BlizzCon 2009: Class panel #2, the good parts version
The second and final class, item, and profession panel has concluded. Disappointingly, the presentation part of the panel was mainly a re-run of yesterday's, but the Q&A, of course, was all-new. There were even a few new tidbits in the presentation. Here are some parts of the presentation that are not repeats from yesterday:
- They didn't give any new classes to Draenei because there are too many of the space goats already.
- There's a chance that Hunter Aspects will go away entirely.
- New tidbit on Archaeology: putting pieces of artifacts together sends you to "face some sort of challenge" out in the world.
- They like the way fishing works in Animal Crossing, and might look to that for inspiration on how to rework the process.
And here are the good parts from the Q&A:
- Troll and Worgen Druids will get new Moonkin forms.
- They like the idea of hunters being able to tame their own mounts.
- There might be an epic travel form for Cataclysm.
- Block Value is being removed, but there will still be a stat on gear that increases your block chance.
- On the topic of Titan's Grip, it might be more optional in the future - it might be possible to make a competitive Fury build without TG, if you want to "be the guy that wields dual-handed weapons or wields two one-handed weapons."
- Bloodlust isn't going anywhere - "if you're going to do hard modes, it's not too much to bring at least one Shaman with you." (It seems he's not thinking about 10-man raids.) They might however introduce a consumable that brings a weaker version of the buff, like Scroll of Stamina as opposed to Priest Power Word: Fortitude.
- There are going to be more fun potions for Alchemists, as well as more being done with transmutation.
- Combustion is "on the list" for patch 3.3, but no details yet.
- They want to take another look at Shadow Priest single-target DPS.
- The revamp of Azeroth is "a great opportunity" to do more class-based quests: "teach more about how each class plays before they hit level 40. Maybe a big ability pairs up with a big quest, so you can learn how to use it." This is a very interesting answer.
- Professions specializations (like Armorsmithing) are being changed so that you don't choose just one, but you build up all of them for your tradeskill.
That's it! I hope they do come up with some really interesting class-based quests. Of course, then I'll have to go back and do them with my high-level characters, but that's alright. Or maybe I'll just reroll them all as Worgen.
BlizzCon 2009 is here! WoW.com has continuing coverage, bringing you the latest in Cataclysm news, live blogs, galleries, and reports right from the convention floor. Check out WoW.com's Guide to BlizzCon for the latest!Filed under: Fishing, Draenei, Classes, BlizzCon, Cataclysm, Archaeology
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Reader Comments (Page 2 of 4)
deadmarsh Aug 22nd 2009 8:44PM
Blizz already said that there was gonna be no new talents, you would just get 5 more points.
Path of the Titans is going to take the new talents place, or something like that.
Nick Aug 22nd 2009 9:11PM
Nope, Deadmarsh. They're not making any new 55 point ones, but lots are getting reworked/swapped out. They're trying to remove all the passive talents and make them more interesting, such as affecting abilities, or being new abilities. All the +hit or +expertise, etc. are getting pushed into Mastery.
Hoaxs Aug 22nd 2009 8:38PM
I need to start grinding my Shards and Emblems for my Goblin Shammy.
I like the idea of more class based quests.
Eternauta Aug 22nd 2009 11:00PM
Do you know if the heirloom items will work after WotLK?
I, for one, don't know. If you know, please tell me, and link your source.
Thank You.
Angus Aug 23rd 2009 12:04PM
Eternauta: Answering your question about heirloom items can be done with the guild improvements page.
"Other parts of the new guild system are guild vendors (selling reagents for guild currency earned during the leveling process) and guild heirloom gear, also purchased with guild currency and allowing you to level faster. These items will be bound to guilds and thus leaving the guild loses you the item."
If the guild has heirloom items, I am willing to bet on people having them too.
Especially since you won't see any of these early on in a guild as everyone levels in the new content.
alpha5099 Aug 22nd 2009 8:41PM
I don't understand the comment about too many Draenei. If you take the results from the Warcraft Census seriously (and I suspect their at least somewhat accurate), it's the elves and humans that have too many, and they got new classes. Draenei are approximately the fifth most common race, having about as many as Undead and Tauren.
alpha5099 Aug 22nd 2009 8:42PM
"they're at least somewhat accurate," not "their." Because someone's gonna call me on it.
Chris Anthony Aug 22nd 2009 8:50PM
Blizzard has said straight-up multiple times that Warcraft Census is, in fact, entirely inaccurate according to their internal logs. So no, I wouldn't take their results seriously.
Rollo Aug 22nd 2009 8:59PM
If the census is based on automated in-game who requests and/or armory data mining, I don't see how it could be entirely inaccurate. Not perfect, of course, but it has to be close.
Ves Aug 22nd 2009 9:01PM
The only thing I can think of is they meant to say that there are enough class options available to Draenei already but expressed themselves unclearly. On yesterday's panal they gave the much more reasonable explanation that they didn't give the Draenei any new classes because neither Druid, Rogue, nor Warlock really fits them according to the lore.
Jack Spicer Aug 22nd 2009 9:55PM
Is there a chance that the "too many spacegoats" comment was simply an off-hand remark, and not actually a well thought out reason as to why no new Draenei classes?
FarseerLolotea Aug 23rd 2009 10:08PM
"Too many classes" is itself an invalid excuse, as humans, trolls, and blood elves all have just as many. As for the lore excuse? Draenei druid lore would be at least as easy to contrive as their excuses for playable worgen.
Blizzard...just hire me. I'd have to telecommute for the time being...but I'd be just as effective at writing lore as your current idea people. Hell, I'd probably be better than some of 'em.
Truffled Aug 22nd 2009 8:41PM
You totally left off "paid race changes" from the list...
Zarzuur Aug 22nd 2009 8:49PM
Too many space goats -- I agree, I need to delete one of mine to make way for a Worgen.
Countdown Aug 22nd 2009 8:51PM
Aren't they going to talk about other classes? Seemes like they only covered Warlocks and Hunters so far. I haven't heard any specifics at all about Rogues or Mages other than the things that apply to all classes.
Otome Aug 22nd 2009 9:03PM
For Rogues, there was a passing comment in one of the panels about them wanting Rogues using daggers, and buffing Assassination to do it.
Mages got mentioned regarding Combustion and a joke about Frost PvE.
I wish they had been more in depth though.
Countdown Aug 22nd 2009 9:06PM
Yeah passing comments and jokes are all the other classes got. =[
A pretty big disappointment for me since learning about the future of my class[es] is one of the big reasons I pay attention to Blizzcon. Its still been good, but that's one of the things that really leaves it feeling incomplete for me.
Jack Spicer Aug 22nd 2009 9:56PM
No, by "Class Panel" they meant "Warlock, Hunter, Worgen, Goblin, and Q&A Panel".
ahmed Aug 22nd 2009 9:11PM
The only thing that keeps Draenei (and Tauren for that matter) from becoming rogues lore wise is the fact that they both have hooves. How on earth can you be sneaky when your click-clacking all over the place. It'll blow your cover!
Syggy Aug 23rd 2009 1:56AM
Felt Pads.
Next!