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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsTinnitus: Leatherworking drums cause a debuff
by Amanda Miller 
Jul 31st 2008 at 3:31PM
With the new Tinnitus debuff, any targets affected by drums are immune to the effects of all other drums for two minutes. While this sounds like a nerf, it might actually have a balancing effect.
In fact, other professions are seeing similar changes. Potions will create Potion Sickness, which will prevent the consumer from using more than one in any given encounter. Players will have to rest out of combat in order to refresh the privilege.
So far, this also is affecting mana gems and similar items, although it is unclear if that particular effect is a bug or not. What does this mean?
Encounters will have to be tuned assuming that players have limited access to buffs, self-heals and mana solutions. Mana regeneration will be of increased importance, and while you'll have to brush up on your mana management skills, Blizzard devs will also have to balance regeneration so that classes can last through raid encounters with only one mana potion.
It will also mean that raiding classes who have no use for leatherworking outside of providing drums for the raid, might be able to respec back to a profession that is personally useful and lucrative. I welcome the idea that raid members might bring unique benefits, rather than having a raid full of drummers.
What do you think about the change? Is your guild going to have to revamp its strategy, or have you worked around using drums anyway?
Filed under: Alchemy, Leatherworking, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Guilds, Instances, Expansions, Buffs, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 3)
Elyrock Jul 31st 2008 11:45PM
The potions sickness is B*@locks, to find a better word. Why the hell have potions? This is plain and simple a Nerf to the under represented Potion Masters, The drums nerf is the same B-locks.
Worst news to come out of WotLK... stupid devs!! How about making Potion Mastery useful or adding useful Trinkets instead of the weak Alchemist's Stone series (any herbalist know to use regents for health and DPS potions in the potion cooldown).
TobiasX Aug 1st 2008 3:29AM
I think the potion change is stupid but the Drums change makes perfect sense.
It's been stated multiple times by multiple Sunwell raiders that you NEED Leatherworking 350 for Sunwell Plateau. Some fights like the Eredar Twins make it so necessary that guilds like Nihilum had all their raiders learn Leatherworking just to use them.
An entire guild? No, Blizzard won't allow that.
Forcing people to change their chosen professions to raid at a certain content level is stupid, I applaud this change. Getting gear for that level, learning a better rotation, all fine, but changing a profession??? No.
Farfromout Aug 1st 2008 4:09AM
This potion shit is bollox.
'Rest out of combat' to get rid of potion sickness?
As a Paladin tank, In ZA bear runs we dont 'rest' we just pot through.
What a joke.
bigjonno Aug 1st 2008 9:50AM
I'm a skinner/LW and always have been. I use Drums of Battle on raids, as well as a couple of our other leatherworkers. However we've never been required to and I think most people don't even realise that we do it. It's just another button to hit when we need a boost.
My problem is that it's one of the few useful things I can do with my profession. I hit max level, made my BoP dragonscale gear and now do nothing except the occasional armour kit. I've yet to have any decent recipes drop and drums are the only way I'm contributing. I just hope there are a lot more recipes in Wrath to compensate.