Patch 5.2 interview with Dave Kosak
Inside an old alt's vault
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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsThe Queue: WoW 4.0
by Adam Holisky 
Jul 8th 2009 at 3:00PM
Welcome back to The Queue, WoW.com's daily Q&A column where the WoW.com team answers your questions about the World of Warcraft. Adam Holisky will be your host today.
People responded quite well to the Patches of Yesteryear column that I started up yesterday, so I thought for today's Queue I'd use one of the screenshots of the old UI that I dug up on the internet. A few old readers (yes, you're old farts) noted that the UI featured above likely came from an internal alpha build or something way before the beta 4* when WoW went into "public" beta mode. So the above screenshot and yesterday's screenshot are quite old. Possibly as old as 2001 when WoW was first announced.
And for next week's Patches of Yesteryear column we'll either look at how the models have changed or examine a couple dozen talents that have gone through some pretty amazing metamorphosis.
But enough about that old column, time for Queue!
Siaperas asked...
"WoWHead's PTR site lists a heroic achievement titled: "I've Had Worse". The achievement made me giggle a bit; is that really an achievement on the PTR?"
People responded quite well to the Patches of Yesteryear column that I started up yesterday, so I thought for today's Queue I'd use one of the screenshots of the old UI that I dug up on the internet. A few old readers (yes, you're old farts) noted that the UI featured above likely came from an internal alpha build or something way before the beta 4* when WoW went into "public" beta mode. So the above screenshot and yesterday's screenshot are quite old. Possibly as old as 2001 when WoW was first announced.
And for next week's Patches of Yesteryear column we'll either look at how the models have changed or examine a couple dozen talents that have gone through some pretty amazing metamorphosis.
But enough about that old column, time for Queue!
Siaperas asked...
"WoWHead's PTR site lists a heroic achievement titled: "I've Had Worse". The achievement made me giggle a bit; is that really an achievement on the PTR?"
The I've Had Worse achievement from the Patch 3.2 PTR reads:
"Defeat the Black Knight in 10 minutes while wearing all blue items, before 3 Volcanoes erupt, while everyone in the group has at least 1 stack of Spurting Blood and there are no shamans or paladins in the party but before you spend at least 1000 gold in repairs wiping to the Black Knight."
That is basically there to screw with dataminers. There've been a few like that, the kill 1,000,000 Tuskarr's from the beta comes to mind. Of course if you know you're being screwed with it's funny. If you take yourself and life too seriously, it's annoying.
I find it hilarious.
Andrew asked...
"In regards to turning off XP gains, what about hunter pets? Will it turn the pet's XP off too or will they continue to receive XP until they are on your level?"
It appears at this time your pet will function normally, gaining XP to your level and then stopping. It's as if you've reached max level at 29 (or whatever twink level you've decided on). And as Nascair pointed out, a pet cannot level past its master.
Nizari asked...
"What do you think the chances are that we could see a new race that's available to both factions?"
None.
Yazah asked...
"In WoW 4.0, do you think there will be a new profession, and, if so, what would it be? Are there any hints at all?"
I'd be very very surprised if there wasn't. We have no idea what it'll be yet. And anyone who claims to know is lying.
Rylia asked...
"Here's a question: How many 80s (in, say, Naxx/Ulduar gear) does it take to do BC-era 25-man raids?"
It could take as few as 5 (Gruul) or as many as 20 to 25 (Sunwell). While you're going to over power the fights at 80, and can ignore many mechanics simply because they don't cause catastrophic damage anymore, there are plenty of things that do. You still cannot do Sunwell unless you know the fights. You need to know to take the portals, to taunt, to move on the ground, where to stand, where not to stand, etc...
A very good number of 80s have yet to be able to clear that instance because of the complexity of the fights. In my opinion, it's harder than most of Ulduar.
*I believe beta 4 was the first "public" beta build of the original WoW. However, I'm not sure.
