Mining mechanics changed, one hit per node
by Adam Holisky 
Jan 7th 2009 at 5:00PM
Miners will now only hit the node once to get all the ore and associated loot.
This change might seem mundane but it actually carries some significant weight. Farmers regularly fly or run around zones, stopping at every node they see. Under the current system most nodes required between two and four hits to extract all the ore, sometimes even more for the rich nodes. An ore farmer would spend a portion of his time ensuring the mobs were cleared around the node enough so that he would be able to hit it multiple times, and then actually spend the minute sitting on the node farming it.
With the one hit method that is now being implemented in 3.0.8, the process becomes significantly easier. Point, click, wait a second, fly off to the other destination, profit. There's no "???" in there, just a pure and easy way to make money.
For me this changes means that farming around zones such as Icecrown will become easier with all the elites that pat about. I won't really have to wait for the perfect time to land and grab the ore, now I just have to wait so that the elite will be out of range long enough to get one hit. Quite a nice little change.
One last note about this. We might see this change reduce the price of ore across all servers. It stands that if a product is easier to get, then supply will increase to meet demand, lowering the overall prices. While we'll have to wait and see how much of an impact this change has on the supply side, the results will definitely be interesting to look at when 3.0.8 goes live.
Filed under: Mining, Patches, Analysis / Opinion, News items, Making money
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 8)
Ali Jan 7th 2009 5:04PM
This will change mining in PVP servers as well. I've definitely been killed for a Titanium node before so this change will minimize the chance of ganking for nodes.
Nick S Jan 7th 2009 5:18PM
I often kill for Titanium Nodes.
darren Jan 7th 2009 5:30PM
With all that they drop, who WOULDN'T kill for a titanium node. Though, I'd carry around your PVP trinket as well. As a paladin, I know that both stuns are long enough to get a full mine off. Swoop in, stun the miner, mine, and then be off with all the loot. Watch out miners!
Lemons Jan 7th 2009 6:21PM
Any1 ever wished they could gank thier own faction for a node?
I know I have...
Moody Loner Jan 7th 2009 6:48PM
@Lemons:
Yes, and I'm on a PvE server.
At least the Hordies understand the concept of taking turns. I have actually had an undead rogue back off and let me get a skillup off the node he fairly beat me to.
The worst times I've had nodes stolen were all Allies.
Ryan Jan 8th 2009 2:26AM
I once had a fellow Alliance player train three proto-drakes onto me in Sholazar to get me off a Titanium node, which he mined of all THREE ticks while I dealt with his mess. When I whispered him to ask what the hell was his problem, he replied "sorry, thought you were a horde."
Yes, because there are so many horde races that are two and a half feet tall. Jackass.
Chaandra Jan 8th 2009 3:57PM
I wish everybody would follow this kind of etiquette...
http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/929/idiotsguidezs6.jpg
Ezzy Jan 7th 2009 5:03PM
The best part about this change is that trashcans cant tap the node at the same time as you and take valuable taps from you. It is first come first serve!
Daniel Jan 7th 2009 5:09PM
Exactly, which is why this change SUCKS for solo miners. I detest it with a passion. I'm just soooo glad my miner is almost all the way skilled up because I'd never take up mining now. Unless you are in a group, mining is just one huge death trap. Good thing that Bliz is adding all the new graveyards, miners are gonna need them.
loopinvariant Jan 7th 2009 5:13PM
@Daniel
What planet are you living on? It just became easier to collect all your ore/gems in the same amount of time it took you to get the point skill up and a fraction of the node's contents.
Smells like someone who steals nodes other people have claimed if you ask me. Too bad for you.
Moo Jan 7th 2009 5:15PM
Daniel, i'm a 450 miner and I've never once grouped with anyone to level up mining (probably dumb...but i never wanted to share the loot, heh). Granted I'm a holy pally, wearing plate and can heal myself, but aside from a very few tough nodes I don't recall very many instances of dying while mining either. Yeah, you have to kill a few mobs, but other than situations like the Icecrown Elites mentioned in the post, it aint really a big deal...
Unless you're on a PVP server, then I totally understand where you're coming from.
Daniel Jan 7th 2009 5:19PM
"Smells like someone who steals nodes other people have claimed if you ask me. Too bad for you."
