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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsGhostcrawler explains why it took five months to nerf Death Knights
by Zach Yonzon 
Apr 17th 2009 at 4:00PM
On the other hand. it took all of 24 hours for Warlocks to enjoy insane Conflagrate numbers, which was promptly fixed. Ghostcrawler explain why through a lengthy response over at the forums, noting that Death Knights were imbalanced for more reasons than a simply overpowered spell coefficient. He also said that Death Knights and Paladins were nerfed over the course of several patches leading to Patch 3.1, but none proved to be enough to balance them.
It needs to be said that Death Knights were changed the most in this patch, with talent trees completely revised, some notable abilities removed (oh, Shadow of Death, how we'll miss you...), and class mechanics changed. It's quite possible that even these changes won't curb Death Knight dominance, but it's a massive change that simply isn't hotfixable. It's a fair response and a pretty good read. Ghostcrawler makes several important points, one of which is that players shouldn't feel that developers don't love them. So don't be emo.
Filed under: Warlock, Death Knight, Forums
Reader Comments (Page 2 of 3)
str1fe Apr 17th 2009 4:57PM
By that logic, why would anyone play a priest, druid, shaman, mage, warlock, warrior, paladin, hunter, or rogue if they aren't OP?
A class should be played because the player enjoys that class more than the other 9, not because it's actually imbalanced to be mathematically better.
Saintgutfree Apr 17th 2009 5:09PM
Or you know, not trying to shoot your down for being an ass or anything, but maybe alot of players have tired of playing the same 9 classes over the course of 4 and a half years? I mean, hell, if they had released SUPAH DRUID as the hero class I'd still roll it. I played a Warlock for four years. It was time to try something else. I had tried every other class in the game, and stuck to none; long nights spent pondering why concluded with one word: Dots.
And that would be the single reason I play a DK. Damage over time mixed with an entirely different play style. It's not that I said "OMG DK ROCK AND ARE OP." It's the same thing as when Warlocks were considered OP back in early/pre BC and a tremendous amount of people criticized me for playing a Warlock (though I always played Affliction...). I started playing a Warlock back in 1.3. Which you may not remember, it's been a while, Warlocks were laughed at universally. Low DPS, no survival, just a weak mage with a pet. They've finally been grounded to a decent level of high DPS/moderate survivability.
Spark Apr 17th 2009 5:28PM
-----
Saintgutfree said...
I started playing a Warlock back in 1.3. Which you may not remember, it's been a while, Warlocks were laughed at universally.
-----
"Warlocks are mushrooms."
"This is called 'balance.'"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJWeWMKfa3g
zachb1987 Apr 17th 2009 4:14PM
And yet here is another reason that til they make DW viable I won't be playing my DK... I guess its a good thing for my guild because now I am back on my Druid. However as a player I don't feel that they should just make DWing completely obsolete. Sure nerf the ability but to go from 3.5k DPS down to maybe being able to pull 2k is disgusting. I can DPS with my boomkin in full Resto gear better than that
smiley Apr 17th 2009 4:22PM
I hate the comment system of WI new one plz.. i wrote out a nice paragraph click submit and it slost... I am on a GD Fiber optic connection >_<
anyway yea I just said I
Cure4Living Apr 17th 2009 5:00PM
LoL with all this warlock hating I wonder why I still like them so much :P
But yeah DKs are the new it thing, until the next expansion or whatever comes along, besides they've been overhauling the old classes for years, the DK still has a long way to go.
smiley Apr 17th 2009 4:27PM
really... a 3rd clip in my msg... srsly
anyway yea I just said I
yaminokishi Apr 17th 2009 4:28PM
I find death knights more OP than ever, my full unholy dk (none of that shadowfrost silliness) does way more burst damage than before the patch. They buffed desecration too.
Aedilhild Apr 17th 2009 4:29PM
Wrong link (although the humor is spot-on). Here's Ghostcrawler's explanation:
http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=16418332575&sid=1&pageNo=7#130
Fascinating stuff for us design process freaks.
bluerobin427 Apr 17th 2009 4:30PM
Also, I wasn't sure but (for the person that posted while I was posting) the picture filename+a quick google search confirmed it's Dashboard Confessional band members.
Ascudgamin Apr 17th 2009 4:37PM
Number 1 Reason why Death Knights nerfs are slow and why they shouldn't be nerfed much at all, they are meant to be OP, hence the CATEGORY OF: " HERO CLASS"
R055 Apr 19th 2009 12:19PM
^ MORON CLASS
skreeran Apr 17th 2009 5:32PM
Congratulations, you win the idiot of the year award:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v474/cyberman8/dumbass1_lrg.jpg
shoryu Apr 17th 2009 7:28PM
yes i agree you are a tard. as stated by blizz themselves, HERO class merely refers to the DKs deeper involvement in the lore of Azeroth, not their abilities. im so tired of you nubs with no skill rolling DKs facerolling the computer and claiming that your class is supposed to be "the best" because you are heroes. well guess what, you are a bunch of useless pawn that all "broke" free of your tyrant and now flood trade channel with your nub questions. how about you reroll a class that requires a brain?
Ascudgamin Apr 17th 2009 9:46PM
I actually do play a class that requires a brain, I play all classes... my main was a hunter, now im working on my druid, but i have one of all types and level them all, the only one i don't play as much is my priest.
Kinman Apr 17th 2009 4:41PM
Haha, see how you like it now?!
signed> Ret. pallys
runka Apr 17th 2009 4:43PM
next herioc class will be op also...if not no-one will play them....wait, remember and see...
cannedhero Apr 17th 2009 4:44PM
[quote]they are meant to be OP, hence the CATEGORY OF: " HERO CLASS"[/quote]
People making this argument make me want to bash my head on my computer table.
Just because they are labeled "hero class" they should be more powerfull than the other classes, and in it's wake ruining the fun for those other classes?
!ONLY! time hero classes should be more powerfull than normal classes should be when EVERY normal class has a hero class option to take... till then there is no excuse to be overpowered as facerollknight.
Magma Apr 17th 2009 4:50PM
This seems appropriate. http://s67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/Bob5280/?action=view¤t=Howtofaceroll.jpg
Philo Apr 17th 2009 4:54PM
I just want to say that, in general, the way WoW Insider links to stuff is really annoying.
The link to the Ghostcrawler lengthy response doesn't like to said lengthy response. It links to the beginning of the thread.
That's one of NUMEROUS examples. There's always a crapload of links that don't link to the story, and trying to find the actual link of relevance is a matter of going over links to WI categories, or even sometimes the article itself (huh?)
My request: link less, and link to actual useful, relevant stuff.