Have questions about the World of Warcraft? The WoW.com crew is here with The Queue, our daily Q&A column! Leave your questions in the comments and we'll do our best to answer 'em!Filed under: Expansions, Raiding, Achievements, The Queue
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 7)
Jon Do Jul 8th 2009 4:48PM
To address the "balance" question:
It is human nature to gravitate to the most powerful faction / class / spec / profession / whatever.
This already happens to some degree, and even has its own acronym: FOTM.
It can be something as simple as appearance (Blood Elf) to PvP dominance (DKs at release) and so on.
Use your imagination a bit:
If it became clear in 3.2 that Troll DK blood JC & Engineer was winning all PvP all the time, including WG because of a powerful vehicle buff, and Blizz said that was "working as intended", then many/all serious PvP-ers would re-roll to that. BG queues would get really long because no Alliance would queue, and every Arena would have one or more of the super-Trolls -- those who weren't would get pwned, and we all know how fun being on the receiving end of that is.
The same would be true of a PvE class always topping the DPS charts, or tank class that was significantly better at treat & mitigation, or healer class that clearly out-healed other classes.
The game would suffer. Some of us would quit rather than abandon our cherished main and re-roll (those pixels are family, y’know), others would get bored by the lack of variety.
yunkndatwunk Jul 8th 2009 5:37PM
Maybe the same reason every sports organization also strives for balance by putting restrictions on teams. Sports teams can only pay players so much, racing teams can only practice with so much track time, etc.
Balance makes it more competitive.
Abbadon Jul 8th 2009 4:18PM
Ummm... Have I been blind, or did this statue to the side of the north bank of Archmage Antonidas just come out of nowhere?
Cyrus Jul 8th 2009 4:34PM
I think you've been blind. :) As far as I know, it's been there since the first time I got to Dalaran.
Noralith Jul 8th 2009 4:29PM
Hey, here's something I need answered!
On the PTR, I got all my Tier 9 gear and thought myself awesome. I then got rid of the old gear I had because of limited bad space... and besides, I had Tier 9 now!
Well, that was a week or two ago... I logged back into the PTR to show my friend Isle of Conquest yesterday, and all my Tier 9 was gone! Bye bye! Poof!
Do I know have to earn it by testing the raid, or what? I'm sitting out there in Icecrown with no pants, darn it! I need an answer!
Robert Jul 8th 2009 4:36PM
Any word on if, once you turn EXP off, you can later turn it on again? I want to try experiencing level 60 and 70 content at those levels, but would then like to keep progressing.
Millea Jul 8th 2009 4:51PM
Yes you can. You pay the 10g again to turn it back on
Narshe Jul 8th 2009 5:10PM
If someone made a guild specifically for alts to raid Old World content at lvl 60 (in 3.2), would it still take 40 players to fill out a raid such as Molten Core? Or would it be less because of talents and Outland greens (assuming ppl use them for 60 raids unless its considered cheating/unfair) ?
impurezero Jul 8th 2009 5:31PM
I fully plan on having people in my guild capped at 60, 70 and 80. For the "classic" raiding, it will be a kind of unwritten rule that everyone use their old-world gear (and BC-gear for BC raiding).
I'm aware that it will never be completely the same, but damnit...we're gonna do our best to come as close as we can.
Shinkuu Jul 8th 2009 5:09PM
What do you think the odds are of getting the techno mage added to the game as a new playable class? Not necessarily as a hero class, but just a new class in general?
Treeston Jul 8th 2009 5:22PM
I can confirm it IS possible to do sunwell without tactics.
Take 25 80s, 2 tanks, 4 healers, 19 DPS. Burn the bosses.
Trevin Ward Jul 8th 2009 5:36PM
In response to the well geared 80 going back to BC raids. There are even a few pre-BC fights (Twin Emps come to mind) that if you don't know what you're doing and/or aren't doing it well not matter how many 80s or how much gear you have you're not going to finish them.
