Patch 5.3 interview with Ghostcrawler
Mystery of the Unborn Val'kyr
The latest patch 5.3 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsTuesday Morning Post: 3.0.8 for real this time
by Daniel Whitcomb 
Jan 20th 2009 at 5:30AM
Okay, I know, I know, I said I wouldn't predict 3.0.8 again, but well, now it's safe to do so. So I'm going to like, unofficially say now that I am a bit bummed that I may not be able to sell my Relics of Ulduar for my motorcycle fund, but am happy I will be able to get me some extra Sons of Hodir faction since I've been slacking on those dailies.Anyway, with a patch comes a lot of downtime, so as usual, I'd suggest some WoW Insider reading. You'll find a list of some of the major articles and new stories of the past week after the break, with the 3.0.8 stuff up top so you can get up to speed before the servers come up.
3.0.8 Hot News and Analysis
- If you were planning to reroll a Death Knight on a server where you didn't have a 55 before, 3.0.8's finally going to be your big chance.
- While this is probably patch day, they were patching the test servers up til the last few days. Here's a list of some of the latest changes.
- Rep grinders rejoice! Grey mobs no longer have a reputation gain penalty in 3.0.8.
- Don't panic! There's a few bugs going live with 3.0.8, but they're already working on hotfixes.
- Or do panic. Adam wants you to remember that Patch notes don't always survive the transition from test to live intact.
- Encrypted Text is patiently waiting for 3.0.8. Which is sort of making us nervous. Dang Rogues.
- Shifting Perspectives looked at Druids in 3.0.8.
- Blood Pact is also looking forward to 3.0.8. Which is also sort of making us nervous. Warlocks are creepy.
- Paladins are doing well and about to get better in 3.0.8, says The Light and How to Swing It.
- Some Achievements are getting easier in 3.0.8, Including some dungeon achievements such as Gotta Go!
- There's a minor but actually somewhat disappointing change for the Arcanite Ripper in 3.0.8.
- A nice bonus for engineers: The Scrapbot will be able to repair in "a future patch." We're pulling for 3.0.8.
- Sorry tanks. Titanguard's gone after all.
- Wondering when your server will come back up? Sign up for an Email!
- Here's one of the more controversial subjects we've reported on in a while: WoW downtime insurance. It was such an intriguing topic we even tracked down the founders for a few words.
- Talents were considered one of the greatest new features of WoW when they first comes out. So what happens when you eschew them completely?
- Have you been trying for the Figure Print lottery with no luck? Here's some good news: There's no more lottery.
- Ever wonder how many people actually rolled a Gnome Death Knight? GamerDNA and Massively investigate Death Knight numbers.
- If you're a Warrior or Death Knight tank who's been having less trouble keeping aggro lately, you may have a hotfix to thank.
- Priests have gotten a bit of one-on-one time with Ghostcrawler over on the healing boards.
- Shamans and Warlocks also had a chance to get some TLC from GC (Yeah, I promised myself I'd never use the GC abbreviation, but I couldn't resist).
- The above, of course, got Totem Talk to thinking.
- The Care and Feeding of Warriors continues to look at raid gear.
- Getting ready to tank Naxxramas as a Death Knight? Check out our tanking gear guide.
- We also have a healy priest pre-Naxxramas gear guide.
- Ghostcrawler recently had a few things to say about resilience.
- So you just dinged 80. Are you really ready for Heroics?
- Having trouble with money? Maybe you need some financial discipline.
- Having trouble with loot drama in PuGs? See if some of these tips help smooth things out.
- Here's something to watch during the downtime: A new episode of The Guild!
- Here's a blast from the past for all you veterans and a nice history lesson for you newbies: The Lament of Captain Placeholder.
- What's a healer to do when the tank is unfaithful?
- Lorelol. What does it mean? Is it even really a justifiable turn of phrase? See what the new guy thinks.
Filed under: Patches, Analysis / Opinion, Realm Status, News items
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)
Mankrik Jan 20th 2009 8:46AM
I'll be glad when the short bus picks up Anggrath this morning. It must be running late.
Anggrath Jan 20th 2009 10:10AM
Short bus? Look who is right. Patch is up, idiots.
Tom Jan 20th 2009 8:47AM
I don't know where this information about the patch being available in Europe is coming from. Perhaps the client patch is available, though I haven't downloaded anything, but the servers will be patched tomorrow during an extended maintainence period, if the news on the login page is to be believed.
