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by Matthew Rossi 
Apr 16th 2010 at 9:30PM
Bashiok - #BlizzChat Developer Chat on Twitter 4/16Q: Do you intend to have all 280% flying mounts scale to 310% when a 310% mount is earned, or will only purchased mounts do so?
A: Our current plan, is that in Cataclysm, you can learn a new rank of flying that lets all flying mounts move at 310% (even current 280% mounts). That will probably be as fast as mounts will ever get. We don't like it that when you get a 310% mount that you stop using your old ones.
Q: If 310% speed is becoming trainable, does that mean we'll be able to fly in Azeroth from the get-go?
A: We have considered the concept of "Old Weather Flying." Just kidding. More than likely, you'll just be able to fly from the beginning.
A: Our current plan, is that in Cataclysm, you can learn a new rank of flying that lets all flying mounts move at 310% (even current 280% mounts). That will probably be as fast as mounts will ever get. We don't like it that when you get a 310% mount that you stop using your old ones.
Q: If 310% speed is becoming trainable, does that mean we'll be able to fly in Azeroth from the get-go?
A: We have considered the concept of "Old Weather Flying." Just kidding. More than likely, you'll just be able to fly from the beginning.
No word yet on if players with current 310% speed mounts will still have to learn this new rank of flying skill or not. Previously, 310% speed mounts were seen as status symbols and prizes to be gained via achievements, PvP, rare drops or so on. Personally, I'm hoping people with 310% speed mounts are at least grandfathered in as it would be annoying otherwise to not even be able to ride your mount once the change went live.
On the up side, at least we'll be able to fly in Azeroth right away instead of having to train yet another rank of flying.
World of Warcraft: Cataclysm will destroy Azeroth as we know it. Nothing will be the same. In WoW.com's Guide to Cataclysm you can find out everything you need to know about WoW's third expansion. From Goblins and Worgens to Mastery and Guild changes, it's all there for your cataclysmic enjoyment.Filed under: Blizzard, News items, Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 3 of 5)
Sinfulle Apr 17th 2010 12:26PM
I would also like to see a boost applied to ground mounts as well. Blizzard stated they don't like seeing mounts become obsolete. It's been so long since I used some of my 60% ground mounts I've forgotten what they look like, especially my 60% Brewfest Ram, which I'm proud of having.
I happened to like the ground mounts that aren't covered in armor, almost all of those are 60% mounts. I can't use my mounts in combat to give me an advantage and they don't protect me, why do they need all that armor? It's all a matter of preference, if you love that battle cat, then use it. I'd prefer to use the Dawnsaber but seeing as how it's slow, that's not practical. I like my (used to be 60%) golden gryphon, if I could ride it at 280% or faster, I would.
Draelan Apr 16th 2010 10:34PM
Yeah, I won't be surprised if the current 310% speed mounts are still usable without the new riding skill. Afterall, the Winterspring Frostsaber and Ravasaur mounts are 100% speed, but only require the first riding skill, so it's most certainly possible to have "higher level" mounts available for lower skills.
It'll be interesting to see how they decide to handle different things with Cataclysm.
Priestess Apr 16th 2010 10:38PM
I think that 310% is just going to be the new buyable level of flying speed for this next expansion. Its not going to cut out anyone, and I could kind of see letting those that have a 310 mount (no matter where you got it) would be able to go fast on that mount, but I really can't see them giving it out free to those that have those mounts already. That seems counterproductive to the things that they try to do in this game.
However, if by me having the violet proto means that ALL of my mounts will get to go that fast without having to pay that would be great. I want hold my breath for it though.
I'm glad with this change though. I know that its my choice to move at this speed, but I think that the violet proto is really ugly and I have that its my only option. I was VERY happy for the celestial steed being added because now I have another option.
But I want my hippogrpyhs to be fasty fast too :(
Kylenne Apr 16th 2010 10:40PM
I think this is a great change, especially if people who currently have 310% get grandfathered in for free. I would love the extra speed but I'm not an uber hardcore raider, and I loathe PvP, and I think the Violet Proto-Drake is ugly as sin (I'm pretty much over Wrath of the Palette Swapped Dragon Mount).
Also I would like a camel to go with my flying carpets.
Kylenne Apr 16th 2010 10:42PM
That said, I'm still working on my Violet Proto-Drake just because all I have left is Children's Week, Midsummer and Brewfest. I think it's premature and silly to stop grinding for one just because of this announcement, mostly because we just don't have details of how it's going to work.
Royberto Apr 17th 2010 12:36AM
I said in an earlier comment I was going to stop, but what I really meant is I may give up during children's week if they don't change the PVP achievement.
Kylenne Apr 17th 2010 3:39PM
I'm not looking forward to School of Hard Knocks either. :( I don't see them changing it though, even if I hope they do. I'll end up sucking it up and trying in the first couple of days though. I figure that even if it is incredibly obnoxious and a PITA, I'd hate to be just one meta short of the mount.
kingjolly Apr 16th 2010 10:51PM
Nice I wont have to farm the violet protodrake to possibly scale my mounts to 310%. The people with 310 already should get the new training at the start I say.
Daniel Apr 16th 2010 10:52PM
I actually thought the most interesting comment was the fact that they see 310% as the end of the line as far as speed increases go for *flying*. That makes me wonder what type of things they have in that deep dark chest of secrets. If they want to, Blizzard still has several expansions left in the game. It's difficult for me to believe that that they won't do anything in regards to movement in the future.
Perhaps they will make teleportation more available. Perhaps they will get rid of ships and have 500% submarines, lol. I'm certain they have something up their sleeve; that wasn't a random remark.
