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by Adam Holisky 
Jan 8th 2009 at 12:01AM
This topic deserves an article for a few reasons. First, let's take a look at all the changes to clams since 3.0.2:
- Clams are now stackable in stacks of 20. (Patch 3.0.2)
- Players can now open clams while riding a vehicle, sitting, mounted, stealthed, and invisible. (Patch 3.0.8)
And further, someone said "Clams take up too much bag space, let's let them be stacked together."
Okay, so the latter isn't too silly. But this change that's coming in 3.0.8 allowing them to be opened while in non-default states is just weird.
I'm not saying that Blizzard should be doing anything other than fixing our massive clam dilemma. In some ways I'm glad that the game has come down to fixing clams.
But if you're at all like me, it does raise an eyebrow, doesn't it?
Author's Note: Yes, I know the Simpson's quote is "say it... say chowder..." But it sounds much better with the word clam in there.
Filed under: Items, Analysis / Opinion
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 6)
Frank Jan 8th 2009 12:32AM
i'm glad this is in there, because just the other day i was bitching in guild chat about this: "why in the hell do CLAMS stack, but not clam MEAT??"
in short, thank you, blizzard! XOXO
sickbox Jan 8th 2009 12:39AM
the meat does stack just not automatically you can drag the clams one by one onto the stack.
Noirwolf Jan 8th 2009 1:42AM
All of it was stacking at one point and then the meat stacking broke. Hopefully it does all get sorted back out.
Jess Q. Jan 13th 2009 10:14AM
@Noirwolf
I remember when the clam meat stacked, too. And then it just didn't anymore. I remember because I freaked out at how gloriously convenient that was. Then suddenly it didn't work anymore and I thought they purposely nerfed it and was very sad.
Well, not very sad. But a little annoyed.
Shayden Jan 8th 2009 12:12AM
It seems as if Blizzard is trying to make more free bag space than add bigger bags.
d Jan 8th 2009 12:19AM
Adding bag space requires server resources. Bigger bags means a larger database to store the items, a larger save file, longer backup times, might require more RAM on the servers, etc. Changing a few things to require less bag space takes development time, but that's about it.
Dah Jan 8th 2009 1:12AM
Yea, I think D hit the nail on the head. Fixes like this are small easy adjustments to the game that chip away at larger problems. Stuff like this seems strange at first, but in the big scheme of things, they make sense. =)
neadamthal Jan 8th 2009 8:41AM
while u have a point D, it really is moot in the face of allowing people to buy bigger and bigger bags, unless of course you're thinking of 100 slot bags or what not then yah... this would start to bloat things...
but really, i think the size and contents of your bags is miniscule in comparison to all the other data the blizz servers has to process on a second by second basis... hell, one 25man pull likely requires so many events to be processed that adding an extra bag slot would seem trivial.
Quickshiv Jan 8th 2009 10:29AM
IMHO they should just make everything stack to 255 (tinyint) and be done with this bag mumbo jumbo. I know bag makers would be missing out but bag management is just a pain.
Thander Jan 8th 2009 1:03PM
One of the Blizzard reps said 24 slot bags are pretty much the cap on live servers without hardware upgrades.
The next expansion we are likely to see 22 and 24 slot bags, only a slight upgrade over what we have currently.
Changes like these will be more common in the future, especially when the game becomes less popular. They will not want to spend lots of money on hardware when they don't expect the game to be lasting a lot longer.
neadamthal Jan 8th 2009 2:53PM
@Thander
while i don't claim to have knowledge of their 'bag mgmt code', as a developer i really have a hard time seeing how having a 30 slot bag vs a 24 is going to require a hardware upgrade. it's not like bag contents are involved in the thousands/millions of microtransactions that occur during a boss fight. when you log on, the bag size/contents data is transferred to the client. when you change your bags/contents that information is transferred... only the changes to the bags/contents would be transmitted... not the entire data each and everytime.... and if it is then they're going about it all wrong, and i highly doubt that.
i'd like to see a link to back that one up.
kworry Jan 8th 2009 4:03PM
Try this again:
I'm a little uncertain how I can get a 32 slot inscription bag, or a 28 slot leatherworking bag, but I can only get a 20 slot everything bag.
Is there a reason for this?
Shaman Jan 8th 2009 9:33AM
I for one welcome our new invertebrate overlords....
I bet it was the Shaman class master, not like hes working on anything.... ever ;P
drocket Jan 8th 2009 12:19AM
I'd guess that they simply changed a couple of flags on the object. I'd guess that pretty much ever item has code something like:
this.UseWhileStealthed = false;
this.UseWhileSitting = false;
etc.
Just chance those to true and there you go. Probably took 30 seconds to change.
Muse Jan 8th 2009 12:23AM
That, and it required no serious amount of discussion beforehand.
Anthony Jan 8th 2009 12:33AM
I don't see any big effort on their part to be honest.
We can already open bags such as the Shattrath Fishing reward and cooking daily reward whilst flying etc without getting dismounted.
I figure someone just thought, "hmm, clams should be the same." and just added clams to the same code as the others.
rosencratz Jan 8th 2009 5:35AM
Your quite right, there are many types of things that can be "opened" when flying and it always suprises me when stuff can't be.A very simple change for Blizz and no mistake.
ashleyu Jan 8th 2009 12:37AM
Clams are way too OP now. Nerf Clams!
Calaana Jan 8th 2009 12:52AM
You're joking, right?
Sure clams are op when they just hit max level but once you start scaling, even normal clam gear, they fall behind quickly.
Buffs honestly, to both clam scaling and vendor defenses - we all know how easily you sellnoobs die.
Person Jan 8th 2009 2:13AM
This is a huge slap in the face to all of us who have stuck it out through thick and thin with our individual clams. The blizzard devs obviously don't play any characters who... who... doesn't stack clams? They hate our class?
you know what, I don't know how to keep going with this.