NightSaw Jan 20th 2009 8:56AM
Comfirmed, servers will be patched this night. So on the EU servers patch isn't inserted yet.
Dunno why the US still isn't updated yet, normally it's already patched and up before the EU servers are up.
Personally I'm looking forward to this patch, mainly for the exalted status with The Sons of Hodir =) Finally, no more daily grinding....
Also the reputation reward from mobs is also nice, finally a reason to go back to Stratholme more often.
Kylenne Jan 20th 2009 9:00AM
Does anyone know if the changes to rep gains are just for Northrend or for old factions too?
Here's to hoping I can finally knock out that last bit of Violet Eye rep doing welfare purple runs for fresh 70 guildies. It's a shame they didn't decide to add a title for Violet Eye & Kirin Tor exalted the way they did for Argents and Cenarions. "Defender of the Arcane" or something like that would be neat.
aellas Jan 20th 2009 10:52AM
All factions afaik, I do know it applies to factions like Timbermaw so I can't imagine it doesn't work on BC factions too.
xECNAMALAIN Jan 20th 2009 9:05AM
Why do you tell me all these lies?
I just want to live my life
I don't want to leave my dreams behind
Tell me
Why am I only getting older?
My patience getting shorter
I'm running out of time
And I hope that I get what I wanted
This time's for real
Is there anything I wanted?
Is there anything I needed?
Anything at all?
~ iLL nIÑO
Amaxe Jan 20th 2009 9:01AM
As of 8:58am (EST) downloader says there is no patch info available to download (and yes I used Backgrounddownloader.exe).
If the patch is today, it's going to be a mess trying to get it downloaded if they don't get it available soon.
Given the fact that the Blizz official version is not available, I sure as hell am not going to risk one of those mirror sites until I can verify that it is from Blizz.
Mankrik Jan 20th 2009 9:13AM
"Given the fact that the Blizz official version is not available, I sure as hell am not going to risk one of those mirror sites until I can verify that it is from Blizz."
Agree.
In fact, within the hour, wowwiki will be removing them mirrors .
And if you downloaded from them, you're forked.
Amaxe Jan 20th 2009 9:17AM
I just hope nobody ran the .exe before verifying it was Blizzard.
cartman Jan 20th 2009 9:13AM
Well its 6am pst and no patch yet so either they found a real mess in Europe with the patch, or it isn't popping today. Either way, who's to say?
Cart
Tidecaller Jan 20th 2009 9:25AM
Patch downloader is up now after login screen. Gentlemen, start your downloads! (Currently stuck at 23%.)
Daisil Jan 20th 2009 9:26AM
You are all a bunch of morons; stop arguing like a bunch of babies (aimed at those who filled pages 2-3 with junk).
Patch is downloading; so it took a bit. Doesn't mean that Wowinsider was lieing.
Grab a cup of coffee; start the download; and shut up. We don't need to hear your bickering while servers are down; I see that enough in Windrunner trade chat during the week.
Enjoy the new patch all!
FubarGrn Jan 20th 2009 9:31AM
I am downloading the patch right now, yes, it's today.
Amaxe Jan 20th 2009 9:32AM
finally started.
Wonder why the delay.
Debesun Jan 20th 2009 9:56AM
For there to be a delay, the has to be a appointed time for when Blizzard has stated it would be available.
Would it really matter if the file was released "later than usual"?
It's a 8 hour scheduled extended maintenance. I'm fairly sure a 51.4MB file is not going to take you too much time to download even if you just leave your computer alone and just downloaded the patch when you log on when the servers are back up.
Just seems that people are either complaining or trying to think something went wrong just for the sake that they have nothing else better to do when Blizzard intended to release it late because honestly, what's the rush?
Anggrath Jan 20th 2009 10:10AM
pwned
Amaxe Jan 20th 2009 1:10PM
Admitting you were pwned Anggrath? Good of you to admit it.
Because if you actually read what I said, I never said " no patch" I said "either no patch or it is late."
That was true at the time I wrote it, and it is true now. The patch *was* late in starting download.
Try reading more than the first sentence of a post before hitting "reply."
Anggrath Jan 20th 2009 10:44PM
No, you were pwned. The fact that you are too stupid to realize it makes it even that more sweet.
Good job being wrong. Idiot.
Amaxe Jan 21st 2009 12:20AM
My condolences for your lack of basic English which is evidenced by your childish and repetitive insults, and also for your lack of life that you feel compelled to keep harping on an issue that was pushed to the second page hours ago.
Reading Comprehension FTW, Anggrath FTL.