Ask a Beta Tester: Heirloom items, class trainers, and more
by Alex Ziebart 
Oct 30th 2008 at 1:00PM
...actually, I don't really like that idea so I'm going to answer your questions like I normally do, starting with Naraxus's question...
Something I was thinking about was how much of an important stat "Hit" was on endgame gear in BC. A couple of patches ago a lot of the lower level gear was given a hit stat to it and I was wondering if the 70-79 gear in WotLK has "Hit" or is it just basic stats and spell power, attack power etc?
There's some Hit on leveling gear, but not enough to keep you capped right to 80 in my experience. I actually didn't really try, I concerned myself more with survival and longevity. In the case of a Priest, that meant stamina, spirit, and spell damage. Leveling gear is a bit more simplified. Raw stats, and some attack power/spell power in most cases.
You'll also find some crit, hit, and haste, but your leveling gear isn't going to have as many random stats slapped on it as you see on some raid gear.
Jeff asked...
Regarding Heirloom items... Can you put enchantments/enhancements on them? If so, can you transfer those buffs between characters? Seems a little too good to be true to have my level 1 alt starting out with a pair of shoulders with Aldor inscriptions on them.
As far as regular enchants go, like readers mentioned, heirloom items are always considered level 1. You can't put high end enchants on them at all. As for Aldor/Scryer shoulder enchants, I don't know and I haven't earned enough badges on the beta to buy a pair of shoulders and check. I'm willing to bet that if you currently can apply those to heirloom items, the devs will nerf it pretty quick.
Suraci asked...
Are there class trainers in Northrend or do we have to go back to our Horde/Alliance cities to train new spells?
Dalaran houses Mage and I think Warlock class trainers since it's sort of the Mage capital city. And Warlocks like to pretend they're Mages unless you compare them to Mages or suggest that they're at all like Mages and vice versa. Everyone else will need to go back to the mainland to train, whether it be by boat or by portal.
And that was a joke, Warlocks. Or Mages. Or whichever one of you was offended this time. I don't even know anymore.
ironblade asked...
Regarding gear, what sort of HP will a lets say level 80 Naxx epics geared tank have? Because I heard people say the entry level raid in Wrath should get you around 20k-ish, is that true?
It's true, and possibly a little on the low side. That's around what Sunwell tanks have right now. After finishing Naxxramas up, they'll definitely have more than what they started with.
wrez asked...
Regarding the phasing mechanic, if a Guildie of mine completes Quest X, which, through Phasing, alters the way in which he sees the game world and I have not yet completed this Quest, will we be unable to do anything together anywhere in the game, because the way in which we're seeing the world is different, or will we be able to interact as normal? And if our interaction is limited, how so? Game-wide, Zone-wide, etc.?
It's limited to subzones, as others mentioned. Let's just use Shattrath as an example since it's an area that people of both factions will be familiar with. If you and your friend were doing quests up on Scryer's Tier, but your friend was a few steps ahead of you, he would be in a different phase of the Tier. But if the two of you went down to the Lower City, you would see eachother just fine. If you went up on Aldor Rise, you'd see eachother fine. If you went back to the Scryer's Tier, you'd be divided into your respective phases. He could then wait, let you catch up, and you'd both be in the same Scryer's Tier phase again.
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: Analysis / Opinion, Expansions, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
Chase Christian Oct 30th 2008 1:05PM
Phasing is a slap in the face!
Also, thanks for clearing up the trainer thing, I kept seeing the Mage trainer in Dalaran and assuming that there was a Rogue one somewhere....
widowmakrtwo Oct 30th 2008 1:20PM
Well, since Blizzard can't actually physically reach through your screen and slap you in the face why don't you pay some stranger to slap you in the face. :) J/k Just that everything seems to be a slap in the face these days.
Phasing is actually really cool. It really gives a level of immersion in this game that has been a long time coming imo.
gundamxzero Oct 30th 2008 1:37PM
I think he says this not knowing what its like. I doubt hes in the beta to know.
David Oct 30th 2008 2:15PM
That or he was joking.
Come on guys, what self-respecting forum troll would use the phrase "slap in the face" without an extended diatribe on the subject?
Tap Oct 30th 2008 2:22PM
The level of immersion I want is to be able to play with my friends. Getting my guildies level 80 to help, and helping other guildies is part of being in a guild. Phasing does sound cool, but part of being in a guild and an MMO is seeing and interacting with _PEOPLE_.
No, I don't have a better solution. Once I get Wrath, I'll decide if its worth the loss of my friends ability to help to be more immersed.
Derick Oct 30th 2008 3:28PM
I doubt every quest will have phasing in it. It'll probably just be ones where it makes sense and is useful.
