The Queue: Different

Today's Queue is inspired by things that are different. That is to say, we'll be looking at instances in WoW where one of these things are not like the other.
Kitteh asked:
"Why do professions not level up at the same rate as weapon skills? I mean, weapon skills go up 5 at a time per level, up to a cap of 400 at level 80. But, once we reach master professions, we have to level 7.5 skills up at a time if we want to reach the cap of 450."
There's history to how the two skills got to be how they are, in terms of changes with patches and expansions. But that's kind of a sidestep to the question. What you asked is "Why do professions not work the same way as combat skills?"
The answer is that they're different systems. Combat skills function as a variable inside an equation and become meaningful when functioning inside that equation compared to your opponent's combat skill. By comparison, profession skills directly represent how advanced your character has become in a craft, and what recipes you can know.
The best answer here is "Professions and combat skills level differently because they represent much different aspects of the game."
Mapster asked:
"Does anyone know what will happen to a warlock's soul bags in Cataclysm, since the soul shard system is being revamped and the soul shards moved to under the health bar?"
They'll become something different; probably standard bags. Your shiny new soul-less bags won't be a slot-for-slot equivalent for soul bags, though, so that Blizzard isn't encouraging us all to stock up on bags before Cataclysm.
Toolhead19 asked:
"Will Blizzard be allowing people to level their characters using the dungeon system when Cataclysm launches?"
I can't imagine why that would be different. You've always had the option of questing or just doing dungeons over and over. For all the window dressing, going into an instance boils down to just killing harder, different mobs. It's not actually all that different from "world mobs," except that you get private alone time with four other people.
Rainstorm asked:
"What is physiological difference between a forsaken and a human death knight? And if the answer is 'none,' then why have only human corpses become forsaken? Shouldn't all death knights technically be classified as forsaken (where forsaken are a fallen hero resurrected under the command of the Lich King and then somehow get their free will back)?"
You actually nailed it, there, Rainstorm. The reason forsaken and death knights aren't the same, treated the same, or have the same physiology is that they're different. If an undead and Forsaken were the same, then an undead couldn't become a death knight.
There's no amount of fanwanking I could do to convince someone who doesn't like the delineation, but I find it helpful to think of forsaken and death knights as simply being different critters. Vampires and zombies are both undead, but they can do wildly different things. Same thing with the forsaken and the death knights.
Filed under: The Queue
Patch 5.3 interview with Ghostcrawler
Mystery of the Unborn Val'kyr
The latest patch 5.3 news
All of the latest Mists of Pandaria news





Reader Comments (Page 2 of 9)
Paploo Jun 28th 2010 4:07PM
RE: Leveling via Dungeons. I believe I read something about having to attune yourself to the dungeons by actually visiting them first, before they will show up on the Dungeon system, so you'll want to keep that in mind if you're trying that approach.
(cutaia) Jun 28th 2010 4:15PM
True, but they haven't clarified if that's just Cata dungeons or if it will retroactively affect vanilla dungeons.
The general consensus seems to be that it will likely just be for dungeons from 80-85, but who knows.
Fidius Jul 10th 2010 4:27AM
I thought the understanding was that the visiting before queuing was going to be for all dungeons except for those that are difficult for your faction to reach, like RFC, Stockades, and WC.
dpoyesac Jun 28th 2010 4:50PM
Aw man -- I was excited about the prospect of running my brothers lowbie toons into Stormwind with my mechanohog, just so he could queue for the Stockades using LFD.
Woulda been so much fun...
(cutaia) Jun 28th 2010 6:00PM
Fideus,
I think it's all speculation at this point. Could end up being either, but I think most people have their money on it being just for new dungeons. I sure as hell hope that if they do require exploration of classic dungeon entrances, they make it an account-wide achievement or something. I'd hate to have to run every new alt all over the world just to level them through dungeon runs.
Grovinofdarkhour Jun 28th 2010 6:10PM
We should probably check with Chris. He's pretty good at detecting these things.
