So here's my concern. As a dedicated Disc-Priest I'm already running around in Meteor Chaser's Raiment and Gloves of False Gestures, which as it stands now are absolutely delicious for Disc. With Cataclysm, these effectively become caster dps pieces because they lack Spirit. So am I just basically screwed out of 155 Frost emblems?

Is no one else bothered that because the two healing specs gear differently now, Penance Priests are getting the shaft with the whole "Thou Shall Now Cherish Spirit" command?

Joja,

I see exactly what you are saying, however, two quests into Cataclysm all that shiny purple gear will be brand spanking new green quest gear. So in essence it was a waste all along.

Yeaaaaah I don't think so. I understand what you both are saying, but Blizzard being Blizzard they'll still have to make the leveling game in Cata possible for someone who never set foot in one instance in WotLK. Because many people will be rolling into the game for the first time, and so will transition to the Cata content at like 78, the way we take our alts to Outland now at 58 and Northrend at 68.

Did the outland and Northrend stuff blow the equipment I was carrying at the time away? Sure, but I also didn't raid back then. I can't see green drops in Cata being iLvl 264 or better. Sure, by 85 we'll be getting new gear. But ICC raiders can plan on carrying that stuff through most of early Cata.

As an aside, by bro came into WotLK in BC's top-tier Arena gear and didn't find any upgrades (questing, not PvP) until lvl 76 or so.

Yes, Blizzard has made it easier to get higher level gear than ever, but they still have to cater to the lowest common denominator, which is first-time leveling dude who never set foot in a dungeon. If that person gets wtfpwned on their first quest in Cata because they're wearing iLvl 200 mixed blues, he or she will stop playing.

Or did I take the crazy pills again this morning?

As someone who raided on my warlock in Burning Crusade as high as Gruul's and Mags, sporting 2 pc Tier4 and the rest epics from Karazhan, Gruul's Lair, and the really expensive Badge of Justice gear...

I don't think ICC epics are going away until level 84, minimum. Several of my Karazhan pieces and my 100 badge of justice robes lasted right up until level 78. Honestly, the 264 stuff should last all the way up to 80. People started raiding Naxx in Sunwell gear, so we'll probably start raiding in Cataclysm wearing ICC gear.

However, the important thing to point out is that no, your 155 frost emblems aren't a waste. You're still going to have those pieces for 5 levels of questing, and they're going to be extremely good for those areas because the zones will be balanced around people transitioning from Icecrown (the zone) and Storm Peaks questing gear being able to dot he quests. In your raid gear? It's going to be rofflemao.

You and 4 buddies will be rofflestomping the regular 5-mans as you level up. I remember walking into regular UK at level 70 and blasting it apart w/ our phat epics.

"You really don't have much to worry about. Either Blizzard will redo the stats for all existing gear, OR by level 81 or 82 you'll be able to get comparable quest greens that'll do the job and have the right stat allocation. The next expansion always makes end game gear from the previous version obsolete before you hit level cap."

Not true. Blizzard stated before the launch of WotLK that one of the failings of TBC was the replacement of end game epics right out of the gate. They changed that in wrath. Tier 6 wasn't replaced until Naxx.

Safe to say that frost emblem gear will be the last tier of gear. I doubt we'll be replacing most of it until the entry level raid of Cataclysm.

Just my two cents.

... and that goes back to my original point, something I was hoping would be discussed in article. If you gear out your Disc priest to WotLK standards, you're going to be walking into Cata with very little Spirit compared to Holy priests, which all of a sudden you want. So should us Disc priest start trying to gather a spirit set now while its available to us and, again, because we'll be using it through the first raid of Cata? Even though we won't be using it for the Lich King and 3.3.5 Ruby Sanctum boss?

These changes are supposed to be before Cataclysm so I for one am not happy that they are throwing a wrench in my healing / dps itemization that may removed me from raids.

Do fan boys read into these changes before blindly walking off of a cliff

I think you're all missing JoJa's point. The current items being worn (as Disc) aren't always "healer" pieces, they're quite often caster DPS items because of the way the Spirit is pretty much useless to a Disc priest at the moment.

When those items get re-specced by blizz (pre- or post-cata, it doesn't matter) will they keep them as "caster DPS" items? If so, they'll have much less use to a healer than items that are currently designed to be used by healers.

As a holy/disc dual-spec I have a few different items I switch out depending on my spec although I may have to invest in the royal moonshroud chest to go with the merlin's robe I'm using at the mo...

This. Ty PistolPeet.

Also, Blizzard has said that the new Mastery stat-thingy will work with gear in a way so that you always want to be in your class's best gear (keeps warriors from wearing leather/mail etc.) does this hold true for clothies? Will healers not get Mastery bonuses in non-Spirit gear?

The sky is falling! No, but seriously, just wanted to have an intelligent conversation about what's changing itemization-wise with my favorite class, aside from the funny, but kinda useless 'Next Up: Stat Changes for Thrall's Underwear' posts.

Depending on ICC drops, I guess I'll suck it up and buy me some Gloves of Ambivalence and finally get around to some of that tier gear if the 3.3.3 change to the 4-piece holds true.

Jeez stop acting like the world is ending before you know the full picture, seriously some people really just need to calm down.
I expect the items without hit will end up having spirit on them for a start, and as a healer you dont want hit so you should be fine.
Other than that they might implement that reforging tool at the same time as these so sit back and relax and wait for more information.

If anyone followed the talent tree changes with the wrath beta they changed drastically almost every week, cata isnt even at that stage yet so chill people!