Ask a Beta Tester: Professions and gems

Is there and new rod for enchanting? And do i need to upgrade the standard Runed Adamantite Rod to a Runed Eternium Rod?
There is now a Runed Eternium Rod you can craft at 375 skill. And, yes, it does require a Runed Adamanite Rod to craft (though the other materials -- Greater Planar Essence and Primal Might may be placeholders, as they seem pretty old world-y).For more of your beta questions -- and our beta answers -- read on! But if you're the sort who wants to avoid spoilers, turn back now. We're aiming to avoid major story spoilers, but this feature is all about beta content and we can't talk about the beta without giving a few things away.
actodd asked....
Will Northrend have gem vendors like Outland does -- selling low end gems? If so, how do these gems compare to ones currently in game? How do the basic Northrend JC gems compare?
I haven't run into any gem vendors in Northrend, but green quality gem cuts in Northrend are superior to both blue and purple quality Outland gems. For example, the green quality Northrend stamina gem, Solid Chalcedony is 18 stamina. (And yes, cutting one of these will be as simple as finding one in the nearest ore vein to the boat or zeppelin to Northrend.) The epic equivalent in the current game, the Solid Empyrean Sapphire is only 15 stamina.
It is also worth noting that green quality gems can be cut "perfectly." A simple quest gives you the ability Gem Perfection which gives you a chance to cut green quality gems into "perfect" variations of the same, which have better stats. For example, a Balanced Shadow Crystal will give 12 AP and 9 stamina while a Perfect Balanced Shadow Crystal will give 14 AP and 11 stamina. (And the perfect version of the Solid Chalcedony mentioned above? 21 stamina.)
RogueJedi86 asked....As an extension of that, will there be basic glyph vendors? Because otherwise, it'll suck to have to go to players every time we want a glyph. Unlike Jewelcrafting, we'll have a big old Glyph tab in our spellbook from the first level we get a Glyph. Without basic Glyphs on a vendor, Scribes will be pushed a little too hard, harder than JC was with BC.
Again, haven't seen one yet. However, I think it's likely that the market will be fairly well flooded with Glyphs as countless people start leveling up Inscription -- just like the market was flooded with with gems after Burning Crusade's release. And after Wrath's launch, it'll be all supply and demand. If people want certain Glyphs, there should be plenty of people happy to provide them.
Do I get a seventh Glyph slot with lvl 1 inscription? I know it's not uncommon for max-level characters to drop their gathering profession for another crafting one. For me, the cost of leveling the profession wasn't worth the BoPs at the end but all I've heard is "seven if you've taken Inscription yourself." Seems like a no-brainer to drop my mining once I get my BS maxed and pick up a free glyph-slot. The only way I don't see that working out is if the 7th-glyphs are BoP or something....
Right now that mysterious seventh Glyph isn't in the game, at any skill level -- so where it shows up is anyone's guess. However, as to the trade-off between a seventh Glyph, as all of your gathering professions now have some sort of buff associated with them. Miners get Toughness, a stamina boost. Skinners get Master of Anatomy, a critical strike boost. Herbalists get Wild Growth, a heal over time. Are these worth losing an extra Glyph slot? That one's up to you.
Meethan asked....
What does Murder Spree do now? Is it still borked as a Rhino's growl?
In the latest beta build, it seems to be working as advertised, making multiple attacks on multiple targets within its 10 yard range. (Since people have asked previously, I'll clear this part up right now: if you only have one target in range, using Murder Spree will attacks them multiple times.)
Filed under: Wrath of the Lich King






Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Beatphreek Sep 9th 2008 11:06AM
Runed Eternium rods are BC content. That's why the mats seem so Old-worldly....
I think the poster wanted to know if the enchanting spells need the eternium rod to get from 375 to whatever new rod there might be.
Ian Sep 10th 2008 10:20AM
Yeah, I want to know when we will be replacing our Runed Eternium Rods for the next version up. Is it going to last a while into the 400's? Because it cost a fortune to make.
