Built-in threat meters implemented in Beta
by Zach Yonzon 
Aug 2nd 2008 at 9:00AM
The built-in threat meter that Bornakk hinted at yesterday has made its way to the latest build of the Wrath Beta. Tipsters John and Hugimbory point out that the Beta now shows the percentage of threat on the target, updating as it changes relative to other attackers. MMO Champion also reports that the % of threat is shown on the scrolling combat text based on the party or raid member with the highest threat. Mob tooltips also show threat percentage, all indicating simple data forwarded to the client. WoW Insider reported Nethaera saying that built-in threat meters were coming "in a future patch" back in February. It now appears that the 'future patch' she referred to will probably be Patch 3.0. It remains to be seen whether this implementation of threat monitoring will stay in the game as is, although it's more than likely that the system will still receive some polish.
Filed under: News items, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dominace Aug 2nd 2008 9:11AM
Great idea, but I don't think Blizzard will give it a great polish. More or less, the mod writers are happy because the Threat information is no longer encrypted and they have access to anyone's threat at any given time. I think this was really Blizzards plan, just write something fairly basic and give the power to the writers who can really give it the polish it deserves.
Ekimus Aug 2nd 2008 9:32AM
I have a feeling that is the direction Blizzard intended. Much like using a SCTD over the built in scrolling combat text.
Tekkub Aug 2nd 2008 3:14PM
They'll polish it off a little, add some options to enable/disable... make it less spammy... but I doubt there will be a huge difference from the current implementation and the one that goes live.
However the API is wonderfully simple, it's a trivial matter to write a super tiny display addon (and yes, I certainly plan on making one myself).
happydays Aug 3rd 2008 8:15AM
Y so... SRS?
Procris Aug 2nd 2008 9:15AM
As MMO champion reports the threat system being added is rather simple currently (which i like), so it looks like it won't completely make threat mods redundant (possibly blizzards intention?) as they can take the data, display the exact threat of each member of the raid and display it in a better way, like a raid interface.
As it stands, i wonder if what is currently implemented is only a way to check your own threat on a mob. Can other people see what my threat is? Again it seems like Blizzard has left some room for addon makers or could possibly be they will add more to it in future beta builds. Either way, seeing your exact threat is a good change. Just last night some guy in my raid pulled aggro when a tank had only just started building up threat. If he had omen or something, he could have backed off.
mysk Aug 2nd 2008 9:42AM
wait for 3 sunders then gogogo!!!!
theRaptor Aug 2nd 2008 9:58AM
Or more likely this is only a test implementation to make sure the back end threat data is working properly. It's not like Blizzard has ever been hesitant about stamping on mod authors before (extra action bars and raid frames spring to mind). My guess is they will implement something that is equal to basic KTM, I doubt they would put in the effort for some of the esoteric features of Omen.
Codexx Aug 4th 2008 1:50AM
Wouldn't that be the point of an AddOn like Omen then? Do display the information in a more helpful way, and send and recieve informaton about other member's threat? DamageMeters currently syncs the damage of various players who have the AddOn. Frankly, the % means little to me, but if I have bars moving up and down and can see where I am as well as my relative position and see my threat on multiple targets(Omen allows multiple targets to show your current threat) that is more helpful to me. I'm a mage, and nearly ever dungeon has at least one AoE point. I couldn't imagine running Magister's Terrace like this, I'd have to have Omen running to do things properly.
Strasner Aug 2nd 2008 9:32AM
oh dear,
the end of the world is in sight
Johnnyd2 Aug 2nd 2008 10:24AM
i assume the john your referring to is me ^_^. thanks for props if so.
Runstadrey Aug 2nd 2008 11:04AM
I like this, even if it stays at this rudimentary level of reporting. At least I won't have to depend on the other players to keep their addons updated. It's always aggravating to do a version check and see half the raid with out of date threat meters, and worse the few ignoramuses who refuse to use any addons (they insist on a pure interface).
PeeWee Aug 2nd 2008 1:38PM
"and worse the few ignoramuses who refuse to use any addons (they insist on a pure interface)."
/gkick
Problem solved.
Draelar Aug 2nd 2008 3:55PM
LOL, can I remind you guys that before TBC, threatmeters didn't even exist, and if they did, they were viewed as "cheating".
Young folks these days... expect everything to be handed to them ;).
Despite all that, as a tank, I'm glad to see that Blizzard is showing ppl that they need to stop DPSing the darn mob!
theRaptor Aug 2nd 2008 10:40PM
@12
You never raided before BC liar. I started playing WoW at the Naxx patch, and most guilds in there were using TM's (I remember long discussions on how Patchwerks threat worked). I was required to have KTM for MC and ZG raids. I ended up as a raid officer running ZG raids, so I know full well that threat meters where used by nearly all raiders.
Thanks for playing Retrospective History, next time try not to either lie or bullshit so obviously.
Hone Melgren Aug 6th 2008 2:45AM
"Thanks for playing Retrospective History, next time try not to either lie or bullshit so obviously."
Ouch TheRaptor
Man I've had conversations with several people that raided waaay before the Naxx Patch come out (on my guild vent server). There was a point there , about 2-3 months of when they didn't have threat meters. And when they first come out there were incredibly buggy so weren't used.
Now I haven't raided before BC hit but it strikes me that if you're going to call someone a liar it would be good to do a little research before you do so :D
vlad Aug 2nd 2008 1:46PM
man, every time i log in to play there are major changes. i cant believe how fast this is moving compared to beta BC.
almost all the graphics are done. fauna and mobs are appearing, new tabs and features. BC was so slow it seemed.
this game will be ready in september. however it wont be released. they will use the time to tweak BG's, raids and classes instead of patching it nonstop after release like in BC.
DirtyPriest Aug 2nd 2008 5:34PM
I really hope it doesn't become implemented this way.
A simple your % of threat / % of the highest threat slapped somewhere near the target frame would have been simple enough. It looks aweful to just slap a huge % above the mob. You really don't need to know anymore than the highest and your own unlike KTM which insists on a DPS meter-ish UI. -_- "I'm on top of the DPS meter! .......oops wrong meter *splats*"
PimpyMicPimp Aug 2nd 2008 8:28PM
I agree that I doubt much of a change with this is coming. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I thought whenever Blizzard talked of a built-in threat meter they always said is existed more as a tool for mod writers than a replacement.
Hudders Aug 4th 2008 5:03AM
Provided addon makers, (such as the like that produce the excellent Omen), are able to tap into the data being produced by the built-in threat meter, it doesn't matter how it looks.
No longer will the main tank in your PUG be mysteriously missing from the meter. To my mind, this is full of win.