BlizzCon 2009: Initial thoughts on the Hunter changes
by Eddie Carrington 
Aug 22nd 2009 at 12:00PM
We have only experienced the first day of BlizzCon and my mind has already been blown. We have heard so many amazing details about Cataclysm and they're promising more for today.The changes are not just to our old favorite instances or to the zones around Azeroth. Implementing terrain phasing is going to change everything we know about leveling and running around our favorite zones. Also, who doesn't love the idea of Gnomes finally get to be Priests and as Ghostcrawler put it, "Be self-sufficient." (Well, they still don't have Hunters but that's okay.)
We got confirmation from Chilton that it in fact Goblins and Worgens will be added to the game in Cataclysm. We also learned that Goblins and Worgens will both get to play Hunters. But they're not the only new races added to the Hunter ranks. We also got confirmation that Humans and Undead will both be able to play Hunters. So all in all we got some really good additions to the Hunter community.
What about those awesome changes to the Hunter class? Well, how about the removal of Armor Penetration for one? We aren't going to have to worry how Armor Penetration works or when should stack for it...
The big news: Attack Power is removed as a primary stat. Instead we'll concentrate on pumping up our Agility since it will now be 1 Agility = 2 AP. (If you were around almost 2 1/2 years ago, you probably remember this being changed to what it is today in Patch 2.0.1.)
Another cool change will make Haste more important to Hunters. In the new expansion it will will be used for resource regeneration (e.g. focus, mana, rage, energy, etc...)
Some other changes mentioned were the fabled change to Ammo as a consumable, and lastly the removal of mana as the Hunter resource. Yes, that's right, Hunters can finally "officially" remove the stigma of being classified as casters. Instead we're going to use Focus as our resource.
Focus will work similar to Rogues' energy. The reported focus regeneration rate will be a base regen rate of 6 focus per second. However, Steady Shot will give a bonus and increase that to 12 Focus per Second. Now you can see how Haste will become an important stat to us Hunters.
I was fortunate enough to be sitting next to Logwad of Skullcrusher and when I asked him what his initial thoughts of Hunters being taken off of mana. Logwad's immediate response was, "About damn time! I have played a Rogue since the beginning to level 60 then started my Hunter and I love the focus system so much more than the mana system.
Honestly it seemed Hunters never deserved the mana system since their only magic shot is Arcane Shot and we never use it."
I think this is something we can all agree on. Getting Hunters off of mana is a good thing. Now if only Ghostcrawler would listen and let us tame Druids all would be right with the world. In the mean time make sure to follow our BlizzCon 2009 updates so you'll be in the know.
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: Human, Worgen, Cataclysm, BlizzCon, Expansions, Analysis / Opinion, Hunter, Undead, Gnomes, Goblin
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Sev Aug 22nd 2009 12:03PM
Im sketchy about the focus system, although Im sure Blizzard will make it right. Still though, it's about damn time we had some 'groundbreacking' changes!
Sev Aug 22nd 2009 12:04PM
And with that folks, I realize I am quite the awful spelling checker.
Rob Aug 23rd 2009 2:52PM
I'm not too sure how I feel about this. Honestly, no one knows if its a good change or not, we wont know until we can test it. However, a change like this will require massive for thought and from blizz's track record I could only imagine the problems that this will bring. There are so many talents and spells that are geared towards hunter's mana that I am unsure how they expect to completely overhaul all of them. Im sure they can do it, but how much testing, trial and error, qq and nerfs/buffs will we have to endure until it is "where it needs to be"?
I have never heard anyone complain about having to use mana, albeit I have heard people question why they are considered casters, but not really upset about using mana. Of all the feedback hunters gave they somehow chose to think the massive overhaul that hunters needed was to get out of mana? Why? What purpose does this serve?
Im not saying that I am against this, because I would like to try it out and see. The problem is, why is our resource system changing?
Obi-Habby Aug 22nd 2009 2:38PM
Hunter Mana removed in Cataclysm 4.0 and replaced with Focus. Next expansion WOW 5.0 a new hero class is revealed: Demon Hunter - now with mana!
jrb Aug 22nd 2009 5:32PM
hunters will probably rock again with the release of 4.0x, we'll be top of dps charts agian, and then in 4.1x we'll be nerfed to hell again. it's the way of the world... of warcraft.