WarwolfSwe Sep 9th 2008 11:42AM
That's exactly what i meant, thanks for clarifying.
The question is if i can use my cheap Runed Adamantite Rod to craft the WotLK version or if I need to get the much more expensive Runed Eternium Rod?
Blackhorn Sep 9th 2008 12:25PM
Pretty sure, as always, you need the current highest level rod to go to the next highest.
JohnSmith Sep 9th 2008 1:04PM
While the Runed Eternium Rod is a BC item, the version he links for WotLK has greatly reduced material requirements with:
1 Eternium Rod
8 Greater Planar Essence
1 Primal Might
1 Runed Adamantite Rod
vs. the following mats for the current version:
1 Eternium Rod
12 Greater Planar Essence
2 Void Crystals
4 Primal Might
1 Runed Adamantite Rod
So the real answer to WarwolfSwe's question is that you should wait for WotLK to make your Eternium rod unless you need it for any current enchants or void shatter.
elizabeth Sep 9th 2008 4:30PM
Er, oops, no, the runed eternium is the highest level rod in the current beta build. (And the starting Northrend enchants only require runed adamantite.)
gnometoast Sep 9th 2008 11:07AM
Pretty sure Runed Eternium Rod is a BC enchant, not Wrath, since I have the recipe.
Mattimus Sep 9th 2008 11:09AM
Yeah, the Runed Eternium Rod is used for the really good enchants like Mongoose, Savagery, and Executioner... pretty much like the Runed Arcanite Rod was in Vanilla WoW. It's definitely not a WotLK enchanting rod.
Galf Sep 9th 2008 11:08AM
The reason the mats for Runed Eternium Rod are "old worldy" is because it's the 375 rod currently in game.
http://thottbot.com/s32667
doug Sep 9th 2008 11:08AM
Do the gathering buffs stack, say if I was a miner/skinner would I get the benefit of both?
pulsedrive Sep 9th 2008 11:10AM
Actually Runed Eternium Rod is on the live realms NOW. Has been for a loooooong time.
omni guy Sep 9th 2008 11:10AM
I'm still sad we can't pick up a third major profession :(
Or that we can't get Enchanters to DE my BoP items through the "Will not be traded" slot.
Any word on Hardened Khorium actually being of any use in WotLK? Nobody buys it because (most of the good) recipes are mostly BoP that use them. I have a stack worth that won't sell, and am wondering if there's much use for it, and from the recipes I've seen, it looks like a recipe that applies only for those with extra Sunmotes to burn and for those OP JC's ;-)
elizabeth Sep 9th 2008 4:31PM
Doubt it -- new recipes so far exclusively use new world materials.
Specialis Sep 9th 2008 11:17AM
For warriors does 2handed weapon spec. stack with dual wield spec. when one has Titans Grip?
josh Sep 9th 2008 12:29PM
yes, i'm wanting to know this too, can TG stack with dual wield specialization
Matthew Rossi Sep 9th 2008 1:17PM
As soon as the Beta is back up I'll try and spec for both on my tauren. I don't know if I'll be able to offhand, but we'll see.
Matthew Rossi Sep 9th 2008 1:17PM
http://wotlk.wowhead.com/?talent=LVbh0fVZVVzVxcRVuMxsu
This will be the build I attempt, to get full 2h Weapon Spec and TG.
Matthew Rossi Sep 9th 2008 1:46PM
I can officially confirm that 2h Weapon Specialization stacks with Titan's Grip - using the build I linked to above I tested the damage before and after I spent the points, and it increased as one would expect for both weapons.
Specialis Sep 9th 2008 3:47PM
thanks for the answer Matt this has been bugging me
Splink Sep 9th 2008 11:15AM
Hey guys, I hear the Runed Eternium Rod is actually on the live realms RIGHT NOW! Confirm/deny.