Beyond the Lich: looking forward to future patches
by Adam Holisky 
Oct 14th 2008 at 6:00PM
Patch 3.0.2 is out today, and so goes the ways of old. Buffs have undergone the largest change since release, Protection Warriors can now AoE tank like a pro, Retribution Paladins are all screaming "Don't nerf me, bro!" and casters around the world are getting their heads around spellpower.All this change begs the question, what's in store for the future? Could this be the last great patch we see? Is this the beginning of the end of the World of Warcraft? Highly unlikely, and we already know that there is a bit in store for us in a few 3.x.x patches.
Read on after the break for what we know is coming, as well as for what my predictions of the future hold.
3.0.2 – This patch is released today. It marks the end of Burning Crusade content patches.
3.0.3 – I would expect 3.0.3 to be a relatively minor patch which updates many bugs and other problems that transitioning to 3.0.2 will create. I would not be surprised to see it released next week.
3.0.4 – Quite possibly 3.0.4 will be another bug fixing patch. I would suspect we'll see it shortly before Wrath of the Lich King goes live. So probably sometime before November 13th.
3.0.5 - While Wrath will no doubt be a solid product upon release, Blizzard will need to patch in some changes here and there. If there are two minor bug fixing patches prior to Wrath's release, 3.0.5 will be the patch that fixes bugs and maybe adds a little something immediately following its release.
3.1 – Confirmed to be the first major content patch for Wrath. Already done. Will include Ulduar 10-man and 25-man raids. Ground mounts will swim in the water instead of vanishing. Hopefully new dances will appear. Dual specs are also a very likely possibility for this patch.
3.1.1 – Chances are 3.1.1 will be a quick bug fix patch to correct issues that developed in 3.1 with Ulduar.
3.1.2 – Probably some more bug fixes and fine tuning of the new raids, perhaps other raids around the same difficulty of Ulduar to make things flow better.
3.2 – Confirmed to contain an unreleased and unknown raid instance.
3.3 – Confirmed to contain the Icecrown Citadel and finish the story of the Ashbringer.
3.4 – There were a whopping 12 major content patches prior the Burning Crusade line of patches. However since then there have been only 4 major patches. Blizzard seems to be taking an approach where they release a smaller number of larger patches. If this continues I doubt we'll see beyond four major content patches to Wrath of The Lich King, especially since we know 3.3 will contain the end of Wrath's main story line.
4.0 – This will be the patch branch for the expansion after Wrath of the Lich King. Many fans are expecting something such as the Emerald Dream, or something to do with the Maelstrom. Some are thinking WoW might branch out into other planets or realms in the Warcraft universe, which include Argus, K'aresh, and Xoroth.
4.0.1 – This will most likely be an incremental patch from the beta patch tree of 4.0.0, to the patch immediately before the release of the next expansion. We never really see a x.0.1 patch on the live realms, and it would be a safe bet we won't see one in the future.
Patch 3.1 brings us Ulduar, dual specs, significant changes to all the classes, and more! We've got you covered from top to bottom with our Guide to Patch 3.1.Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, The Burning Crusade, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
BigDave Oct 15th 2008 12:01AM
First
KRAfowst Oct 14th 2008 6:24PM
BATTLEGROUNDS RANKINGS!
Palatinus Oct 14th 2008 6:07PM
Don't nerf me, bro!
benicrystal Oct 14th 2008 6:10PM
Mister Vice President, I b....
[...]
DON'T NERF ME BRO!
Hangk Oct 14th 2008 6:20PM
Go ahead, enjoy your days of OPness. Just remember, though, that they will come to an end. The nerf bat may swing slowly, but it hits hard, my friend. And then? Even after you are nerfed into safety-padded, foam-rubber oblivion, you will still have to deal with the world's hate and resentment. You will be Target Number Uno in every BG and Arena, long after the days that you represented some disproportionate threat are gone. And when, despite being nerfed to a shadow of your former OP self, you do actually manage to kill someone, you will get neither credit nor glory. You will hear the mutterings of "Oh, a ret pally killed me? Figures. Stupid OP class..." even when the devs have left you with nothing but Crusader Aura and your hammer. So enjoy, young OP ret pally. While you can....
Love,
The Warlocks.
Hoboken Oct 14th 2008 6:25PM
ROFLMAO I seriously laughed so hard I am crying XD. (at Hangk's comment)
benicrystal Oct 14th 2008 6:33PM
Hah! You Warlocks have been Blizzard's pets for far too long. Have ever watched a Hollywood PG Action movie? The bad guys never win. This time, we purr under the giant, cold, metal hand of Blizzard Entertainment, and you Warlocks get to run around looking like a mob that was kited from Shadowmoon Valley, with even less power.
Signed, Your Lords and Masters,
Ret Pallies.
Hilton Oct 14th 2008 6:36PM
You are so very correct Hangk.
Elish Oct 23rd 2008 11:08PM
We have been the most un used spec since the beginging of the 2nd war. Blizzard ignores us, raid hate and now... WE KICK ***. So now you dare say that we are incorectly overpowered? I say not dear worlock for you shall wait and see when the patches tides turn against YOU!
Most op and loved
Ret pallies
mike Nov 30th 2008 10:16PM
Dear Warlocks,
Payback is a b!tch
Your distant cousins,
The Mages
Lerich Oct 14th 2008 6:11PM
It's going to happen man. Just close your eyes, bend over, and go to a happy place in your mind.
KenMo Oct 14th 2008 6:20PM
Oh man. I feel the same way about Obama getting elected...
markymark Oct 14th 2008 6:31PM
If Obama gets elected it would at least show the world that Americans are not as ignorant as they thought but in actuality if a dumb ass texan rose to lead a nation it really makes you wonder wtf a 70 something year old man can do.
Orian Oct 14th 2008 6:40PM
Rest of the world? Who cares its our election not theirs. I don't live day to day caring what other nations think, I fail to see why thats such an issue to so many people.
Ian Oct 14th 2008 7:06PM
Maybe because we live on a planet with other people and going around pretending that they don't exist is pretty counterproductive.
Andelorn Oct 15th 2008 9:18AM
Because depending on who is elected president, we of the rest of the world may either be declared war on, or asked to help the USA declare war on someone else. And there's a good chance we may get nukes thrown at us either way just because Uncle Sam doesn't like the look of those foreigns. :P
LetoAtreides82 Oct 14th 2008 6:13PM
80 is so close to 100, I'm willing to bet there would be at least two more expansions, each raising the cap by 10 to get to that nice sounding 100.
benicrystal Oct 14th 2008 6:18PM
Tbh, I really hope it doesn't get to 100.
We would have gone from 60 to 100, and imagine leveling 1-100?
It would be too much. My guess is the next expansion is the last.
peagle Oct 14th 2008 6:38PM
@benicrystal
If you experience gains never increased you might have a point. As each expansion significantly accelerates leveling below it, you don't.
ScorchHellfire Oct 14th 2008 8:31PM
well considering diablo 2 has you leveling to 99 whilst playing the game several times in harder and harder modes and blizz keeps speeding up the leveling for noncurrent level ranges, i think we will be fine...