Cataclysm Beta: UI getting a serious upgrade
by Anne Stickney 
Aug 14th 2010 at 1:30AM
The latest Cataclysm beta build is here, and along with a ton of changes including model updates, guild vendors, music and more come a host of improvements to Blizzard's UI. While the default Blizzard UI has never been a fan favorite, the new updates to the character, mount, pet, social and spellbook tabs are a welcome change. Here's a brief overview of what to expect:
- Mousing over stats like hit or expertise will now show you what your percentage to miss is against mobs of your level or higher. For those that spend hours searching for websites to figure out exactly what amount of x you should be stacking to get y -- it just got a whole lot easier.
- Mounts and pets have their own panels now, and each pet and mount has its name listed next to it. No more trying to figure out if the cat carrier icon you are looking at is your Siamese or your white kitten!
- The new battleground UI now has a timer displaying how long it is until the next battle for territory battlegrounds like Wintergrasp and Tol Barad.
- Glyphs have changed substantially, although the UI for them has not. All glyphs you have learned are now available in your spellbook. If you wish to switch between glyphs, simply apply the spell in your spellbook to the appropriate glyph slot.
- Guild experience and levels are up and running. You can check your guild's experience progression, as well as your contribution to it by checking the social pane and mousing over the guild experience bar.
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 worgen to mastery and guild changes, it's all here for your cataclysmic enjoyment.Filed under: Cataclysm
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Dalrint Aug 14th 2010 1:32AM
Doesn't the glyph thing kind of destroy the market for glyphs?
Buy all your glyphs once...and you're done.
Snuzzle Aug 14th 2010 1:38AM
Yup, the glyph market is about to come down with a resounding, and wholly satisfying, crash.
Though since they're now one-time use forever things, I predict they'll become a bit more expensive to make. Prices hopefully should no longer be nearly as gouging (85g for Glyph of Mangle? Bite me.)
Pagoda Aug 14th 2010 2:15AM
I tend to not be one to nerd rage but this glyph change has me at a loss. Completely stupid and pointless. People don't rotate glyphs out enough to justify this nor should classes have every glyph at their disposal at any time. The designers always talk about having to make meaningful choices and then they do something like this. Apparently instead of making other professions profitable they're kneecapping the ones that are.
Gendou Aug 14th 2010 2:35AM
A lot of classes rotate out glyphs on a per-fight basis. The ones I've seen do it most have been tank druids. Most of the ones I know carry stacks of various major and minor glyphs into ICC to swap out as needed. They treat glyphs as consumables.
Which would be fine, except... not all classes/roles feel the need to do this.
So there is an added consumable expense (on top of feasts, flasks and what-not) that affects some classes but not others. I can see why Blizzard would want to move away from that.
N-train Aug 14th 2010 3:16AM
While I understand everyone's cause for concern, let's stop and assume that Blizzard is not intending to completely destroy a profession here, and I believe a Dev Chat Q&A addressed Scribes concern about their cash flows drying up. With that, lets take a look at a couple things:
A) I don't see this being much different than the old system, because the majority of players probably aren't the guys who buy a stack of glyphs before every raid. People will still have to buy enough glyphs to fill all their slots (which will significantly be more than there are currently, new slots for 85 plus a whole new tier of glyphs). I figure the Dev's feel like people having to buy more glyphs makes up for the fact you won't get money when they switch.
B) On that last note, it requires a trainer to switch glyphs, which means that people can't just switch from one glyph to another mid-raid without porting in and out first.
C) The Devs pointed out that they are giving Inscription other ways to make money like Relics and Off-hands, which, like all crafted items, are going to be more useful and valuable in Cata.
D) They're not out to doom a profession, if it can't be profitable, they'll do what they did with Engineering and make it about utility and not profit.
E) Cata is encouraging people to roll alts, which means more potential buyers.
F) And most importantly, this is BETA. The next beta build could completely reverse this new setup, and there's a high chance the current setup will change drastically before it hits live.
TL/DR: I don't think Blizz is out to doom Inscription, so let's just sit tight and assume that the system will be set up and tweaked to still make the profession useful/profitable by Launch.
tulipblossom Aug 14th 2010 3:22AM
These are some awesome changes, especially the way mousing over stats has changed. Looks fantastic so far and really well thought out. I can't wait for Cataclysm!
tulipblossom Aug 14th 2010 3:24AM
Whoops, that was not meant to be a reply to anything in particular. It was just meant as a basic comment. I'm so sorry. :(
Sidfish Aug 14th 2010 4:52AM
@ N-Train
I appreciate your levelheadedness and you certainly have some very valid points. I may be overstating the importance of non permanent glyphs.
That said I still think it's a bad decision and can only hope it doesn't cripple a unique, fun, and profitable profession.
Lhock Aug 14th 2010 7:28AM
If they want to gut inscription this way, why not do the same to enchanting? I get new gear upgrades much more often than I change glyphs. Glyph prices seem to be around 50g at worst, 4g at best, but enchanting can go into the multiple hundreds.
Throw jewelcrafting the same slap also.
Drakkenfyre Aug 14th 2010 1:38AM
I don't get if all classes can use all weapons their classes can use, and weapon skill ranks are gone, WHY do they have to put a "Weapons Skill, Passive" in the spellbook? Nothing on it changes. It isn't something that varies from class-to-class, why put it it in there?
Unless it opens up a list of weapons you can use.
And I don't like the Glyphs going into the Spellbook. Looks way the hell too cluttered.
Jon Aug 14th 2010 1:46AM
Haters gonna hate
Drakkenfyre Aug 14th 2010 1:57AM
So, putting in an icon which does absolutely nothing, and not liking having a Spellbook cluttered up with every Glyph you use is hating?
No, it's not liking seeing 25 Glyphs in a single Spellbook.
Shrike Aug 14th 2010 3:45PM
It does, in fact, show a list of weapon types you can use when you mouse over it.
Hoaxs Aug 14th 2010 1:51AM
I like the new interface, much more noob friendly.
On the topic of Guild levelling, how hard is it going to be to level a guild?
Gendou Aug 14th 2010 2:39AM
I wonder the same thing. How long does it take to get to exalted with your guild?
I also wonder if we have to level each and every alt in the guild, or if rewards are shareable across the same account.
Because I have seven alts in my home guild, and I don't want to see a repeat of some of these grinds where you're just thrashing about trying to get every alt to Exalted.
Hoaxs Aug 14th 2010 5:19AM
I was thinking of making a private guild for my Alts but wanted the Mr Popularity and Fast Track so i could race through the levels.
Rakah Aug 14th 2010 5:54AM
They copied a few addons. for example the stats panel out to the side is almost an exact copy of "All stats". they copied rating buster a while back.
i'm sure there is some other stuff but i'm not in the beta so i wouldn't know.
Jillemixie Aug 14th 2010 6:24PM
Currently, I get about 1-2 rep per 2 quests, so I expect this is going to change. If not, it's going to take a LONG time to get our dark phoenixes.
cawestmoreland Aug 15th 2010 2:26AM
@Jillemixie. Not in beta, but that might be true for quests, although maybe rep gains for raid bosses, and 5 man bosses will be more gainful. It will be kinda cool though, if it's slow. Seems like it shouldn't be something you can grind out in a week n a half if u really try. I t should show the rest of the guild who the veterans really are.
wow Aug 14th 2010 2:50AM
Um, some people change glyphs all the time. What about those of us who regularly play with more than two specs? I can change talents easily with Talented, but purchasing glyphs is the annoying (and costly) part.