Patch 5.2 interview with Dave Kosak
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The latest patch 5.2 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria newsAmmo controversy in 3.3 already
by Mike Schramm 
Dec 9th 2009 at 11:00AM
Let's not forget, however, that this is cutting edge (no pun intended) ammo -- this isn't the kind of vendor junk you just fire while leveling. It's a 30 point DPS gain from the previous high level ammo, and that kind of increase probably does justify a little tougher requirement to make. Of course, it'll probably work out so that other classes get that increase normally through their itemization, but that's just the way it works for hunters. If you want the new ammo, you'll have to find an friendly engie of the right spec with the right skill Honored with the new Ashen Verdict faction, and then keep them supplied with as much Crystallized Earth and Shadow as you can find.
Filed under: Hunter, Engineering, Items, Analysis / Opinion, Fan stuff, Making money, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 8)
Nick S Dec 9th 2009 11:33AM
I don't usually vote people down. You earned an exception.
Wade Dec 9th 2009 2:32PM
Wow! Huntards complaining about something what else is new?
(cutaia) Dec 9th 2009 11:38AM
Lorem and Skonged should get together and start a band.
Reuben Dec 9th 2009 11:38AM
There was a guy like you last night. I think his name was Dewayne or something like that. You seriously don't need to keep stating your opinion, or attack people. Once is enough.
Dave Dec 9th 2009 11:41AM
Yes, finding an engineer with the proper specialization might prove to be annoying. But 2 Crystallized Earth/Shadow for 1K shots expensive? Please. They're the two easiest elemental reagents to find in NR. Any max level miner should have these things coming out of their ears. And if you're in a position to be really needing that 30dps increase, you know one.
Not to mention, as one poster already said, the Elementals in Wintergrasp.
SNUFFEY Dec 9th 2009 11:50AM
What I dont understand is why have "epic" ammo at all. Is it to give engineers something to do? They have been saying they want to get rid of ammo but then they make "epic" ammo. Not to stop there they require a specifc "type" of engineering to make the 2 types of ammo. Really I find it a bit ridiculous to require a class to pay to DPS. Don't make ammo release "epic" scopes or something and just buy the vendor ammo.
Mike Dec 9th 2009 11:47AM
It occurs to me that it might be far more appropriate if Hunters had a class-only profession that solely made ammo (much like Lockpicking or Runeforging). They could keep the Goblin/Gnome bullet/arrow divide (so that if you've maxed out your bullet making, getting a new bow is probably not good idea since you'll need to entirely retrain the profession) and it would remove the requirement that a single class is majorly dependent on a single profession.
Clarick Dec 9th 2009 11:50AM
Just an observation...isn't Blizzard putting more into guilds now and one of the key values of a guild is having access to many different professions. Any decent raiding guild should be able to work this out. Being a hunter, I have never had an issue getting things made for me. Thats what guildies do. They help each other
PS. Just ignore Lorem. He/she (honestly can't tell) is trolling and looking for the attention.
HSmith Dec 9th 2009 11:51AM
As a Hunter i don't think this is a big deal. the first couple weeks of the patch are gonna suck cause there wont be a lot of engineers with the rep/recipe to make these. Prices on the AH are gonna be jacked up for a bit but that's nothing new to the game. If you don't feel like paying the inflated price and you need the ammo right away go farm wintergrasp for the mats, it wont take long i promise.
just remember hunters things could be worse, you could have rolled a warlock...
MaatJusticeTruth Dec 9th 2009 11:51AM
It was irresponsible of the author to put that the mats for this ammo was the issue, we see that as a blessing because that is dirt cheap as compared to what it has been in the past. The problem is now I am using the Heroic Xbow from ToGC, and I am goblin spec so right now this is not an issue, but if I find a gun that is better than the Xbow well I know have to go out to Tanaris (not a big deal) and pay 150g (inconvenient yes, but bearable) so that I can go back and spend another Primordial Saronite (still understandable) and just hope that I am sticking with a gun long enough that this is worth my while. Now as of right now the game remembers the Goblin recipes that you had if you spec back to goblin from gnomish but I am worried that for some cruel reason these patterns wont switch, If they do great it will cost me about 200g in switching weapon types (150 for the respec, 40~ in mats for the scope, 10ish for a weeks worth of ammo).
So no, the mats are not the issue and too many people are honing in on that to keep the Huntard Stereotype alive (because for some reasons that just really gets them going in the morning) or they are just a well documented troll.
