Dual spec available at level 40, reagent requirement removed
by Eliah Hecht 
Feb 24th 2009 at 4:38PM
Dual spec is one of patch 3.1's headline features: for the price of 1,000 gold, you can unlock the ability to keep a second spec for your character, which you can switch to for free. It was stated a while back by Ghostcrawler that dual spec would only be available to level 80 characters, which was upsetting to many (including myself). It's a feature that has the potential to be amazingly useful for those who like to do dungeons while leveling - why remove that possibility?
I am happy to report, therefore, that Zarhym has just reported that dual spec will be available to characters of level 40 or higher. This is an excellent compromise between not wanting to confuse newbies, and giving players the flexibility to heal dungeons (for instance) as they level while not being gimped in solo play. The real game might begin at 80, but it's important not to neglect 1 through 79.
Furthermore, the announced reagent requirement has been removed - no longer will players need to be in a city or find an inscriber to create a portable lexicon of power for them. Now that's a dual spec feature I can love, even at a 1,000 g cost. Update: Zarhym has clarified the processs a little bit. "You literally just click a button," it's a five-second cast, it swaps your glyphs and action bar along with your spec, and there's no cooldown. You can't use it in combat or in BGs/arenas.
Patch 3.1 brings us Ulduar, dual specs, significant changes to all the classes, and more! We've got you covered from top to bottom with our Guide to Patch 3.1.
Filed under: News items, Leveling, Talents
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 7)
Todd Feb 24th 2009 4:44PM
Nice. Great for people leveling, looking for that instance to run.
kozom Feb 24th 2009 4:58PM
I'm so happy with all the changes, and the price is what I expected it to be. But if i could change one thing; I'd lower the Cost to 300-500g, That's all.
Vindalla Feb 24th 2009 5:00PM
Apparently, it's never enough for some people.
This is probably the best compromise anyone could ask for.
Kozom Feb 24th 2009 5:04PM
@ vin,
I said I'm incredibly happy, and I didn't complain. Obviously if we COULD we WOULD lower prices on gold sinks, and I was just voicing my opinion.
Also, when i begin the sentence with "I'm incredibly happy" how does that sound as though I am not pleased?
Arktic Feb 24th 2009 5:22PM
"Also, when i begin the sentence with "I'm incredibly happy" how does that sound as though I am not pleased?"
The same way saying "No offense, but your face is ugly." can sometimes be found offensive.
email Feb 24th 2009 5:40PM
Arktic is full of win.
lbizzle Feb 24th 2009 5:44PM
I don't see the point of the gold sink. 1000g isn't a trivial amount for some people.
If there is too much gold in the game, the new rings should have been made a bigger sink, or new mounts or something.
If the point is to restrict new players from using it and becoming confused, 100g would have been a more sensible gateway to entry.
I suppose nothing is set in stone yet. My thoughts are that it would usually make sense to make this free on the PTR, but they know people would be angry if they put a proper price tag on it later.
Kakistocracy Feb 24th 2009 5:46PM
First, "No offense, but your face is ugly." is constructive criticize, try to cover it up of you can.
Second, I called this happening when Blizzard said (and I paraphrase) "IF duel spec is popular, then we will extend it to lower levels". Because everyone knows that a true conditional with a true antecedent must be followed with a true consequent.
Third, I believe that the price is wisely (enough) set, not simply as a gold sink, but also as a deterrent (or incentive to buy gold), because it could easily be prohibitively expensive to a first time player, learning the game, but available to someone who has already learned a fair amount about mechanics from leveling other characters.
Fourth, this is the PTR, everything will change, Viva La Cold Weather Flying quest line and enchanter only wands.
Todd Feb 24th 2009 6:00PM
Money might be easy to come by now, but if you're a new player, 1k gold is nothing to sneeze at. Perhaps the fee should be based on a percentage of level. At 80, it's 1k. 25 gold per level, starting at level 40.
badjoke Feb 24th 2009 8:27PM
The amount of gold pretty much ensures that the only people that can respec at L40 have 80 mains or buy gold. That makes sure that the player has gotten to 80 and knows the game. I think 1000g is a perfect price.
Todd Feb 24th 2009 8:34PM
So you think that a completely new player should have to get to 80, their first toon, before they can enjoy using Dual Specs? That means that they may have less experience by the time their 80 to use another aspect of their character. Most people don't flip flop specs regularly, or even remotely.
If this were the case, this would be a prime example of why you have bad healers and bad tanks. Letting such people have a dual possibility early on, lets everyone benefit from a more experience player.
PeeWee Feb 24th 2009 9:33PM
"That makes sure that the player has gotten to 80 and knows the game. I think 1000g is a perfect price"
...or that he knows where to buy gold. Google on "buy wow gold" and you're all set, all the gold you need, at least until your account gets stolen by the same mofo that sold you the gold in the first place.
Therefore, if you meet someone claiming he's not got a lvl 80, and still uses dual-spec, he's either a liar or a gold buyer. Either way, ditch him.
Todd Feb 24th 2009 9:56PM
"Therefore, if you meet someone claiming he's not got a lvl 80, and still uses dual-spec, he's either a liar or a gold buyer. Either way, ditch him."
What? I'm going to try and decipher what you wrote. Are you saying "If you meet someone claiming he doesn't have a lvl 80 and still uses dual-spec, he's either a liar or a gold buyer."
That doesn't make any sense to me.
Well, besides what you said, you're generalizing. People new to the game may not have any contacts or level 80's to pool from.
konoo Feb 24th 2009 4:44PM
Nice, thats some good news. Although most lvl 40's wont have the cash people with alts can do it.
InsaneAssault Feb 24th 2009 5:48PM
Is it confirmed that dual speccing now is the only way to change specs? So many people are bitching about it being too expensive. But if the current way to respec is still in the game after 3.1, whats the problem? Just pay the 50g. You don't NEED to buy the dual spec.
Candina@WH Feb 24th 2009 4:45PM
Cost of 1000g at level 40...
Dude, when I got my first mount at level 40 (with no guild, wealthy friends, or bought gold), I found the 100g price to be steep.
1000g at level 40? So only alts get dual spec, eh?
Nick Feb 24th 2009 4:48PM
um... don't buy it?
Man... cannot please some people >
Candina@WH Feb 24th 2009 4:52PM
I wasn't complaining, just commenting that dropping the level requirement doesn't help people new to the game.
It is just as unavailable to them as if it were level 60 or level 80.
Kaphik Feb 24th 2009 5:10PM
People new to the game don't need dual specs. People leveling from 1-60 don't need dual specs either. You can tank, heal, or dps just fine with a leveling spec.
One thousand gold seems to be just right, especially with how OP dual speccing looks to be now.
Kassu Feb 24th 2009 5:17PM
Uhmm...Why dont newcomers need dual specs? Newbie != Noob, why shouldn't they get a chance at dual specs??
Also, what if you make a char on a new realm, you can't give them the money unless you transfer.
This is BS, if Blizz makes it so easy to change the specs, they should drop the fucking cost too. The game has enough gold sinks as it is, I've seen a lot of people at 80 with no cold weather flying, and not just fresh-faced 80s, I mean people raiding Naxx and needing a summon after each wipe, this is going to be fun for them.