Patch 5.4 patch notes
Virtual Realms feature revealed
The Proving Grounds are coming
The latest patch 5.4 newsDungeon Finder tricks and tips
by Mike Schramm 
Dec 12th 2009 at 4:00PM
More tips and tricks for the new system after the break.
Other tips we've heard: finding an instance as tank or healer will go even faster than trying to get in one as DPS, so if you can specialize into a more useful role and just want to grind out instances fast, do that. Damage meters are supposedly broken -- they haven't figured out how to track ranged damage across realms quite yet. Which may be a good thing, as lots of players never liked following those meters anyway. The vote kicking system seems to be working well -- the number one reason we've heard that players are kicking each other is that they're going AFK without notice, so if you're in a random PuG queue, be sure to be ready when it pops up to do the instance ASAP. Oh, and let's just agree right here and now: Frozen Orbs are Need, unless you don't want them for some reason.
And maybe the most important tip we've heard: it's important to make sure that your gear matches the instance you're doing. The number one issue so far seems to be players who show up for a Heroic in greens, or people who queue up to tank without having any tanking gear or experience at all. Thanks to the new system, there's lots of groups to run, and everyone will get the gear they need to do what they want. So don't waste players' time now by trying to take on something you can't do and ending the group in wipes or making other players step up for you. Start out low and easy, running regular instances, and then when you think you're ready for something tougher, move on up the ladder to Heroics.
Filed under: Tips, Tricks, Fan stuff, Odds and ends, Blizzard, Instances, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 9)
Harrazzafazz Dec 12th 2009 4:20PM
The new system has made leveling alot more varied, whereas previously you could wait all night trying to get a group for a classic instance, it takes 2 mins now. Its opened up a 3rd valid type of leveling, you can grind out quests, battlegrounds or instances, or all three!
So far though the average patience of a low level instance runner is around 2 wipes, after that ive found many people just teleport out. Especially if you are in Gnomeregan or similier.
Sky Dec 12th 2009 4:25PM
2 wipes tell people that the group is not up to the challenge. It is perfectly reasonable to leave the group after two wipes.
Ryuker Dec 12th 2009 4:23PM
Damage meters are broken? (So says the article). I've yet to see Recount not work with people from other servers.
MasterAsh Dec 12th 2009 4:33PM
Mine has acted odd, in that it may properly track DPS but not total damage for the group.
I'm just glad I haven't been vote-kicked over the issue yet, being a warlock and all.
Jay Dec 13th 2009 8:54AM
I would love to see recount nerfed by Blizz for cross-server. It is a tool that is not needed for a dungeon. Use it in raids but FFS don't start abusing people because of what it says.
Safrienaer Dec 13th 2009 8:54AM
I play a hunter and have noticed that there are huge differences in my DPS depending on who's tracking. My Recount usually shows my DPS around 3k, whereas some people have said that it's around 2k. Apparently they think that the bug is always in my end, even though it's a fact that Recount doesn't take all ranged damage into account between realms.
Aeternal Dec 13th 2009 11:52AM
Recount being messed up depends on which version you are running and your settings. This has been extensively documented via the o boards.
The problem exists with ranged vs. melee. Melee dps wont' show up on ranged and vice versa. If you have the proper settings or the latest beta, your recount works fine.
Magma Dec 12th 2009 4:24PM
Needing frozen orbs? I don't think so. I've done MANY runs since this new system and we have always greeded without fail. Now, I am not naive enough to think that at some point someone won't eventually need-ninja it, but straight out needing isn't the nicest thing to do.
jayz Dec 12th 2009 4:26PM
Needing instead of greeding helps frustrate the ninjas, that's all. Under conventional looting rules for pugs no one should be needing on the orbs ... but cross-server pugs removed accountability for the ninjas, and they are out there operating in full force. Happened to me on the very first random dungeon I ran using the LFG tool.
Sinthar Dec 21st 2009 9:47AM
Greeding rather than needing also shows up whos lightly to ninja. Id rather have someone ninja an orb - and make it to my ignore list - than that nice shiney purple (shard fodder for me) at the end. And being the enchanter mean i can afford to need if some other bugger does, shard it (if ofc i win) then offer it on a roll to the others in my group (barring the ninja ofc). I also use this tactic on orbs too, checking if people need or greed it - when the 1st 3 ppl greed and someone else 'afks' mysteriously, i usually tell the group what im going to do and get them to roll n trade before they leave the instance. Surprisingly enough most of the time the 'afk'er 'mysteriously' comes back 5 secs later. And then greeds just to make sure he/she still has a chance of the loot without the branding. Ofc there is the odd blatent ninja who needs it anyhow, but at least he has less chance then, as well as making it onto 4 ignore lists and some trade spam about him (method below).
