Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsDual specs currently cost 1000g
by Adam Holisky 
Feb 24th 2009 at 5:00AM
Many thanks to Dustin for sending us the screenshot of the process (see a larger version). You can see that the NPC gives you a little background about the feature, and then the confirmation box comes up asking if you're sure that you want to spend all that gold.
Obviously, this is the point where you click "Accept" and dance around for joy that you now have two specializations.
We'll have more about the exact mechanics and workings of dual specializations as the day goes on. In the mean time, check out the WoW Insider Guide to Patch 3.1 and the PTR Patch 3.1 Patch Notes for more information.
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: Patches, News items
Reader Comments (Page 8 of 8)
Dez Feb 24th 2009 2:00PM
Makes me second-guess myself. As a DK I'm not that dependent on 2 specs, it's worth it and all but dunno.. blow 1000g and realize I mainly use one spec, hm.
What the heck not like there's so much else to spend on, and it's always fun with 2 specs i guess XD
darian Feb 24th 2009 2:05PM
To answer Malkia's question: Yes.
If you don't enjoy the grinding aspects of the game, you might want to considering finding a game more to your liking as said elements seem to be ubiquitous in their opposition to your enjoyment.
BOHICA Feb 24th 2009 2:40PM
What a farkin JOKE!
More gold sinks are not a way to keep my interest in this game.
Blizzard.. blow me.
Magnus Feb 24th 2009 4:04PM
...so Blizzard, you're saying you want me to quit the game in disgust? But why? I don't understand, you say you love me and then you hurt me, and then you say you love me and then you hurt me again... YOU'RE NOT THE VIDEO GAME I MARRIED!!!
*sob*
TankinSass Feb 24th 2009 4:05PM
I don't think it is really accurate to call it a gold sink. It is a way to save money for people who find themselves respec'ing a lot. In that sense, it is Blizzard alleviating a financial burden on a lot of players and opening up more opportunities to play for these characters, be it switching from DPS to healing or tanking or to PvP specs.
If you didn't already have this kind of financial burden, then I'm not entirely sure why one would complain. There are far more expensive ways to min/max for raiding than dropping some cash you you can switch to DPS when the fight only requires one instead of three tanks. If you're that concerned about raid performance, then dropping the 1,000 gold isn't going to seem prohibitive when you already did that and more in terms of crafted gear, enchants, consumables, and professions.
That said, given that Blizzard knows how many times (and how much gold) you've spent respec'ing, I think that if you've crossed a certain threshold, it should be free.
Al Marty Feb 24th 2009 4:10PM
Current expenses…
Priest
900g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
1000g - 70 flying reg
1000g - 77 cold weather flying
Druid
900g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
1000g - 70 flying reg
Warrior
900g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
1000g - 70 flying reg
Paladin
600g - 60 mount (class quest mats)
1000g - 70 flying reg
Warlock
600g - 60 mount (class quest mats)
1000g - 70 flying reg
Shaman
600g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
Hunter
600g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
That totals up to what I’ve spent so far: 11,100g
Here’s what its going to look like with all my chars at 80 and dual spec (no epic flight)
Priest
900g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
1000g - 70 flying reg
1000g - 77 cold weather flying
1000g – Dual spec
Druid
900g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
1000g - 70 flying reg
1000g - 77 cold weather flying
1000g – Dual spec
Warrior
900g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
1000g - 70 flying reg
1000g - 77 cold weather flying
1000g – Dual spec
Paladin
600g - 60 mount (class quest mats)
1000g - 70 flying reg
1000g - 77 cold weather flying
1000g – Dual spec
Warlock
600g - 60 mount (class quest mats)
1000g - 70 flying reg
1000g - 77 cold weather flying
1000g – Dual spec
Shaman
600g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
1000g - 70 flying reg
1000g - 77 cold weather flying
1000g – Dual spec
Hunter
600g - 60 mount (pre patch cost reduction)
1000g - 70 flying reg
1000g - 77 cold weather flying
1000g – Dual spec
This is what it’ll cost me to get each one to 80 with dual spec and basic flight: 26,100g
Add Epic Flight to one of those (my main): 31,100g
Add Epic Flight to each of those: 61,100g
Is it really necessary? Is Epic flight or dual spec really going to be considered option or luxury expense? Is that how we view Epic land mounts, as optional luxury items?
My personal course of action is going to be to open a trouble ticket tonight just to waste a GM’s time complaining about this upcoming cost. The least I can do is make my displeasure their displeasure, and if enough of us do this they might just get the point.
jbodar Feb 25th 2009 5:38AM
Prioritize. Should gold sinks not exist just because you choose to level 7 characters to 80? It's like having 7 kids and then complaining about the cost of diapers and strained peas. Characters each have certain fixed expenses and you can only play so many hours in a day. Are you multi-boxing or something?
