Mana and energy regeneration mechanics revamped on Beta
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Jul 30th 2008 at 3:00PM
A change went in with the last Wrath Beta patch that's deceptively simple, but may have far reaching ramifications for many of the classes in game: Both energy and mana regenerate on a per second basis, rather than the previous ticks. Instead of a chunk of mana or energy every few seconds, you'll now see a steady trickle reappearing constantly at your bar (outside of the 5 second rule for casters, of course). As a friend put it, "Woah. It feels like I am playing Diablo II now."
You can see an example of the change in action in the video above from Youtube user koblec.
The energy change should be especially helpful for Rogues and Feral Druids in that they won't have to obsessively time their attacks to the rhythm of the energy tick system, and should be able to use extra energy from talents in an easier and more fluid manner. Likewise, mana and energy users alike won't be waiting for that one last tick to cast a crucial spell or ability, but can cast as soon as they have the mana.
Plus, it's honestly sort of empowering to see the mana bar running up like it does. Technically, I'm not regenerating mana any faster, but watching that blue bar go up so quickly makes it feel like I am, and makes it much easier to tell when I'm stuck in the 5 second rule, besides.
Of course, as with all changes, this is Beta, so things can change, and Koraa is asking for focused feedback and bug reports on the concept, but it's something I'm certainly hoping makes it live.
Filed under: Druid, Buffs, Classes, Expansions, News items, Analysis / Opinion, Patches, Warlock, Shaman, Rogue, Priest, Paladin, Mage, Hunter, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
w3t Jul 30th 2008 3:07PM
Wow! I desperately hope this makes it to the final product! Two thumbs up!
Blayed Jul 30th 2008 3:11PM
I wonder if they will add/already have added this for warrior rage degeneration.
deviationer Jul 30th 2008 4:49PM
we already have that for out of combat. If they did it for in combat it would make no sense.
Jack Jul 30th 2008 3:11PM
Seems every time I have the nerve to feel dissappointed in Blizzard, they go and prove me wrong. This sounds great!
Thauron Jul 31st 2008 10:03AM
First off, it's not exactly a steady rate as implied, but rather smaller ticks. Though I'm not certain on the size of the ticks (are the ticks always the same size, say 1 mana, and the rates change depending on your regen; or is it the same interval, say 1 second and the amount regen'd changes accordingly?), the system hasn't changed all that much. Same effect, smaller increments.
As for it's effect on gameplay, it's pretty good. The system change would make it seem to go faster than usual. For mana users (or at least warlocks), it's generally a non-issue sort of deal. Healers may appreciate it a bit more though. Rogues and catform druids will like the changes I imagine, or it may throw off their rhythm.
Interesting change.
webrunner Jul 30th 2008 3:14PM
So it does it for Mana and Energy but not Health yet? Do "mana per 5 seconds" items calc the same way now or do they still tick?
zappo Jul 30th 2008 3:28PM
mp5 doesn't tick every 5 seconds either. Generally Blizzard broke it down that way as a way to represent whole numbers that weren't overpowered. Easier to say 2 mp5 then 0.4 mps. I don't think anyone regenerates health fast enough to notice the difference between ticks and the new regen system.
Jasperwind Jul 30th 2008 3:14PM
Awesome change! One second regen with 110 energy ftw! :D
Terry Jul 30th 2008 3:15PM
as a rog
u do more dmg with the new regen implanted
Saelorn Jul 30th 2008 3:15PM
Is there a user interface mod which makes health and mana show up as orbs in the lower corners of the screen?
Jack Jul 30th 2008 4:44PM
Dunno if it still works, but http://www.wowinterface.com/downloads/info5171-Orbz.html
Slayblaze Jul 30th 2008 3:16PM
I do like this on the one hand, but on the other hand it seems like it would be less precise. If the regen rates are still the same and only the bar animation itself is different then those areas 'in between ticks' might throw us off a bit until we get used to it. Maybe even a future addon that puts hash-marks on the bar might be in order..?
The smoother animation is cool though.
Chris Anthony Jul 30th 2008 11:20PM
I think you've misunderstood. The current system isn't a constant rate of regeneration; it's graduated. Currently, you regenerate X mana/energy every 2 seconds - that is, 2 seconds is a tick. Between those 2 seconds, you regenerate no mana at all. Under the beta system, you regenerate X/2 mana/energy every second - that is, 1 second is a tick.
To put it a different way, at 20 MP5:
Current system: 0 seconds, 0 mana; 1 second, 0 mana; 2 seconds, 4 mana; 3 seconds, 4 mana; 4 seconds, 8 mana; 5 seconds, 8 mana; 6 seconds, 12 mana; 7 seconds, 12 mana; 8 seconds, 16 mana; 9 seconds, 16 mana; 10 seconds, 20 mana.
Beta system: 0 seconds, 0 mana; 1 second, 2 mana; 2 seconds, 4 mana; 3 seconds, 6 mana; 4 seconds, 8 mana; 5 seconds, 10 mana; 6 seconds, 12 mana; 7 seconds, 14 mana; 8 seconds, 16 mana; 9 seconds, 18 mana; 10 seconds, 20 mana.
It's not just a change in the animation; it's a bona fide change in the way mana regeneration is calculated.
anon Jul 30th 2008 3:16PM
i'm hoping someone here can explain how this is a buff for mana casters. even though i do a lot of raiding i never really looked into the 5 second rule so i'm still relatively new to that term. as i'm reading it mana regen doesn't start for 5 seconds after your cast. if that is the case, and it will still apply to WotLK, then how is this a buff for us? the only time i really worry about mana is in boss fights, outside of that i can drink. during all boss fights i'm basically always casting, except in rare transition stages. so how will this effect me (or be a buff) since the 5 second rule will always be in effect for me?
typobox Jul 30th 2008 3:24PM
Many caster classes have talents or gear effects that will allow a percentage of spirit-based regeneration to continue through the 5-second rule.
AutumnBringer Jul 30th 2008 5:01PM
The way I could see it helping would be in situations like:
You need 30 mana to get off that last heal, you regen 100 mana every tick, but you're currently 3 seconds away from your next tick. You wait for that and get your heal off 1.5 seconds too late, causing the world to explode in sorrow as your tank dies and you taste death shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, if it ticked every second, you would have gotten 33.333(repeating) mana, allowing that heal to go off with a whole .5 seconds to spare. And yes, you are living in NoLagLand.
Mind you, you probably just need better gear as a healer if you only get 100 every tick, but I just did that to make the numbers easier :P
Terry Jul 30th 2008 3:17PM
PS: due to easier energy management
Zumacrume Jul 30th 2008 3:21PM
mana will still tick up inside the 5 second rule if you have any sort of mana regen while casting. Just wanted to make sure that wasn't confusing.
~Zuma
Badger Jul 30th 2008 3:23PM
This is a really cool modification. At the moment, though, there's a lot of talk to suggest that a glitch in the coding for this change is what's causing the bizarre Bug in the Runic Power bar for Death Knights, where the resource does not appear in the UI (when it actually does in-game) to degenerate over time.
Blayed Jul 30th 2008 3:25PM
For people who don't understand how this helps:
Attack X costs 15 mana
You have 10 mana left
You regenerate 10 mp5
In current wow, you would have to wait the full 5 seconds before you had enough mana to cast the spell.
With this fix, you now only have to wait 2.5 seconds until you can cast.
This is an extremely small scale example, but the effect scales.