No, exactly the opposite. This change ONLY benefits those who steal nodes from others. This a super-duper change if you are that 80 level running around Darkshire stealing the nodes off the lowbies. But if you are that lowbi (and I have been that lowbie many times) this change sucks the big balls. Before, if some higher level tried to steal your node, you might have the opportunity to get a wack or two in, get your skill up, and move on. Now, you will get nothing.
This change is super for the level 80s who want to drop a profession and take up mining. It's terrible for everyone else.
loopinvariant Jan 7th 2009 5:25PM
@Daniel
"No, exactly the opposite. This change ONLY benefits those who steal nodes from others."
Ah, I get it now. You didn't RTFA. Explain please how you think that once you tap the node an 80 is going to come in and take it from you?
The only scenario that allows your argument is if the lowbie comes in and tries to tap a node already being mined by the 80.
The only people who lose here are the thieves. Like you.
Scott Jan 7th 2009 5:34PM
@Daniel:
What? Have you read the post? You are saying you would rather hit the node once, get 1 piece of ore, get the skill up, and run away (this is how it currently works) vs hit the node once, get ALL the ore (and other stuff) and then run away? So, you want less ore before you run away?
Read the change again.... I will wait..... Now do you get it? You only need to hit the node once. That level 80 who was going to gank you now has less time to do it before you have both your skill up and all of your ore. You are thinking of the exact opposite.
hold up Jan 7th 2009 5:35PM
@Daniel
Are you high? If you are the first person to the node you will get all of the drops from the node all at once instead of having to hit it several times. It prevents a ninja. The only way for you to get your node ninja'd from you now is to not get their first. I suggest you go back and read the article again.
This is a great change. Really takes the /yawn factor out of having to click multiple times.
Gorgzy Jan 7th 2009 5:39PM
@ Daniel
Sounds to me like someone who regrets rolling on a PvP server.
seriously, how often is it going to happen that you're a lowbie farming some minerals to level up mining, only to be killed now and then by a level 80 doing the same?
It's a rare ocurance, nothing to whinge about, why does wow have so many goddamn whiners.
Note: Herbalism has always been this way
Jay in Oregon Jan 7th 2009 5:42PM
@Daniel:
Your mining experience sounds completely alien to the experience that I (and every other miner I know) have had.
With the exception of the day or two after WotLK launched (when everyone was scrambling for ore and to level mining) and the occasional douchenozzle who wants to try to snag a whack at titanium node that I got to first -- the number of times this has happened I can count on two fingers -- I have never, ever, ever, ever had to share a mining node during normal levelling and questing. Ever.
In those instances (so to speak) that have ore nodes and there's more than one miner in the group, we /roll and the high roll gets the node, then it goes around if there are future nodes.
This change simply makes mining faster and easier. It does also allow some jerk to completely steal a node from you as you're beating away the mobs around it, but even without this change I just give them a /rude or a /pity and left. I have better things to get worked up over than fighting over a piece of or or two from a contested node.
FlameFlash Jan 7th 2009 5:43PM
I can actually see Daniel's point on this.
Example:
Hi, I'm Mr. lvl 18 trying to get some tin, I need to kill all the mobs that will aggro to me to get there, I'm on my last one. I'm in a zone that is appropriate for my level.
An 80 walks up, doesn't aggro anything, and takes the FULL tin node now while I'm still trying to kill the last mob that is in aggro range of the node.
This means the 80 can rush in on the epic land mount (or in Outlands flying mount) get it, and be gone before I have a chance to even POSSIBLY note their name/guild to try to QQ.
On the other hand Daniel, this means if you're racing somebody to a node (opposite faction for instance.) CC them if you're on pvp, get the node and get out of there all before they have a chance to break CC (assuming you have CC). On a non-pvp it means you can /mock them afterward but don't get stuck in the old tug of war battles and walk away with only half the loot.
Gessilea Jan 7th 2009 6:29PM
I actually sort of see part of Daniel's point. The issue is speed. Say you're a level 18 in Duskwood, running around on your poor little feet looking for tin. Then you have a level 80 on their zippy mount zipping around looking for tin. Currently, the main speed issue for the 80 is how long it takes to actually mine, whereas for the 18 it's clearing to the node. In the new system, the 80 is spending less time mining, but the 18 is spending the same amount of time clearing to the node.
I still think it's an awesome change, but I could see there being some additional frustration there. Can't please everyone all the time!
Tumleren Jan 7th 2009 6:33PM
"Say you're a level 18 in Duskwood"
If you're lvl 18 in Duskwood you're doing -something- wrong