You can tell what server people come from. you know their on your battlegroup - the extension on their name gives away server (i believe - i havent needed to do it yet), either way you can armoury them. So why people think you 'cant spam trade' about it i really dont know. Screenie the ninjaing, post it on photobucket or some other photo host site, make a lvl 1 on their home server and spam trade, with the link on it. Easy to do, takes little time, and makes quite a few ninja's spend real life money transferring/changing there toon to avoid the rep they make for themselves. If this happened every time, ninja's would be very rare again. Certainly enough trouble for them NOT to ninja orbs n blues from dungeon runs again at least.
Personally i think all BOE should be greeded only unless you are gonna wear it immediately - someone else came up with an idea i endorse, which is to make BOE soulbound if you need it. It would also cut down on ninja's looking for some AH fodder.
CallMeIrd Dec 12th 2009 4:27PM
I hate that my enhancement shaman can't roll on leather upgrades--even when there's not even a leather wearer in the group! Trying to get four PUG people to pass on leather in advance is PAIN IN MY SOUL. Blizz needs to do something about this.
TehAlx Dec 12th 2009 6:10PM
Switch to Ele, and then you will know true pain.
Blizzard HATES making Ele mail, but, half of the cloth is just so perfect.
=(
Sinthar Dec 21st 2009 9:47AM
I agree - and as a cloth wearer i think that the fault lies purely with Blizz itemisation for shammies - i agree with them you should NOT get priority on cloth, or leather drops - but equally there should be loot there for you too. Blame not the players - as there are 3 classes rolling for cloth already, blame blizz for not providing you with decent loot.
Daniel Dec 12th 2009 4:31PM
One thing that is important to remember is that looting may differ cross-realm. In my realm we need on greens(don't ask, thats just the rules) and we ALWAYS need the frozen orbs. However on my second random Heroic, I was accused of being a ninja. scince then I have just passed or DE everything and greeded the orbs.
Ignacio Dec 12th 2009 4:33PM
So one problem with the LFG system is the kick option. I just had a Battered Hilt drop and I was doing a run with 4 people from the same guild/server. They decided to kick me and keep the loot for themselves. I got teleported out of the instance and no chance to roll on the Hilt. This was on the Forge of Souls on the hallway to the last boss. We had a smooth run till the Hilt dropped.
GG Blizzard!
Reuben Dec 12th 2009 4:36PM
To be fair, the voting system didn't actually effect that outcome. They could of done that same thing before patch 3.3 by just having the leader kick you. That situation would have been unavoidable either way.
clundgren Dec 12th 2009 8:35PM
If it makes you feel better, that hilt drops just about every other run. You'll get it again soon.
It's actually kinda funny. The questline makes a big deal about how the sword has been lost forever, and how difficult it is to reforge, and how now you are the one true wielder the sword has chosen...and then you join a group and everyone's got one.
I thought I was special.
cincipon Dec 12th 2009 4:36PM
The reason why you roll need on things like orbs/mounts/whatever is there is no real priority. Everyone wants them, no one "needs" them more than anyone else, so counterintuitively, you roll need to ensure no one can ninja by rolling need when people think it will be greed. If you auto-roll greed without thinking, you're likely to miss out.
If you're uncertain, wait to see what people roll, or ask ahead of time if you like, but there is no reason to throw trust into the equation when there is no need.
The same can be said for BoE blues, epics, patterns, hilts, greens... almost anything like that. If it is trivial or for (nearly-equally) useful to everyone who can roll on it, need if you can!
The caveat here is there was a (bug?) issue with not being able to roll need on items you can't equip/is of a lower armor type than your max (warriors unable to need mail, druids unable to need cloth) I am unsure if this is intended, resolved, or what...
Magma Dec 12th 2009 5:27PM
That is, indeed, intended.
Azizrael Dec 12th 2009 4:35PM
One realm on my Battlegroup always needs on Frozen Orbs, or so the first guy who did it in one of my PuGs claimed (Twisted Nether-EU, if anyone can confirm...)
So now I wait to go last on Frozen Orbs to see what everyone else rolls. Soon as someone hits need, so am I. Of course, then I feel guilty about the people who were honest and rolled Greed.
A popular ninja trick seems to be to roll DE on everything through the run and then Need on whatever the final boss drops, since you've already completed the run by then and no one can kick you for being a ninja.
The above tactic, incidentally, would get my full support for Enchanters to use - running a random heroic is much more profitable if we can roll DE, and allowing the Enchanter guaranteed epic at the end of the run takes care of the "using our skills for free" QQ.