(cutaia) Jun 28th 2010 6:24PM
I won't rest until that's a meme...
Valt Jun 28th 2010 6:32PM
It ist ONLY cata dungeons we are talking about. No, you dont need to go to maraudon labyrinth go queue there.
themightysven Jun 28th 2010 7:38PM
@fideus
It will proly be just the new ones based on the following:
Option 1, Just the ones that are "hard" to get too.
Problem: who determines what's difficult? you listed WC, but I had no problem getting Alliance toons there to finish quests. I would say SFK is hard to get too for alliance, and DeadMines the same for Horde, but some have no problems. Heck, if you're determined RFC and Stocks are easy to get to, just run naked through the enemy capital.
Option 2, all of them.
Problem: people would game the system. Don't like Gnomer or ST or Mara? don't visit them, you'll just cruise through with green dungeons. meanwhile people who want to run them, (and in the case of Gnomer, every dwarf and gnome) are stuck with either never going or 18 hour queue times.
Option 3, just the over 79's
Solution: people leveling (or doing the surveying the damage achieve) will automatically pass most of them
squig_masta Jun 28th 2010 7:40PM
Just to clarify, they never said you have to 'attune' yourself like Karazan or BT. You just have to 'find' a dungeon before you can cue for it. Imagine starting in Borean Tundra and doing the nexus, but never being able to cue for Utgard Keep till you haul your butt across northrend as oppose to doing a long convoluted quest chain that usually involves time travel before entering a new raid.
Grovinofdarkhour Jun 28th 2010 10:17PM
You and me both, brother.
Fidius Jul 10th 2010 4:31AM
actually, it is like i stated. Discovery is currently required for all dungeons except for those that are out of the normal zone progression for your faction: RFC, WC, VC, Stockades.
Now that the NDA is lifted: http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.html?topicId=25170844684&pageNo=1&sid=2000#5
Logaz Jun 28th 2010 4:08PM
Is there any particular reason that the Draenei don't get the same size enhanced mounts as Tauren do? I don't know where I read it but the males stand almost the same height, making the need for the larger size.
Also, Male Draenei on a Mechanostrider.
Arkonn Jun 28th 2010 4:11PM
Gnome on an Elekk? XD
James Jun 28th 2010 7:02PM
Yeah, what *is* the deal with that? Why does my male Draenei DK always look like he's about to tip over his skeletal horse? I thought they were going to scale mount models to the sizes of ALL of the races, not just Tauren...
lemur Jun 28th 2010 7:09PM
Gnomes don't size up their mounts for other races. Period.
Evelinda Jun 29th 2010 7:21AM
I think thats just something you have to deal with... it doesnt even necessarily look right with Tauren all the time either. I know my Tauren looks like his Talbuk is about to collapse under him at any minute
Arkonn Jun 28th 2010 4:09PM
Question:
Do you think we'll ever see Arthas' older sister Caila in WoW? Heir to the Lordaeron throne AND we know she had a bit of a thing with DP/Deathwing... so... possible introduction in Cataclysm?
tabardsrock Jun 28th 2010 4:24PM
there is some speculation regarding an npc that's been around for a while:
http://www.wowwiki.com/Calia_Hastings
Angrycelt Jun 28th 2010 11:43PM
I'd love to see that make a return. 'cause really... if your homeland is now the stomping grounds of the Forsaken and the Scourge, and your brother is the most hated person in the world, you'd probably go into hiding and change your name too. Maybe she'll be part of retaking the WPL. Even if we can't retake Lordaeron (aah, someday... someday), she'll be involved with recovering some of her peoples' land.
I like when they tie up loose ends and/or use old characters again. I mean, how awesome was it to meet up with Westfall Brigade out in Grizzly Hills and see all the familiar or grown up faces?
(Sorry no Horde references, Ally through and through... just can't get through the 30s with any horde race I've tried. Any honest suggestions as to which is just pure awesomesauce? Keep in mind, I'm a huge lore nerd, so good storylines win over body count)