Zul'Aman bears to disappear with next content patch
by Michael Gray 
Sep 2nd 2008 at 7:00PM
The Zul'Aman bear mount has been a popular treat -- popular enough that folks offer paid runs to get the bear mount. We already knew the chance to get the bear was going away when Wrath comes out. However, in the bad news category, Zarhym revealed over the weekend that bear mounts will no longer be obtainable when the content patch comes out.
While I know a lot of folks already have their bear mounts, in my opinion, this change kind of sucks. I have a small raiding Guild who I've been working with to get our bear mounts (with a few bumps along the way). Since we knew the earliest we'd lose our opportunity would be November, all of our planning has been focused on getting the bears this month and next. And now, that's changed without enough warning to alter our plans. Heck, I can't even plan since all I know about when the patch is coming out is "soon."
To be clear about it, the problem isn't that the chance to obtain the bear is going away. That's fair -- the timed event would be stupid easy after level 70. The problem is that Blizzard set one expectation (when Wrath comes out), and has now vastly reduced the opportunity without warning. That's a problem for me.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, News items, Mounts
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Xorak Sep 2nd 2008 7:07PM
Too bad I'll never have a bear mount :(
Balius Sep 2nd 2008 7:09PM
Bear mounts will be in WotLK. Just not Amani Bears.
sleeper Sep 2nd 2008 7:10PM
A part of my inner child died when Blizzard promised to let hunters keep the ghost wolves, and then took them away a few weeks later.
Eventually you get used to them changing their toon.
Laz Sep 3rd 2008 12:05AM
Blizzard never took the ghost wolves (aka Spirit Guides) away from those who had already tamed them. They took away the ability for others to keep trying to tame them.
Michael Sep 2nd 2008 8:55PM
Haha, yeah, Blizzard changes alts all the time.
Derick Sep 2nd 2008 10:44PM
Tune
I think you meant tune.
Mesc Sep 3rd 2008 3:11AM
They didn't take them away, they just prevented further tamings.
I would know, I still have mine. =)
vendrill Sep 3rd 2008 3:12PM
Yeah, if the devs at Blizzard actually changed their "toons", we'd finally see that 'Lock nerf.
Cowy Sep 3rd 2008 5:12PM
I was upset about the Ghostwolf ordeal for quite some time. I've managed to make peace with the whole situation though, and my thought on it has turned around somewhat.
For a long time I was disapointed with how Blizzard handled this situation. They changed their stance on the pet (flip flopped from saying they wouldn't disable the taming, to saying it was going to be untamable). Technically lying to us (though in their defense, it was more likely a lack of communication within Blizzard).
It wasn't the pet itself that disapointed me, it was Blizzard and the poor handling of a innocent situation. A huge fiasco to nerf fun.
I've gotten over it, luckly. Putting it past me, I do applaud Blizzard for allowing hunters to keep the pet if they had already tamed it. This essentially makes the Ghostwolf a Rare LTD Edition pet. Which is pretty cool really.
Bloodletter Sep 2nd 2008 7:12PM
"Vastly" reduced the opportunity? Who says the patch is coming out any time soon....
There's still tons of BETA content that has to be added and tested before any kind of final patch build is released to the live servers - not to mention the PTR's have to be tested first too.
And in anycase, the patch is going to implemented a couple of weeks before the actual game is released, so there is no drastic reduction in time frame.
Meh.
Kawanda Sep 6th 2009 4:46PM
Anytime soon?
"With the release of Wrath of the Lich King approaching, we wanted to provide you with some important information. In preparation for the expansion, we will be issuing a new content patch in the coming weeks."
Notice "in the coming weeks."
Source:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=9236465187&sid=1
skreed Sep 2nd 2008 7:13PM
Yeah, I agree this is kindof a drag. I'm also in a small raiding guild (too small for 25 man stuff) and we've been pushing for this. I'm not personally motivated by the mount, but I know my GM and some others are and for all the work and time theyve put into the guild I want to get them theirs. Last ZA I think we missed the mark by between 2 and 3 minutes (by a significant margin our fastest time), and probably would have had Lynx down if not for some ill timed MC deaths going through his trash. Anyway... We have a few more shots at it, and I'm really hoping we can make it happen at least once... but this news was a bit of a shock to the system.
Sophey Sep 2nd 2008 9:38PM
Purge and Dispel came both be used to remove the MC, be quick on it and you'll never have any unfortunate deaths to it.
fentar Sep 2nd 2008 11:32PM
You can also have your group equip there 2 minute pvp trinkets while water walking to those pulls. (and if you aren't already water walking, pyitf)
EGA Sep 2nd 2008 7:19PM
umm,, The post over the weekend IS a warning. If Bliz had made the change on patch day than that would be without warning. If you're going to QQ over something at least make some sense.
Smurrf Sep 2nd 2008 7:15PM
"The problem is that Blizzard set one expectation (when Wrath comes out), and has now vastly reduced the opportunity without warning."
And what do you call this weekend's announcement? "Without Warning" would be date of release of 3.0.2. 'Oh yeah, no bears for your new specs. Suckers.' Instead, they've given you at *least* 6 weeks to finish it off, and at least get some of your raiders a Bear.
Fenom Sep 2nd 2008 7:18PM
it's your own problem if you can't get a bear mount by now, you don't have to be above level 70 for it to be stupid easy, your time frame hasn't changed one bit, what makes you think the patch is closer to now than to the expansion release? it's gon be right before the expansion
Dah Sep 2nd 2008 7:21PM
Yea, I've been doing bear runs with some guildmates, but due to some drama, we've lost several members (all members lost had their bears already, conveniently enough), and lately we've been falling just short of the timer, so for the remaining 5 or so people with myself included, it's not looking good. Hopefully Blizzard will change their mind or take their sweet time releasing the next patch.
ed Sep 2nd 2008 7:23PM
There was actually a blue announcement about removing the bear back in May or June. We have been on notice for a long time before now.
amasen Sep 3rd 2008 10:30AM
You mean this post?
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=6417163760&sid=1&pageNo=1
Where they state
"Once Wrath of the Lich King goes live, you will no longer be able to obtain the Zul'Aman bear "
or later in the same post where they change their mind?
"As an update to this, the Zul'Aman Bear Mount will be removed with the upcoming content patch, prior to Wrath of the Lich King: "
The point the OP made was that blizzard has changed their mind on their timeline and what was once a long tiem in the future with no discernible timeline is now "in the coming weeks".
My guild has about 15 bear mounts, and we were slowly getting them on off-raid nights because we wanted to experience more progression in our 25mans... Now we find out our timeline has been cut short by many many weeks...