Ice Princess Feb 24th 2009 4:10PM
I suck 1,600g to buy my Wyrmrest Red Drake once I hit exalted, I also bought the boots I think it was.
I went down to just 10g after I spent 1,600g. I managed to get 2k+ doing about 12 dailies in Ice Crown for almost a week. WOOT WOOT!
Atm I'm still working to save at least about 5k on my main so I can easily level up my tailoring and send an epic training down to my 3rd highest toon which is the DK (level 59 ftw lol). Hehehe
So this dual spec thing is only avail at 80? Kinda sucks, they should make it available from level 20 or something. It'll give me more incentive to play my druid (11)/shaman(30)/DK(59). They're currently stuck in that level because levelling is just so tedious especially since no1 wants to run instances in the Olde Worlde. UGH!
Lady Sith Feb 24th 2009 4:16PM
Noone's forcing you to dual spec all your characters... just do it on the ones you play the most.
Lady Sith Feb 24th 2009 4:18PM
That was for comment 144 by Al Marty
Kaku Feb 26th 2009 10:09PM
I think this game needs to identify 4 categories of players, in average time sink order:
Raiders (want it ALL ASAP)
Gamers (want it all, but in their own time)
Casuals (just want the opportunity to have it all)
Scrubs (want it ALL ASAP, but without putting in effort, often are very bad players too)
I respect 3 of those players. Who's the odd one out?
But do let me go on, I'm a casual in every sense of the word. I work full-time as a finance professional, pulling 60+ hour weeks. On weekends (can't play weekdays) I normally just log to raid, do a few heroics, and clear some important dailies (i.e. Hodir). I've been playing for 3 months and am one of the best dps in my old guild and could quite easily go head to head with most on the server, am geared for EoE25 (wow-heroes), have all needed skills and mounts, and have plenty of gold to spare. I don't wrap my life around the game, but I play to my best when I'm there.
I'm not in a rush to get anything done, yet at the same time am surprised at how easy it is to get gold, get geared, and be competitive. It's refreshing, but I can understand the more hardcore getting a bit annoyed due to simplicity. But when something like this comes out, I'll get excited at the possibility of owning it and it's a nice goal to work towards.
And due to this I totally understand Anoms reaction on page 7 too. I don't work as hard as my boss (I manage sleep daily) so I don't feel like I'm getting shortchanged because I don't drive the car she does, nor do I have a beautiful collection of LV luggage, nor do I eat at the best restaurants in the world. But I can drive a car, do own luggage, and I eat. See the point I'm getting at?
chaime Mar 6th 2009 10:27PM
I'm sort of at an impasse with whether or not I agree with it costing 1000g for dual spec...on one hand, when I was unemployed I would be playing 14/15/16hrs a day, and I would have gladly dropped the 1k once I brought my main up to 80.
Now that I have a job, though, it's been increasingly difficult to get even game time during the week. All that has to be reserved for either late night play (I work late nights) or just the weekend.
Some people don't have the luxury of staying home all the time to farm enough gold to get the maximum amount of enjoyment from their main -- be it an epic mount, dual spec, etc.
At the same time I think..."well, if you aren't playing hardcore then why even care?"
Like I said...impasse. It's been a long week. -_-;;
DementoR Mar 14th 2009 6:56PM
Well 1 k of gold is too much for this . If you dont give 1 k gold on this you can respec 20 times for 1 k of gold .. And I will respec 7-8 times maxx !! so for me it's useless to give 1 k of gold :D .
Daniel Mar 19th 2009 12:53PM
DementoR... sure 7 respecs only costs 350g but more people are unwilling to respec just because they dont want to spend 50g to raid and then another 50g to go back, that's 100g per raid if you play more than just to raid... so you are paying for 3 1/2 raids... my pally during BC was holy all the time, it took forever to do anything on my own... but with the ability to freely switch back and forth, i would be able to do anything i want
Smilly Mar 21st 2009 9:26PM
Well, i agree with everyone that said it is worth it for the simple fact that you can switch to any od the two specs that you have chosen. Works for me i tell ya because in a week i end up spending almost 500 g respecing with that said. im all for 1 k aint hard to get even if you are a casual gamer. im all for it :)
Ozzymandes Mar 21st 2009 8:13PM
Well, i think the 1,000g is way out there! What level 40 toon has 1000g to spare? If the toon is a new player, they will not be able to touch that ever. With the mounts costing so much, and the ppl who farm mats 24/7, who has any cash. How about you scale the cost according to the level of the toon?
DeepSea Apr 8th 2009 9:44PM
I love hearing all the hunters on this post bash players on "how easy it is to make money". I does not suprise me that people who don't play as a tank or healer don't understand the diffuculty of trying to provide an over critical part of a raid/dungeon and then try to painfully "grind" out rep/gold/quests. My solution is keep the 1000g for easily soloable classes and make it free for undermanned and critical classes, i.e. healers and tanks.