Matchu Apr 17th 2010 12:27AM
" That will probably be as fast as *mounts* will ever get. "
Emphasis is mine.
DeathPaladin Apr 16th 2010 10:57PM
This is good news. Hopefully I will be able to experience the joy of logging on my Paladin, hopping in a 310% turbo-charged flying machine, switching on Crusader Aura, taking off, hitting Aura Mastery, and faceplanting on a mountainside because the resulting sonic boom tore off the rotors.
Cruven Apr 16th 2010 11:02PM
With that new riding skill you'll have to train what's it gonna cost 20k? Or some other random rediculous high price. And even if 310% is as fast as mounts will get all a Paladin has to do is pop Crusader Aura and off they fly into the sunset.
Sinfulle Apr 16th 2010 11:19PM
I remember many comments I read from the past about how "I'll never ever reach that 5000 gold for epic flight". Even today I over hear comments from players about trying to save up to reach 5k for 280% flying. It's much easier at end game today with all the daily quests available but still can take some time.
I'm going to take a shot in the dark and say 50k gold for master riding skill. Since they don't seem to ever want to go beyond 310% and going over 280% is just gravy, it's not really needed, it's just a luxury. I could easily see such a high price tag. Like Haris Pilton's Gigantique bag in BC days, 310% flight will be a pinnacle of poshness. If the price is low then everyone who worked to gain a 310 mount will rightly feel a bit cheated. I believe Blizzard will want players to actively work toward the new goal of 310 speed.
Perhaps one of the new factions could be involved in gaining master flight. I don't necessarily mean just a simple discount, but instead having players gain achievements toward unlocking the 310 flight ability. In that way, those with massive amounts of gold couldn't simply log in on day one and purchase the skill, but must instead spend time questing.
Cyno01 Apr 16th 2010 11:31PM
Theres an idea, some meta achievement unlocked 310 riding skill, earn exalted with the netherwing, shatari skyguard, and some new similar flight based cataclysm faction, Hinterlands Gryphon riders or something with a long daily rep grind attached.
Cyno01 Apr 16th 2010 11:24PM
I like my purple proto drake, and i worked hard for it, but i'm kind of sick of looking at it, lol. I just got my blue dragonhawk (pvp mounts for honor and a couple thousand stonekeepers shards ftw), and havent ridden it much since its a bit slow.
I miss my color changing nether drake (macro) and even my albino (and now black, red and bronze too) drakes, and my roflcopter sometimes too, itll be nice to put my mount macros back on my bar. My chopper is still the most awesome ground mount ever though, i dont think ill be riding anything else any time soon.
Donhorn Apr 17th 2010 12:32AM
My favorite part of the chopper is I can ride the sidecar in Moonkin form.
I love hopping one one in a BG and shouting "BIKERKIN!" lol
It's also really nice, ride around with someone, then as soon as you get to a fight you are already that half second ahead in Moonkin form ready to PEW PEW.
Stardusted Apr 16th 2010 11:55PM
I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed by being able to fly at 310% speed unless they have a computer that can handle more than the minimum system requirements.
I personally liked that I had the option of using a slower flying mount when farming herbs or ore, and using my 310% mount only to travel from say Dalaran to a summoning stone (although those days are mostly gone.)
If I was farming herbs or ore on my 310% mount, often I found myself having to backtrack to pick a flower or mine, simply because the little yellow dot on my mini map didn't show up until after I had passed the node and it was almost out of range of my mini map.
I don't have the worst computer either, even with 60 fps and 132 latency, a 310% mount was just too fast for my graphics card for farming.
Just something to consider before upgrading all your mounts to 310%. Can your computer system handle the increased speed of movement, at least enough to suit your needs?
Artificial Apr 17th 2010 2:29AM
lolwut? XD The difference between 280% and 310% is minimal -- in fact, you're traveling just a tad under 8% faster. If you need an upgrade to handle a 310% speed mount, you just plain need an upgrade. (Also, the speed of dots appearing on your minimap is a network issue, not a graphics card issue.)
Stardusted Apr 17th 2010 6:37AM
@ Artificial
So you are saying that an 8% upgrade in speed will have no effect on your ability to handle the increased graphic intake? I don't buy your logic.
How does the server telling you to display something not affect your graphics? Those little dots that appear on your mini map for a node don't show up unless you can actually see the node (not counting for a tree or shrubbery blocking line of sight.) If I see a Icethorn node on my mini map, point myself in that direction, I can always see the Icethorn on the ground. Even accounting for your statement that the speed of dots is all server related, you're saying that moving 8% slower wont give the server more time to communicate, thus displaying nodes and other things faster? That somehow moving faster will make the server be faster?
Fact of the matter is, I know that when I first got a 310% mount, I noticed that the rate in which mobs, terrain, nodes, etc. spawned was much slower. A friend of mine can't ride his 310% mounts due to the strain it puts on his computer, yet he can handle the 280% mounts, raid, and do everything else well, I don't think he "needs" to upgrade like you say just so he can go 8% faster.
All I was trying to do with my initial post is to get people to think about how the system they use greatly effects their game play, for good or ill. With all the expected graphical details that are getting upgraded in Cataclysm and other factors like the increased mount speed for a much larger population (and all of them on a star crapping pony), people need to take into account that Cataclysm will probably require stronger system requirements than wrath does now. A player with an average computer may see their computers ability to handle Warcraft diminish.
Donhorn Apr 17th 2010 12:28AM
The way I read this you aren't so much training for the right to fly at 310% as you are to make all your non 310% flying mounts 310%. I would think if you had one of the 310% mounts already they'd be unaffected and still fly 310% with or without the training.