New PTR announcements [Updated]
by Adam Holisky 
Feb 18th 2009 at 8:35AM
A couple of new things about the Patch 3.1 PTR this morning for you all. Dual specs, character copying, premades, downloading, vendors, and PTR release; it's like our own version of lions and tigers and bears, oh my!Premade Characters
No plans to have them be available. This doesn't completely rule them out, but Blizzard is usually pretty upfront with us if they're going to allow us to make some premade characters.
Dual Spec is not finalized
There is a lot of QQ already about dual specs and how they will work. We've seen everyone under the sun now tell us that the system isn't finalized. That means that the level 80 requirement for dual specs is still the way it'll be, but that could change in a heartbeat.
Character Copy
Blizzard will (or already has) wiped the PTR clean of all characters, so if you copied your character over already you'll need to do it again soon (we'll try to figure out when). And of course, this does not in any way affect your live-realm character. We know... it's a "duh" statement... but we get the question.
PTR Download
The PTR download is not delivering you version 3.1. It's giving you the 3.0.8 PTR. So don't get it, there's really no reason to. You'll see all the bells and whistles go off here on WoW Insider when the download becomes available. We'll also get those coveted patch notes things up too.
Glyph/Enchant Vendors
Blizzard may put a glyph/enchantment vendor on the PTR for us, but do the smart thing and transfer your character over as if it won't be there. No promises the vendor will be there other than a "maybe."
Patch 3.1 Class Changes
Not all the 3.1 class changes are going to be on the PTR when it's initially released. They'll come in waves, like has been done the past few times. We'll know more information when we get a look at the official patch notes and actually get on the PTR to test things out.
All this information was recently posted on the EU PTR forums, so it looks like the PTR is getting closer and closer to release. Don't be surprised if it comes out today...
Updated 9:18 a.m. EST: Added "Patch 3.1 Class Changes" section.
Filed under: Patches, News items
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Riz Feb 18th 2009 8:40AM
So whats the "breaking" news ... ? Conjecture & hype?
fail
Adam Holisky Feb 18th 2009 8:45AM
There's no conjecture and no hype.
It's a generic image I use to get the post up more quickly, so I can bring the information to you faster. Afterwards, if you'd now refresh your page, you'll see that the image has been replaced.
Stock images FTW.
Arkeband Feb 18th 2009 8:44AM
Yeah... I expected this post to reflect a real PTR announcement, not just a couple of "keep-in-minds" from the EU forums >_
arushi Feb 18th 2009 8:52AM
and what exactly have you lost by reading this?
seems some people just like to complain for the sake of it.
Zul Feb 18th 2009 1:42PM
I agree, just stfu. Go find another blog if this isn't good enough for you...
clinto Feb 18th 2009 8:52AM
will the Ice Stone Melt on the PTR?
Pfooti Feb 18th 2009 8:53AM
I honestly don't understand the negativity here. There's posts, we read them. I personally have a WoWinsider feed in my RSS aggregator. More posts is better than fewer posts. So if it's not a huge piece of breaking news, you'd rather have ... dead air? It's all useful information to have. Just because you're impatient for the PTR, don't take it out on the WoWi bloggers, it makes you look childish.
mcclary Feb 18th 2009 9:00AM
Thank you Pfooti. I agree 100%. I get so sick of the whiners and grammar police that expect big news, all the time, only whats important to them, and with ZERO errors. It's a blog, 95% of us just enjoy reading what these guys have to say. If you have some stink about it or the bloggers take your readership elsewhere
Doffencrag Feb 18th 2009 9:40AM
/signed
Sharkhunt Feb 18th 2009 9:57AM
The detractors have the wrong set of expectations. Sites like mmo-champion usually make one or two large news posts a day with lots of info. WI likes to break things down into bite sized pieces and spread things out throughout the day along with a mix of other types of content.
I think WI probably has the better business model if they can make up in page views what they might be missing in total readership. The downside of that is there's a certain amount of fluff and recycled content mixed in to give repeat visitors something "new" to look at.
ChanceC Feb 18th 2009 1:16PM
Agreed.
sephirah Feb 18th 2009 9:05AM
I'm assuming that class changes will be on the PTR.
Anybody knows if my supposition is actually correct?
Adam Holisky Feb 18th 2009 9:14AM
They won't be 100% there, I'll actually go back and add this note to the original article.
Medros Feb 18th 2009 9:36AM
I believe, historically, that the PTRs go up Friday, Saturday, or Sunday.
con-man Feb 18th 2009 9:36AM
So what was the point of this article again?
peagle Feb 18th 2009 9:45AM
So people like me, who don't spend every second reading every article can get a good summary of all updates to date.
It's also for people like you, to comment on negatively and appear as total douches.
Dual use!
Auto Feb 18th 2009 9:47AM
If you have nothing positive to add, please STFU and move on. \
I personally am grateful for WI keeping us up to date with the latest info.
Thumbs up!!
vyx Feb 18th 2009 9:55AM
There's a difference between expecting *big news* and expecting *some news.* When we log on we expect to see an article with actual information, or with actual conjecture, or something. This says "uhm, there's gonna be a PTR sometime and uhm, yeah, how about that?" There's nothing new in this.
dawnseven Feb 18th 2009 10:12AM
It's not WIs fault that there's no solid earth shattering news. Personally, I don't mind a little conjecture. It makes me keep my eye out for a validation or confirmation. Accept things for what they are and move on. Not ALL "news" is going to be important to ALL people. If you have constructive criticism by all means post it, but for the people that have nothing better to do than bitch and whine for the sake of bitching and whining, give the rest of us a break. It's old. Very, very old.
Evi Feb 18th 2009 11:20AM
Man, you guys will complain about anything. Jeez.
Thanks for the info, Adam.