Bornakk hints at upcoming threat meter
by Michael Gray 
Aug 1st 2008 at 4:00PM
This isn't the first time we've heard about putting a built-in threat meter in the standard World of Warcraft interface. The idea came up back at Blizzcon 07, and Neth confirmed plans to include such a meter in February '08. But there's not been much discussion about the idea since then. Today, Bornakk confirmed they're still working on it, but there's obviously no details to be shared yet. ("Soon," and all that.) So, while we don't know that we'll be seeing the threat meter with the release of Wrath of the Lich King, at least we know it's probably still coming eventually.
Threat meters are almost entirely a mandatory requirement for most raids. The two big ones are KTM and Omen, of course. It lets your DPS know when to let off the gas a bit, before they pull aggro off the tank. Or, maybe, tells the tanks they need to push the pedal harder and build up more of their own threat instead of limiting the DPS. I can't imagine raiding without one, and if that's the state of things for enough players, I expect Blizzard will take it over themselves soon enough.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
kainelderan Aug 1st 2008 4:46PM
I can't wait! So tired of Omen updated 4 times or more a friggin week!
Imogen Aug 1st 2008 5:04PM
Omen doesnt update 4 times a week.
If you download from wowinterface.com you get the latest stable release version.
If you download from files.wowace.com then you get the Work In Progress which will be a constantly updating version number as soon as any changes are submitted.
honem Aug 2nd 2008 4:37AM
If you're updating from files.wowace.com you're getting the beta version pushed out by their svn server. Much better to get a release version from wow interface.
Strasner Aug 1st 2008 4:06PM
worst thing ever.
i remember when i was starting BWL and using threat meters was considered cheating.
i still consider it cheating although i have to use it to be able to raid....
PimpyMicPimp Aug 1st 2008 4:57PM
Considering they have been building encounters around the fact that people have these; no, it is not cheating. It's a tool, and if it were cheating, Blizzard would have put something in to ban them.
Radiophonic Aug 1st 2008 5:05PM
lulz...cheating
Nick Aug 1st 2008 5:08PM
Don't post here if this is the type of garbage that comes out of your mind. It's embarrassing...
Balgair Aug 1st 2008 5:28PM
You're gonna get flamed for that comment but I agree frankly - I've used them on characters where I really couldn't control my aggro well but it just felt so lame. When I was first learning how to group it was part of the game to learn not to nuke too fast and use common sense, and back then nobody had threat meters, because we all learned how to play without them. Kinda sucks that they're almost mandatory now.
Not that I use them myself but then I don't raid beyond the odd Kara run (and that on a healer who won't have threat issues anyway) - I can see why they're needed in raiding, as at the very least it's a matter of courtesy to the other 9/24 people to not cause wipes due to pulling aggro but it gets annoying when people insist on them even for 5-mans; I'm not a noob who can't control my aggro without a crutch, and unless the tank really sucks I have no trouble.
theRaptor Aug 1st 2008 5:54PM
@5
You rag on threat meters and don't raid beyond Kara? *roll eyes*
I have yet to see a real raider ever complain about threat meters, because in everything beyond intro raids they have mechanics that expect you to have threat meters. Tank swapping combined with enrage timers is something you aren't likely to get around without threat meters (unless you massively out gear the encounter). With modern raids you don't have the lee way to not be pushing out close to maximum DPS for most of the fight.
In five man heroics they make things a lot easier because you don't have to obsessively monitor your party members to tell if they suck. And plenty of sucky players try and tag along on heroics (and I prefer to judge people on their skill, not their gear).
Saelorn Aug 1st 2008 4:16PM
They need to change the game such that add-ons are not necessary to enjoy any of the content, or else that represents a fundamental design flaw. While I can wish they'd just design encounters not be so threat-sensitive, I suppose this is the next best thing.
Kaphik Aug 1st 2008 4:21PM
They are not necessary at all. Yes, some guilds require them, but that is their volition.
Using addons is like customizing a car. Sure, you can drive around from place to place in a very nice autmobile. Or you can tweak until you achieve every ounce of performance avilable from the car, tuned to your own specifications.
Threat meters make it easier for DPS to maximize their damage, for raids to move along quicker, etc.
MisterMoose Aug 1st 2008 4:24PM
Well, then you'd have to get rid of tanks, I think. Threat will always be an issue with them around. That's not going to happen though.
Braundo Aug 1st 2008 4:28PM
They did the same thing pre-TBC -- early fights involved most mages/druids spamming the Decursive key until the boss died (Lucifron, Gehennas, etc). Blizzard started designing fights that didn't include such mechanics while simultaneously limiting mods' ability to do that sort of thing, and now nobody really misses it. The same could be (re-)done with threat meters, but if Blizzard is implementing their own threat meter, I'm not entirely confident that they're going to make the fights any less dependent on things like particular threat order.
Saelorn Aug 1st 2008 4:31PM
While my main for quite a while was primarily a tank, I can't say that getting rid of tanks is an idea without merit. Is it any surprise that my favorite boss is the Shade of Aran?
And I think that threat-meters fall into the necessary category at the point when Blizzard starts relying on that assumption when designing their encounters. I leave it to the individual to determine whether that has happened yet or not.
jtrain Aug 1st 2008 4:24PM
The sooner the better. One less add-on I have to re-download every time a new patch comes out and breaks it.
DirtyPriest Aug 1st 2008 8:16PM
And hopefully a lot more accurate. Things like KTM and Omen only approximate the threat. So if Blizzard makes one we should be sure that what it shows is 100% accurate.
Badger Aug 1st 2008 4:25PM
Personally, I would be happy if the default, "Vanilla" UI weren't so hideously ugly, or if it didn't fill up half of my monitor's viewing area.
Tuhljin Aug 1st 2008 6:47PM
Calling it "hideously ugly" is ridiculous. It's perfectly fine for new players and many veterans still prefer it over the various "sleek" (or otherwise) alternatives. Either that was hyperbole, or you are simply impossible to please - either way, that's why the UI is customizable. There's no need to insult the artists at Blizzard that came up with it; its look is perfectly fine and matches the Warcraft theme they've had going for years.
Badger Aug 1st 2008 9:04PM
What the hell? I'm not "impossible to please," dude, I just don't like the look of the default UI at all. :P
I've customized the crap out of it with everything from Bartender3 to eePanels2, so at least I can say I kinda take your advice.
And I certainly did NOT insult the ARTISTS at Blizzard. I dissed one tiny but omnipresent element of a game that is 99% chock full of gorgeous eye candy and improving every day.
You and I just disagree in our opinions of the default Interface. No need to be confrontational about it.
Tuhljin Aug 1st 2008 10:02PM
In case you're not aware how it works, *artists* design the look of the UI. I'm not being confrontational. I'm simply telling you not to insult them by calling their work "hideously ugly" when it's actually very professional whether you or I prefer some addon's reimplementation better or not.