Shogun Sep 28th 2009 4:18PM
As a hunter I'm undicided about this Mana to Focus shift, Aspect of the Viper makes our resource system viable and easy to use..."oh almost out of mana" *switch to AotV* ...30 seconds of combat later... "sweet! full mana"
With AotV mana is an "unlimited" and viable resource for hunters(if used right)
Also we're not those stupid "do it from behind" rogues or our week willed pets...hunters are smart (debateable) we use your intelegence to outsmart the enemy...and use our magical resource to enchant arrows, traps and heal our pets.
Just my opinion.
Rabidgun Aug 22nd 2009 12:06PM
I agree with Logwad. The mana system just isn't meant for hunters.
Boydboyd Aug 22nd 2009 1:12PM
Comment hijacking:
Eddie, and other hunters out there reading, would you think it would be more accurate to say, instead of this:
". . . and lastly the removal of mana as the Hunter resource. Yes, that's right, Hunters can finally "officially" remove the stigma of being classified as casters. Instead we're going to use Focus as our resource.
Focus will work similar to Rogues' energy."
. . . wouldn't it be more accurate to say that Focus is more similar to the Hunter's pet's Focus system?
Moonkinmaniac Aug 22nd 2009 12:10PM
maybe they'll announce some of the new tameable pets today. All this groundbreaking stuff is neat, but we're hunters! We wants out ponies!
BigSmitty Aug 22nd 2009 12:11PM
Makes sense to have hunters using focus, as that's what our pets use. Maybe a revamp of the talent tree to have certain shots or abilities regain a percentage of our focus instantly, much like how our pets regenerate their focus. Undead or human hunter? Yeah, I could totally see me rolling one of those.
Moonkinmaniac Aug 22nd 2009 12:11PM
Maybe they'll announce some new tameable pets soon. All this groundbreaking amazing stuff is great and all...but we're hunters we wants our ponies! lol
Kellerune Aug 22nd 2009 12:11PM
As long as Blizzard is able to change everything to make it work, I don't see a problem in it. It should be interesting though being a little more rogue-like.
Lyraat Aug 22nd 2009 12:14PM
I'm withholding judgment until I see the new resource system in action. This will be the biggest change to our playstyle ever; the Steady Shot nerf will look like a tweak compared to this. We're going to have to relearn how to play. Will this make us better? More viable in PvP? More wanted in raids? Or is this going to create even more failhunters while simultaneously destroying our synergy with other ranged dps (what little we had, but we did have some)?
epicboyz Aug 22nd 2009 12:14PM
this new system worries me... there is nothing more worthless than a rogue or feral druid that is out of energy... at least with the way things are now we hunters can pop on viper and regain lost mana fairly quick.
Seaborn Aug 22nd 2009 12:21PM
I agree. We will have to see how it works. At present if you are oom and its a desperate situation, there are ways to get some fast. Potting included. And as engi with injectors, hello instant 42% mana.
brooks Aug 22nd 2009 12:28PM
It's been quite a while since I've played rogue...but they do have instant energy boosts through tea. It would be fairly easy for the Blizz team to either open up teas or implement a relatively similar system for hunters.
MechChef Aug 22nd 2009 2:26PM
Depending on the focus regen rate, energy is a great system to emulate. A rogue is never OoE, and builds back 20 energy per second currently. (20 ep1??) So while we'll usually are dumping our energy down to zero, it comes back pretty quick and serves as a good pacing element. Plus we have additional talents that will throw in little bursts of energy as we land hits.
Anaughtybear Aug 22nd 2009 11:16PM
There's also nothing slower than the energy regeneration rate of a low level rogue. I'm not really convinced that focus is the way to go, but I'll have a little faith they will do it correctly. After all, hunters have already undergone massive changes in the last couple years, and they seem to be at their easiest play style right now. Perhaps if hunters get something like Bestial Discipline early on it will work okay.
Snuffles Aug 22nd 2009 12:16PM
You know, Focus was the resource that Hunters used in WoW Beta momentarily.
LordVashtal Aug 22nd 2009 12:17PM
Hmmm...I've played hunter for the past 2 years (a main, I suppose). Getting used to a new resource system might be a little interesting to get used to. That was originally why I wanted to be an alchemist, because I preferred to periodically pop a potion than sit down and drink. Then they made potions cooldown not start till after you leave combat, which made it fun on those long boss fights but made up for it a bit with a better aspect of the viper. I'd probably give up alchemy altogether if there was a way to bring it back without having to do the 1-450 grind all over again