Ask a Beta Tester: More on mounts and other things
by Alex Ziebart 
Sep 26th 2008 at 11:00AM
What's the word on passenger mounts? Will they be a whole new level of riding skill, or will you simply purchase them individually? How much do these things cost?
They use the same riding skill as regular ground mounts, but they tend to be on the more expensive side. The Engineering-made Motorcycles will be up to the market to price, but Traveler's Tundra Mammoth costs 20,000g. So the cost of the mounts themselves is what's going to be harsh, not an added level of training. That last one carries three people, by the way.
David Whyld asked...
What kind of HPs and mana are characters at level 80 going to get? I saw some screenshots where characters in a level 80 raid looked to have 30-35k HPs - is this something we'll all be able to achieve?
It's going to vary from class to class, but in short, you'll get close. Tanks in PvE seem like they'll have this easily, and a lot of those screenshots were also of people in heavy arena gear. The one in particular that I saw was Serennia, a Warrior.
Zhiva said...
What levels can use multipassenger mounts?
You can purchase and use them at level 60, but I believe that anybody can get in the passenger seats. So you can ride your mammoth down to Northshire and give your buddy an escort to Stormwind.
Bill asked...
I was wondering what is going to happen to the quest line for the druid's epic flight form. Will new druids have to scramble to put together a few 80s to go back and finish off a level 70 heroic instance for the quest completion? Will it become trainable at a druid trainer in Northrend? Or if I don't get it on my druid before the expansion will I miss out on the opportunity all together?
The quests aren't being removed, nor is their minimum level requirement. Paladins and Warlocks had to still do their epic mount quests in Dire Maul or Scholomance even if they leveled past those dungeons. They had to go back and do it. Druid epic flight will be the same. You won't lose the chance to do it, but Wrath isn't giving you a "get out of Sethekk free" card, either.
Reliik asked...
What is the DPS on the ammo in WOTLK?
Terrorshaft Arrows are 46.5 DPS. Frostbite Bullets are the same. I haven't seen any blue or epic ammo yet, but I'm sure it's out there. Maybe one of our readers is an Engineer and can help you out with those?
Drae asked...
For Blacksmithing, are there any new mail items? Wondering if I should change my professions on my shammy.
I haven't seen any Mail for Blacksmiths. I think Leatherworking has that covered this time around.
The Wrath of the Lich King beta is in full swing, and the WoW Insider crew is here to sate your curiosity with Ask a Beta Tester! Leave your beta questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em! And if you can't get enough Wrath, don't forget to check WoW Insider's Wrath Roundup page for anything we haven't answered here!Filed under: Blacksmithing, Engineering, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)
JPN Sep 26th 2008 11:06AM
What does the tooltip mean for the mammoth where it says it carries vendors?
Naix Sep 26th 2008 11:38AM
It means it carries vendors. But that's just a guess.
agnoster Sep 26th 2008 11:50AM
I disagree. I'm pretty sure it means it carries vendors.
Darthregis Sep 26th 2008 12:06PM
@ Naix and agnoster
So, you're just going to pick up the Reagent vendor from Orgimmar, for example, and carry him around in your multi-passenger mount wherever you go? "Hop on in! Let's go for a ride!"
Um, no.
Thus, JPN's quest for clarification on "carrying vendors".
Jackasses.
badjoke Sep 26th 2008 12:17PM
Or maybe it means that a vendor pops out when you right-click it, or something.
Salty Sep 26th 2008 12:21PM
[useful response]
In one of the seats on the mammoth, there is a Draeni guy who sells food/drink and ammo, I didn’t see reagents when I looked. I clicked on somebody else’s mammoth’s vendor so it’s not limited to the people riding it. One thing about the multi-passenger mounts is that the mount and each individual rider can be selected. On a normal mount, for instance, you select both the mount and the rider at once.
JPN Sep 26th 2008 12:26PM
So...if it's a 3 person mount, AND a vendor, you really can only carry two players?
I thought the comments were funny.
Iwanttobeasleep Sep 26th 2008 12:26PM
You never know! Even vendors need a little vacation, or a little action. . .
rosencratz Sep 26th 2008 12:39PM
The mount carries yourself, vendor + 3 passengers.
The vendors won't be of any reputation though so you'll be selling cheap and buying dear. The tooltip linked in the article pretty much says it all really.
agnoster Sep 26th 2008 2:44PM
@Darthregis: Hey, JPN got it, and took it in good humor. Don't get your knickers in a twist.
But yeah, sounds similar to the ol' repair bot, though you presumably won't be able to summon it in most instances (bein' indoors and all).
wizmotron Sep 26th 2008 2:51PM
The mammoth also has a little robotic gnome on it that can repair and sells reagents. I'm fairly certain (though I haven't tested it yet) that 1 passenger will take up the remaining spot but more passengers will have to replace the vendors.
Also, interesting side note, passenger mounts seem to be using the new siege vehicle system, which means that they get their own health bar and such. This is mainly important because in PvP it's really hard to target the player instead of the mount and when you fall from large distances the mount takes the fall damage and "dies" but the player remains unscathed. Although, I would expect the second part to be changed by or soon after release.
Sniss Sep 26th 2008 11:07AM
Can you suggest the best enchants for a Deathknight fresh from the starting zone?
I've not played a melee character before and i'm unfamiliar with which stats are best for DKs, my plan is to have alll the enchanting materials saved up ready so i can enchant the blue gear from the starting zone as soon as possible as i hear it will last well into outlands and should give a little boost to levelling.
Ktok Sep 26th 2008 11:15AM
I'm not 100% sure about this, but I believe a leveling DK would use the same stats and enchants as a DPS warrior. Any sites with suggestions for warrior DPS enchants should work out for DKs as well.
Flavio Sep 26th 2008 11:17AM
Strength and Stamina.
Do the same Enchant you would do to a Warrior, as stated by Blizzard they'll share gear, and most likely same stats. Like a rogue to a hunter.
Azri Sep 26th 2008 1:19PM
As was said, strength and stamina. Perhaps some agility thrown in on items where there are no better options.
Don't bother enchanting a weapon unless you want to dual wield, which you likely won't be doing fresh out of the starting zone. Runeforging takes up that slot and provides more interesting benefits than weapon enchants, imo.
Ikarus Sep 26th 2008 3:58PM
depending on what spec you go, Agility could be very useful. I'm thinking of "killing machine" in the frost tree for example. If I recall correctly, your auto attack crits give you a 50% chance that your next icy touch, howling blast or frost strike with me a crit.
Ikarus Sep 26th 2008 4:00PM
*will be...not "with me"
IncubusHead Sep 26th 2008 7:44PM
I hear a lot of comments about this Championing system but can't seem to find a real explanation about what it is. Can you break it down for me?
IncubusHead Sep 26th 2008 7:44PM
In the new phasing system, you described earlier a scenario where you had taken back a town for your faction so the town would look different for you than it would for people who were further along or behind you in quest progression. You also said that you wouldn't even be able to see other people running around the area if you weren't in the same phase as them. How does this effect questing in groups? If i am lvl 80 and want to go help a friend quest in a zone at lvl 70, will i be able to see him if he's in a different phase?
Camaris Sep 26th 2008 11:10AM
At rates competitive to the flightmasters, how long will your newfound taxi service need to operate to recoup the costs of the mount ;)