Breakfast Topic: Unexpected Changes in Patch 3.0.2

On a good note, I seemed to have totally missed that Marks of Honor were going to be on the Currency tab in the character screen instead of taking up precious bag space until i actually logged in yesterday. Yay more bag space!
My favorite surprise in Echoes of Doom, however, was discovering that my Herbalist now has a new self-heal over time spell: Lifeblood. It's instant cast and has a 3 minute cooldown. There it was just sitting in my General Skills. A guildie had to point it out to me. I should probably take a closer look at the patch notes.
What changes did you not expect to find in Patch 3.0.2?
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Breakfast Topics
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Reader Comments (Page 3 of 13)
Otter Oct 15th 2008 8:46AM
Woohoo! Thanks Dac
Tasslesaywhat Oct 15th 2008 8:24AM
I love the fact my cat form leaps behind enemies pulvarizing them@!!!!!111 MUAAHAHA
- I exaggerate a tad, but it still looks cool.
Rugus Oct 15th 2008 8:25AM
GIFT OF THE NAARU buff.
It now heals MUCH more, making it an amazing racial ability. From the old 1080 health it now heals my hunter for 3500 more or less. It stacks with Attack Power: if you decide to heal and use some AP trinkets/buffs/potions/procs... it will heal even more. Amazing.
vine Oct 15th 2008 7:10PM
Actually it increases based on AP or Spell Power, whichever is higher:
"Heals the target of 50 damage over 15 sec. The amount healed is increased based on the caster's Spell Power or Attack Power, whichever is higher. This ability does not lose casting time from taking damage."
Smurrf_ Oct 15th 2008 8:26AM
"My favorite surprise in Echoes of Doom, however, was discovering that my Herbalist now has a new self-heal over time spell: Lifeblood."
You write for WoWInsider and this is a surprise? Really, I mean no offense here, but this seems like something an Insider would have known already.
Jeff Oct 15th 2008 8:32AM
My biggest surprise change in 3.0.2? Logging in to find I wasn't awarded my arena points for the last week. My whole team didn't get them.
arcaria Oct 15th 2008 8:39AM
That's because the arena is over.
superfrank Oct 15th 2008 10:00AM
no it isn't.
"Upon the end of this Arena Season, teams and ratings will not be wiped, and will carry forward allowing players to earn points each week and purchase gear until the launch of the expansion (November 13, 2008)."
Aurendar Oct 15th 2008 8:28AM
Is it just me or does the gallop of horses sound different? I sure sounds different to me! I don't know why but I really like the small subtle changes that Blizz makes.
Cambro Oct 15th 2008 10:39AM
I thought I noticed that too. Sounds more realistic.
Sagefist Oct 16th 2008 9:29AM
I noticed that as well. Really cool.
I also enjoyed the change in how my Merciless Galdiator's Slicer and Quick Blade "shine" differently than before! Any other weapons, or enchants, "glow" change?
Tasslesaywhat Oct 15th 2008 8:28AM
Another unexpected change in my (cat form- feral leap) is the ability to escape fall damage by leaping at someone while jumping from a height that would normally take fall damage.
i.e. Jumping off something really high and lunging at your enemy reaks of awesomeness. yES i am thoroughly delighted
Dusseldorf Oct 15th 2008 8:45AM
This has actually always worked with feral charge... it used to be known as Rawr Bombing when BC first came out, because people would hover over enemies in bird form, drop out of the sky, shift to bear, and feral charge them. That way, unsuspecting pray would suddenly have a bear fall from the sky and slaughter them =)
Tasslesaywhat Oct 15th 2008 9:48AM
U have go to be kidding me Dusseldorf thats amazingly awesome why would you ever want to change that?
The only change I would make would be for the reverse effect. Do a feral leap into the air while in combat and be in epic flight form then go bear and dive bomb pwn.
Cambro Oct 15th 2008 10:44AM
This works on warriors as well with Charge. I completely freaked out a guildmate one time by swooshing out of the sky on to a mob she was fighting, it was awesome. She probably heard the swoosh sound and jumped in her seat, hehe.
spachy1975 Oct 15th 2008 8:29AM
I was surprise at the new graphics. I used to run with everything max'd out and still got 55-62 fps. Now, I have everything cranked way down to get 60 fps and I'm slowing trying to work the sliders back up while keeping my 60 fps.
Idea for an article sometime might be breaking down the video settings, what the real CPU hogs are, and some hardware to fps comparisons. Especially after this patch.
Mattias Löfblad Oct 15th 2008 8:36AM
I had the same "problem" in the beta. Eventually, I recovered most of my FPS by sliding the View Distance and Anti-Aliasing settings down a couple of notches.
Hope that helps!
Rugus Oct 15th 2008 8:37AM
Lower the shadows to minimum while keeping everything like old Wow. The new shadows are HEAVY like nothing before.
spach1975 Oct 15th 2008 8:41AM
Cool. Thanks for the tips. I'll check that out tonight.
william Oct 15th 2008 3:06PM
A-G-R-E-E-D!!!!
I totally noticed the graphic overhaul... and the decreased performance. My camera was all laggy at 30fps instead of 50-60.
I do like the new graphic work though.
Did anyone else notice the improved textures, polygony, and lighting?
It isn't a new game, but it's fresh!