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by Daniel Whitcomb 
Aug 3rd 2008 at 7:00PM
While there's no definite word from a blue on whether it's working as intended or not, there's an interesting buff on the Beta servers at the moment: Everyone seems to have a much longer breath timer when swimming underwater. Whereas it took about 1 minute for breath to run out, now it seems to last for approximately 3 minutes.
In effect then, it's like everyone has gained the Underwater Breathing racial of the Forsaken. If it's a permanent buff and not just some crossed wires, it should make underwater questing (and there is some in Wrath) a bit easier!
Of course, I'm not giving up my Hydrocane just yet, either. It seems like a strange change to make out of the blue, and it does negate one of the Forsaken's racials, more or less.
Filed under: Undead, Realm News, Analysis / Opinion, Expansions, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
Badger Aug 4th 2008 1:51PM
Perhaps he could have used the extra swimming time to ... *ESCAPE FROM MONKEY ISLAND.* (dramatic voice)
Hansel Aug 3rd 2008 7:17PM
If you had read the thread on the beta forums, you would know that they were not given the Underwater Breathing buff of the forsaken, all underwater breathing times were simply tripled. Non-undead races have 3 minute breathing and Forsaken has a 10 minute duration. (From beta thread. An undead person reported having a 10 minute duration, though I'm not sure if it's actually 9 or 10).
Eternauta Aug 3rd 2008 7:28PM
This is obviously good news!
Undeads, Gankers, etc... Go QQ somewhere else xD
Lars Aug 4th 2008 2:05PM
OK.... how would your pally feel if Warriors suddenly got mana, healing spells, seals, etc.?
Zedius Aug 3rd 2008 7:30PM
*Does Star Trek salute*
KHAAAAN! KHAAAAN!
Zedius Aug 3rd 2008 7:31PM
KHAAAAN! KHAAAAN!
Kyrra Aug 3rd 2008 9:06PM
Beta thread on it:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=8557250733&sid=2000
Maybe we'll see a blue reply.
Kyrra Aug 4th 2008 1:27PM
The thread linked to above has a pseudo confirmation from a blue in it now.
Smurk Aug 3rd 2008 10:09PM
Just as well. I hear the Felweed north of the border packs a punch.
Dightkuz Aug 4th 2008 12:19AM
I'll keep my stack of http://www.wowhead.com/?item=24421
Kyrra Aug 4th 2008 1:57AM
FYI, Nagrand Cherries have been nerfed to 5 minutes on Beta (down from 30).
Tenchan Aug 4th 2008 2:51AM
This is not actually completely out of the blue. Northrend has a slew of quests that involve swimming and diving, and traveling through and over water is far more common than ever before. Sometimes, you get an item to give you waterbreathing, but items can be used up, lost or accidentally sold/destroyed easily. So the new breath length is quite useful.
Emoroan Aug 4th 2008 4:01AM
"Underwater Breath lasts 300% longer than normal", doesn't that effectively mean 4x normal rather then 3x normal?
Undead should have 12 minutes, which last i checked was longer then the 10 minute lock buff (that said it costs 50 mana and you can recast it as much as you like, so it really is infinite anyway)
Thorall Aug 4th 2008 5:00AM
Well it should have been 3 mins from the very start. a average human can hold its breath for 3 mins under water. So 3 mins should have been the norm.
Emoroan Aug 4th 2008 5:11AM
I would have guessed the average length was closer to 2 minutes, however I would doubt many could hold their breath for 3 minutes while trying to hit things/cast spells.
That said I wasn't exactly complaining, or saying they shouldn't be able to hold it longer then they currently can. I was merely correcting the amount of time an undead should now be able to swim, and comparing it to the warlock spell.
Dinnerbone Aug 4th 2008 5:49AM
Blizz should finally get around to removing the reagent cost on a shammies Water Breathing now; It's been made obsolete three times over!
Larry-Steve Aug 4th 2008 9:23AM
/vote for waterwalk to become pepetual buff
else [buff stays on]
elseif [buff stays on, but doesn't work]
when player in combat
end
I just figured while we were all QQ'ing about water I'd hop in there...
Necrotica Aug 4th 2008 10:26AM
Hmmm Guess this is an odd pickle for my Undead Warlock...
zenpunk Aug 4th 2008 12:16PM
I say give undead unlimited water breathing, and take away WotF.
mattyt17 Aug 4th 2008 1:30PM
this change is going to happen whether we like it or not come the next expansion (maelstrom and southseas...with underwater zones...)