The starting quests for DKs is the only questing I've done in beta to help keep spoilers away. The phasing used there is spectacularly pulled off and makes the whole thing seem really progressive. At first it was a bit disorienting that things were changing in a game where things usually don't, but it was used masterfully.
I'd bet they are a bit more complicated to create too, so I really doubt Blizz will have it implemented in even 25% of the quests we'll see in wrath.
Brad Oct 30th 2008 5:04PM
Phasing isn't really that much different from how we play now, it's just a more formalized form of how we play. I.e. a person aligned with Aldor can't help someone aligned with Scryer and someone who already has their netherdrake can't help with that quest chain.
Sayce Oct 30th 2008 1:09PM
I'm excited about the phasing, though it seems a bit complicated. Is it going to be impossible to get help with lower level quests on my alts after the main wave of players has gone through? Currently, in BC, it's been hell to find groups for things between say level 55 and 70. But at least if I had to, I could beg someone in my guild to bring their 70 and help me out. Now, if they're "phased" ahead of me on a certain quest, do I have to try to find someone my level that hasn't done it to help me out?
Abraxxis Oct 30th 2008 1:13PM
You shouldn't need help on the leveling quests that perform phasing. I've seen only one group quest that triggered a phase change in my leveling, and that was in Ice Crown; however, if you simply hang around the area and let someone else do it, you will get credit for it yourself.
torgun Oct 30th 2008 1:21PM
Not all quests are phased. I could be mistaken, but I don't remember there being any phased group quests.
Ryan11 Oct 30th 2008 1:17PM
From what I have read, phasing has only been implemented in a few specific areas (IE death knight starting zones). As I highly doubt the devs are adding new phased quests into the old world and outlands, I would think that the only time your issue will even arise is after level 70. Even then, I have not heard of this being implemented in large numbers, not yet. I think it is safe to say, you should be just fine getting help on a leveling toon's quest.
Falcio Oct 30th 2008 1:22PM
Well, at the very least, you might not have to worry too much about the phasing. I'm sure Blizzard is only really going to use the phasing for solo quests.
And if there are group quests involved, it'd probably be at the end of the phasing and not in the middle or the beginning.
At least, that's what I'm guessing...are there any group quests under the effects of phasing right now?
Sayce Oct 30th 2008 3:36PM
Yeah, I wasn't clear, but I was referring to quests between 70-80, as Blizz has ever shown a desire to go back and retune very much old content. But your points make sense about them being mostly solo quests. And from what I've heard, there doesn't appear to be much shortage of quests in Northrend, so maybe it won't matter a great deal if there are a couple of quests you can't get help completing.
Abraxxis Oct 30th 2008 4:27PM
There are several camps (i.e., flight path, inn, vendors) that are opened up using phasing. Once you have done the quests the camp opens up; people who haven't done the quests can't get the FP or use the new quest hub, etc.
The one group quest leading to phasing in Icecrown opens up a camp and requires defending a flag against waves of mobs, including level 70 elites. I watched as a pally soloed it (of course) wondering how my mage was going to do this. However, I got quest credit when the pally finished it.
Kcaz64 Oct 30th 2008 7:26PM
The quest with the flag is soloable by anyone. The flag gives you a buff that makes you regen quickly and hit for a ton more.
Abraxxis Oct 30th 2008 1:10PM
The mage trainer in Dalaran is also not able to reset your talent points, the last I checked; only new spells are provided.
No warlock trainers in Dalaran, as far as I can see. They may be hiding in the sewers, much as they do in Stormwind, but I doubt it.
none Oct 30th 2008 1:14PM
ONLY MAGE TRAINERS????? WTF KINDA BS IS THAT??
Especially considering they can portal around the world anyways. Is this really true??? If so that really #$@#$@ me off.
webrunner Oct 30th 2008 1:18PM
If you are not a mage, then there being mage trainers does not affect you. The baseline (as in Shattrath) is having no trainers at all, so you don't have anything to complain about as you are no worse off then you would have been.
If you are a mage, then you get trainers, so you have nothing to be angry about.
Also if you think about it, because mages CAN teleport all over creation, then there's basically going to effectively be mage trainers everywhere: there might as well be, since they can teleport to one. So mages dont really get anything by having trainers in Dalaran either.
You need to stop being upset at what other people are getting and worry more about yourself. You'd be happier that way.
cjshrader Oct 30th 2008 1:19PM
It makes perfect story sense. Actually, it'd be ridiculous for there *not* to be a mage trainer in Dalaran.
Ryan11 Oct 30th 2008 1:19PM
It's in Dalaran... the city of mages. It kindof makes sense, don't you think?
Now, chill.