enchanted a mount with a faster speed rather than taking up a trinket slot. Sounds like a great way to cut down on trinket space, right?Not so fast -- (ha! get it? "fast"?) as Dariusmdev points out, this would actually mean that you'd have to buy even more Riding Crops, probably even throwing up the price on the servers. Because instead of getting one mount trinket and using it for all your mounts, you'd have to get one enchant per mount that you have. Good news for Leatherworkers if the change goes through, not so good for people who like to use a lot of mounts.
Which may be why Blizzard may have decided against the change at all -- according to Eliah, this change isn't actually implemented on the PTRs yet. So mount enchants are only in the code for now, and not actually available in the game. But it does show that the folks at Blizzard are actively trying to come with ways to help us handle trinket management, and that's definitely appreciated.
Filed under: Patches, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Thomas Apr 24th 2008 1:08PM
What about the dreadsteed?
How do you enchant a spell without inscription?
hmm?
Freelier Apr 24th 2008 1:18PM
Well, if they wait until WotLK to make this change, then they could use inscriptions. Maybe that's why they're waiting?
Todd Apr 24th 2008 2:26PM
Well, things will be tricky in general. Currently, the Carrot on a Stick stacks with other speed boosting enchants (gloves, boots). However, the Riding Crop/Whip does not. So unless some conditions are made, or these enchants are labeled not to stack whatsoever, this process isn't going to be very simple at all.
You are right, though, spell based mounts will have a disadvantage (minus glove/boot enchantments) unless this is linked in some way with Inscription. Might have several more months before this idea becomes a reality.
Algorithm Apr 24th 2008 3:04PM
Alternatively, they could just make the spells default to the higher speed, which is probably what they'd do.
This is nothing but a good change. The bag space is so much more valuable. Seriously. I mean, the riding crops are just 100g-ish. that's 10 daily quests. Come freaking on. If you're the type of person that BUYS 5 mounts, you can afford 100g to enchant them all. Good god.
And if you can't afford 5 mounts, this change isn't going to affect you at all.
Fatherjungly Apr 24th 2008 1:11PM
how would a mount enchant apply to summoned mounts for the pally and the lock? and what about druid flight and epic flight forms?
Slayblaze Apr 24th 2008 3:14PM
I don't know why everyone keeps saying the same thing about the Warlock and Paladin mounts...think it through and you'll realize that there is no difference between them and regular mounts. Even regular mounts are "summoned" to you - they're not really constantly following you around at all times.
Question: where *is* your mount when you're not riding it? And how does it get to you from wherever it is? Does it matter what the *manner* in which you call it to you is? The Warlock mount is summoned via a spell, but a regular mount is also summoned to you by a spell of sorts - it's just a spell that takes up a bag slot instead of a spell slot.
Plus...even with the new proposed system requiring one Riding crop per mount...it still wouldn't make a difference to the Lock/Pally mounts. You enchant the MOUNT itself, not the "token" for it in your bag. The "token" for your mount inside your bag IS NOT YOUR MOUNT (how could a whole entire mount fit inside your bag?) it is just a representation of the mount. It would go like this: you summon or call your mount to you, then you enchant the MOUNT. From then on he will be faster every time you call or summon it to you. How the mount gets TO you doesn't matter one bit - once he is enchanted to go faster, that's it. He just always goes faster when you call it.
The Druid flight form would be similar, you would enchant yourself while in flight form and from then on every time you entered that form it would fly at the faster enchanted rate.
Pzychotix Apr 24th 2008 4:16PM
Except no mechanic exists yet to enchant your own spells. That's what inscription does, but is coming in WoTLK, not in 2.4.2.
Got an explanation on how you can enchant your spells?
Slayblaze Apr 24th 2008 6:17PM
As I said, you will be enchanting the mount itself NOT the spell. Just the same way that when you enchant a 'normal' mount, you will be enchanting the mount itself NOT the little token that you carry around with you in your inventory bag.
This will fits in perfectly with what this undocumented change is about, and will require an individual Riding Crop (or Carrot or whatever) for each Mount the player owns.
hpavc Apr 24th 2008 9:20PM
dude, that qq'ing about the lock an paladin mount is exactly the issue that is not tangible. your missing exactly that, its like enchanting your greater heal spell.
wtb wand enchants first though.
KJS Apr 24th 2008 1:09PM
How about just another trinket slot solely for mount speed increase trinkets?
Mistafish Apr 24th 2008 1:14PM
Buying multiple riding crops for my mounts does not upset me at all. I would much rather dismount into combat and not worry about what trinkets i have equipped. I have thought for a while now that it would be a welcomed addition for the mount to have a slot specifically for a movement speed increase or even movement impairment resistance.
Matt Apr 24th 2008 3:02PM
amen!!
if you want to collect mounts thats fine, be prepared to pay the price...a mount enhancement trinket slot wouldnt be bad either...i use one mount, and id love to have my trinket in at all times.
Baluki Apr 24th 2008 1:12PM
If they can just remove the Primal Might from the Riding Crop recipe requirements, the price would drop to something much more manageable, and give Leatherworkers a reliable source of income.
I still think that mount-enchanting is a good idea (naturally they'd have to find a solution for the summoned mounts) and hopefully they won't abandon it.
Yes, it would cost multi-mount users (like myself) a bit more, but if the price of a Crop dropped to 25g rather than the current 125g+, it would be much more manageable.
Truckin Apr 24th 2008 1:13PM
I had read it somewhere else as being an enchant like spurs, to be places on a piece of gear, not the actual mount.. or maybe I'm delusional. Anyways, perhaps make new socket type?
Lab Monkey Apr 24th 2008 1:14PM
"Good news for Leatherworkers if the change goes through, not so good for people who like to use a lot of mounts."
Why should the entire player base be inconvienenced for the sake of a small number of players who focus on one small aspect of the game? You don't NEED to enchant every single mount just like you don't NEED to enchant every single piece of gear you obtain.
Baluki Apr 24th 2008 1:14PM
I don't think they would make such a big change for an item that you're going to buy once at 70 and then never again replace.
Baluki Apr 24th 2008 1:15PM
Whoops, that was supposed to be a reply to KJS's comment.
drjonesac2 Apr 24th 2008 1:15PM
Personally I like the way this is heading. Between this change and the removal of tradeskill requirements for a number of items that enchant other items, players may actually be able to make some money with Leatherworking and Blacksmithing. Personally I can't wait to sell off the stacks of Mithril Spurs and shield spikes I have in my bank.
ninjasuperspy Apr 24th 2008 1:32PM
And I can't wait for people to start putting Shield Spikes and Weapon Chains in the auction house.
thatquietgamerdude Apr 24th 2008 1:26PM
Am I the only one who thinks this is a really stupid idea? What's wrong with how it works now?