MaatJusticeTruth Dec 9th 2009 11:58AM
Opps I got the Ammo to Spec backwards
Mordockk Dec 9th 2009 11:52AM
I dont raid with a hunter but shouldn't you guys be like really happy that you're getting epic ammo that's giving you 30DPS over the last set of ammo? It's like you guys just instantly upgraded you're current weapon without having to wait for a drop.
The mats are super easy to get. It really is QQ to get mad about it.
I think you're all being ungrateful. Like when a kid complains about a present he gets for christmas....well at least you got a present!!!!
MaatJusticeTruth Dec 9th 2009 11:57AM
Yes it is an instant 30 dps that was already factor into your weapons, see until we hit honored (which I know should not take long but this is for demonstrative purposes) when the other physical classes get weapons and a Hunter gets an equal iLevel weapon the hunter is already behind the 8-ball compared to them.
Tirrimas Dec 9th 2009 12:01PM
Yes. This. Yes.
Just stick with the Mammoth Cutters/Saronite Arrowheads until the price comes down to a level you're comfortable with. As it is, I use vendor ammo on trash and the MCs on bosses to conserve them.
Of course, it helps that I have a "pocket engineer" or two to help out with the ammo...
Mordockk Dec 9th 2009 3:31PM
Hmmm really?
Looking at 25man loot from ToC. A range weapon has 212.2 dps(talon strike)
A 2h Melee weapon has 255.7 dps (justicebringer
Looking at 25man loot from ICC. A range weapon has 255.0
A 2h Melee has 294.7
So ranged weapons are gaining 255.7-212.2= 43.5 DPS when you upgrade
And a 2h melee weapon is gaining 294.7-255.7= 39 DPS when you upgrade
and your getting you're getting arrows that up your dps 30 MORE then your last arror set. so when you up grade you'll get 73.5DPS.
Now stop QQing and take your gifts please.
LilBanshee Dec 9th 2009 11:52AM
I can see it now... "Level 80 Elite Troll Douches"
Their first song can start "Scorn, Angst and Whine heed my call!"
Shades Dec 9th 2009 11:55AM
Yeah, it's a bit of pain no matter how you slice it. My beef is that one type of engineer gets one recipe and the other type get the opposite. I call BS on that one. I use guns and love my eng. spec. I don't want to switch and give up all my cool gadgets to make bullets. Engineers should be able to make both bullets and arrows period; just as in the past. I don't mind having to earn them, but a lil slack on this part would be nice.
joshuat.reed Dec 9th 2009 11:56AM
For the dps increase in going from Mammoth Cutters or Saronite Razorheads to the new ammo, I believe all the requirements are reasonable. From my expierence to this point the rep requirements aren't going to be outrageous. As others have pointed out the material costs for the arrows are extremely reasonable.
It is my belief that one of Blizzards intentions is to make the engineering specializtion relevant again. As an engineer myself I don't have a problem with the specializations. The biggest reasaon I took engineering in the first place was to make my own ammunition. I have already worked out a deal with another hunter in my guild who has the goblin spec (I'm gnomish) to provide each other ammo should the need arise.
I do want to reiterate a point others have made. Requiring the epic ammo for hunter dps to scale vs requiring a simple gear upgrade for other classes does not seem to fit with what the developers have said in the past. They have made a concerted effort to reduce the need for consumable materials in order to be effective at raiding.
All of these arguments may be a dead issue when and if Blizzard ever takes the ammo requirment completly away from hunters like they've said they want to do.
Falcon6 Dec 9th 2009 11:56AM
People keep complaining about how the Hunters are complaining about price, when that's not the problem at all.
The problem is the sudden and absolutely unnecessary tack-on for Goblin/Gnomish Engineering to get one or the other. It's completely out of left field for them to do it.
And the worst part is, GC has yet to give a solid reason behind the specialization issue. It's either the fact that he knows it's a bullcrap restriction or he's not saying something we're going to find out eventually.
The specializations haven't even been very useful in Wrath since now. The only professions that still get the most out of specializations are Alchemists and Tailors. To suddenly require a specialization to create something that is imperative to Hunter DPS...that is the issue here.
Skonged Dec 9th 2009 12:02PM
"this isn't the kind of vendor junk you just fire while leveling. It's a 30 point DPS gain from the previous high level ammo"
That is only 9k damage over the course of a 5 minute boss encounter. hardly worth getting worked up over.