A well geared 80 tank can solo pretty much, if not all, 70 Heroics and lower (Kael'thas is the only boss that really gives me trouble on my Prot Pally)
Rurrik Jul 8th 2009 6:10PM
I love the smarmy comments about the chances of something happening as "none". I bet that's what would have been said about switching factions a couple of weeks ago. Don't count anything out from Bliz.
kia Jul 8th 2009 9:08PM
Agree. Especially after this very site reported on the interview with Tom Chilton a couple of days ago where he admitted they're basically making things up as they go along and the game could look completely different in a couple of years.
splodesondeath Jul 8th 2009 6:26PM
Why are we still talking of Goblins and Worgen? WHY?
Both races can NEVER become playable races. Goblins have been, and always will be, neutral. They have no allegiance with the Horde, or the Alliance. They CANNOT be added as a neutral faction, they CANNOT be added as a race which can choose factions, simply because
a) neutral factions would mean a complete rehaul of the ENTIRE game. Has there ever been a third faction before in WoW? No (the Steamwheedle Cartel, while technically neutral, turned out as a flop, and a number (not all) of Warcraft games were still two sides) and
b) if they choose sides, they will look alike, imposing a problem when the name tag cannot be seen (for whatever reason), and different coloured goblins makes no bloody sense; and
c) they're goblins, they don't take sides.
Give up the Goblin wanting. I shouldn't even need to explain why Worgen would go horribly wrong as a race (chaotic evil much?).
Everybody Jul 8th 2009 7:06PM
Yes, because all types of worgen are guaranteed to be ultra omega evil.
Just like trolls.
Dave Jul 8th 2009 7:52PM
I hope you realize that all of your NEVER's are the exact reasons why they'd do things, not the opposite.
Here's a list of never's that have happened:
NEVER going to be able to transfer from PVE to PVP
NEVER going to be able to have Paladins on the Horde and Shamans on the Alliance
NEVER going to be able to change your race.
NEVER going to be able to PVP against your own faction.
I mean that's just a handful of the big ones, I'm sure lots of people can figure out some of the smaller ones that we never thought would ever ever ever change.
So whenever you say NEVER, keep in mind that probably means it's DEFINITELY going to happen.
I'd say that a neutral or third faction is not only a likely thing to happen but it's virtually guaranteed at this point with the way the lore has been written. Goblins are clearly the most likely for this because they're one of the few existing races (and read the blue post about 'seeding' races) that happen to have all the necessary body parts and can wear all the slots of armor. (this basically to me excludes furbolg, naga, worgen and all sorts of other races that don't wear pants or shoes although shoes isn't a hard requirement I guess).
There has to be a new gimmick in the expansion. They won't make one without something that makes people say ooooh, and a new raid instance sure ain't gonna make that.
themightysven Jul 8th 2009 11:18PM
worgen aren't evil, so much as highly upset. You would be too if you got ripped off your homeworld and dumped in Azeroth. I mean, just listen to how upset voidwalkers are about the same deal.
Dewey Jul 9th 2009 12:30PM
I don't think they'd make goblins playable for both factions, but if they did, it wouldn't be too hard from a lore perspective. Everyone says "The goblins are neutral," but goblins aren't a hive mind. They have different factions and loyalties just like any race. The goblins ruled by 5 trade princes, all with their own armies and resources, and none of whom trust each other. It's almost like 5 separate nations even though they are all based in Undermine. So, if you wanted them to be playable, one trade prince makes a deal with the Horde, another makes a deal with the Allies, and the other 3 remain neutral. Simple. Add Undermine as the new big neutral city (which I think they'll do anyway since Kezan is one of the many islands out in the sea around the Maelstrom), and you're good to go.
splodesondeath Jul 8th 2009 6:29PM
How would this make sense? A techno MAGE. Both parts of the class name seem totally unfit to be another class. What the hell would it do? It's a mage engineer.
P.S. On second thought, I can only assume this is a joke comment.